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MIT Engineers support ScienceSouth efforts

Posted Thursday, January 15, 2008

Florence, SC, January 25, 2008—More than 800 Pee Dee middle and high school girls will get a feel for engineering through a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) visit. This program is part of MIT’s Women’s Initiative, a student group designed and created in 1998 to address the fact that many young women do not consider engineering or computer science despite having strong math and science backgrounds and analytical abilities.

The weeklong visit will kick off on Monday, January 28 at South Florence High School and conclude Friday, February 1, 2008 at Sneed Middle School.

Delivering the week’s presentations will be Helen Chuang and Minh Huynh-Le. Chuang, a PhD candidate in chemical engineering, is a three-year veteran of the program. “My love of science came from how it enables me to invent and solve problems in everyday life. This problem solving skill, combined with an inventive mind, gives me a sense of empowerment and confidence that I can tackle any challenge,” Chuang said. “I’d like to give every girl the opportunity to feel this sense of empowerment as well.” While Huynh-Le is a second year undergrad majoring in mathematics and biology, she uses both majors to do biomedical engineering research. She got involved with the Initiative as a way of giving back. “I decided to get involved with Women's Initiative because I am really keen on helping other girls get interested in science and engineering,” Huynh-Le said. “I know I wouldn't have made it this far if I wasn't encouraged at a young age, so I hope I can do the same with the girls in South Carolina.”

MIT’s Women’s Initiative is a program that aims to encourage more middle and high school girls to pursue degrees and careers in engineering and mathematics. Each January, a select group of college women from MIT’s School of Engineering travel to schools nationwide to talk to students about real world of engineering.

“ScienceSouth was selected from more than 20 applicants from across the nation. We are very pleased that this region was selected,” Project Director Colleen Zilio said. “Having MIT deliver the hands-on engineering presentations to the students is an invaluable experience. Meeting and talking to an aspiring engineer gives young people an opportunity to imagine themselves as an engineer or technologist. ”

The participating schools are: South Florence High School, Creek Bridge Middle/High School, Williams Middle School, Lake View High School, Scott’s Branch Middle School, Spaulding Middle School, SC Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics and Sneed Middle School.

CONTACT:
Sheryl Love
ScienceSouth
(843) 679-5353
Sheryl@sciencesouth.org
www.sciencesouth.org