Building bridges to female engineers

Building bridges to female engineers

October 18, 2016

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[Go ENG Girl]
Go ENG Girl participants talk with a panel of engineering academics and professionals during the 2015 event at Queen's. (Supplied Photo)

Go ENG Girl is aimed at introducing female students in grades 7 to 10 to the many areas of study and career possibilities in engineering. Having been involved with the program for four years as Engineering Outreach Coordinator at Queen鈥檚, Scott Compeau has seen the positive effects first-hand.

From time to time, a student will tell him that the reason she is studying at the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science is because of Go ENG Girl or a similar outreach program at Queen鈥檚 or elsewhere.

That鈥檚 exactly what he wants to hear.

鈥淲e are seeing a consistent increase in the number of girls who are not only attending our program but are having interest in the science and engineering fields,鈥 he says, adding that such programs play a key role in increasing diversity and gender balance in engineering. 鈥淲e get a lot of repeat girls coming back from year to year (for Go ENG Girl), which speaks to the program itself and some of the things that we do, because they seem to be having a great experience and they look forward to coming to the next one.鈥

Go ENG Girl is being held in Ellis Hall (58 University Avenue) at Queen鈥檚 University on Saturday, Oct. 22 from 9:15am 鈥 2:30pm. While response has been good, there still are 10 available spots remaining. Go ENG Girl is free for all participants with lunch provided where the students can socialize with peers and female STEM role models.

Attendees come from around eastern Ontario, and not only are introduced to engineering but to Queen鈥檚 as well. It鈥檚 also an opportunity to connect with positive female role models, whether engineering students or professionals.

One such role model is keynote speaker Charlene Falkenburger, a Queen鈥檚 Chemical Engineering and Biochemistry graduate who is currently working as the Global Operations Manager for Dr. Roebuck's, an Australian natural skincare company that promotes all aspects of healthy living including exercise, clean eating and what you put on your skin Click to register. The schedule of events can be viewed on the Queen鈥檚 .

For more information, contact Scott Compeau at 613-533-6000 ext. 75640, or by email.

Smith Engineering