SRS Challenges Local Students During "Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day"

Middle school girls learn that being a scientist or engineer is challenging, rewarding and even fun

by SRS News

Aiken, SC (04/01/2018) — U.S. Department of Energy contractor Savannah River Nuclear Solutions (SRNS), in partnership with the Society of Women Engineers and the Ruth Patrick Science Education Center, recently extended invitations to middle schools throughout the greater Aiken-Augusta area to select young women to participate in this year's "Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day."

Held at the Ruth Patrick Science and Education Center, on the University of South Carolina Aiken campus, each participating school selected three students who have shown an interest in a career involving engineering to this event.

According to Gladys Moore, SRNS Education Outreach and Talent Management, the Introduce a Girl to Engineering program is designed to emphasize the DiscoverE Engineers Week message of encouraging students to consider careers in engineering, science and technology.

"Our program typically consists of a series of hands-on activities and intriguing demonstrations that prove to these young ladies that being a scientist or engineer can be interesting, rewarding and even exciting at times," said Moore. "These activities also show how natural problem-solving abilities form the basis for many engineering skills."

During the day-long event, the participants also had an opportunity to interact with women currently working in various fields of science and engineering.

"We understand the need for and importance of being role models for these young ladies," said SRNS Engineer Jane Carter. "We know that sometimes all it takes is that one spark to generate a lifetime interest in a particular career."

"This event has helped me confirm the career choices I'm interested in, so I don't go off on the wrong path," said Brittany Yarnell, South Aiken Baptist School. "Today has also shown me how important it is to work as a team. If you try to do something by yourself, it's just not going to work out as well as with a team."

Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day activities included participating in a robotics demonstration, building "puff mobiles" made from hard candy and paper and racing to construct the tallest tower with only a single piece of newspaper.

Students attending this year's event were from schools in Aiken, Allendale, Bamberg, Barnwell and Edgefield in South Carolina, and Columbia and Richmond Counties in Georgia.

The primary goal of the SRNS Education Outreach programs is to enhance interest in science, mathematics, engineering and technology and to support improvements in education in the Central Savannah River Area by using the unique resources available at the Site.

Savannah River Nuclear Solutions is a Fluor-led company whose members are Fluor Federal Services, Newport News Nuclear and Honeywell, responsible for the management and operations of the Department of Energy's Savannah River Site, including the Savannah River National Laboratory, located near Aiken, South Carolina.

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