Argonne’s annual Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day (IGED) is looking for employees interested in mentoring eighth-grade girls during the all-day event Thursday, Feb. 22, 2018, at the Building 240 TCS Conference Center from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.
IGED is a diversity outreach program designed to provide young students with an opportunity to learn about science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers. Students are assigned to Argonne mentors who accompany the girls throughout the day’s scheduled activities, which include a variety of presentations, hands-on projects and laboratory tours. The event is designed to be very interactive and provide personal contact with real women engineers and scientists. We need your support to make this year’s event a success.
Employees interested in participating as a mentor can register here by Jan. 19. Opportunities to register as a morning or afternoon volunteer are also available on the registration page for those unable to commit to the full day.
For more information about mentoring or any other questions about IGED, contact the IGED Mentor Committee members: Kirsten Laurin-Kovitz, at ext. 2-4143, Maria Power, at ext. 2-0269, or Julie Carrera, at ext. 2-5570.
Mentors are at the core of a successful IGED. IGED is in celebration of National Engineers Week and as such is held at the end of February each year.
FAQs
Do I need to be an engineer to mentor?
You do not need to be an engineer to be a mentor for IGED. Mentors come from all fields and both female and male mentors are welcome to participate.
What does a mentor do?
As a mentor you will be paired with two girls. You will accompany the girls throughout the day’s scheduled activities, which include a variety of presentations, hands-on activities and laboratory tours. Transportation will be provided for mentors and girls to the tours outside the TCS conference center.
Do I need to plan any activities?
No, the day’s schedule is set ahead of time and will be given to you. Tours are given by tour guides and the larger group events are run by various speakers and hosts. At lunchtime, mentors will be provided lunch and eat side by side with students to foster discussion. As a mentor your main role is to guide the students throughout the day, but you are also there to answer questions, encourage participation, act as role models for the girls and help break negative stereotypes.
Does IGED really matter?
Yes! Your time can make a difference. IGED is a special event targeting young girls before they encounter the peer pressure of high school. It gives them exposure to various fields of science and engineering, helps them identify their interests and offers an opportunity to meet women role models.
Comments from past IGED student surveys:
- I thought the engineering field just involved people with goggles working on machinery, but it was not.
- Math and science rules!
- Girls can do anything!
- It opened my eyes to new jobs.
- It was really interesting to find out new things that I didn’t know, it gives me more interest to look for a career in one of these fields.
- It sounds like so much fun and I want to help make the world a better place.