Girls learn what it means to be an engineer at annual Kids Career Day

More than 300 first through sixth grade girls from throughout Northeast Ohio will learn what it means to be an engineer at the 16th annual Kids Career Day, presented by the College of Engineering’s Women in Engineering Program on Saturday, February 28.

Among several of the planned activities, students will get to extract DNA from a piece of fruit, dissect diapers to learn about polymers, strategize the best way to clean up a toxic chemical spill, and learn about strength in structures by looking to nature’s honeycomb found in beehives. Employees from medical device company Tornier will lead an activity that demonstrates how bones are repaired using plates and screws. 

“This event gives young girls the opportunity to learn about engineering and STEM occupations through hands-on activities led by engineering and science professionals,” says Heidi Cressmen, director of the Women in Engineering program. “Our goal is to spark an interest in engineering, science and technology early and to encourage them to continue exploring these STEM fields in the future.”

All activities will be led by UA engineering faculty and students, and professional engineers and scientists from the City of Akron Engineer’s Office, Babcock & Wilcox, FM Global, The J.M. Smucker’s Company, Lockheed Martin, Olympus Surgical Technologies, Rockwell Automation, Terumo, and Tornier.

For information about the Women in Engineering Program and its events, visit wiep.uakron.edu.