G^3 Nano - GO-GIRLs Go Nano

Saturday, May 14th, 2011

We here at GO-GIRL are excited to have just held a really cool event under our latest initiative, Operation Keeping in Touch (KiT). The purpose of this new addition to the GO-GIRL program was to provide more opportunities for GO-GIRLs and their parents to investigate STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) topics and careers.

This event was hosted by the Wayne State University Chemistry department. During this all day workshop, GO-GIRLs explored how very, very, small devices can be used to solve BIG medical, computational, and energy problems. Girls made their own nanomaterials and discovered ways these materials can be used to help make the world a better place. The day included a pizza & salad lunch, a chance to reconnect with friends, and opportunities to work (almost entirely 1-on-1) with current WSU students and faculty in their chemistry laboratories. The day rounded up with a final game of Nano BINGO, testing the girls' knowledge gained throughout the course of the day, complete with prizes!

In the morning, parents joined us for some community learning as well. In the WSU Undergraduate Library (UGL) some of our wonderful library science folks showed us the ins and outs of MEL.org and how to navigate this wonderful online resource. This is a great tool for parents and students alike! Then, our fabulous representative from the WSU Office of Admissions, Sylvia, held a Parent Café revolved around our GO-GIRLs of all ages and their pursuit for college. Some key themes were scholarships, social networking as a way of sharing information about the college application process, and timelines for applying to college.

Overall, our GO-GIRL staff and volunteers were so pleased with the turn out and the enthusiasm and engagement of our GO-GIRLs and their parents. We hope y'all feel the same!

Saturday, April 10th Parent Cafe

Saturday's Parent Cafe covered some information regarding future career paths for girls and breaking down the gender barriers for science and math fields. As a group there was discussion about experiences and recommendations in motivating girls to stay on track for successful science and math studies/careers down the line.

There was also talk of the GGs futures beyond high school. Staying on track with science and math is important but some other things that colleges look for in an applicant were covered.

In addition, librarians came to show parents the online resource of www.mel.org. This resource is very helpful in so many ways. We encourage you to check it out and show your daughter. There are great links for age appropriate research from legitimate sources. The site also has great tools for parents that include but are not limited to health and other educational resources, etc.

We're looking forward to seeing our GG parents again at our third and final Parent Cafe, it falls the same day as the GGs graduation on Saturday, May 1st, 2010 from 9:30-11am in the College of Education, Room 10.