april 2009 issue
|
Mentoring for Girls Boosts Science LinkThrough Web Retrofit
Women remain under-represented in science and engineering, despite a worldwide demand. To address this gap, the Schulich School of Engineering has unveiled a web-based enhancement of a mentoring program aimed at girls aged 11
to 18.
“Our goal is to raise awareness of the range of exciting careers and get young girls interested in science and engineering,” says Julia Millen, Cybermentor program director. “This is the time when they’re starting to think about their futures.”
Cybermentor — formally called SCIberMENTOR — is believed to be the largest North American mentoring program of its kind dedicated to attracting young women to the science and engineering professions. It matches female scientists and engineers with girls, and the new platform capitalizes on the appeal of online social networking.
More than 60 students from the Calgary Girls’ School attended the official launch of the web-based improvement to sign up for Cybermentor. Until now, Cybermentor relied on e-mail contact between girls and their mentors.
Cybermentor collaborators include the University of Calgary, the University of Alberta and the Alberta Women’s Science Network. Program sponsors are EnCana Corporation, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, PromoScience, and Alberta Advanced Education and Technology. Bell Canada has donated $50,000 over two years.
More Info
|