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Better
Education for Women in Science & Engineering
A Program of the San Diego Science Alliance
BE
WiSE makes a difference for talented young women who are encouraged to
contribute to science and engineering professions. BE WiSE invites girls
in grade 7 and 8 to Science Overnights to explore their interest in science,
hosts events for BE WiSE alumnae in high school to encourage their selection
of more course in science and math, and exposes these girls to adult women
scientists who share their knowledge and passion and experiences with science
and engineering careers.
BE WiSE selects girls from all across San
Diego County and has sustained contact with several hundred girls over
the past 9 years. The first BE WiSE alumnae entered college in June 2003.
BE WiSE Activities
Science Overnights introduce
girls to Science
Imagine 30-50 middle school
girls in grades 7 and 8 exploring an overnight scientific mystery adventure,
including demonstrations, workshops and a hands-on project, all led by
women who work in science every day.That’s a BE WiSE Science Overnight, which begins
on Friday afternoon and continues until Saturday. BE WiSE girls must write
an essay about women in science and be recommended by their science teacher
to be considered and then each overnight group is carefully assembled from
different schools to encourage group bonding during the overnight. BE WiSE
overnights can be located in any safe, sheltered location where science demonstrations
and activities can take place, especially where women in science work everyday
that enables behind-the-scenes tours and discussions of career information.
Past locations include the Fleet Science Center, Birch Aquarium, Sea World,
Mission Trails Regional Park, San Diego Museum of Man, CRES (Conservation & Research
for Endangered Species, The Water Conservation Garden, San Diego Natural
History Museum.
Book gifts enhance Science
Literacy
BE WiSE offers a lasting gift of science literacy by giving science
books on the topic of the Science Overnight adventure to each girl and to
her school library. The BE WiSE Program donates these books to ensure that
the excitement of exposure to science continues well beyond the one night’s
adventure.
Follow-up activities sustain
BE WiSE Alumnae interest
BE WiSE hosts at least 18 alumnae events for girls who have gone on
to high school. Again, women scientists spend Saturday with BE WiSE
girls investigating science phenomena and discussing opportunities in the
fields of math, science and engineering.Past alumnae events have been held
at UCSD School of Engineering, San Diego Supercomputer Center, General Atomics,
Dow Chemical Company Laboratories, San Diego Nature Center in Chula Vista,
Mount Laguna, Mission Trails Regional Park. Legoland Robotics Lab, Aquatic
Adventures. Conservation and Research for Endangered Species (CRES), SIO
Viz Lab, UCSD Plant Biology Lab, S.D. County Veterinarian Facility, USD,
Hubbs Sea World Research Institute, Miramar College, Biogen Idec Community
Lab etc.
The Need for BE WiSE
Although women account
for half of the population, only 23% of the employees in the science and engineering
workforce are women (NSF, 2000). While most educators want to create gender-neutral
environments for learning, both conscious and unconscious prejudices exist
and discourage girls from male-dominated science and engineering courses. BE
WiSE seeks to excite girls about science and to encourage girls to consider
career opportunities in science and engineering
10 Step BE WiSE Program
What does it take to create a BE WiSE program?
1. Buy-in from science coordinators in the school district.
2. Buy in from businesses that have jobs requiring science and math skills.
3. Buy-in from museums, nature centers, aquariums, zoos and other informal
science education centers.
4. Form a steering committee and plan a science activity.
5. Commitment from women to take charge of the science demonstrations and
hands-on activities, and to chaperone.
6. Tentative arrangements and cost for an overnight site, feeding the kids
snacks, dinner and breakfast, and transportation.
7. Funding for food, transportation, and site fee.
8. Publicity to teachers and students.
9. Legal stuff (parent permissions, insurance, etc.)
10. Make it happen!
Results
BE WiSE started in 1999 and has encouraged
close to 800 hundred girls to explore their interests in science. From BE
WiSE surveys, we know that every girl knew more about science, every girl
agreed that women can excel in science and engineering, 85% reported considering
a career in science or engineering, and surprisingly, more than half planned
to take a course that the would not have taken otherwise.
BE WiSE
alumnae commonly report that they had “fun
in learning” and that the program “really made me think about
a career in science.”
And we know BE WiSE inspires these girls who report “BE WiSE inspired
me to enroll in an engineering class and that was the greatest thing I ever
did” and who acknowledge the “wonderful women I have met.”
Letters
from parents further amplify the effect BE WiSE has on their daughters because “my
daughter thoroughly enjoyed and learned so much from the BE WiSE programs” and “showing
how to mentor others who come after her, which is desperately needed in both
the working world and in the school to career transition.”
Alumnae Testimonial
Hello, my name is Susan Rodgers. I was one of the students who was
lucky enough to take part in the "Who Dunnit?" sleepover and the
Field day at Mission Trails . . . what a great time I had at those outings
and what a lucky person I am to have experienced them, considering they have
had a major impact on my life.
You may be wondering how they impacted my life so greatly. Well, after
the first outing I was inspired to enroll in an engineering class my first
semester at Granite Hills High School. That was the greatest thing I ever
did. The class has been the most wonderful experience of my entire school
year. I have you and all of the BE WiSE to thank for directing me down the
path of engineering . . . BE WiSE has always been a wonderful help and inspiration
for me. I have remembered all the wonderful women I have met at the outings.
They have helped me to work in an environment where the majority of the students
are male (actually I am the only girl in the entire class). Thank you for
being such an inspiration.
Project Funders
The project has received funding from:
Biogen Idec Foundation, Boston Scientific Foundation, Dr. Seuss Foundation,
General Atomics, Girard Foundation, Leo S. Guthman Fund, Todd and Mari Gutschow
Family Foundation, Hewlettt Packard, Hughes Network Systems, Mc Carthy Foundation,
Mission Federal Credit Union Community Foundation, Nokia Inc., Northrop Grumman, Oracle Foundation, Pfizer Inc., Qualcomm,
Inc., SDG&E - A Sempra Energy Utility, San Diego National Bank,
Sea World of San Diego, SONY, The Winter Group, TRW, San Diego
Science Alliance & Zoological Society of San Diego.
Additional support from: AWIS, SWE, SDCOE, SDCS.
A Final Word
All of us associated with
this project are enthusiastic about its success and potential for San Diego
County students. We are confident that we will continue to receive support
from the school, business and community to maintain this exciting project.
Contact:
Patricia Winter, BE WiSE Project Director
Pat.winter@gat.com
(858) 454-7622
www.sdsa.org/bewise
