A group of MIT Lincoln Laboratory staff is dedicated to inspiring, empowering and supporting underrepresented middle-school girls in the fields of STEAM through hands-on workshops and demonstrations. Instructed by majority female scientist and engineers, G.I.R.L. workshops are intended to introduce students to the basic concepts of programming, engineering, and technology, providing them with the tools and resources to continue to build their skills and confidence after the workshops. While workshops are geared toward girls, the classroom workshops are open to all students.
G.I.R.L. Goals are to:
- Inspire girls to create innovative technologies that serve communities everywhere
- Empower girls with the knowledge, skills, tools, and resources to pursue careers in STEAM
- Support girls with a network of resources for continued learning and inspiration
- Encourage girls’ confidence in their abilities to succeed in the technical world
- Represent as strong, confident, smart role models for all girls
We have about 25 members, and some run recurring workshops while others are working on designing new ones. For each of our workshops, we aim to introduce students to STEAM concepts and give them a kit that they can put together and take home so that they can continue exploring.
G.I.R.L. received a CSF grant in 2021 to purchase micro-bit controllers and electronics for their workshops and to ensure that each student has their own kit to work on in the classroom and at home.
Workshops are held in-person or online at flexible times during school hours, after school, or on Saturdays. Technical instructors, workshop activity kits, and materials are available at each workshop. Ongoing workshops are: Intro to Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning, Internet Safety & Cyber Security, Intro to Scratch Programming & Makey-Makey boards, Physics of Light. Future workshops include: Climate Change, Underwater Communications, Micro-bit programming, and more!
