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During Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day, some 100 8th grade girls from middle school campuses across Beaumont and Lumberton Independent School Districts will gather in ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ University’s Setzer Student Center on April 7 to become innovators for a day as they learn about the exciting aspects of engineering careers.

These students will take part in hands-on activities from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. designed to showcase the fun and unique applications of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) that help solve everyday problems.  ExxonMobil engineers and ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ University students will serve as on-site mentors, leading experiments that demonstrate the creative and collaborative aspects of engineering.  Students will also have the opportunity to observe college classroom and engineering lab experiences on the ÃÛÌÒÊÓƵ campus.

The need to engage girls in math and science studies, and eventually careers, is critical.  According to studies by the Economics and Statistics Administration and Congressional Joint Economic Committee, while women make up about half of the U.S. workforce, they hold just 14 percent of engineering jobs and represent only 27 percent of total mathematics and computer-science professionals.