An Intro to the Bearded Pineapples & Call for Mentors

Guest Contributor: The Bearded Pineapples

Hi! We are the Bearded Pineapples. We are an all-girls FTC robotics team. In FTC (FIRST Tech Challenge), teams of students in 7-12th grade build robots that are 18” by 18” by 18” to compete in a game that is different every season. (In the 2016/17 season, the game was Velocity Vortex: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b49Q3kqrSv0, and you can watch some matches played here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnP2dMP2B7c). Additionally, teams can win judged awards, which are based off of the technical documentation in the team’s Engineering Notebook, or on what the team has done to grow the program.

FTC is part of a larger program, FIRST robotics. Over the last two years, we were part of FIRST LEGO League, the program for kids ages 9-14, and were one of 15 teams sponsored by Girl Scouts of Western Washington. One year ago, we outgrew this program. We were looking to continue on to FTC, but Girl Scouts of Western Washington did not sponsor teams at this level. We decided to help Girl Scouts of Western Washington explore what was needed to sponsor FTC teams, and now we are ready to create several more teams!

To do this, we would love to find more (preferably female) mentors who can help teams learn skills like programming, technical documentation, and mechanical engineering. Our team owes a lot to our female mentor, Toni Carlstrom. We submitted a video to nominate her for the Compass Award, an award given out to an outstanding mentor, which she won.

Mentors would ideally be working with teams around twice a week for around 2-4 hours each, though this number varies considerably from team to team and from mentor to mentor. The FTC season runs from September to mid-January, but can extend until March or April for teams that advance.

Students who participate in the program benefit greatly and learn many important life skills – and have tons of fun. Talulla, a member of our team, has discovered her love for mechanical engineering, and will attend Tesla STEM High School next year. She wouldn’t have known how much she enjoys mechanical engineering without FTC.

Are you interested in learning more about FTC? We are hosting an open house at the Girl Scout of Western Washington Bellevue Office (13029 NE 20th Street Bellevue, WA 98005). We will play some matches with some other teams and answer any questions. Please join us! Find the flyer on our website: http://beardedpineapples.com/blog.

Interested in mentoring, either regularly or just occasionally? Please contact us at beardedpineapples@gmail.com!

Would you like to do an interview with Klispun Magazine?

Guest Contributor: Sarah Sharp

Hello SWE PNW!

My name is Sarah Sharp, and I'm a writer for Klispun Magazine, a publication produced by Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA.

I'm writing an article about women in engineering, in light of a new research study that will look into why certain predominantly Muslim countries have a greater percentage of women in engineering than the United States.

I would love to interview any SWE PNW member to talk about these statistics, the mission of SWE, or even your chosen profession.

The interview (which could be over the phone) will most likely be 15-20 minutes, especially if you want to keep it short. Otherwise, I would be happy to interview you as long as you want to talk.

I can provide the questions ahead of time. And I would like to talk with several people if possible.

My final deadline is Monday, October 17, so I would appreciate talking to people before then if possible.

Please contact me if you are interested in being interview. I appreciate your help on this!

Thank you,
Sarah Sharp
sharps4@wwu.edu

Call for SWE Speakers: South Seattle College

South Seattle College (SSC) in West Seattle prepares students for transfer into baccalaureate engineering and computer science degree programs.

We are looking for engineers who are interested in visiting any of our classes to describe the work they are doing or reflect back to when they were students. The students appreciate hearing these stories from the engineering community!

Fall quarter starts on September 26, 2016 and ends December 2, 2016.

Friday is the SSC engineering orientation class from 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm (except for Veteran's Day or Thanksgiving).

There are also other opportunities during other weekdays.

Please contact Linda Thomas (linda.thomas@seattlecolleges.edu) for available speaking opportunities or if you have questions.

Thank you!
Linda Thomas

Spring 2016 Outreach & Volunteer Opportunities

Spring is prime time for our SWE PNW outreach activities and volunteer opportunities. There are several different events that we support - check out the information below and contact the coordinators for additional information. Be sure to keep an eye on our SWE PNW calendar for the latest information and volunteer sign up links. We hope to see you there!

Explore Engineering

It is that time of year again for the hugely popular Explore Engineering Workshops. These workshops work with K-5th graders and take them through a range of fun engineering activities! We will be having workshops at 5 different locations throughout the months of April and May. 

If you are interested in volunteering please contact Holly Bork.

Expanding Your Horizons (EYH)

EYH is a math, science, and technology career conference for girls in grades 7 -12.  Its goal is to provide these girls with information and encouragement to continue taking coursework in the STEM areas through their senior years. SWE will be hosting multiple sessions and looking for volunteers to setup and coach girls through workshops.

If you are interested, please contact Lynette Lopez.

Certificate of Merit (COM)

The COM program was established to honor high school women having high achievement in science and mathematics and to encourage them to consider engineering as a career.  To receive a certificate, the student should be someone whom you would like to encourage considering engineering as one of their career options.   

For more information, please contact at swepnw.outreachvp@gmail.com.

Kids in Science and Engineering (KISE)

KISE is an after school program at Kimball funded through SWE PNW. Once a week, a diverse group of girls participate in STEM related hands-on activity.

For more information, please contact Amie Patao.

FIRST Robotics

SWE and FIRST® are joining forces to ‘ignite young minds’ to pursue education and career opportunities in STEM. Volunteer opportunities in all four FIRST programs, covering ages 6-18.

If you are interested in volunteering please contact Dana Day.

Inspire a girl to change the world!

The Society of Women Engineers is partnering with Techbridge, an award-winning national nonprofit that is engineering a revolution for girls to change the world through science, technology, and engineering. Since 2000, more than 6,000 girls from under-served communities have participated in Techbridge’s award-winning after school programs, which present technical concepts through fun, hands-on activities. Funded in part by the National Science Foundation, we expanded to Seattle in 2014.

Techbridge is recruiting passionate, dynamic women engineers to serve as role models through a one-time 90-minute commitment at a high-quality, comprehensive after-school program in the Highline School District (in Burien, SeaTac, and Seattle).

Techbridge will equip you with tips and ideas for engaging with the girls, and is especially looking for women from underrepresented ethnic groups to reflect the diversity of the girls they serve. In particular, Techbridge is looking for electrical, chemical, structural, and mechanical engineers to visit this winter.

Click here for a map of Techbridge’s Greater Seattle programs. For more information or to sign up, contact Callista Chen at cchen@techbridgegirls.org or 917.214.3203.

(Article by Dana Day; originally published in Notes from the Northwest, Volume 1, Issue 04)

Upcoming Outreach Opportunities

SWE PNW is gearing up for our season of outreach. Check out below for the latest list of upcoming opportunities - and be sure to check back and/or read the latest Notes from the Northwest for even more!

PSEC Mentor Night: Seattle Central

This is being held on Thursday, January 21, 2016 and they are expecting 120 - 135 students. PSEC would like to have more Electrical and Computer Mentors.  Sign up at http://www.eventbrite.com/e/2016-seattle-central-college-engineering-mentor-night-tickets-19828296970?ref=ebtnebregn

Mentoring Opportunity: Engineering Exploration Night

The University of Washington College of Engineering is looking for a few more U.W. engineering alumni to volunteer for their Engineering Exploration Night. It will to be held on Thursday, January 28 at 5:30 pm in Maple Hall.   If you can make it, contact Sue M. Brennan at suemb7@uw.edu directly

PSEC Engineering Fair

February 6, 2016

10AM to 4PM

Museum of Flight

The Puget Sound Engineering Council (PSEC)  hosts an Engineering Fair in conjunction with local chapters of engineering societies, colleges, and businesses. The Engineering Fair generally has about 25 display booths, staffed by practicing engineers and technical people representing many types of engineering disciplines.

Volunteers needed throughout the day to participate in our SWE PNW booth.  Contact swepnw.president@gmail.com if you'd like to sign up. 

Expanding Your Horizons (EYH)
We need a team of volunteers at each event to guide a group of 20 middle or high school girls through a hands on activity. EYH is usually an all day event, typically running from 8-2 pm. We participate each year and the girls who come to our workshop have selected us based on their interest. It's been very successful in the past and we need your commitment to continue our success!
This year's dates and locations are:

• Saturday March 12, 2016 at Seattle University. (Middle School)
• Friday, March 25, 2016 at Bellevue College (High School)
• Saturday, April 02, 2016. Bellevue College (Middle School)

If interested, please email Lynette at lynette.a.lopez@boeing.com

Elementary Explore Engineering

These events will run from March 26, 2016 through May 22, 2016. Holly Bork is coordinating and will have additional information in the near future. 

Call for FY16 SWE PNW Leadership Team Volunteers

We have a great team behind the scenes helping to lead & plan activities for SWE PNW – but we can always use more help!

If you are interested in taking on a volunteer role from small to large, let us know. Below are the current areas where we could really use your help and the contact emails.

Outreach (swepnw.outreachvp@gmail.com)

• Outreach Vice President (please contact swepnw.president@gmail.com if you are interested in this role)
• Exploring Engineering Activities committee and/or event hosts
• Event photographers
• Outreach event recap authors for newsletter and/or blog

Professional Development (swe.pnw.prof.develop@gmail.com)

• Event photographers
• PD event recap/key take-aways authors for newsletter and/or blog

Virtual Brand Team (swe.pnw.virtual.brand@gmail.com)

• Committee members to help with the behind the scenes infrastructure planning, development, and maintenance
• SWE PNW Member Forum Conversation Starters/Leaders
• Newsletter Reviewer(s)
• Guest Contributors to help with content (written or photos) for newsletter, blog, and/or social media postings

Embrace the Power of Mentoring

SWE Pacific Northwest professional section will be partnering with the SWE student sections at the University of Washington, Seattle University, and Everett CC in a structured mentoring program, and we want you to be a part of the program.  It is a short time commitment, but a very valuable experience for the students.  If you are interested in being a mentor, please see below for details of the program!

Who:  
Experienced engineers of any discipline.  Each interested mentor will complete the short bio/experience questionnaire found here: http://goo.gl/forms/A4oRiim1Gx

Please submit questionnaire by December 4th. We will need enough mentors as there are students signed up to the program and it will be first come first serve for mentors.  Please help spread the word!

What:
A structured, on-going mentorship with an experienced engineer so engineering students can gain access to professionals’ experiences.  We would love to have SWE members as mentors, but it is not a criteria.

When:
The program will meet with everyone 4 times over the course of the academic year.  The first meeting will include a speaker to discuss mentoring.  It will also be a chance to network and meet your potential mentor/mentee (similar to speed mentoring).

We will pair mentor and mentees based on preference questionnaires submitted after the first meeting. The mentor and mentee will then schedule meetings on their own (over the phone, over a cup of coffee, etc.) to engage in a mentoring relationship.

The kick-off/pairing meeting will be Monday, December 7th at 6:00PM (location details to follow). You must attend in order to participate in the program.

Future Dates for Group Mentoring Meetings:
March 1st
May 18th
Note: All meetings include dinner. Please save the dates now.

Questions?
Contact kay.pre@gmail.com and tamairaross@yahoo.com

Girl Scouts of Western Washington STEM Fair

The Girl Scouts of Western Washington is hosting a STEM Fair. They are having a bridge building contest (Tiny Trusses) and on the testing day will be hosting a STEM fair during bridge testing.

When: Saturday February 27th 10:00-12:00
Where: Burlington-Edison High School

They are inviting all Girl Scouts in the area to come out to our STEM fair and bring their families and friends . Girls at the fair will range in age from Kindergarten to 12th grade. Contestants are 4th—12th grade. Girl Scouts of Western Washington would like to have a wide variety of STEM based tables, activities and displays to interest and educate girls on STEM opportunities, careers and companies.

If you, your group or your company are interested in hosting a table/activity, please let them know. Email the information listed below to Erica.fifer@gmail.com

• Business/Group Name
• Contact Person Name
• Contact Number
• Email
• We will bring a: Display/Game/Activity
• Space needed (approximate area you’d like)
• Brief description of activity/game/display

Sedro Woolley Area Girl Scout Bridge Building Contest - Mentors Needed

Erica Fifer is a civil engineer and Girl Scout leader in Western Washington. She is planning a bridge building contest for 4th grade girls in the Sedro Woolley area, which is about 1 hour north of Seattle.

One thing they are looking for are engineers (women or men, but women would be great) to help with the events and be mentors. Below are some of the key dates, activities, and types of volunteering role.

Key Dates & Activities:

• January 16th - Initial meeting
• This is when they will go over the majority of the information and have girls start discussing and drawing their designs.  
• This would be a 2.5-3 hour time commitment.
• January 30th - Finalize drawings and get drawings approved
• The teams would come with their drawings done.  
• Mentors will review them, make suggestions and approve the final drawing.  
• Girls will be given their bridge building kits and start on building if they have time.  
• This would be about 2 hours.
• February 13th - Optional day
• Girls to come get help with bridge building and get questions answered.
• February 27th - Testing and STEM festival day.
• They will be testing each bridge to find the break load and plan to have different groups and individuals come in and have STEM booths.

So here's the types of volunteers they are looking for:

• Bridge Building / Examples
• She is looking for adults to make bridges that they can have completed before January 16th.
• These would be entered into the 'adult' or 'professional' division and to give girls some ideas to start with. 
• A kit would be provided and you'd have until January 16th to build a bridge. 
• Mentors
• She needs folks to be mentors.  
• The idea is that each group of 2-3 girls will have a mentor assigned to them, each mentor will have 3-4 groups (depending on how many groups and mentors they get).
• They want to be sure the girls are doing the drawing and designs, but they want a mentor to help out by answering questions, making suggestions and making sure the drawings and design seem reasonable.
• This would be a commitment to be at the events on January 16th and 30th for up to 3 hours each day.
• STEM Festival February 27th
• They are also looking for companies or groups to host booths at the STEM festival.
• They are going to invite all Girl Scouts in the area and families and friends.  
• This will likely be 4 ours or more and is still in the planning stages

If you could contact Erica Fifer by November or December 2015, that would be great.

ABJ2016: Explore, Empower, Engage is coming - and volunteers are needed!

Mark your calendars for February 18-21, 2016 – it’s going to be a great joint region A, B, and J conference hosted by Region J and the PNW section!

The website (http://abjconference.swe.org/) is live and already has some great information up on the conference activities and planned events for the conference weekend. Here are some quick highlights for what's up on the website:

• Call for Speakers is open until September 30th: http://abjconference.swe.org/call-for-abstracts.html
• Call for Keynote Nominations is open until September 30th: http://abjconference.swe.org/call-for-keynote-nominations.html
• Sponsorship packet is now posted: http://abjconference.swe.org/sponsorship--support.html
• Registration will be opening in late September!

In addition to the great things being planned, the planning committee is still looking for volunteers to help behind the scenes.

Here's the current list of volunteer needs:

• Sponsorship Committee:
• Multiple people are needed to contact potential sponsors for sponsorship.
• One person is needed to serve as liason to the finance committee.
• Program & Speakers Committee:
• Multiple people are needed to review session speaker abstracts in October and November.  
• Multiple people are needed to review keynote nominations in October and November.  
• The committee meets every Wednesday at 7pm PT.
• Marketing Committee: 
• Advertising:
• One person is needed to serve as chair and spearhead conference advertising. They will be responsible for getting the word out that the conference is happening (on radio, TV, news, newspapers, local journals, letting tech companies know, etc.).
• Multiple people are needed to help the chair.
• Communications: 
• One person is needed to attend and take minutes for the weekly Conference Planning Meeting on Mondays at 6:30 
• One person is needed to handle social media updates about the conference.
• One person needed to create the conference program book.
• Website:
• One person is needed to help with website updates and to serve as a backup to the website chair.
• University Integration Committee: 
• Multiple people are needed to help plan the Career Fair and Hiring Event, including reaching out to sponsors (with the Sponsorship Committee), planning correspondence and marketing for the event (with the Marketing Committee), and supporting during the Career Fair (organizing, verifying tables & companies are oriented, etc.).  
• Multiple people are needed to help review technical poster competition abstracts from December to February.
• Outreach Event:
• Multiple volunteers are needed to help plan and coordinate the Outreach event on Sunday afternoon of the conference.
• One person is needed to manage the local STEM showcase during the pre-event time.  They will be responsible for reaching out to local STEM organizations (there’s a list) and tending to them day of.

As planning goes forward, please check out http://abjconference.swe.org/be-a-volunteer.html or contact regionabjconference@gmail.com with your questions on volunteering.

We hope to see you there in February 2016! 

August 2014 Event & Activity Recap

Check out some of our August 2014 Event Summaries below:


Planetarium Event
On Saturday, August 23rd, approximately 20 SWE-PNW members and their family and friends enjoyed an evening of stargazing at the University of Washington’s planetarium housed in the Physics-Astronomy auditorium. This informal show was led by Kristine Washburn, faculty advisor for the Everett Community College’s SWE-Collegiate Interest Group.

She guided participants through the night time sky as viewed from Seattle, farther north from Alaska, and even from below the equator, identifying the north star and surrounding constellations along the way. We looked at star clusters, nebulae, planets, and galaxies that have been mapped over a significant period of time with the cooperation of universities as well as government and private industries. It was a highly engaging and interactive session.


2014 ISEC Family Science Fest
Our outreach volunteers headed to the Museum of Flight for the 2014 International Space Elevator Consortium's (ISEC) Family Science Fest on Saturday August 23rd.

We had a booth at the event along with many other STEM outreach groups and our activity was paper helicopters. The kids had a blast finding out the differences between the big helicopter and the small helicopter and seeing what happens when you switch the orientation of the rotors. We even had some helicopter races by dropping two of them from the second story of the museum and seeing which one hit the ground first! Thanks to all of our volunteers!

(Originally Published in the SWE PNW Newsletter, October 2014)