Teentech 2014

At Georgian Court 2014

STEM for girls focus of Teentech at Georgian Court

by Francesca Cocchi

(May 29, 2014)

Georgian Court University sponsors teentech, a program that connects girls with science and technology. Samantha Aries (left), a technologist at International Flavors and Fragrances in Hazlet, teaches students about the chemistry of chocolate - May 29, 2014-Lakewood, NJ. (Photo: Staff photographer/Bob Bielk/Asbury Park Press )

Georgian Court University sponsors teentech, a program that connects girls with science and technology. Samantha Aries (left), a technologist at International Flavors and Fragrances in Hazlet, teaches students about the chemistry of chocolate – May 29, 2014-Lakewood, NJ. (Photo: Staff photographer/Bob Bielk/Asbury Park Press )

Confection chemist Samantha Arias slammed a tray with chocolate-filled wells against a desk — the move loosens the air bubbles, she explained to about 15 high school girls visiting Georgian Court University recently.

Downstairs, another group chuckled as they examined samples of their own saliva mixed with an energy drink under the instruction of Associate Biology Professor Carolyn Bergman for a session on DNA, fingerprinting and blood typing.

The lessons were very different, but the instructors said both had their roots in chemistry.

“I never knew that there was so much chemistry (in chocolate making),” said Molly Nadeau, 17, of Rockaway, a junior who says she’s one of the only female students in her woodshop and electricity classes at Morris Knolls High School. She said she’s considering chemistry as a major after the syrupy-sweet lesson.

Teentech 2014, a day of hands-on technology workshops for girls in grades 9, 10 and 11 sponsored by the American Association of University Women-New Jersey and Georgian Court University, featured sessions on forsensic technology, sundials, cocoa science, large-scale technology problems and data visualization as well as an animation, print and multimedia workshop for educators and chaperones. About 120 girls from 11 schools attended the May 29 event, which has been held at different colleges for 15 years.

“It’s important for us to have an event like this,” Nadeau said, noting that males are not the only ones in science-related fields. “It’s really encouraging.”

Arias, who is an applications technologist for sweet and dairy at International Flavors and Fragrances in Union Beach, highlighted what she considers the value of TeenTech.

“(The students) get to learn that there is way more to science than what’s in the lab,” Arias said. “You can do virtually anything with your science degree.”

Women represent just 24 percent of the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) workforce, but earn on average 33 percent more when they work in STEM fields, according to the U.S. Department of Commerce’s 2011 Women in STEM: A Gender Gap to Innovation report.

New Jersey’s AAUW President Sally Goodson of Nutley said the nonprofit organization’s goal is to empower women and foster equity and leadership skills. Goodson said TeenTech serves as AAUW’s cornerstone program, informing young women about valuable STEM job opportunities that can ultimately help close the pay gap between men and women and increase equality in the workforce.

For high school girls like those attending Teentech, “the choices are now,” Goodson said. The retired mother and grandmother advises students to keep STEM classes in the mix so that they don’t narrow their education and eliminate future possibilities.

NJ’s AAUW Vice President of Programming Carol Cohen said the organization has grown through college connections. Treasurer Karen Brown said the Teentech organizers had to turn away interested high schools once maximum capacity was reached.

BEHIND THE NEWS

Women represent just 24 percent of the science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) workforce, but earn on average 33 percent more when they work in STEM fields.

U.S. Department of Commerce’s 2011 Women in STEM: A Gender Gap to Innovation report

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