Event encourages girls to explore STEM

Local group encourages girls to get into science, technology

Girls Exploring Tomorrow’s Technology will draw 1,000 girls, parents and educators from 120 schools.

PHOENIXVILLE » This weekend, girls from around the region will get to dive into science, technology, engineering and math with local mentors.

Girls Exploring Tomorrow’s Technology (GETT) will be drawing 1,000 girls, parents and educators from more than 120 schools and nine counties this weekend to an interactive event aimed at garnering interest in science, technology, engineering and math, also referred to as STEM.

The event will take place on Saturday, March 17, at Phoenxiville Area Middle School and will feature female mentors from top regional STEM companies who will be conducting activities with girls in grades 5-10. Girls will get the chance to work with mentors on more than 80 hands-on activities including decoding DNA, using technology to make music, analyzing blood spatter, exploring aerospace technology, building circuits and creating lava lamps.

“Every year we ensure that GETT is free to the young girls who participate so that young women from across the region have the opportunity to explore careers in science, technology, engineering and math,” says Diana Kimmich, Talent Acquisition Manager at Analytical Graphics Inc. and co-chairwoman of the GETT Planning Committee. “More than 800 girls attended last year’s GETT and we expect this year to be even bigger.”

GETT is an all-girl program that is designed to spark a young woman’s interest in tech. The hands-on activities encourage girls to create, design, play and change the world through tech.

The program began in Chester County in 2001 as a response to the under-representation of young women in STEM related industries. Since that time, GETT has expanded to include Southeastern Pennsylvania, South Jersey and northern Delaware. GETT is presented by the Chester County Economic Development Council via its Innovative Technology Action Group initiative.

This year, the program will include new Innovation Zone activities, which will allow girls to get involved in more focused learning such as wind tunnel experiments and coding and modifying circuitry. Girls will also get the chance to enjoy exhibits from more than 60 regional organizations including Sikorsky, Vanguard, West Pharmaceutical, Cerner, Dell Boomi, GlaxoSmithKline, Da Vinci Science Center and the Franklin Institute.

This year’s opening keynote speaker is Brittney Burchett, a director within the Technology and Strategy Innovation team at Unisys. The closing keynote is Brenna Quinn, Senior Vice President, Solution Lifecycle Management and General Manager, Health Services Solutions at Cerner.