Campers visit Devon Energy, explore jobs

Dozens of eighthgrade girls from across the state visited Devon Energy Center this month as part of the Southwest Alliance for Girl’s Enrichment (SAGE) STEAM Camp at Southwestern Oklahoma State University.

SAGE STEAM camp is a weeklong residential program that incorporates the arts and humanities to enrich science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education. Studies suggest adding the arts may increase interest in STEM subjects and help close the gender gap in these fields.

While at Devon, camp attendees explored virtual reality with a Microsoft HoloLens, a computer headset which integrates holograms into the real world. Campers also participated in hands-on activities such as speaking with talking robots known as chatbots, working on computers, examining fossils and learning about life as a geologist from female scientists.

After the workshops at Devon, the girls toured the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum. They viewed exhibits and used interactive tables to learn about forensics and crime scene investigation.

“The girls at the camp may one day be scientists or engineers at Devon,” said Christina Rehkop, community relations manager at Devon.

“We want to help create the next generation of problem solvers who will use their ingenuity to make the world an even better place to live.”

[PHOTO PROVIDED] Eighth-grade girls from across Oklahoma visited the Devon Energy Center recently to learn about geology, speak with female scientists and explore hologram technology through SAGE STEAM Camp.