Area eighth-grade girls will get the chance to be an engineer for a day. Nearly 100 students from Fargo, Moorhead and West Fargo Public Schools will visit the NDSU College of Engineering and area engineering companies as part of Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day set for Tuesday, Feb. 24. 

The event’s purpose is to foster an interest in science, technology, engineering and math, commonly known as STEM, according to Holly Erickson, NDSU STEM outreach coordinator.

The day begins with students forming teams and visiting host companies John Deere Electronic Solutions, KLJ Engineering, Bobcat Co. and Moore Engineering. The students and female engineers, who serve as mentors, will work together to solve problems, learn more about engineering and have fun.

Students will spend the afternoon on the NDSU campus, where they will participate in a panel discussion with students from the NDSU chapter of the Society of Women Engineers.

Later in the day, the eighth-graders will use paper and masking tape to construct a device that will protect a potato chip. The chip will have to survive drop, weight and submersion testing.

Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day is part of the NDSU College of Engineering’s outreach activities aimed at inspiring youth to consider an education and career within the STEM disciplines.

For more information, contact Erickson at 701-231-7697 orholly.erickson@ndsu.edu.

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