Girl Tech teaches middle schoolers about technology!

WHAT: Join the University of Illinois Springfield’s Computer Science Department for two days of fun exploring technology during Girl Tech 2013. Hands-on activities include geo-caching with iPad, Scratch programming, molecular gastronomy and much more.

WHEN: Thursday, June 13 and Friday, June 14, 2013 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

WHERE: University Hall Building (UHB) on the UIS campus

DETAILS: Studies show the number of women in higher education in computer science is falling drastically. Girl Tech is geared toward girls in middle school because interest seems to start decreasing around that age.

Highlighting the sessions this year is “Geo-caching with iPad”, which will use software and maps for creating a treasure hunt around campus. “Fabulous Fab Lab” will use some new high-tech toys: a 3-D scanner, a laser cutter and a 3-D printer. “Green Screen and Limelight”, will allow girls to record short videos and insert themselves into a background anywhere on earth. Using the MIT-designed language “Scratch”, the girls will create and program their own computer games.

Other sessions this summer will include: “Hi-Tech Design using Gimp”, which will allow girls to design a t-shirt for their team. “I see SUN spots!” will use telescopes equipped with solar filters to view current sunspot activity. “What’s to Eat?” will look at technology in the kitchen by making snacks with molecular gastronomy.

The registration fee is $30 per girl, which covers lunch both days, snacks and a participation t-shirt. To be eligible to participate, the girl must be entering 7th, 8th or 9th grade in the fall of 2013. For more information about the camp and to register visit http://csc.uis.edu/girltech/. The registration deadline is Thursday, June 6.

For more information, contact Mary Sheila Tracy, camp coordinator and UIS Computer Science instructor, at 217/206-7328 or mtrac1@uis.edu.