07/23/96

Attention News Editors: Good photo opportunity 10 a.m. Friday, Aug. 2 on Morton Hill.

Contact: Jeff Giesey, Russ College of Engineering, 614/593/1573

ATHENS, Ohio -- Thirty-four female high school students from Ohio and several other states will meet at Ohio University for a two-week workshop designed to introduce young women to careers in engineering.

This is the third year Women in Engineering and Technology, set for July 21-Aug. 3, has been offered at the university, said Jeff Giesey, associate professor of electrical engineering and an organizer of the two-week workshop for high school juniors and seniors.

"Women are underrepresented in engineering and this program helps us expose female high school students to interesting aspects within the field that we hope will encourage them to consider a career in engineering," Giesey said.

Faculty from the Russ College of Engineering will teach the students introductory engineering skills using computer labs and hands-on activities. After one week of basic instruction, the students will use what they've learned to construct electric vehicles made from plastic building blocks. At 10 a.m. Aug. 2, the students will race the cars up Morton Hill on the university's campus.

During the workshop, participants stay in dorms and earn college credit in introductory engineering. If the students later choose to enroll at Ohio University, they will also receive a $1,000 scholarship for tuition.