ENVISION:
STEM Career Day Supporting Young Women

SAVE THE DATE!

ENVISION 2023 is scheduled for Saturday, February 25, 2023!

You can also subscribe to our Science Outreach Community Newsletter to receive information as it becomes available. 

Online registration starts at noon on January 24, 2023.

Register Here

Overview

The primary goal of ENVISION: STEM Career Day Supporting Young Women is to help girls and young women see themselves in the STEM fields. However, ENVISION is open to all students who are currently in grades 6 to 12.

Throughout this experience, ENVISION attendees will hear inspiring speakers, learn from Penn State scientists, engineers, mathematicians, and technology experts, and participate in informal conversations with students and professional scientists. If you want to learn what women in STEM do, what they can accomplish, and how STEM is relevant to your own journey, this is the event for you!

If you have any questions about the event, please reach out to the Penn State Office of Science Outreach at outreach@science.psu.edu. You may also view the ENVISION registration questions before registering.

Program Details for 2023

When: Saturday, February 25, 2023, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. 

Where: Penn State University Park campus 

Cost: $30 includes lunch in a Penn state dining hall, a T-shirt, and all program materials. Financial aid is available!

Registration: Registration for this event will open January 24, 2023 at noon and close when full or by February 19, 2023.

Flyer: Click HERE to download a copy of our 2023 ENVISION Flyer shown below.

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Thank you to all who participated in ENVISION 2022!

We have created a Facebook album of photos that you can access here: ENVISION 2022

You can also view videos of our Keynote Speakers here: I AM STEM

2023 ENVISION Tracks

See below for our 2023 workshop offerings! Tracks 1 - 5 are for grades 9 - 12, while tracks 6 - 8 are for grades 6 - 8. Tracks subject to change depending on number of students registered- if your track is changed significantly, we will contact you to see if you'd rather switch to another. 

High School (Tracks 1 - 5)

• TRACK 1

  • Understanding Linguistic Diversity- Use scientific tools to explore and understand language, how people learn it, and how and why it has so much diversity.

  • STEM Escape Room with ARL- Do you want to learn about the large variety of research and work under the broad “engineering” category?  Join us to gain a better understanding of the importance of teamwork in problem-solving methodologies, by utilizing software/programming skills, mechanical engineering, optics, and buoyancy.

  • Forensic Science- We’ve all seen an episode of CSI, but what is it REALLY like to be a forensic scientist? Join the Forensics Club for an hour-long workshop to find out!

• TRACK 2

  • STEM Escape Room with ARL- Do you want to learn about the large variety of research and work under the broad “engineering” category?  Join us to gain a better understanding of the importance of teamwork in problem-solving methodologies, by utilizing software/programming skills, mechanical engineering, optics, and buoyancy.

  • Materials that Matter- Learn about a variety of basic materials applications such as metallic glasses, hygroscopic materials, shape memory alloys, and advanced microscopy analysis!

  • All About Biotech- Join the Center of Excellence in Industrial Biotechnology to learn how biotechnology impacts more than medicine. Then step into the Huck Institutes’ CSL Behring Fermentation Facility to see how biotechnology is revolutionizing the way we do new and exciting science!

• Track 3

  • My Microbial Life- Join the MicroARCH Lab to learn all about your microbiome!

  • Magnify Your Curiosity- Did you know that you can make your own microscope? In this workshop you’ll get to do just that! We’ll then be examining leaf stomata and other microscopic wonders with your very own scientific instrument.

  • Girls! Design the World (and Space)- Join engineers from Trimech Solutions and learn all about 3D printing! You’ll get to use real hand-held 3D printers in this fun and engaging engineering extravaganza!

• Track 4

  • Girls! Design the World (and Space)- Join engineers from Trimech Solutions and learn all about 3D printing! You’ll get to use real hand-held 3D printers in this fun and engaging engineering extravaganza!

  • How is your cell phone made? How everyday products depend on global systems- What does your phone have to do with sustainability? More than you'd think! Learn about where the components of our modern tech come from and how we can use this knowledge to help our planet!"

  • Discovering the Engineer (and Engineering!) Within You- What’s it like being a woman in engineering?  Participants will learn about the engineering design process and the importance of collaboration in engineering through a hands-on design challenge AND get to talk with a panel of Society of Women Engineers students to tell you what it’s like doing engineering as a career!

• Track 5 - FULL

  • Nerdy about Neurons- It’s time to learn all about brain science! We’ll get to use microscopes to analyze brain samples and learn all about how neurons function! *Warning- will involve squishy biological samples.*

  • Frankenberry- Exploring DNA!- What is DNA, and how does it work? We all have DNA, and in this workshop you’ll get to extract some from fruit… and your own body! (Don’t worry, it won’t hurt!)

  • Language Diversity and Inclusion: Bridging the gap between Language and Technology- How do we use and recognize language, and how can computers do the same?

Middle School (Tracks 6 – 8)

• Track 6

  • Staying "Rad": An Exploration of Nuclear Science and Engineering- Have you ever wanted to visit a real nuclear reactor? Here’s your chance! The staff from Breazeale Nuclear Reactor on campus will be taking students through hands-on (but safe!) activities all about radiation science, including a visit to the actual reactor! No swimming allowed!

  • Become A Microbial Detective!- What’s a microbiologist? Hint, it’s not just a short scientist. In this workshop you’ll learn all about bacteria and try your hand at identifying them!

  • Building a More Sustainable World: Tree Machine and Carbon Café- Learn all about how we can protect our community from climate change! From the food we eat to the trees in our yard, see how we can make smarter choices for a better future!

• Track 7 - FULL

  • Why it "Matters": Materials Science and Engineering in Action- What is materials science, and how does it shape the world around us? Check out some fascinating new materials while learning all about this exciting career option!

  • Girls! Design the World (and Space)- Join engineers from Trimech Solutions and learn all about 3D printing! You’ll get to use real hand-held 3D printers in this fun and engaging engineering extravaganza!

  • Staying "Rad": An Exploration of Nuclear Science and Engineering- Have you ever wanted to visit a real nuclear reactor? Here’s your chance! The staff from Breazeale Nuclear Reactor on campus will be taking students through hands-on (but safe!) activities all about radiation science, including a visit to the actual reactor! No swimming allowed!

• Track 8 -- FULL

  • Biochemistry- How do all the tiny parts inside our bodies work, and can see see any of the chemicals involved? Yes! Join Biochemistry & Molecular Biology students for a set of fun activities including extracting DNA!

  • Staying "Rad": An Exploration of Nuclear Science and Engineering- Have you ever wanted to visit a real nuclear reactor? Here’s your chance! The staff from Breazeale Nuclear Reactor on campus will be taking students through hands-on (but safe!) activities all about radiation science, including a visit to the actual reactor! No swimming allowed!

  • STEM Escape Room with ARL- Do you want to learn about the large variety of research and work under the broad “engineering” category?  Join us to gain a better understanding of the importance of teamwork in problem-solving methodologies, by utilizing software/programming skills, mechanical engineering, optics, and buoyancy.