TxGCP "In the Spotlight" at WEPAN Conference

The Texas Girls Collaborative Project (TxGCP) is joining forces with the Women in Engineering ProActive Network (WEPAN) to provide an amazing opportunity to connect with organizations and individuals around the state and across the nation interested in the advancement of girls in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).

In the Spotlight 2009: Best and Emerging Practices in Recruitment and Talent Development
Friday, June 19, 2009
1:30 - 6 p.m.
Omni Austin Hotel Downtown
Austin, Texas
Hosted in conjunction with the WEPAN 2009 National Conference

Who should attend?

K-12 educators and administrators; community college and university educators and administrators; corporate recruiters or outreach volunteers; STEM and girl-focused not-for-profit educators and administrators; policy makers; and anyone interested in the advancement of girls in STEM. Register Now

Free for K-12 teachers, counselors and administrators thanks to a grant from the Texas Workforce Commission (NOTE: 4 hours of CPEs available for K-12 educators through Skillpoint Alliance, a Texas State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC) approved continuing education provider.)
$25 for TxGCP eNewsletter subscribers
$50 for all other participants

How you can actively participate?

Showcase your best practices, awesome organization or latest research in the Spotlight 2009 - Best and Emerging Practices Showcase. Submit an abstract to be considered for inclusion in this exciting forum with WEPAN and TxGCP attendees from across the nation and state.
Submit Your Abstract Now

Schedule - Friday, June 19, 2009

1:30 - 1:45 p.m.	Welcome
1:45 - 3:00 p.m.	Spotlight 2009 - Best and Emerging Practices Showcase WEPAN and TxGCP posters, hands-on activity demonstrations, and a showcase of best and emerging practices. TxGCP is accepting abstracts for Spotlight 2009. Showcase presenters to date include the following (full descriptions available): Addressing Regional and State Competitiveness: Central Texas Engineering Education Collaborative Attracting Women to Computer Security through an REU CalWomenTech: Huge Increases in Women via Marketing Central Texas Discover Engineering: Bringing Engineering to the Community Creating a Win-Win Situation by Taking a Step Towards Diversity Creating and maintaining corporate diversity programs and affinity groups Design Squad and Engineering Your Life: Bringing Engineering to Life Developing early career orientation and professional development Elementary School Computer Science: From Bee Bots to Crystal Rain Forests in Houston ISD Engineering Technology Program for Girls Ages 9-13 Engineering the Leander Way: An After School Collaboration Using Engineering is Elementary Curriculum Expanding the Pipeline: Increasing Women's Participation in STEM Faculty Recruitment and Hiring Processes at University Girl Scouts of Central Texas Girlstart Guide to Running a STEM Camp for Your Company I Know I Need a Mentor IBM Interactive Tools Encourage Diversity Imaginarium of South Texas Wind Tunnel Tinkering Kentucky's Success with the National Girls Collaborative Project Latinitas Tech Savvy Chica Project: A Collaborative Workshop Series Encouraging Hispanic Girls to Explore Technology Lockheed Martin National Center for Women & Information Technology Practical Guide to Advance Women in Engineering Share Your Stories! 20 Years of WEPAN She Power! - Women In Technology Mentoring Program for Female IBM Taiwan employees and Female College Students Society of Women Engineers (SWE) - Aspire, Advance, Achieve Texas Alliance for Minorities in Engineering (TAME) The Benefits and Challenges of a Girls' Pre-Engineering Camp The Power of Synergy: Networking via Mentoring The Power of the Women On Whose Shoulders We Stand Texas Girls Collaborative Project Tinkerer's Workshop: An Austin Children's Museum and UT Austin Women in Engineering Program Collaboration UTEP Future Educators of Math and Science "Girls Count" Collaborative Outreach Program WEPAN Knowledge Center: Research, Best Practices, and Professional Communities Dedicated to Advancing All Women in Engineering
3:15 - 4:00 p.m.	Concurrent Sessions 1. Engineer Your Life and Effective Messaging to Engage Girls in STEM: Thea Sahr from WGBH Boston, one of the lead organizations of the Engineer Your Life initiative, shares research and best practices in effective messaging to girls to interest them in STEM fields. 2. Communication, Assessment and Stereotype Threat: Matt McGlone from The University of Texas at Austin shares his research on stereotype threat and assessments in partnership with Austin not-for-profit Girlstart.
4:15 - 5:00 p.m.	Concurrent Sessions 1. Creating Successful Corporate Partnerships: A panel of corporate representatives led by Kathy Graese Tobey, WEPAN Board Member and Vice President, Coherent Technologies, Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, will share the inside scoop on how to reach out to them to create successful partnerships; session includes discussions on both engaging corporate volunteers and seeking and securing funding. Corporate representatives include: Ray Algren, Vice President of Developer and Academic Relations, National Instruments Russell Bridges, Government & Community Affairs Manager, 3M Austin Center Lisa Gable, Global Women's Initiatives, IBM Julie M. Strategos, USS Chief Engineer & VP Technical Operations, Lockheed Martin Maritime Systems and Sensors (MS2) 2. Collaboration 101: Explore best practices in collaborating on projects, events, grants and more. Facilitated by Karen Peterson and Brenda Britsch of the National Girls Collaborative Project, learn effective collaboration basics and hear from successful collaborations, including TxGCP mini-grant participants, on what made them flourish.
5:00 - 6:00 p.m.	Networking in the Showcase Wrap up "In the Spotlight 2009" and the WEPAN Conference with a networking reception in the midst of the posters and hands-on activities in the Showcase.

WEPAN National Conference

June 17-19, 2009
Omni Hotel Downtown Austin

WEPAN's national conference gathers 200-plus professionals annually to translate the most current research into best practices. Recurring and emerging issues are addressed by participants representing industry, community college and universities, K-12 and informal education, policy makers and other advocates. Dedicated to creating changes that enhance the success of women of all races and ethnicities in science, technology, engineering and math. This year WEPAN is proud to announce its conference theme "Center Stage: Effective Strategies for Recruitment and Talent Development".

One day and full conference registrations are available for those interested in attending the WEPAN Conference. Having the WEPAN Conference in Texas is an amazing opportunity for learning for all involved in STEM education across the state.