PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. -- More than 70 high school females representing 23 New Jersey schools in eight counties attended Picatinny Arsenal's fifth annual "Introduce a Girl to Engineering" event on Feb. 23.
The purpose of the event was to encourage females to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). These career fields are predominantly male.
During the event, Picatinny engineers showcased the products that they work on, including sound energy, aerospace, and more. By participating in hands-on demonstrations and experiments, attendees were given a first-hand appreciation for the engineering at Picatinny.
The high school students met and spoke with Picatinny engineers and scientists, mostly female, who are developing armaments now being used by our warfighters, and armaments technology for future Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen.
"Today we're here to show high school students things you can do with an engineering degree," explained Tara Kinnaman, Assistant Project Manager for the M4/M4A1 Carbine guns. Kinnaman was at the event showing the students the guns that Project Manager Solider Weapons manages.
"I think us being females in the field that we're in, it's important to show younger girls that you can also be part of an environment like this," said Kinnaman, adding that she does not think young girls realize that there are females developing weapons and ammunition for the military.
Kinnaman said that her college courses usually consisted of classes that were about 20 percent female.
"So out of a class of thirtyish students, you may only have five or six females. So it's kind of depressing and a little lonely at times. We definitely need more females in STEM," she said.
PASSION A PLUS
"It is important to develop a passion for science and math in the next generation of women," explained Gihan Oraby, event co-organizer and Picatinny employee.
"I believe that every conversation, demonstration, interaction these young girls have with STEM is vital in their decision making for their future."
This was Bridgewater-Raritan High School student Chloe Dorward's second time attending Picatinny's Introduce a Girl to Engineering event.
She enjoyed the demonstrations and said that one of her favorite parts of the event was learning about technology that autonomously guides a missile to its target.
Nicole Taylor of East Orange STEM Academy plans to major in astrophysics or physics. She said talking with female engineers about their work and experiences was beneficial. "It kind of gives you encouragement to further pursue your dream despite the gender ratio," Taylor said.
Vania Haynes, also a senior at East Orange STEM Academy, learned an important lesson while trying create a tower out of marshmallows at a display.
The display demonstrated the importance of System Engineering, which is process engineers use to solve complex problems in an organized way.
"Not everything that you build or create is going to come out the way that you want it. You're going to have failures, but you just have to keep going," Haynes said.
School districts who attended include Bloomfield, Boonton, Bridgewater-Raritan Regional, East Orange High School, East Orange STEM Academy, Hackettstown, Hillsborough, Kinnelon, Middlesex, Montclair, Montgomery Township, Morris Knolls, Mount Saint Mary Academy, Newton, North Warren, Piscataway, Pope John XXIII Regional High School, South Plainfield, The Academy of Saint Elizabeth, Union City High School -- Academy for Enrichment and Advancement, Union County Vocational Technical School -- Magnet, Warren Hills, and Watchung.
Related Links:
U.S. Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Cente
U.S. Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center
Social Sharing