Tech Savvy - 2008

Promoting Science and Technology Careers for Girls

Each year, the State University of New York at Buffalo and UB Engineering partner with the local chapter of the American Association of University Women (AAUW) with significant financial support from the Praxair Foundation to present an annual Tech Savvy conference. The conference encourages girls from Western New York in 6-9th grades to explore "STEM" careers - those involving science, technology, engineering and math.

In March 2008, over 350 girls, 120 parents, and approximately 30 teachers participated in Tech Savvy3 on the University at Buffalo's North Campus in Amherst. Students attended hands-on workshops while parents, teachers and other interested adults participated in sessions which allowed time to discuss issues and strategies to prepare girls for success in college and technology fields.

Camille Alleyne, Aerospace Engineer for NASA and Founder and President of The Brightest Stars Foundation provided an inspirational keynote address. Highlights of the adults sessions included Tracy Sherman, Government Relations Manager for AAUW leading a coffee discussion on public policy issues affecting girls and STEM education and Dr. Camille Passantino who led a two-session overview of the Let's Read Math program she started as a community outreach project with the Makefield Area Branch of AAUW.

The Tech Savvy planning board is chaired by Tamara Brown, ME CE '03. Dr. Kerry Collins-Gross, Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Education, and Dr. Terri Miklitsch, Senior Academic Advisor provided assistance.