D I S C OVER ENGINEERING SUMMER CAMP

The WIE Committee and industry part n e rs established Discover Engineering SummerCamp in 19 9 1. The program’s objective is to introduce young women in high school —with those in Grade 10 comprising the target audience — to the challenges and rewa r d sof engineering through a variety of activities and discussions led by women engineers ,scientists, and students. The outcome is increased awareness among these women aboutc a r e e rs in non-traditional areas of applied science at a time when decisions about post-secondary education are at the forefront of their minds. The Discover EngineeringSummer Camp is a week-long day camp based on hands-on activities. Camp counsellors(female undergraduate engineering students) guide the participants as they attend various sessions taught by Ry e rson faculty, staff, and alumni.

Results for 2003 Summer Camp

Of the young women who part i c i p a t e d :

• 98 per cent indicated that the camp increased their knowledge about engineering.

• 83 per cent indicated that the camp increased their interest in considering engineering as a possible career path.

• 31 per cent indicated engineering as a “career direction” (up from 23 per cent before the camp).

Ryerson University’s award-winning Discover Engineering

celebrates its 14th anniversary in 2004.The program’s success

would not have been possible without the support of industry

partners and granting agencies. Originally a summer camp for

young women in high school, Ryerson’s Women in Engineering

(WIE) Committee has expanded Discover Engineering to include

visits to high schools and a one-day career conference at the

University. Almost 2,000 students benefited from Discover

Engineering in 2003, where more than 170 students attended

the summer camp and career conference and greater than 1,600

participated in high school workshops.

d i s c ove re n g i n e e r ı n ge n g i n e e r ı n gwww.discoverengineering.ryerson.ca

bringing young women and engineering together

A N N UAL REPORT 2 00 3

d i s c ove rbringing young women and engineering together

d i s c over e n g i n e e ri n gP ROGRAMMING LEGO RO B OT S, C O N STRUCTING E L E C T RONIC CIRC U I T S, MAKING LIP BALM …

Students who attended the Discover Engineering SummerCamp explored the dynamic field of engineering in a varietyof innov a t ive and creative ways. Four camp sessions wereheld in 2003: July 14 - 18; July 21-25; August 11- 15; andAugust 18-22. Each camp featured hands-on learning, ch a l-lenging experiments, and engineering career information.Women engineers, students, and scientists were an integralp a rt of camp staff, acting as counsellors, instructors, andm e m b e rs of panel discussions.

D i s c over Engineering Summer Camp introduces youngwomen in high school to the challenges and rewards ofengineering through a variety of fun, hands-on projects anddiscussions. Given the overwhelming interest in the pro-gram, Discover Engineering has expanded from 60 studentsin 1991 to a current total of 100 - 120 students each year.

Surveys of past camp participants show that almost half ofthe young women who attend decide to study engineeringor applied science at univ e rsity and more than three-quar-t e rs describe the camp as being a positive deciding factor.

All young women in high school who have completedGrade 9 and are interested in engineering are invited toa p p l y. Every Fe b r u a r y, applications are sent to guidance,math, and science departments at more than 350 highs chools across the Greater Toronto Area. The four one-weekcamps each accommodate 30 students. The fee is $80 andfunding assistance is available for students in need. T h ecamp fee cov e rs only one quarter of the cost of the campper student. The balance is subsidized by the generous s u p p o rt of the organizations and individuals who supportthe program.

C U TTING-EDGE CURRICULUM

Concrete and bridge designWorking in teams, students problem-solve civil engineer-ing challenges — either by mixing and testing their ownconcrete, or by building bridges out of everyday materials.

E l e c t r o n i c sElectronics are studied along with how to construct andtroubleshoot a simple electronic circuit. Students designand build a batt e r y-powered light-emitting diode (LED)ornament, which they take home.

P n e u m a t i c sStudents learn about air- d r iven control systems for whichthey assemble operating control circuits.

Ro b o t i c sIn teams, campers design and build robots using LEG OROBOLAB kits, which come complete with motors, sensors ,a mini LEGO microcomputer, and ROBOLAB soft ware. Usingthe soft ware (icon-based programming) and infrared beams,they learn to program their robots to complete an obstaclec o u rs e .

Web Site DesignFollowing an introduction to computer hardware and soft-ware development, pers o n a l i zed Web sites are created usingHTML programming code, Java, and Ja v a Sc r i p t .

Slime and Lip BalmA jelly- l i ke substance is created that is similar to “ s l i m e”m a r keted as a kid’s toy. Students use chemical processes toproduce slime of different colours and odours. They also cre-ate their own lip balm.

B o ttle Ro cke t sAirfoil lift and drag is studied and students construct a rocke tfrom plastic pop/water bottles, competing for farthest dis-tance traveled as the rockets are shot across an open field.

Field Tr i pOn the last day of camp, the students visit various centresfor engineering and tech n o l o g y. In 2003 the campers visitedthe Toronto Aerospace Museum and Pr a tt & W h i t n e yC a n a d a .

Guest Speake rsIn a panel discussion, women engineers from industry share their academic history and career paths, describe their current jobs, and answer student questions about the engineering profession.

WA M M OWAMMO stands for Women Aware, Motivated, and Mov i n gOn. It is a floor game based on women’s issues related tothe labour force, family, stereotypes, education, science, andengineering in a fun and educational format.

“Thank you very much for giving me this amazing experi e n c e .

It was orga n i zed and a week full of non-stop fun.” – Grade 10 student

D I S C OVER ENGINEERING CAREER CONFERENCE

In May 2003, the WIE Committee hosted the fourt hannual Discover Engineering Career Conference,designed for female high school students, their parents, teach e rs, and guidance counsellors .

The Discover Engineering Career Conference isdesigned for young women currently in, or enteringGrades 11, 12, or OAC. Throughout the day, part i c i-pants take a close look at careers in engineeringand meet with successful women from the profes-sion. The program begins with a panel discussionsession in which women working in various engi-neering-related careers share some of their stories.This is followed by workshops and campus tours .

The Discover Engineering Career Conference is presented at no cost to the students. A g i l e n tTe chnologies Canada supported the 2003 CareerConference and donated folders, pens, and A g i l e n tA ft e r School activ i t i e s .

Results for 2003 Career Confe re n c e

Of the young women who part i c i p a t e d :

• 100 per cent indicated that the conferenceincreased their knowledge about engineering.

• 79 per cent indicated that the conferenceincreased their interest in considering engineering as a possible career path.

• 27 per cent indicated engineering as a “career direction” (up from 15 per cent before the conference).

D I S C OVER ENGINEERING HIGH SCHOOLWO R K S H O P S

The Discover Engineering High School Wo r k s h o pprogram was initiated in September 1999 as anextension of the Summer Camp program. T h eworkshops are offered to co-ed classrooms, ratherthan solely to female students. The use of femalep r e s e n t e rs (faculty, staff, and engineering students)p r ovides strong positive role models for the youngwomen. Each 70-minute workshop begins with adiscussion about engineering, how it applies to ourdaily lives, and opportunities in the field. A fter thediscussion, students participate in a hands-on activ-i t y, followed by both question-and-answer andworkshop evaluation periods.

The Discover Engineering High School Wo r k s h o p sare presented at no cost to the schools. T h e2 00 2 / 2 003 program was supported by the NaturalSciences and Engineering Re s e a r ch Council ofCanada (NSERC) and industry part n e rs .

Results for 200 2 / 2 003 High School Wo rk s h o p s

Of the students who part i c i p a t e d :

• 65 per cent indicated that the workshopsincreased their knowledge about engineering.

• 41 per cent indicated that the workshopsincreased their interest in considering engineering as a possible career path.

• 60 per cent of the male students indicated that the workshops increased their knowledgeabout engineering.

• 48 per cent of the male students indicated thatthe workshops increased their interest in con-sidering engineering as a possible career path.

• 69 per cent of the female students indicatedthat the workshops increased their knowledgeabout engineering.

• 36 per cent of the female students indicated thatthe workshops increased their interest in con-sidering engineering as a possible career path.

“I found the activity

to be a real life

a c t i v i t y, I ga i n e d

te a m wo rk skills,

design skill and it

was very fun!” –

Grade 11 student

s u p p o r t e r sD i s c over Engineering relies on the generous support of many orga n i z a-tions and individuals. We gratefullya cknowledge the following for theircontributions in 200 3 .

Pa t rons ($5,000 and up)Agilent Te chnologies CanadaAileen Clark Lambie Fund For Women in

E n g i n e e r i n gA rv i n M e r i t o rCanadian Forces EngineeringC e l e s t i c aH ydro OneO ffice of the Dean, Fa c u l ty of Engineering

and Applied Science, Ryerson Unive r s i tyO n tario Power GenerationRogers AT&T Wi r e l e s s

Pa rtners ($2,000 to $4,999)Imperial Oil Fo u n d a t i o nLinamar CorporationPr o fessional Engineers Onta r i oRBC Financial Group

Donors (up to $1,999)Pr a tt & W h i t n ey CanadaMCW Consultants Ltd.Valani ConsultingJim Pa ck h a mSharon Stibbard

H OW TO SUPPORT D I S C OVER ENGINEERING

There are three levels of supportavailable: Patrons ($5,000 and up),Pa rt n e rs ($2,000 – $4,999), andD o n o rs (up to $1,999). Other optionsinclude Pa rticipant support ($80 perstudent) and Materials or Fa c i l i t i e ss u p p o rt. All levels of support are taxdeductible. Discover Engineerings u p p o rt e rs are recognized on theC a m p ’s Web page, annual report(quantity 2,000), and — dependingon the level of support — on campl e tterhead (quantity 2,500), applica-tion posters (quantity 1,500), camp T- s h i rts (quantity 300). We prov i d em a ny opportunities for visibility atpresentations to schools and sch o o lboard conferences.

For more sponsor information c o n tact us at: t: 416 - 9 7 9 - 5 000 x 7220f: 416 - 9 7 9 - 5 2 8 0e: wo m e n g @ e e . ryerson.ca

D I S C OVER ENGINEERING FINANCIALSTATEMENT 2003 *

revenue 2003

PatronsAgilent Technologies Canada 6,500Canadian Forces Engineering 5,000Celestica 5,500Aileen Clark Lambie Fund / ArvinMeritor 5,000Rogers AT&T Wireless 5,000Hydro One 5,000Ontario Power Generation 5,000

PartnersLinamar Corporation 4,000Professional Engineers Ontario 3,000RBC Financial 2,500Imperial Oil Foundation 2,000

DonorsPratt & Whitney 1,000Jim Packham 500MCW Consultants 400Valani Consulting 320Sharon Stibbard 160

Other RevenueStudent fees 5,360Industry Canada Funding (ISE Camps) 5,313NSERC PromoScience Funding 3,600Office of the Dean of Engineering 5,000Sub-total – Revenue 70,153

D I S C OVER ENGINEERING SUMMER CAMPE X P E N S E S

Co-ordinator salary 20,000Camp Instructor/Counsellor salaries 15,000Field Trips 700Session materials 2,500Promotional material 1,300Posters/Annual Report 3,000Printing/postage/office 1,500BBQ/meals 1,1002002 deficit 1,610Sub-total – DESC Expenses 46,710

D I S C OVER ENGINEERING CAREERCONFERENCE EXPENSES

WIE Co-ordinator 2,500Conference facilities and catering 3,080Promotional material 300Printing/postage/office 300Conference Programs 190Supplies (name badges, handouts) 60Gifts for guest speakers 70Sub-total – DECC Expenses 6,500

D I S C OVER ENGINEERING HIGH SCHOOLWORKSHOP EXPENSES

WIE Co-ordinator 2,500Workshop Instructors 9,600Promotional material 300Printing/postage/office 425Session materials 1,970Travel 925Sub-total – DEHS Expenses 15,720

*Budget based on figures availableas of November 2003

e n g i n e e r ıngD I S C OVER ENGINEERING GIRL GUIDES CONFERENCE

In 2003, the WIE Committee and Girl GuidesCanada (Toronto Chapter) partnered to launcha one-day conference for local area GirlGuides, ages 9 to 12. The Girl GuidesConference provides information about thefields of engineering so that the Guides canname various types of engineers, some ofthe devices that have been engineered, andhow these have made life bett e r.

The conference includes a short discussionabout engineering and how it applies to ourdaily lives followed by four different hands-on activities covering civil (building towersout of everyday materials), aerospace (build-ing and testing balsa-wood gliders), mech a n i-cal (building simple hydraulic truck models),and electrical engineering (building and test-ing simple electronic circuits). At the end ofthe conference the Girl Guides complete afun engineering quiz to show the Guide lead-e rs that participants have completed therequirements for their Engineer badge.

The Discover Engineering Girl GuidesConference is presented at no cost to theGuides. Professional Engineers Ontario sup-p o rted the 2003 Career Conference throughthe PEO Future Engineers Initiativ e .

D I S C OVER ENGINEERING GIRL GUIDESCONFERENCE EXPENSES

WIE Co-ordinator 2,500Conference Instructors 800Promotional material 90Session materials 985T-shirts 1070Printing/postage/office 350Sub-total – DEGG Expenses 5,795

TOTALTotal Revenue 70,153Total Expenses 74,725Difference (2003 deficit) (-4,572)

“ Very fun and inte re s t i n g . I learned a lot about engineering and what I want to

go into.” – Grade 11 student

thanks t o :Many people from the community, as well as from within Ryerson, contribute to the success of the DiscoverEngineering program.We thank the following groups for their ideas, advice, expertise, and volunteer time.

PANEL DISCUSSION SPEAKERS:A special thanks to the knowledgeable group ofpanel members who have shared their insightwith us over the years, as well as to those newspeakers who joined us in 2003. You, as posi-tive role models, have helped to make thecamp a truly enriching experience.

Andrea BunkerIBM

Cpt. Sandra BurrowsCanadian Forces

Melissa CheeNortel Networks

Ivy ChengIBM

Stephanie CinoHoneywell

Shelley CoxHydrogenics

Suzanne KilnerRogers Communications

Laurel LarcombeIBM

Teresa LarondeWillings and Associates

Karen LoughlinIBM Global Services

Catherine O’NeillH.H. Angus

Anjali PathakCelestica

Jodie RochemontCelestica

Sarah ShortreedIBM

Yasmin ValaniValani Consulting

Lt. Tracy VersteegCanadian Forces

Flora YuIBM

DISCOVER ENGINEERING SUPPORT:To all of the instructors who helped guide stu-dents through the diverse world of engineeringin 2003, your knowledge and leadership areessential to implementing the cutting-edgeactivities offered at Discover Engineering.

Lisa Anderson, Co-ordinator

Kim Gilbride, Chair

Julie Adshade

Lamya Amleh

Nandita Bajaj

Nelson DaSilva

Andrew Heim

Jessica Hiscocks

Peter Hiscocks

Nidal Jaalouk

Michael Kolios

Litifa Noor

Dan Peneff

Tania Petrov

Vera Straka

Ginette Turcotte

Liberty Victorio-Walz

Laurel Williams

INTERNAL SUPPORTWe would also like to thank the followingdepartments at Ryerson for their generosity andsupport:

Aerospace Engineering

Chemical Engineering

Chemistry and Biology

Civil Engineering

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Engineering and Applied Science, Dean's Office

Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

Office of University Advancement

“I had a great time.Thank you so much fo r

all the fun I had to d ay.” – Girl Guide

“This camp has been an amazingly fun,

i n fo rm a t i ve , and memorable experience and

has given me a broader know l e d ge of what

e n g i n e e ring is.” – Grade 10 student

Published December 2003. Publication produced by Marketing Communications, Office of University Advancement,Ryerson University, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, Ontario M5B 2K3. Member: Council of Ontario Universities (COU),

Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC), Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU). (36383)

WOMEN IN ENGINEERING COMMITTEE 2003

d i s c overe n g i n e e ri n gbringing young women and engineering together

Lisa AndersonCo-ordinator, Women in Engineering

Dr. Kim GilbrideChair, Women in EngineeringFaculty Member, Department ofChemistry and Biology

Dr. Lamya AmlehFaculty Member, Department of CivilEngineering

Dr. Stalin BoctorDean, Faculty of Engineering and AppliedScience

Judith DimitriuFaculty Member, Department ofMechanical and Industrial Engineering

Dr. Deborah FelsFaculty Member, School of InformationTechnology Management

Peter HiscocksFaculty Member, Department of Electricaland Computer Engineering

Dr. Diane KennedyFaculty Member, Department of Electricaland Computer Engineering

Dr. Grace LukFaculty Member, Department of CivilEngineering

Frankie StewartFaculty Member, Department ofMechanical and Industrial Engineering

Vera StrakaFaculty Member, Architectural Science

Dr. Ginette TurcotteFaculty Member, Department ofChemistry and Biology

Rosemarie VolpeCounsellor, Counselling Centre

Laurel WilliamsUniversity of Toronto, AdaptiveTechnologies Resource Centre

Jenny WuFaculty Member, Department ofChemistry and Biology

Dr. Gosha ZywnoFaculty Member, Department of Electricaland Computer Engineering

For more information contact

Women in Engineering OfficeFaculty of Engineering and AppliedScienceRyerson University350 Victoria Street, Room EPH-200Toronto, Ontario M5B 2K3

t: 416.979.5000 x 7220f: 416.979.5280e: womeng@ee.ryerson.ca www.discoverenginering.ryerson.ca

“I thought the wo rkshop was very info rm a t i ve and it certainly broadened my know l e d ge

about engineering and the diffe rent careers – thanks!” – Grade 10 student

“This was a fun activity, I would recommend this to eve r yo n e .This wo rkshop has

been a motivation for me to look more into engineeri n g .” – Grade 10 student