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To further interests in the world of engineering, Trane Technologies in Tyler and Project Scientist partnered up to educate local girls with a week-long program.

I like that I get to do science, because I like science, and I get to make friends while Im here, said Elyse Robinson, 8. I also like getting to see what my mom does because shes an engineer here.

According to its website, Project Scientist is a nonprofit organization that ignites and cultivates STEAM confidence in marginalized and underserved girls. By delivering high-quality experiences in science, technology, engineering, arts and math, they provide access to education and gainful career pathways that expand professional opportunities and awareness.

The most fun thing that we did all week is well, it's two things: we got to make a prosthetic hand and go to the lab, where we got to take a tour, Elyse said.

The program teaches girls from Tyler ISD ages 4 to 12 about sustainable and life-saving inventions, such as wind turbines, 3D-printed prosthetics and more.

Project Scientists mission is to provide high quality STEAM experiences to girls who are still in their educational years all the way from elementary through high school so that they can see what its like to actually have a career in an engineering field, said Julie Eagle, manager of AC & HP Engineering. Sometimes that's not as visible, in both women in the field, as well as the careers themselves and what that entails.

According to the Texas Education Agency, STEAM, which is an acronym for science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics, is defined as a method of hands-on teaching and learning where students learn to apply academic content by creatively solving real-world problems with innovative design-based thinking to prepare students for future career opportunities.

By Trane Technologies partnering up with Project Scientist, the objective is for girls to see themselves as scientists, innovators and builders in a field that has long been dominated by men.

At the beginning of the week, I don't think any of them would have said oh yeah, I can build a robotic arm but by the end of the week, they kind of see how it all comes together, Eagle said.

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, women fill nearly half the jobs in the states but only hold 27% of science, technology, engineering and math jobs. With Project Scientist, the national gender gap can get a little closer with the summer and after-school STEAM programs.

I love the Trane is giving these girls an opportunity to see that science is for them too and that it's not just boys that can be good at math and science, said Beth Robinson, a design engineer at Trane Technologies. It's just giving an opportunity to all work together and it's not just them, there's lots of other girls just like them.

There had been 50 girls in attendance this week, learning about the field from female role models.

We had 10 female engineers come out and talk to the girls so that they could kind of see that these women are approachable they have hobbies, they have kids who go to the same school, Eagle said. So, it makes it a little bit more tangible, achievable to the students.

The girls heard from the engineers of how tough the industry can be but being able to create complex ideas, such as 3D printing and robotics, can be fun and rewarding.

This week we have been working on pretty much the whole process of creating a design working to solve a problem of trying to figure out how to create a prosthetic arm, said Jenifer Blackburn, a teacher for Project Scientist. They started with their design plan on paper, then they figured out what all their criteria was, what their constraints were, and then they went through the process of developing different types of prototypes and then expanding on those prototypes to make them better each time they went through the process.

According to Blackburn, the students were eager to get started.

They really seem to be enjoying and excited to do this, she said. On the first day, they were ready to get started with building by Tuesday and Wednesday, they really wanted to build on things but I had to keep telling them that its a process, we cant just jump into it. We gotta learn that we have to make a plan, you gotta organize, you gotta know what your materials are.

In her first year, Blackburn was excited to be on board.

I hope to continue next year and maybe grow the program a little bit more, she said. Maybe extend it to even high school girls coming in and working with different engineers and seeing the process and maybe getting them ready for college or even exploring those options.

According to their press release, Trane Technologies partnership with Project Scientist is part of its corporate citizenship strategy, Sustainable Futures, which focuses on providing students underrepresented in the STEM field with access to education and research for pursuing green and STEM careers.

One of our focuses around STEAM education is that Trane has committed to providing $100 million for women and girls in our 2023 commitments, Eagle said. They have a commitment for a million dollars over three years towards their partnership with Project Scientists.

Wrapping things up Friday afternoon, the program hosted a Science Fair celebration which gave the girls an opportunity to showcase what they learned throughout the week.

When it comes to doling out advice for girls who might be interested in the field, the experts all say go for it.

Dont worry about the small stuff, whatever you wanna do you can do it, Blackburn said. It doesn't matter who you are or what you do you can accomplish anything. Jump in with both feet.

You don't have to love everything but find something you do love and keep pursuing it, Eagle said. Even if your classmates aren't interested, even if it doesn't seem like the cool thing to do, follow your passion. Keep following your curiosity.

Do not be discouraged by what you see, Robinson said. When you go into a class you're excited about and see only boys and think that it's not for you know that you belong there and there's nothing wrong with wanting to be there too.

Original post:

Trane Technologies and Project Scientist teach local girls about engineering - Tyler Morning Telegraph