KU to Host Inaugural Girls in STEM Symposium

McFarland Student Union

KUTZTOWN, Pa. – Kutztown University's Departments of Computer Science and Information Technology, Biology, Geography, Mathematics and Physical Sciences are hosting the inaugural Girls in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) Symposium 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 a.m., Tuesday Oct. 19, at 218 McFarland Student Union Building. The goal is to motivate female students to pursue a degree in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. 

For the past four years, KU has hosted a ‘Girls in Computer Science Symposium’ to encourage incoming freshmen to enter the Computer Science field. This year, the conference has evolved from solely computer science, to include all STEM fields.

"This event is an opportunity to expose young women to potential careers in STEM fields, which is greatly underrepresented by women," said Dr. Lisa Frye, event organizer and department chair of Computer Science and Information Technology.

Nine high schools will be in attendance: Brandywine Heights, Fleetwood, Kutztown, Muhlenberg, Oley Valley, Owen J. Roberts, Schuylkill Valley, Wilson and Wyomissing High School.

Students will have the opportunity to interact with a wide variety of local companies and experience the nuances the field of STEM has to offer. Companies invited to attend this year's symposium include Andesa Services, BBraun, Brenntag, Carpenter Technologies, Deloitte, East Penn Manufacturing, Liquid Interactive, Microsoft, Olympus America, Inc., PepsiCo, Inc. and St. Luke's Health Network. 

For more information, contact the Department of Computer Science and Information Technology at 610-683-4340 or csitdepartment@kutztown.edu.