Troy, N.Y. — More than 300 11th grade girls from the Capital Region and across New England will participate in Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s “Design Your Future Day” (DYFD) on Saturday, April 21. The event is designed to engage students in activities to inform and excite them about career opportunities in engineering, science, architecture, and technology.

“Currently young women are the demographic majority in our country, but they comprise only a small percentage of our nation’s scientists and engineers. Rensselaer is working to change that,” said Barbara Ruel, director of Rensselaer’s Diversity and Women in Engineering programs and coordinator of the day’s events. “DYFD gives young women the opportunity to explore intellectually stimulating and exciting careers in math, science, technology, and engineering and to meet young women like them who have already chosen to pursue such careers.”

Some participating local high schools include Albany, Amsterdam, East Greenbush, Colonie, Saratoga Springs, and Bethlehem. Students from upstate New York, New York City, Long Island, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Maine also plan to attend the event.

The event will take place on Rensselaer’s campus from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in room 308 of the Darrin Communications Center and various campus locations.

The 11th annual program will kick off at 10 a.m. with a welcome address by Pamela Daum ’00, lead systems engineer for Lockheed Martin’s Maritime Systems and Sensors division. Daum will share her personal stories and aspirations, including lessons learned as a college student, engineer, and leader. The program also will feature a panel discussion with Rensselaer alumni and undergraduate and graduate students from 12:15 to 1 p.m.

The program includes 14 workshops — led by Rensselaer faculty, staff, and graduate students on a range of topics, including the development and function of fuel cells, use of digital imaging and/or traditional tools to create video games, the design and manufacturing of medical devices, and the use of forensic chemistry to solve crimes.

The following sample workshops that will be offered from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. and from 1:15 to 2:15 p.m. include:

* Going Nano: Walker Laboratory, room 6213
Students will explore the exciting field of nanomaterials and see how and why size matters. The program is led by Linda Schadler, professor of materials science and engineering.

* Whodunit? The Chemistry of Crime Scenes: Walker Laboratory, room 5113
Students will learn how forensic chemistry is used to help solve crimes by gathering and analyzing evidence from a simulated crime scene. The program is led by Sara McIntosh, instructional support specialist in the department of chemistry and chemical biology.

* Ergogenic Games: Sage Labs, room 2411
Students will use digital imaging and/or traditional tools to design a dynamic and physically active game for the future. The program is led by Kathleen Ruiz, associate professor in the arts department.

For more information and to view the 2007 Design Your Future Day program, go to: http://www.eng.rpi.edu/dyfd/.

Design Your Future Day is part of Rensselaer’s larger effort to engage young people in science and engineering studies and professions. Other “pipeline” programs include: Black Family Technology Awareness Day, to interest area young people and their families in pursuing occupations in the fields of science and engineering; and Exploring Engineering Day, to spark the interest of Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts in science, technology, and engineering.

Contact: Jessica Otitigbe
Phone: (518) 276-6050
E-mail: otitij@rpi.edu