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Inspiring girls in technical careers
Teenage girls put on dark glasses, sit at desks cluttered with wires and heavy equipment, and fire up soldering pens. Metal joins metal and whines.
This is not a scene from a jewelry-making class but a way to introduce girls to technical careers.
For eight years, Texas Instruments' (TI) Freising, Germany, location has participated in "Girls' Day," an event held across Germany to encourage girls to choose careers in science and technology, areas typically dominated by men. The program is open by application to girls in fifth through 10th grades.
In 2008, twenty 16-year-old girls visited the TI Freising site for a tour, a roundtable discussion and hands-on lab work.
The results of their work – automatically blinking electronic dice – were playful, but the feelings of competence were lasting.
"The girls get really excited about this part, when they get to do something 'technical,'" said Daliah Molter, human resources assistant. "And when they complete the task, they are quite proud."
TI's south Germany facilities manufacture advanced semiconductor devices and provide strategically important research and development. They employ roughly 1,350 people of more than 40 nationalities.
Industry-wide problem
The challenge of encouraging women to study engineering is global. In Germany, only 5 percent of graduating engineers are female. In the United States and New Zealand, the figure is 20 percent.
Bringing more women into engineering is crucial. Science and technology drive economic growth and the prosperity of nations. And science can only grow through the contributions of its members. Each engineer brings a unique perspective to problems – which is why opening up engineering to as many people as possible ensures the best solutions.
TI has undertaken a number of initiatives to expand science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education for girls and to increase the number of women eligible to enter a university-level technical degree program.
"We have a rich history and commitment to ensuring that our work force reflects the diversity of our communities," said Arturo Sanchez, TI manager, Workforce Development. "Our support for STEM education programs, specifically those targeting women and minorities, is critical to growing our future work force and our ability to compete in a global economy."
A day in the life
At TI Freising's Girls' Day, the day starts with an overview of TI's activities, followed by a tour and then a roundtable discussion. That's when girls learn that earning top marks in math isn't the most important factor in pursuing a technical career. Instead, they learn that an interest in the physical world and a willingness to learn makes a great foundation. From there, the girls move on to lab work, where they get a chance to handle tools.
Their faces light up when they weld the dice. "Overall, I most enjoyed the practical work," said student Karla Thomas, "and I can well imagine how it would be to work here later."
Companies that have successfully organized programs on Girls' Day have seen an increased number of women in technical and technically oriented occupations, according to the program's Web site.
In addition, Girls' Day gives employees a boost. "We like to show our company to girls," Molter said, "to show that TI supports diversity and equality."
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