Mini-Grant Awards

Mini-grant proposals will be accepted from Friday, November 4th, 2011 through Wednesday, December 7th, 2011. More information concerning the mini-grants can be found at http://www.ngcproject.org/mini-grant/. Please consider applying for a mini-grant.

• Science and the Magic of Macy's
  Collaborating Organizations: Drexel University School of Education, Mall Science
  Target Age Groups/Sub Groups: Females Age 6-8
  
  Mall Science© and Physics in Philadelphia™ are collaborating on a project that will make girls more aware of all the science secrets hidden in a Macy’s store. Middle-school age young women enjoy visiting malls and department stores. We will capitalize on this interest by piloting a day-long experience designed to interest the participants in STEM content and careers. Thirty young women will be invited to spend a morning at Drexel University where they will be introduced to STEM career opportunities for women and a Macy’s Science Search Challenge. After initial presentations, instructions and lunch, participants will take SEPTA transportation to Macy’s in center city Philadelphia. While at Macy’s, they will search for science using prepared handouts and items in a science tool box. Students successfully completing the challenge will be awarded certificates and prizes. The materials produced will be made available through the Physics in Philadelphia™ and the Mall Science© web pages.

• PAGES Assessment and Direction of Girls
  Collaborating Organizations: American Chemical Society - PHL - WCC, Association for Women in Science - Philadelphia AWIS-PHL
  Target Age Groups/Sub Groups: Females Age 6-8
  
  PAGES has been a successful program, where ~250 girls each year get to hear an inspiring keynote speaker and participate in small groups in hand-on lab activities. This new dimension of the program will add formal assessment of the program and opportunities to grow the girls' excitement for science by following-up and funneling them to other great programs.

• The Tree of Knowledge STEMs from Brownies!
  Collaborating Organizations: Girl Scout Troop 4164, Chester County Historical Society
  Target Age Groups/Sub Groups: Females Age K-5
  
  Throughout the year, the focus of our Brownie meetings will be to expose the girls to STEM areas of study and immerse them in hands-on exploration in these areas. We will take advantage of community resources to plan field trips, guest speakers, and other various activities.

• Central PA Girls Science/Math Conference
  Collaborating Organizations: Wilson College, Shippensburg University Women in Computer Science
  Target Age Groups/Sub Groups: Females Age 6-8, 9-12
  
  Host a one-day science and mathematics conference with hands-on workshops for girls in grades 8-10. Workshop leaders will include distinguished women science and mathematics faculty from Wilson College and Shippensburg University and will include the assistance of junior and senior undergraduate science and mathematics students as workshop mentors and aides. A discussion of high school course selection for preparation for majoring in science and mathematics in college, as well as career and graduate school options is included.

• Chemistry's Past and Your Future
  Collaborating Organizations: Chemical Heritage Foundation, American Chemical Society - PHL - WCC
  Target Age Groups/Sub Groups: Students Age 9-12
  
  High school students will visit the Chemical Heritage Foundation (CHF) for a half-day event introducing them to the myriad of careers available to people trained in chemistry and allowing them to tour the new CHF museum. Professionals, predominantly women chemists and chemical engineers who have excelled in their chosen fields, will engage with the students through presentations and informal small group discussions. The day will also include a lunch, a tour and activity in the CHF museum. Participants, particularly young women, from underserved populations will be targeted. Four groups of about 35 students each will be accommodated through the morning and afternoon sessions, for a total of approximately 140 high school chemistry students.

• Girls Got Engineering
  Collaborating Organizations: The Learning Lamp, Univ of Pittsburgh at Johnstown
  Target Age Groups/Sub Groups: Females Age 6-8
  
  Girls Got Engineering is a week-long summer camp targeting high-achieving girls in grades 6-8. The hands-on camp, which will be instructed by a female professor of engineering at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, will raise awareness of STEM-related career paths among middle school-age girls with an interest and/or proficiency in science. Campers will engage in a variety of hands-on activities that will apply varied mechanical, electrical, and civil engineering concepts.

• Wildlife and Natural Resource Management Camp
  Collaborating Organizations: Chester County Intermediate Unit, ITAG - Innovative Technology Action Group
  Target Age Groups/Sub Groups: Females Age K-5, 6-8
  
  The Wildlife and Natural Resource Management project ties into a directive of the federal Carl D. Perkins Act to increase enrollment in Nontraditional (by gender) Career and Technical Education Programs. The one-week camp in Wildlife and Natural Resource Management, which is a nontraditional profession for women, will place girls in the forefront of this quickly-evolving green industry. Camp activities will focus on the natural environment and its conservation. Girl Scout participants may be eligible for badges in Gardening, Flowers, Animal Habitats, Trees, and Voice for Animals at the completion.

• Step into STEM
  Collaborating Organizations: Penn State Cooperative Extension, Elk County, YMCA, Ridgway
  Target Age Groups/Sub Groups: Students Age K-5, 6-8, 9-12
  
  The 4-H Afterschool STEM project will create enlightening and educational science activities for youth through hands-on experiences. Individual projects will focus on inquiry based learning models, where youth learn about the scientific method through asking questions and solving problems through trial and error. Major focus will be on safety, respect, and fun.

• STEMulate Your Mind
  Collaborating Organizations: Cameron County Rec Center, Penn State Cooperative Extension, Elk County
  Target Age Groups/Sub Groups: Students Age K-5, 6-8, 9-12
  
  This STEM program would be about creating enlightening & educational activities for youth through hands-on experience. Programs would be designed to pique youths' interest in the wonders of science, technology, engineering and math. Youth would learn about cause and effect, hypotheses and theory, and trial and error in a controlled, safe and fun environment.