News from Girls Raised in Tennessee Science (GRITS)

This is a quick note to remind you of coming events for Girls Raised In Tennessee Science (GRITS) Collaborative Project, proud member of the National Girls Collaborative Project, NGCP. We (GRITS Collaborative Project) collectively pull resources together to build a stronger community across Tennessee in support of girls and women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). The GRITS Collaborative Project wants Tennessee to be the premier state in the nation for women with STEM degrees and STEM careers. We hope that it will become the norm and tradition for girls and women in the south, and especially in Tennessee, to pursue STEM education and careers. Thanks for your support!

Judith

GRITS SISTERS IN STEM

The first GRITS Collaborative Project Annual Conference, SISTERS IN STEM, is scheduled for Saturday, November 5 at Middle Tennessee State University. The conference will begin at 8:00 AM and close at 3:00 PM (Central Time). Registration for the GRITS Annual Conference is open to girl-serving organizations, educators, and community and business professionals. Nancy Holliday, General Manager of Microsoft is our keynote speaker. Tanya Foreman of Eastman Chemical will talk about the importance of diversity in STEM.

A STEM Education and Industry Showcase, GRITS Collaborative Project mini-grant programs and breakout sessions will be included. A special breakout session sponsored by the MTSU Forensics Institute for Research and Education (http://www.mtsu.edu/fire/index.shtml) is available for high school girls. Conference registration is $25 which includes lunch. Registration is free for high school and college students. You can register for the GRITS Annual Conference at http://www.ngcproject.org/events/events.cfm?eventid=216

GRITS Forum @ MTSU EYH

This special GRITS Collaborative Project Forum is for adults whose daughters/students are attending the Middle Tennessee State University's Expanding Your Horizons (MTSU-EYH) Conference and are interested in learning about strategies that provide support for considering a career in a STEM field. Sessions include information on preparing to attend a college or university, an introduction to STEM majors and careers, and more. Register:

http://www.ngcproject.org/events/events.cfm?eventid=215

STEM Mixer

Join us for an evening of facilitated conversations designed to address challenges and potential solutions for key issues in STEM education in Tennessee. The STEM Mixer is a wonderful opportunity for leaders and stakeholders in Tennessee STEM Education (community, government, industry, business, K-12 education, and post-secondary) to meet and greet and brainstorm together. The STEM Mixer, sponsored by Texas Instruments, will be held on November 4, 2011 from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm, in conjunction with the GRITS Collaborative Project Annual Conference at the James Union Building on the Middle Tennessee State University campus.

Directions and maps can be found at : http://www.mtsu.edu/maps.shtml

I hope to see you at the GRITS Annual Conference and at other GRITS events. Thank you for supporting Girls Raised In Tennessee Science!

Judith Iriarte-Gross Ph.D.

GRITS Collaborative Project

WISTEM Center

615-494-7763