LYNN — Girls Inc. of Lynn will host its 15th annual SMART (Science Math And Relevant Technology) Girls Summit on Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
This career awareness event is aimed at increasing girls’ interest and participation in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Approximately 140 middle school girls from Greater Lynn will attend the SMART Girls Summit, with workshops covering topics such as coding, forensic crime, and aeronautics. This year’s summit will offer 14 workshops with representatives from 12 organizations, businesses, and universities. “The SMART Girls Summit is a wonderful way to educate and inspire girls about STEM and the many different career options available in these fields,” said Deb Ansourlian, executive director of Girls Inc. of Lynn.
The Museum of Science, Boston; Cell Signaling Technology; Northeastern University’s Marine Science Center; Harvard University; the Massachusetts State Police Crime Laboratory; Keurig Green Mountain; General Electric; the Cambridge Fire Department; New England Biolabs; the Chandra X-ray Observatory; and Warner Babcock Institute/Beyond Benign are some of the businesses and organizations represented.
The SMART Girls Summit also serves as a kickoff for the Eureka! summer program. Eureka is a free, six-week, full-day STEM and sports summer program for rising seventh, eighth, and ninth grade girls. Girls participate in two STEM classes each day, a daily personal development session called Mi Vida, Mi Viaje, and two hours of sports and swimming. The girls also go on weekly expeditions related to their classes to places such as the Northeastern Marine Science Lab in Nahant, the Museum of Science, Boston Society of Architects-Learning by Design and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Museum and Media Lab.
Girls who successfully complete the Eureka program are eligible for a paid internship the summer before the 10th grade.