August 06, 2012

Middle school girls go high-tech

By: YNN Web Staff

Source: YNN

ALBANY, N.Y. -- As the Capital Region continues to grow as a center of nanotechnology, some local eighth grade girls are getting a first-in-the-nation experience. Girls Incorporated, SEFCU, and the College of Nanoscale Science and Engineering teamed up for the first 'Eureka Program' to focus on the high-tech industry.

The local students suited up and headed into the labs to learn about chip fabrication and experience the nano-bio-science labs. They even created their own personalized nanoscale 'wafers' with their names on them.

The program is designed to get girls excited about science, math and engineering.

“In science you can do what you want, and you get to do what you want to do and you get to make money off of it, and you just get to make the world a better place while doing what you're doing,” said Maiya Dargan, a participant.

“To take this opportunity to get them into this amazing facility and taking part in hands-on real world activities is just a totally unique experience that girls nowhere else in the country really have been exposed to,” said Jennifer Amstutz, Interim President/CEO of Girls, Inc.

Participants in the program enter at the eighth grade level and continue for five years through high school.

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