Half-Day Symposium for Parents and Teachers Will Deliver Hands-on Experience, Top Thinking, and Resources for Closing the Gender Gap

“The 2016 symposium gave me actionable tools to help my STEM-loving daughter learn, grow and thrive. The content was very relevant to my life. I learned about local STEM educational opportunities for my daughter that I wouldn’t have known about otherwise. I left energized.” — Lulu Tupper, parent

Did you know, according to research supported by the National Science Foundation, that parents and teachers are a girl’s Number #1 influence in her success and attitude toward STEM, or science, tech, engineering and math?

Whether a girl’s goal is to navigate being the only girl in computer science, become an engineer, or just get past algebra, what do parents and teachers need to know to support her success? Why do girls who do as well as or better than boys in math judge themselves to be inferior? Why is STEM such a big deal today? How can you help your daughter when you yourself “don’t do” math and science?

Answers to these and more will be the focus Saturday, April 8, from 9 a.m. to 12 noon at How to Raise a STEM-Confident Daughter, a symposium for parents and educators. The event will be held in Behavioral Sciences, Colorado State University, 410 W. Pitkin St., Fort Collins, CO.

Presenters for the event include —

Janice Nerger, PhD, dean, College of Natural Sciences, Colorado State University;
Ann Yanagi, MD, award-winning emergency physician and founder of the Fort Collins Community Orchestra;
Members of Women in Technical Studies / Alpha Sigma Kappa, one of few STEM sororities anywhere in the U.S.

Registration fee of $15 includes all sessions, materials, and lunch. Space is limited. Registration is required. Need-based scholarships are available on request.

Attendees will gain —

• Inspiration and insight about what works for girls in STEM.

• Top actions to take and critical attitudes to hold for furthering girls’ STEM success.

• Resources to rely on and leverage.

Attendees also will gain —

• Insider perspectives on why good grades are not what girls need most to succeed in STEM studies and careers.

• Hands-on activities from which to gain insight about individual styles of problem-solving, thinking, communications and teamwork.

• Opportunities for maintaining momentum after the event.

How to Raise a STEM-Confident Daughter is created and hosted by Heidi Olinger, founder and chief executive, Pretty Brainy, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is to empower girls to gain STEAM, or STEM plus an A for art. The symposium is a program of Expanding Your Horizons, the national event of STEM exploration and inspiration for middle school girls. This is the second year the event is in Northern Colorado.

Recap of Key Info

• How. Register here. Fee is $15. Scholarships available by request for those in need.
• Who. For parents and formal and informal educators of girls at all ages and grade levels. Participants are not required to have girls in Expanding Your Horizons to attend.
• What. How to Raise a STEM-Confident Daughter is part of Expanding Your Horizons, the national event in Northern Colorado for the second year. The symposium will be facilitated by Heidi Olinger, founder and chief executive, Pretty Brainy.
• When. Sat., Apr. 8, 9 a.m. – 12 noon.
• Where. Colorado State University, Behavioral Sciences building.
• For more information. 720-203-1749 or Expanding Your Horizons Northern Colorado & Wyoming.