Wilkes-Barre's Women in the Sciences and Engineering program set for July 27-29

WISE 2015 Program Participant with Instructor Tim Sichler

WISE 2015 Program Participant with Instructor Tim Sichler

Credit: Penn State

LEHMAN, Pa. — Penn State Wilkes-Barre Continuing Education is currently accepting registrations for its seventh Women in the Sciences and Engineering program (WISE), which will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 27-29. Funded by Procter and Gamble’s Live, Learn and Thrive grant, the program is offered at a nominal cost of $30 per student on a first-come, first-served basis. Lunch will be provided each day. 

Students are asked to request a teacher’s recommendation for entry into the program. The three-day camp, on learning to code with Ozobot, will be taught under the leadership of Jeffrey Chiampi, a Penn State instructor in computer science. Ozobot is a miniature smart robot that can follow lines, roam around freely, detect colors, play games and dance. 

The program is open to young women currently entering grades six through eight in the fall and will be held on the Penn State Wilkes-Barre campus. During the camp students will engage in hands-on learning about robotics and programming. Each student will program the Ozobot using colors, an iPad, and OzoBlockly. Students will learn problem-solving skills while programming their Ozobot to complete challenging activities. No previous programming or computer experience is required.

Program participants will also hear from Leslie Livingstone, Penn State Wilkes-Barre admissions counselor, on how it’s never too early to think about post-high school plans. Additionally, Maureen Ciliberto, Penn State Wilkes-Barre career services coordinator, will present on career guidance resources and how to explore career opportunities in the fields of science, engineering, math and technology.

Created at Penn State in 1994, the WISE Institute represents an innovative approach to cross-disciplinary interaction among engineers, humanists, scientists and social scientists to promote the representation and diversity of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. The primary mission of the Wise Institute is to facilitate the entry and success of women in STEM fields in an environment promoting gender equity by coordinating efforts throughout Penn State, creating opportunities for women of diverse backgrounds to thrive in STEM fields, mentoring individuals, and promoting institutional and cultural change.

Penn State Wilkes-Barre Continuing Education brings all the resources of a world-class, Big Ten, research-oriented university right into the northeast corner of Pennsylvania. The campus strives to be the partner of choice by providing superior customer service, recognizing that growth depends upon establishing and maintaining satisfied relationships. Penn State Wilkes-Barre Continuing Education serves individuals, companies and organizations in Luzerne, Wyoming, Bradford and Sullivan counties, offering quality programming to support the workforce development needs of companies and the professional and personal development needs of individuals.

For more information or to register, contact Penn State Wilkes-Barre Continuing Education at 570-675-9253 or [email protected], or visit wb.psu.edu/ce/youth