This document provides a how-to guide for organizing an "Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day" event. It includes biographies of three female engineers who organize the event. It then discusses planning logistics like recruiting volunteers, designing hands-on projects for students, and organizing the day's schedule. Budgeting, fundraising, and tips for success are also covered. The document aims to equip others with best practices for creating their own local Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day.

1. Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day: a How-to Guide
Kim Bishop
Kaelly Farnham
Laura McCarter
October 23, 2014

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Kim Bishop
Background
• I studied Mechanical Engineering at Cal Poly,
San Luis Obispo. Graduated in 1999, BSME
• I’ve always loved designing and building things,
so engineering was a great fit.
• Several of my hobbies are engineering related
• Career at Agilent/Keysight
• Joined in November 2000 as a Mechanical
Production Engineer, supporting worldwide
manufacturing.
• Moved into R&D in 2005. Currently I design
mobile phone test equipment.
Favorite Part of IGE
• Seeing the creativity and the energy of the girls
and how they come together as a team.
Kim Bishop
Mechanical Engineer
Keysight Mobile
Broadband
Santa Rosa, CA
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Kaelly Farnham
Background
- Studied mathematics and music at College of St.
Benedict (St. Joseph, MN)
- M.S. in Mathematical Biology from University of
Nebraska-Lincoln
- Taught high school mathematics for 2 years in
Dallas, TX
Career at Agilent/Keysight
- Joined in August 2012 as a Product Marketing
Engineer, specializing in eMarketing
Favorite Part of IGE
-Watching the girls work though challenges as a
team
Kaelly Farnham
Product Marketing
Engineer, eMarketing
Keysight EEsof EDA
Santa Rosa, CA
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Laura McCarter
Background
- Both my parents were engineers and worked for
Lockheed Martin
- I knew early that I wanted to be an engineer so I
started taking software programming classes in
high school
- Studied computer science and math at Sonoma
State University and graduated with a B.S. in
Computer Science
Career at Agilent/Keysight
- Joined in 2005 when I graduated college. I still
write calibration software but I also do project
management
Favorite Part of IGE
- My favorite part of IGE is the moment when a
young woman realizes that engineering isn’t just for
men and that she too can be an engineer!
Laura McCarter
Software Engineer
Keysight AOF
Santa Rosa, CA
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What is Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day?
– IGE is a day to show 6th-12th grade girls what it’s like to be an engineer
– Students work in teams on an engineering challenge
– http://www.discovere.org/our-programs/girl-day
also known as IGE or Girl Day
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What happens during Girl Day?
– Welcome Activities
– Kick-Off
– Introduce activity
– Activity—Build time!
– Competition/judging
– Lunch
– Speaker panel
– Keynote Speaker
– Awards and Prizes
Day of Event Schedule
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Today’s Plan
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It’s a “how-to” workshop, be prepared to be active!
– Share our IGE stories
• History
• Successes
• Failures
– Tell you how-to design your
own!
• Generate project ideas
• Gather materials
• Find volunteers
• Recruit participants
• Plan a successful day

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History of IGE at Keysight/Agilent
– Celebrated our 10th
anniversary in 2013
– In early years, we were
doing well to get 60
participants. Last year,
we had to turn away that
many.
– Led by team of WLD
(Women’s Leadership
and Development)
members
– Sponsored by
Keysight/Agilent
corporate
2004-present

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What makes this event different?
– Rather than having a science fair-like event, it’s a competition.
– The competitive aspect really motivates the participants to try hard
and work together.
– Everyone gets involved, it’s in no way a passive activity.
– Participants are intentionally placed in groups with people they don’t
know. A range of ages are put together, so the older girls can
mentor the younger ones.
– Strangers at the beginning of the day are teammates and friends by
the end of the day.
– Girls get to connect with industry experts, each team gets an adult
coach.
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How-to get the word out
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Talk to your local press

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How-to design the project
– Make it interesting and fun. Would you enjoy doing the project?
– Design a project that can be done by 12-18 year olds. Not overly
simple, but not so difficult they can’t accomplish the task in 2-3
hours.
– Think ahead about how the participants can get around the rules.
– Do a test build with the core team early in the activity design phase.
This is helpful in working out the bugs and making improvements to
your activity. Some projects were re-designed after problems arose
during the test build (i.e. Marble Run)
– A second test build may be necessary if the project is significantly
re-designed.
Let’s have some fun!
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Marble Run
Goal: Longest time to make the marble travel from top
to bottom
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Wind Powered Sail Cars
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Goal: power a car with wind to go the longest distance

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Egg Drop
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Goal: Create a device to drop an egg safely to the ground

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Tin Foil Boat
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Goal: Create a boat that can carry the most marbles
across a pool

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Ping Pong Launcher
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Goal: Accurately launch a ping pong ball at a target

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Things to keep in mind…
– The weather
• Tin foil boats--Having an outdoor event in February was a rather
soggy experience.
– Keep it simple
• Radioactive ping pong balls--We made the rules too restrictive
and the teams got frustrated.
– Avoid projects that may cause injury
• Mouse trap cars--scrapped because building materials were too
flimsy and risk of injury from traps
(Murphy was here!)
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How-to learn from our mistakes
– Think ahead about how the participants can get
around the rules.
– Watch out for overly helpful coaches
– Limit parental involvement
– Discourage attendance by younger siblings
– Avoid paper registration forms
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Don’t be afraid to make your own

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How-to get more ideas
– Agilent After School is a hands-on science program
targeted at children from the ages of 9 to13 years.
– Materials include hands-on science experiments
that have been designed as complete "programs-
in-a-box.”
– Kits include all of the tools and materials to lead the
younger students through the various science
experiments.
– All kits are available here:
•http://www.abdi-
ecommerce10.com/swe/s-
2-agilent-kits.aspx
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Use the Agilent After-School Kits for starters

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What kind of materials should you use?
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Office supplies, craft items, etc.

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Nothing to it but to do it!
– Each of you have been given 2 sheets or paper and a pen/pencil
– Please make a team with the 2-3 people sitting nearest you
– The goal is to build a paper plane that will fly the furthest horizontal
distance
– When time is up, teams will take turns flying their planes.
– Prizes will be awarded for first, second, third place, and most
creative. Winners will be announced at the end of the presentation.
– NOTE: no electronic devices may be used to help design your plane
Let’s have a Paper Airplane Contest!
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Goal: Fly the Furthest
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The Rules:
1. You will have 10 minutes to design, build,
and test your plane
2. Your final design may consist of a single
sheet of paper, nothing else
3. Each airplane must have team member’s
names written on it, and a name for the
plane/team.
4. Have one team member place a sticky
note with your team’s name where your
plane lands

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How-to plan Start early!
6 Months
Before
•Determine event date
•Provide budget estimate
to funding source
6 Weeks
Before
•Set up weekly
meeting schedule
• Brainstorm activity
idea
• Assign core team
roles
• Begin recruiting
volunteers
•Notify schools and
student groups
5 Weeks
Before
•Finalize activity
•Create preliminary
flyer/announcement
•Volunteer update
(how many?)
•Notify facilities,
security, and PR rep
•Inventory supplies
4 Weeks
Before
•Activity details, first draft
rules, and test build
•Make kit material list and
rule changes
•Volunteer update (how
many?)
•Gather handouts for the
welcome packets
•Purchase/order prizes,
giveaways, and gifts
•Reserve room for the event
•Send out
invitations/flyers/web
registration info3 Weeks
Before
•Second draft of
activity rules and
material list
•Volunteer update
(how many?)
•Create coach’s
guidelines
•Gather all activity
supplies
•Poster update (on-
site info
posters/signs)
•Create awards
2 Weeks
Before
•Finalize activity rules
•Coach and volunteer
training
•Package up activity
kits
•Purchase any missing
activity materials and
put in kits
•Print welcome kits
•Volunteer update
(how many?)
•Attendee numbers
(check in with student
groups)
•Finalize room
arrangements
1 Week
Before
•Final volunteer update
•Final attendee count
•Put girls into teams/groups
•Order food for day of event
•Create presentation for welcome,
activity rules, and agenda
•Contact panel speakers, confirm
time.
•Email reminder to volunteers with
times, locations, roles.
•Rules out to all coaches and
judges.
•Confirm room and A/V equipment
setup
•Ask for walkie-talkies, clipboards
for day of event
•Create spreadsheet for scores
1 Day
Before
•Buy/pick up all food
•Give list of attendees
and volunteers to
security
•Print nametags for
attendees and
volunteers

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How-to organize logistics
– Find a location that will comfortably host all of the participants and
volunteers.
– If your organizations does not have a facility large enough, try a school
gym/auditorium or a community center
– Ensure A/V equipment is available and set up
– Make sure room/tables are set up to give teams enough room to work
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Consider facilities, location, and equipment

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How-to get your best friends involved
– Ask your friends and coworkers, face-to-face or via email
– Social media
– Company email distribution lists
– Involve community-focused groups (not just engineers)
– Example Core team members:
• Event Leader, Activity Leader, Recruiter
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Gather a dynamite core team

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How to get ALL your friends involved
Volunteers can come from the group organizing the event, parents, community
organization leaders, or anyone else who would like to help. No engineering
experience is required.
Company newsletters, flyers, wearing event T-shirts, and persuading your co-
workers are all effective
We had about 60 volunteers for 120 participants.
Example roles:
– Coach
– Judge
– Guest speaker
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Recruit volunteers from your company and community

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How-to recruit participants
– Think big! Talk to teachers or friends with kids
– Advertise in the local newspaper, use social media
– Online registration is highly recommended (not
– Community groups such as the Girl Scouts, technology oriented
school programs, and local junior high and high schools are good
places to reach out to participants.
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Get the word out in the community

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How-to have a great morning kickoff
– Give out welcome packets with fun activities
– Showcase your company’s products or other engineering-related
items
– Invite an inspirational industry speaker
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(besides copious amounts of coffee)

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How-to inspire students with real engineering stories
– 3-5 people of a variety of engineering
backgrounds
– Preferably women, but open to anyone who
is interested in speaking
– Allow time for Q&A after all speakers are
done
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Invite a dynamic speaker panel

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How-to introduce principles of engineering
– Give prizes for these categories
– Plan the project with a re-build session
– Train coaches and have them mentor their teams
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Collaboration, teamwork, creativity, & more

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How-to fund your event
– Get a sponsor (corporate, community, or even a fund raiser)
– For any project, these things will be required:
• Activity supplies/materials
• Printed materials for participants
• Recruiting and publicity
– Other highly recommended items:
• Giveaways
• Prizes
– Optional items
• Food for participants and volunteers
• Thank you celebration or gifts for volunteers
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And create a smart budget

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Budget Detail
IGE Budget 2014
Available funds: $3,100.00 Actual Expenses NOTES
Expenses:
Activity Supplies $304.52 Inventory on hand
Printing Packets $78.26
Prizes $505.66 Scalable
Giveaways $377.66 Scalable
Food $922.00 Optional
Post IGE thank you celebration $120.00 Optional
Keynote Speaker Gift $59.01 Optional
Total Expenditures $2,367.11
Our budget is for 125 participants
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How do we know IGE is making a difference?
– Repeat attendees
– Increased attendance year over year
– Participants still have their projects years later
– Participants are motivated to keep building at home
– Event used as a basis for high school senior projects
– Success story (Laura G.)
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Reminders and success stories

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Paper Airplane Winners & Awards
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Q & A
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All of our slides as well as project rules,
budget, event planning timeline, and a
recruiting spreadsheet are available on
the conference website.
More questions? Contact us!
– Kim Bishop
• kim_bishop@keysight.com
• 707-577-5730
– Kaelly Farnham
• kaelly_farnham@keysight.com
• 707-577-6091
– Laura McCarter
• laura_mccarter@keysight.com
• 707-577-2326