WHAT: More than 400 middle school and high school girls will attend the USC Viterbi School of Engineering’s “Laser for Ladies” event to participate in interactive exhibits featuring lasers, microscopes and other state of the art equipment Photonics-based technologies, such as cellphone cameras and LED lighting, are all around us. At this event, students will have the opportunity to participate in hands-on activities. According to SPIE, the size of the photonics and laser industry at of the end of 2014 was $480 billion and the industry is expected to grow to $631 billion by 2020.
The event, as part of International Photonics Week, will introduce students to optical technologies and concepts as well as introduce public school students to university faculty and undergraduate engineering students. This event is open to the public and is free of charge. It is part of USC Viterbi’s initiative to create a stronger pipeline to STEM fields and increase diversity in the field of engineering.
Exhibits include the lab equipment and tools featured in the “Big Bang Theory” TV series, robots, solar cell models, and activities that blend art and science. After the event, several of the exhibits are being transitioned to the California Science Center to create a permanent display on optics for the general public.
WHEN: Saturday, October 10, 2015, 9:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
REGISTRATION: The event is free and is open to public. Registration is required. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/lasers-for-ladies-tickets-18057462356
WHERE: Epstein Family Plaza, The USC University Park Campus, map: http://web-app.usc.edu/maps/
PARKING & MEDIA CONTACT:
Amy Blumenthal, amyblume@usc.edu, mobile: 917.710.1897
Exhibits are presented by USC Viterbi School of Engineering, California Science Center, Northrup Grumman, Newport Laser, IEEE, Air Force Research Lab, and Zeiss.
Support for this event comes from USC Viterbi, MHI, and WiSE.
About the USC Viterbi School of Engineering’s Commitment to Diversity: The USC Viterbi School of Engineering is focused on changing public perception about what engineers do, what they look like, and who can be an engineer. Under Dean Yannis C. Yortsos’ leadership, USC Viterbi launched, in partnership with the National Academy of Engineering ‘The Next MacGyver Competition” to crowdsource ideas for a TV show featuring a female engineer and led the effort with the American Society for Engineering Education to sign a pledge to enhance diversity in the schools of engineering. The initiative was signed by over 145 engineering schools and was highlighted at the White House’s first-ever Demo Day on August 4, 2015. Almost 35% of the USC Viterbi undergraduates are women (about twice the national average) and through USC Viterbi pre-college programs over 300,000 students in the Los Angeles public school system have benefited from year-round and summer school STEM programs.
