The Engineering Society of Detroit (ESD) created the ESD Girls in Engineering Academy (GEA) to improve academic achievement and increase the interest in engineering among girls.  ESD’s overarching goal is to decrease the gender gap in engineering professions by helping girls to excel at science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and eventually pursue engineering careers.

ESD will select 30 middle school girls to participate in a remote learning summer and academic year program.  The summer experience will engage students over a four-week period, from 10 a.m.–2:45 p.m., Monday–Friday.  The program will provide math and science enrichment, engineering and computer science concepts, English/language arts comprehension, hands-on project-based STEM activities, mentoring, virtual field trips to industry, and engineering career exploration.

The GEA program will continue during the academic year.  GEA students will meet two Saturdays per month for three-hour sessions.  Students will continue to learn about various engineering disciplines and careers.  Students will also focus on STEM activities to reinforce concepts learned over the summer and during the school year.  

GEA Features:

• Education about what engineers do
• Instructors who are female engineering students
• Workshops in engineering, mathematics, computer science and communication skills
• Hands-on experiences designing engineering projects
• Field trips to Engineering Facilities and other STEM-related places