Local middle and high school girls learn from UA inventors, researchers

More than 200 young women from local school districts descended upon The University of Akron on Saturday, November 14, to take part in an event designed to teach girls how the innovations of women have impacted the world.

Inquire! Innovate! Invent! is a program that seeks to educate and inspire girls about engineering and science. Those involved were guided by UA students and female engineers and scientists. About 20 volunteers from local companies were on hand to encourage the future visionaries.

Some of the activities included building a hydraulic powered catapult called Hydrapult, and a spatial awareness endeavor where each student built an origami cube. The fledgling inventors also built a circuit to make their own Steady Hand Game, a model similar in spirit to the popular board game “Operation.” Additionally, participants created a service project that will help younger girls learn about science and engineering.  

The event, sponsored by ALCOA and presented by The University of Akron Women in Engineering Program with support from Chrysler, is in its fourth year.