July 27, 1998 Contact Ross West (541) 346-2060 Source: Molly Johnson (541) 346-4771 EUGENE--Twenty-five Lane County girls will get a jump start for their education in electrical engineering by attending a University of Oregon program this week called "Geek Chic." Geek Chic stands for Gaining Electrical Engineering Knowledge through Collaborative, Hands-on Instruction and Computing. The program will take place, from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m., Monday through Friday, July 27-31, in Room 17 of Willamette Hall on the University of Oregon campus. "Geek Chic introduces middle school and high school girls to high-tech engineering," says Molly Johnson, UO adjunct professor of physics. "The young women will engage in hands-on activities, where they build and learn about audio speakers, motors, AM radios, and sensing and signaling circuits," says Johnson, who co-developed the program with Virginia Stonick, associate professor in electrical engineering at Oregon State University. "The goals of the Geek Chic program are to give the students positive experiences with technology, to build community, to teach about the engineering process and content, and to illustrate the relevance of technology in their lives," Johnson explains. Geek Chic, which was offered for the first time in Portland last August, was so successful that it will be offered this summer in Eugene, Corvallis and Portland. The goal is to encourage young women to consider careers in high-tech fields and to begin taking the prerequisite courses necessary to enter electronics or computing. "Women continue to be underrepresented in these fields," Johnson says, "yet high-tech companies are scrambling for engineers and technicians." Five instructors will be leading the program; they include faculty and students from UO science departments and a high-school science teacher. The UO Department of Physics is donating laboratory space for the program. Geek Chic collaborates with Saturday Academy, which facilitates enrollment and advertises the offerings. Other sponsors include Hyundai, Intel, OSU and UO. -30- #P-7404/Local