Seven students from the Middle and Upper School attended Nitsch Engineering’s “Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day” on Wednesday, March 10. The event taught the girls how renewable energy sources can help reduce pollution and save the environment.

Following an icebreaker activity, the faculty chaperones were educated about college engineering programs and the admissions process, as the students were presented with a design challenge. They were challenged to create a wind-driven machine that could either raise as many weights as possible, or siphon off water from one location to another. While the Middle School students worked hard with their wind machine to raise the greatest number of weights, the Upper School team placed second in the water challenge.

“I learned a ton about engineering that I didn't know before,” said A. Anderson ’11. “The activity was entertaining as well as informative. We learned a great deal about the different designs of wind turbines, and we got to make our own windmills.”

After a tour of the NEXUS Green Building Resource Center in Boston, the Dana contingent attended a panel discussion with a group of female engineers. The women spoke about the paths they took to get to where they are today in the field of engineering.

“The panel members taught us about different engineering jobs,” said M. Chisholm ’14. “I also learned about the competition for those jobs, especially because they are traditionally male dominated.”

“Overall, the day was a huge success,” Anderson added. “Both the Upper and Middle School girls learned a great deal, and we got to meet and hear from influential and productive women engineers.”