Girls and Technology Program Implemented by IEEE emeritbadges.org
Project
Ralph W. Russell, II
Globally, women are under represented in engineering fields. In order to change this trend, the IEEE has been
active in global girls and technology education programs. The United Nations recently praised IEEE for being
“the leading NGO (Non-Governmental Organization) in 150 countries advancing the technology skills of
girls”. The IEEE emeritbadges.org Project, founded in IEEE’s Region 3, is implementing a new Girls and
Technology Program that will primarily work with global girl scouts.
IEEE emeritbadges.org is implementing a program to study the methods of technology learning for girls. The
IEEE emeritbadges.org Girls and Technology program is being lead by Mrs. Lynn Simms from
Fredericksburg, VA. Lynn is an IEEE member and Past President of the Girl Scout Commonwealth Council
of Virginia, Inc. Lynn’s group will design an age and gender appropriate program to help global girls enhance
technical literacy. The program will be designed to help girls learn more about viable engineering and other
technical career options. The group is actively working with the Girl Scouts of the USA on this project and
plans to expand the program with the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. A project operational
and funding plan is expected by the end of 2005.
The progress of the IEEE emeritbadges.org Girls and Technology Program can be tracked at
http://www.emeritbadges.org/girls_and_technology.htm. Please send your comments concerning the program
to Ralph W. Russell, II at emeritbadges@ieee.org.
The mission of the IEEE emeritbadges.org Project is to provide a global non-discriminatory pre-college
technology education program for boys and girls. More information concerning the project can be found at
www.emeritbadges.org. The IEEE emeritbadges.org Project team requests that interested web sites provide a
web link to this new pre-college technology program.