Physics Wonder Girls Summer Program on its Twelfth Year

The Physics Wonder Girls camp, on its twelfth year, is a comprehensive summer program that stimulates and sustains interest in physics among female students in middle and high school. Consisting of two intensive, week-long day camps on the campus of Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this year’s program saw the participation of 35 campers selected from a pool of students nominated by STEM teachers from 18 schools in the Philadelphia-New Jersey-Maryland region. Campers were engaged in hands-on physics and renewable energy-themed projects, building energy conversion devices such as solar-powered cars, solar-powered fidget spinners, solar cookers, and wind turbines, and used infrared cameras to audit energy loss. Campers presented two “Equity-in-Energy”-themed Posters Sessions where they researched on and showcased the lives and contribution of women physicists. The campers were mentored by a camp crew consisting of the PI and five Physics majors. Accomplished female physicists from a national lab, a nuclear reactor plant and academia visited the camp to talk about their STEM career trajectories. Participants also toured the local R&D and manufacturing facilities of a multinational food company, and gave capstone presentations of their favorite energy projects to an audience of family and friends. We report and reflect on the products of the camp, and the successes and challenges of the program.

We acknowledge the support provided by Constellation and Puratos Corporation.