The Kettering University section of the Society of Women Engineers is hosting a free workshop aimed not only at encouraging young women about the possibilities of a career in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math fields -- they’re trying to inspire parents as well.

The Mother-Daughter ‘IF WE’ (Inspiring Future Women Engineers) Workshop will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 18 at Kettering University, and will feature a variety of activities for female students in fifth-eighth grades along with their mothers or guardians. Kettering University student members of the Society of Women Engineers will serve as mentors during the event.

“Research shows that if parents, particularly mothers, are supportive of their daughters pursuing education and careers in STEM, there is a better chance at girls persisting in those fields,” said Amy Allison, a senior Mechanical Engineering major at Kettering and organizer of the workshop. “We hope to teach the girls who attend and their parents that there are endless possibilities to make a positive impact on the world through STEM.”

A free pre-college workshop on Oct. 18 will expose young girls and their parents to hands-on STEM concepts.

The workshop, which was funded by the ExxonMobil Company, will feature opportunities to work with Kettering faculty and students, as well as professional engineers, ice breakers and a variety of activities to show the fun side of science, engineering and math concepts, including building spaghetti and marshmallow towers, an egg drop, ice cream making, candy chromatography and more.

The workshop motto is, “If We engineer for a better tomorrow, the possibilities are endless.”

“Mindset matters when encouraging young women to pursue a STEM education and careers,” Allison said. “By exposing them to the possibilities, as well as putting a support system for them in place early in their lives, it gives them more college and career options.”

The workshop is free, but space is limited to the first 15 students and their mothers/guardians who register. To register or for more details, contact Amy Allison at alli9222@kettering.edu or (248) 420-7986.