Orange County Girls Improve STEM Skills at Project Scientist “Expedition” Hosted by Trane
Brea, Calif., July 19, 2018 – While women make up nearly half the U.S. workforce, they hold less than a quarter of the country’s science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) jobs, according to the U.S. Dept. of Commerce.
Trane®, a leading global provider of indoor comfort solutions and services and a brand of Ingersoll Rand, together with the Ingersoll Rand Foundation and Project Scientist, recently helped close this gender gap for a group of 60 Orange County girls. Project Scientist is a nonprofit organization that provides girls, ages four to 12, with STEM camps and enrichment opportunities. The Ingersoll Rand foundation provided a $25,000 grant to support Project Scientist in their mission to increase opportunities women in STEM careers.
“It was exciting to see the girls’ passion for STEM learning,” said Louise Rasmussen, Trane HR business partner. “These girls are growing up with the expectation that they can learn, live and eventually work in sustainable environments, so they are eager to learn what that entails.”
“These hands-on STEM activities clearly captivated the girls, demonstrating the truly transformative nature of experiential learning,” said Sandy Marshall, founder and CEO of Project Scientist. “Additionally, meeting women at Trane in STEM careers clearly expanded the girls’ horizons regarding potential future jobs.”
Held at the Brea, California Trane office and hosted by the women and men who work there, the July 11 “Expedition” event featured various STEM learning stations.
Learning stations at the event taught the girls:
- How building owners and operators can optimize a building’s performance using intelligent systems, building automation and energy management services
- How to use salt to conduct electricity in play dough
- How solar power and hydro power work
- How both rocket ships and model rockets are powered
To learn more about this event visit, https://youtu.be/gridHCjpZXE.
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About Project Scientist
Project Scientist is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to educating, coaching and advocating for girls and women with a passion, aptitude and talent for STEM. Core programs include Project Scientist Academy, a six-week summer science intensive camp for girls ages 4-12 held on university campuses in North Carolina and California. All programs are research-based, and 40 percent of services are scholarship-based. More information is available at www.projectscientist.org.
About Ingersoll Rand
Ingersoll Rand (NYSE:IR) is a world leader in creating and sustaining safe, comfortable and efficient environments in commercial, residential and industrial markets. Our people and our family of brands — including Club Car®, Ingersoll Rand®, Schlage®, Thermo King® and Trane® — work together to enhance the quality and comfort of air in homes and buildings, transport and protect food and perishables, secure homes and commercial properties, and increase industrial productivity and efficiency. Trane solutions optimize indoor environments with a broad portfolio of energy efficient heating, ventilating and air-conditioning systems, building and contracting services, parts support and advanced control. Ingersoll Rand is a $14 billion global business committed to sustainable business practices within our company and for our customers. For more information, visit www.ingersollrand.com or www.trane.com.
SOURCE: Ingersoll Rand and Trane