LYNN — General Electric (GE) and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) joined the Lynn Public Schools for its 10th annual summer science program last week.
This week-long program incorporates 24 seventh-grade girls from the district’s three middle schools to spend the week with volunteers from GE and MIT learning about a variety of topics in the science fields.
Normally, this program would bring the girls to MIT’s campus for the majority of the week, followed by a day at the GE River Works plant.
However, GE workers are mostly remote and MIT’s campus is still closed, so the program took place at Marshall Middle School this year.
Rising seventh graders spent the days with MIT students and GE interns and volunteers, partaking in a variety of activities including learning about electronics, LED lights and aviation.
The girls have the opportunity to do hands-on activities and learn more about the science at work. The program, which is run and paid for by GE, is free to students.
The program’s leader, Cassandra Miller, said it’s a great way for young girls to learn the variety of topics in the sciences and figure out whether they like it or not.
“At their age, the girls don’t know how big the world of science is so during this program, they can see a variety of jobs and training that can be a career,” Miller said.
The students in the program are recommended by their science teachers, who are also allowed to attend a few days of the program. Miller said having the science teachers join in for part of the program allows them to build their relationship with the students outside of the classroom.
“This is a great way for the girls to branch out and see what options there are for them if they enjoy what they learn during the program,” Miller said.
The program was canceled last summer because of COVID-19, but Miller said they are planning to return to the MIT campus next summer.
Miller said this partnership between GE, MIT and the district has given the students a “great opportunity.” Miller said this year’s program, which ended Friday, was a success; she reported they were able to incorporate all of the usual activities that they would have at MIT at Marshall Middle School. Some of the volunteer instructors opted to remain remote, while the others came in-person for the activities.
“The girls seemed to love it and it was convenient being at Marshall and so local,” Miller said.
This was Miller’s last year with the program, but she said she hopes these partnerships with GE will continue for years to come.
