Thanks to funding from the JetBlue Foundation, ICERM is offering train-the-trainer opportunities for up to 9 faculty who are interested in replicating a GirlsGetMath program at their home institutions. The training will occur during ICERM's GirlsGetMath program in summer 2019. Train-the-trainer participants will then have the opportunity to apply for start-up seed funds to run their own programs in summer 2020.  

Held at Brown University’s Institute for Computational and Experimental Research in Mathematics (ICERM) every summer since 2014, GirlsGetMath introduces 20-­25 rising 10th and 11th graders to mathematical ideas, computer experimentation, and collaborative research over five days. Accomplished professors and teaching assistants, enthusiastic about serving as both career models and scientific mentors, lead the program. It involves daily interactive lectures with topics such as cryptography, graph theory, image processing, data science, fractals, prime numbers, and factoring. Hands-­on activities and games solidify mathematical concepts in fun ways, and afternoon computer labs introduce the girls to programming skills and coding. Given the challenges posed by our data­centric society, this type of program is relevant and important because of the way it uniquely exposes young women to careers in the STEM fields. 

When 

The observational training will occur over three days (August 13-15, 2019) during ICERM's summer 2019 GirlsGetMath program. Travel, lodging, and meal support will be provided for up to 9 accepted faculty. 

The GirlsGetMath train-the-trainer program will take place at the Institute for Computational and Experimental Research in Mathematics (ICERM) at Brown University in Providence, RI.

What 

ICERM has developed and vetted copyright-free GirlsGetMath curriculum materials which include extensive classroom, hands­-on, and computer lab modules (MATLAB). Topics cover cryptography, graph theory, image processing, data science, fractals, prime numbers and factoring, and more. (See module descriptions.)  

How 

Those who complete the GirlsGetMath train-the-trainer program will be eligible to apply for start-up seed funds to launch their own program in summer 2020. Seed fund applicants will need to submit a letter of support from their department chair indicating that their college or university will provide space and computer equipment (preferably with access to MATLAB licensing) to support a GirlsGetMath program in summer 2020. Each of the 4 available start-up seed fund awards is intended to help cover the cost for 2 faculty organizers, 2 teaching assistants, a start­up kit of supplies, and support from the GirlsGetMath@ICERM leadership during the year leading up to summer 2020.

Katharine Ott (Associate Professor of Mathematics at Bates College) is a founding faculty organizer for GirlsGetMath, leading the program since 2014. Amanda Tucker (Assistant Professor of Mathematics at the University of Rochester) was a co-organizer for the 2014, 2015, and 2016 programs. Dr. Ott will lead the train-the-trainer program at ICERM, and both she and Dr. Tucker will provide scheduled video-conference consulting for the startup seed fund recipients.