GirlsGetSET Newsletter 4
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Transcript of GirlsGetSET Newsletter 4
NE W S LET T ER
ISSUE 4 JULY 2012
Welcome to the Girls Day Special Edition!
July 2012 | Issue 4 | GirlsGetSET
Hello and welcome to this Girls Day special
edition of the GirlsGetSET Newsletter!
Lots has gone on since our last edition in
March, we will be reporting back on
GirlsGetSET events at Cardiff, Groby and
the Cheltenham Science Festival!
We have an interview with our very own
torch bearer Jo Davies, she’ll be telling us
all about that and much more!
Find out more about the Year 10 project
which has been running this year — What
will the dragons think?
We also look forward to the big summer
ahead with the Olympic Games and the
new school year in September with the
return of GirlsGetSET. There is also the
usual competition, and an exciting
announcement! Enjoy!
GE Engines Event in Cardiff In this issue:
A Day Out In Cardiff
A Visit To Sensing In Groby
Meet a Torch Bearer
Cheltenham Science Festival
The London 2012 Olympics!
Launch Of Our New Website!
Competition
GirlsGetSET Next Year!
July 2012 | Issue 4 | GirlsGetSET Page 1
A Great Day Out In Cardiff
Girls from 14 secondary schools across the
Rhondda Cynon Taff area attended the first
GirlsGetSET event hosted by GE Aviation Wales
on the 6th & 7th March 2012. More than 150
girls, aged 13-15 along with teachers attended
the event. The day was run by a team of
volunteers from the company’s volunteering
committee, the GirlsGetSET committee and the
Women’s Network.
Across the two days, the students participated
in a number of workshops which included using
a catapult as a business simulation tool,
teaching them the importance of business
planning, drawing upon their mathematical and
team building skills. Other activities included,
designing and creating an aeroplane wing
which encouraged the pupils to think about
engineering, design and financial planning.
The students were also introduced to Adrian
Button, the Managing Director of GE Wales,
who talked about the business to the girls and
underlined the importance of having a diverse
workforce. The girls were also taken on a site
tour where they saw how an aircraft engine
gets overhauled and then visited the state-of-
the-art test cell where the engines are
rigorously tested to match ‘on wing’ conditions.
The girls also participated in a Q&A session with
volunteers from the Women’s Network which
in clud ed man ag emen t , engin eers and
apprentices. This proved to be very useful as
the girls learnt about the many different
pathways into a STEM career.
We all had a fantastic day and hope all involved
did too. This is what Gerard McNamara, Deputy
Hea d tea ch er at Ca rd in al Newman
Comprehensive School had to say about the
event “Programmes like GE’s GirlsGetSET
initiative highlights to pupils who will shortly be
making decisions on which subjects to study at
GCSE level, the great career opportunities
available to them in their local area that
studying science and engineering can bring.”
“The pupils were really engaged in the
workshops and we have had great feedback
from all the girls who attended. The event has
no doubt helped to change some of the
perceptions the girls previously had of careers
in science & engineering.”
We hope to see you all again soon!
A mentor on hand
A few tips and tricks
Article by Annabel Swift and Jessica Woolley
July 2012 | Issue 4 | GirlsGetSET Page 1
Groovy Groby!
GE Sensing held their first GirlsGetSET! events
at Groby on April 18th and 25th with girls braving
the wind & the rain to travel from the
Gloucestershire area. Over 60, year 9 girls
visited the site with a view of learning about
pressure sensors and engineering.
The day began with the girls having an insight
to pressure sensors and their applications,
followed by a plant tour where they could see
the sensors being made. They also got the
chance to see the very latest in pressure
sensing technology.
The girls visited the silicon clean room where
they viewed computer chips under a high
resolution microscope gaining an appreciation
for the delicacy of working with these tiny
devices; the heart of the pressure sensor. Into
production, the girls saw a mixture of different
sensor and instrument types being put
together, viewing processes such as soldering,
assembly & calibration.
The girls were split up into teams and were
challenged to build the tallest tower that could
support an egg, testing their ability to define
structures, stability, force and how to work in
teams.
The highest structure built was 240cm high
which was too tall for team ‘I don’t know’ to
balance their egg on top! It was great fun
watching and the competitive spirit was evident
as they tried time and time again to balance
that egg!
The winners over the 2 days was team ‘TFB’
whose tower stood at 218cm and supported a
force of 10g.
Well done to all the teams involved and we look
forward to seeing more GirlsGetSET! At Groby
soon!
What a tower!
Build in progress
Article by Denise El-Rishmawy
July 2012 | Issue 4 | GirlsGetSET Page 1
Interview - Jo Davies
How did you decide on your chosen career path?
I left sc hool after completing my A-levels wanting to be a
graphic designer! Seeing that there weren't many opportunities in this line of work, I decided to join a
company that offered a solid training program. Over time
I wanted to learn more about how the 'Supply Chain’
works. I joined Dowty Propellers as a Trainee Expeditor and worked my way up to Buyer.
Who were your role models when you were at school?
I real ly respected my dad who was UK Business Banking Manager for Lloyds TSB but my real idol was Carl Fogarty
– the four times World Superbike Champion. His perseverance and determination intrigued me and, well,
I’ve always been a biker at heart!
When you were at school, what were your ambitions for the future?
I wanted to be a graphic designer as I love art. I saw myself designing adverts for large companies but I
always knew I wanted to be in management and help other people develop their skills.
What skills do you feel are the most important for a
successful career in a technology-based business?
The first thing I learnt in this business was how important
it is to be able to communic ate well and at all levels; it’s
essential to be able to ask the right questions to the right
people.
What has been your biggest challenge so far in your career?
Taking on my c urrent role at a time when GE was making a lot of changes to how our site ran. It was a steep
learning curve going f rom working mainly in an office to
working on the factory floor with no previous experience
in this area.
Can you give us a summary of your role at GE?
I coach others using a new approach to team-working
called 'Teaming'. This gives everyone in the team, f rom
the guys on the floor up to the managers, a say in what the team does and how it operates. For example, working
together to arrange holidays and time off so that i t has as little impact as possible on the team's productivity. My
main focus is on the start of the manufacturing process. I
am also the Women's Network B usiness Representative
which keeps me busy.
What has been your proudest moment in your career
to date?
Being recognised for my hard work and being nominated to represent the company by carrying the Olympic Torch
in the run up to the London 2012 Olympics.
Who inspires you now?
My dad still inspires me. Following a severe stroke three
years ago, he has proved that strength and inner belief are key in life, and that you don’t give up, you just adapt
and overcome!
What’s the best advice you’ve ever received?
Don’t put off to tomorrow what you can do today – so
true when tomorrow always bec omes busier than expected!
Jo carrying the Olympic flame
Jo Davies
Team Coach
Dowty Propellers
A-Levels
Graphic Design, Maths, Art, General Studies
Jo joined Dowty Propellers in 2007 as the first
‘teaming’ coach after working in Sales and Logistics
at Cadbury.
In her interview, Jo tells us how she has come to
work at Dowty, the challenges she has met along
the way and who inspires her to continue achieving.
Article by Jessica Woolley and Patrick Armstrong
July 2012 | Issue 4 | GirlsGetSET Page 1
Year 10 Project
The year 10 projects have been running since January, the girls were first tasked with designing a transportation method for use in and around the Olympic park. They were asked to provide a presentation, posters and a model of their proposed solution. Considerations included safety, re-use, accessibility, cost, energy source, regulation and environment. Over the months the teams have grasped the physical needs of the system and a range of innovative solutions addressing transport capacity and congestion have been offered. A theme that ran through the systems were the use of existing waterways leading to the Olympic Park. One group offered a boat that had a number of design features such as solar panels, information screens and enhanced access which met the initial project brief very well. An exciting alternative solution was based on a cable car system. A number of different circuits linked together to form the Olympic rings! All
the models were created to a very high standard and the judges were most impressed with the confidence and fluency of the girls’ presentation. The second project centred on a media distribution system for the Olympic Park. The brief was kept quite broad to encourage the girls to use their imagination and provide a truly innovative solution. The focus was also shifted towards an overall systems view. Rather than designing a new app, or a great interactive screen, the girls were encouraged to think about how the media capture, transmission and con sumpti on delivered as a whole system as well as thinking about the pricing and availability of their system. All the teams have to do now is face the dragons, where they will have to combine their innovative ideas with confident presentation skills to produce a successful and memorable pitch, in order to get the Dragons to part with their cash! The winners will be revealed at the prize giving ceremony on the 6th July 2012!!! Good luck inventors!
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Article by Edward McCaul and Annaliese Thomas
July 2012 | Issue 4 | GirlsGetSET Page 1
Cheltenham Science Festival - Thursday 14th June
This year at the Cheltenham Science Festival
we were joined by Gloucester Academy and
The Cotswold School. Their students competed
to design and build an innovative solution
representing a communications system in an
aircraft, using limited materials and in a very
compressed timescale.
The ‘Area 42’ marquee became an aircraft
hangar, with the outline of 2 aircraft marked on
the floor. Each aircraft was divided into zones,
housing the power system; engine; avionics bay
and flight deck. Each school was divided into 3
teams of 5-6 girls, with each team responsible
for sending a message (represented by a
marble) between 2 zones in their aircraft, i.e.
from power system to avionics bay.
Each team had a set of requirements, including
height limits within each zone plus a unique
challenge, whether it was the distance, a
vertical drop or limiting the speed to complete
in the required sequence. The materials
available to produce the communication
channel were limited to bamboo canes, paper,
string and sellotape. The girls considered
various options to carry the marble and support
the structure, guided by their mentors to design
a solution. It was then hands-on to build their
solution within an hour and very quickly the
marquee was filled with bamboo tripods, paper
tubes and channels supported by string. Plenty
of trial and error was evident, with the
customer clarifying requirements and reviewing
compliance as the build progressed.
To close the challenge, each school set their
marbles off to demonstrate they had met the
requirements. The customer and mentors
assessed each group and presented an award
for the best design to one of The Cotswold
School’s teams for their innovative solution to
the vertical drop and an award for teamwork to
another of The Cotswold School’s teams for not
only working well in their group, but liaising with
the other groups in their aircraft to initiate
sharing supports and thus minimise materials.
The girls had a challenging but exciting day that
was full of innovative and practical solutions.
Well done girls!
Attention to detail is needed
Salome leads the way
Article by Gavin Phillips
July 2012 | Issue 4 | GirlsGetSET Page 1
GE @ The London 2012 Olympics
Photo caption
The symbol of the Olympic Games, the Olympic
torch, starts its epic 8000 mile journey from the
Temple of Hera in Olympia Greece, and is
carried by 8000 Olympic Torchbearers from
across the world that best embody the Olympic
spirit – including GirlsGetSET’s very own
Kimberley Kirkham and Jo Davies – before
ending its journey by lighting the Olympic
Cauldron in the Olympic Stadium in London. In
total, around 20 GE employees had the honour
of carrying the Olympic Torch, but that is only
just the beginning of GE’s involvement with the
London 2012 games!
GE is a Worldwide Olympic Partner and
provides many products and services to ensure
a successful Olympic Games such as power,
lighting, medical equipment, water treatment,
transportation and security. Here are some of
the things GE are doing:
GE Lighting has supplied around 14,000 lights in
the functional areas of the magnificent Olympic
Stadium in Stratford, London, along with the
lighting for the athletes warming up track so
you can see your favourite athletes warming up
before their big events!
The Olympic Village will house around 23,000
Olympic athletes and officials, and GE is
supplying the essentials so they can prepare for
the games in comfort! GE Water & Processing
are donating storm water run off monitor units,
whilst GE Power Controls are supplying power
distribution equipment to keep the electricity
flowing.
Sadly during the Games, athletes may pick up
knocks and muscle strains whilst competing,
meaning they may need to pay a visit to the
Polyclinic medical centre situated in the
Olympic Village. GE Healthcare has donated
state-of-the-art medical scanning equipment
such as CT, MRI, Ultrasound and X-Ray
technology such that even the smallest injury
can be diagnosed. Even better, the Polyclinic
and its GE equipment will remain after the
Games to help better medically support the
greater London community.
The Olympic Games needs power. A lot of
power. The Energy Centre will provide power,
heating and cooling systems across all the
Olympic facilities. GE Jenbacher is supplying
CHP (Combined Heat and Power) engines to
help power the games in a more energy
efficient manner. GE Water & Processing also
have installed water dosing systems.
GE is also donating equipment to several other
facilities such as the Velodrome power
distribution technology. The Aquatics Center
Uninterruptable Power Supplies. The Basketball,
Handball and Hockey Arenas Floodlighting!
GE will also be supplying several volunteers to
assist with the running of the games. All in all,
GE is trying to help make the London 2012
Olympic and Paralympic Games a Games to
remember!
Article by Dan Gordon and Annaliese Thomas
GE Sponsor the British Triathlon team!
July 2012 | Issue 4 | GirlsGetSET Page 1
Crossword Competition
Subtitle
Articles by Liam McGinley, Ben Daffurn and Kimberley Kirkham
Onto Next Year...
This year we have seen the GirlsGetSET scheme grow to include more schools, more girls in more areas of the UK. Throughout the year we’ve built data networks for aircraft, designed wings, and made towers to support an egg!!!
Next year is set to be bigger and better! Keep up to date with what’s going on via the website, Facebook and Twitter. A big thanks from us at GirlsGetSET for making the events successful and enjoyable for all involved!
Send your answers to [email protected] to be in with the chance of winning a prize!
Make sure you include your name, school and year group.
Prizes will be given out at the start of the next academic year.
GirlsGetSET On The Web
GirlsGetSET is now online! Check out all the latest news, events and pictures at
www.GirlsGetSET.icountGE.co.uk
Get Clicking and have FUN!
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