Seagate Helps Young Girls "Expand Horizons" in Math and Science

SINGAPORE.-Seagate Technology is bringing to Singapore a unique global program that aims to inspire an interest in science and math-based careers among young girls.

The Expanding Your Horizons conference, targeted at young girls in Secondary 3, is designed to nurture their interest in science and math courses and to encourage them to consider career options in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

More than 100 girls from the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus (CHIJ) schools will gather at the St. Nicholas Girls’ School in Ang Mo Kio to attend this one-day conference, which is organized by Seagate in collaboration with the St. Nicholas Girls’ School. A panel of role models will share career information and insights, along with descriptions of a typical day at work. In the second half of the conference, the girls will participate in a series of workshops that provide hands-on learning experiences led by women scientists and engineers.

The panel of speakers includes luminaries like member of parliament for Ang Mo Kio GRC, Ms. Lee Bee Wah, and the president of the Association of Women Doctors Singapore, Dr. Ann Tan.

Seagate, a corporate sponsor of the Expanding Your Horizons network, has also organized the first conferences outside of the U.S., in Northern Ireland and Malaysia late last year and earlier this year.

"We hope to inspire students to emulate these successful female leaders, who are excellent role models for girls as well as boys,” said Ms. Joan Motsinger, vice president, Seagate Ang Mo Kio operations. “The interactive workshops should pique their interest in the subjects; perhaps some day they’ll be back here, conducting their own workshops as well.”

The panel of speakers and workshop facilitators are female professionals who utilize science in their jobs. They include a number of women from Seagate, as well as professionals from the Nanyang Polytechnic, Singapore Polytechnic, A*STAR, Raffles Medical Group, and Maritime Port Authority.