Celebrating ‘Girl Day’: Raytheon introduces hundreds of Girl Scouts to engineering at The Hall at Patriot Place

Raytheon Company and The New England Patriots Foundation played host to 300+ Girl Scouts from Eastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island last week at an event designed to inspire young women to study science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Science from Scientists led spectacular demonstrations of nucleation-triggered eruption, thermoplastic recycling, conservation of angular momentum, and the strength of air pressure. In other words, they exploded soda, melted milk jugs, and got the Girl Scouts involved in a giant tug of war -- all in the name of fun (and math and science).

Raytheon’s event is part of ‘Girl Day,’ a movement championed by DiscoverE to show girls how creative and collaborative engineering is, and demonstrate how engineers are changing the world. Engineering is a fast growing profession in the U.S.; however, according to the National Science Foundation, only 19 percent of bachelor degrees in engineering are earned by women, and only 11 percent of engineers in the workforce are women.

Rebecca Rhoads, president, Raytheon Global Business Services, and chief information officer, said: “We care deeply about creating a diverse, inclusive culture – because we know it leads to innovation and progress. To attract more young women to engineering, our employees give their time and talents to show young women that engineers are creative, inventive, passionate people who have a positive impact on the world around them.”

Raytheon’s Girl Day events include hands-on science and engineering demonstrations at The Hall at Patriot Place in Foxborough, Mass., and INNOVENTIONS at Epcot® at the Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida; Girl Power Day in Tucson, Ariz.; engineering activities for middle school girls in San Diego, Calif., and “shadow an engineer day” and lab tours in El Segundo, Calif. Each event is championed by Raytheon employee mentors who believe inspiring girls to pursue STEM subjects will have a long-term impact on individual and collective success.

To learn more about Raytheon’s science, technology, engineering and math education initiatives, visit www.MathMovesU.com.