AAUW and Stockton University Host Tween Tech Day

The stage was set. A bloody mannequin sat centerstage, surrounded by a wealth of “evidence” scattered throughout the auditorium. After receiving instruction from Dr. Joshua Duntley of Stockton’s Criminal Justice program, 25 young teenage girls fanned out into Alton Auditorium, sealing the site with crime scene tape, recording observations and collecting evidence.

The middle-school aged girls were attending a workshop entitled “Crime Scene Investigation” as part of last week’s “Tween Tech Day” sponsored by the Atlantic County Branch of the American Association of University Woman (AAUW) in partnership with Stockton University. This year, girls in Middle Schools throughout Southern New Jersey were invited to participation in workshops related to STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics).

AAUW and Stockton provide these workshops to encourage young women to consider STEM fields as they enter high school and college. Women make up only 28% of the workforce in science, technology, engineering and math. Men vastly outnumber women majoring in most STEM fields in college. Giving women equal opportunities to pursue and thrive in STEM careers helps narrow the gender pay gap and enhances women’s economic security.

The sixty students who attended last week’s workshop were able to choose from a variety of workshops with topics ranging from beekeeping, food chemistry and maple syrup production to broadcasting, robotics and crime scene investigations. Each young woman attended two workshops taught by Stockton faculty and staff members, with a break for lunch mid-day. Students came from Southern Regional Middle School in Manahawkin, Margaret Mace in Wildwood and Fernwood Ave. & Alder Ave. Middle Schools in Egg Harbor Township. The students were recommended by their science and math teachers.

At Dr. Duntley’s workshop, the students were given instruction into the many roles involved in a crime scene investigation. They learned about the responsibilities of First Responders, as well as those of other career professionals such as detectives who gather and record and forensic pathologists who analyze evidence. Students were given an opportunity to work directly with the “crime scene” in this interactive workshop.

Students who selected the workshop “Sap to Syrup” spent their time outside learning about “The Maple Project”, a grant funded program through the US Department of Agriculture to promote maple sugaring in the South Jersey region through research and community outreach. They were guided by Stockton Education Specialist, Debby Sommers, who explained that the project targets the Red Swamp Maple, which is native to Southern New Jersey.

“Maple sugaring is not common in New Jersey,” explained Sommers, who listed Canada as the leading producer in the Maple Sugar industry, followed by Vermont and Maine here in the US.

Although maple sugar traditionally is harvested from the Sugar Maple, which grows naturally in northern climates, the Dept. of Agriculture awarded $1 million in grants to Stockton University to determine if it is feasible to obtain sap from the Red Swamp Maple, which in common in the forests of Southern New Jersey. Although the Red Swamp Maple has a lower sugar content than the Sugar Maple (2% vs 4%), Stockton is pleased with a successful 2022 harvest of 3,000 gallons from over 400 trees on five acres of university land. The university has produced delicious maple syrup, which was sampled by the students.

The students were taken to a forest of Red Maples, which were attached by an elaborate system of tubes which were used to harvest the sap earlier during the winter months. Stockton Research Assistant, Ryan Hegarty, took some time away from collecting sap to discuss his work with the students.

As a former Stockton student who is now working for the University, Hegarty had some words of advice, “Get involved as much as you can. If you are willing to put in the work, the professors will do all they can to help you achieve.”

In her closing remarks, Dr. Claudine Keenan, Dean of Students expressed her gratitude at the return of Tween Tech, which has not been held since January, 2020 due to the Covid pandemic. She indicated that the pandemic is still having an effect on the program. Due to a shortage of substitute teachers and bus drivers, only four schools were able to participate. In past years Stockton has hosted over 200 students, with only 60 in attendance this year.

“In spite of the low numbers, Tween Tech 2023 was very successful,” said Keenan. “It’s important for young women to put hands on STEM problems. They learn resilience and the ability to try and try again.”

She added, “Especially important are the networks that girls create together. They empower each other to pursue and succeed in STEM fields.”

Her words were echoed by instructor Debra Sommers, who had led the girls in the “Sap to Syrup” workshop. “Programs like this let kids know that there are like-minded girls who share their interests in the field of science.”

AAUW and Stockton will partner again for a weeklong STEM summer program called “Tech Trek”, which will host high school age girls from South Jersey throughout the week of July 22-29, 2023. For more information contact Linda Harmon at AAUWSTEMCAMP@stockton.edu or visit The AAUW Tech Trek website.