Welcome, Parents/Teachers of GROW Students!
What is GROW?
The Girls Researching Our World (GROW) program is designed to foster girls' interests in the exciting fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Our purpose is to provide an experience via in-depth explorations, experiments, and problem solving techniques. GROW gives students of all genders in 6th - 8th grades a fresh new look into the world of STEM fields and conveys them in ways that expand what they have learned in their classes.
What is a GROW event like?
GROW hosts two Saturday workshops per year and a three-day Summer Workshop. Explore how STEM is integrated into everyday life in programs like:
- All for Animal Health - Discover the world of veterinary sciences.
- CSI: What Happened to Willie? - Solve the mystery of Willie the Wildcat's disappearance.
- Engineers and Scientists to the Rescue - Help predict and recover from natural disasters.
- Everything in the Smallest Room - Uncover the science and engineering behind bathrooms.
All GROW events are held on the main campus at Kansas State University in Manhattan, KS. Our upper level undergraduate students, graduate students, and Professors help make GROW events informational and fun at the same time. Students spend their time at K-State with trained KAWSE Mentors.
Saturday events usually start around 9 a.m. and end at 3:30 p.m. Lunch is included. Learn about our next Saturday event.
Our summer workshop is a three-day camp where the students stay in a Kansas State residence hall. Room and board are covered in the cost of registration. Learn more about our upcoming summer camps.
When was GROW started?
The first activity was in June 2000: a summer workshop for middle school girls. The girls came to the K-State campus for two days to participate in hands on STEM projects designed by K-State faculty, staff and students.
Why was GROW started?
The 2000 Commission on the Advancement of Women and Minorities in Science, Engineering and Technology Development report states that over 5.3 million new high-tech jobs will need to be filled in the next eight years. K-State asked, where will the workers come from and how can we help? Currently only 21% of engineering, 20% of physics and about 28% of computer science degrees are awarded to women in the United States. We know that girls' interest in science and math drops drastically during the middle school level. This is the time in a young woman's life to get involved.
Parent Information
Student participants do not have to attend as a school group. Please feel free to individually sign your student up for GROW events as registration comes available. Of course, it is always fun when friends attend together, so find a friend and bring them along!
Teacher Information
If you would like to bring a group of students to one of our events, we ask that you please notify us in advance by sending an email to kawse@k-state.edu or calling 785-532-6088.
We would love to have you and your students join us at our events on campus this school year! See our Events for more information!