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Thursday, September 02, 2010
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Operation Minerva


What is OM?

Om Girls visiting ConocoPhilips learn about exploration and drilling using a chocolate cake

Operation Minerva is an organization that brings young women and female science mentors together to encourage more female students to choose science, mathematics and technical courses and careers through

 Students visiting ConocoPhilips

A program that successfully improves attitudes towards science, science course enrollment and consideration of a science career. Terri MacDonald's evaluation of Operation Minerva (May 2000)


"Operation Minerva is an experience whose effect lasts a lifetime."

Cheryl Sandercock, P.Eng.
Director: Scotiawaterous
Waterous Securities Inc.
CCWESTT 2006 Conference Chair
www.ccwestt2006.ca


Sponsor


Goals

  • To inform parents, educators and public regarding the small numbers of girls choosing science, mathematics and technical courses and careers.
  • To provide girls with the opportunity to meet positive female role models in math and sciences.
  • To foster network building among young female students to encourage a positive environment supporting achievement in the math and sciences.
  • To increase the numbers of girls pursuing technical career paths.

Operation Minerva projects have been successful in many regions of Alberta. Each region, city or town that hosts Operation Minerva for young female students is independently organized by interested volunteers. Each community supports Operation Minerva in a variety of actions such as, sponsoring Mentors, donating funds to cover costs of the project, contributing space and equipment, and by sponsoring publicity


History

The Operation Minerva organization was established and founded in 1988 by a group of Calgary teachers, female science mentors, and interested individuals who recognized a need to develop an awareness of the small number of female students choosing science, mathematics and technical courses and careers. This group created a model to aid in bringing young women and female science mentors together. Each year Operation Minerva projects across the province provide young women the opportunity to Job-Shadow a Female Mentor in a math, science or technological related career. To date each Project has been very successful in giving these young students an opening for success in their futures.


Information and Contacts

If you are interested in contacting individuals regarding Operation Minerva in your Community, please contact one of the people listed below:

Provincial Contact:

Joyce Luethy

403-282-6431
awsn@awsn.com

Calgary, AB:

Julia Millen

omcalgary@gmail.com

Medicine Hat, AB:

PattyRooks                            

403 527 5365 praxis@praxismh.ca

Red Deer, AB

Kim Burley

kburley@rdpsd.ab.ca

Lethbridge, AB

Kristy Burke

kristy.burke@uleth.ca

Calgary, AB

Liz Gandy
Operation Minerva for Aboriginal Girls    

lizgandy@shaw.ca


Advice to Mentors