2006-07-07
Author: AM 1250/ Mix 96 FM News
This is one way to grab someone's attention. Give them a free trip and an opportunity to meet new friends. That's the strategy behind the 5th annual computer science seminar for young women at the University of Waterloo. Each year 96 girls in grades 9 and 10 from across Canada are chosen to attend in an effort to change the stereotypical image of a nerdy computer scientist. University of Waterloo instructor Sandy Graham says the goal is to expose the real world of computer science to young women in an effort to boost interest in the field. This year Melanie Lemoine a grade 9 student in St. Pierre was chosen from a group of 500 applicants to attend. She says the course taught her how to build a computer, write programs for it and use some of the neat software available today. Her teacher encouraged her to apply and she is glad she went. But Lemoine hasn't decided if this will be her final career choice.