Eastern Michigan University to host free virtual Digital Divas STEM conference featuring online breakout sessions

Digital Divas

YPSILANTI – Eastern Michigan University will host its 10th annual Digital Divas STEM conference virtually on Friday, April 17. The virtual conference is free and open to the public and will include more than15 STEM-related breakout sessions, which will also be featured on the Digital Divas website.

Breakout sessions will be offered by GE, Google, Promess, NASA, Michigan's Cyber Patriot Program and the Ford Fund, as well as EMU students in majors such as electrical engineering,math, chemistry, and fashion marketing innovation.

All of the hands-on sessions can be performed at home with common household products, and will cover topics such as coding, sustainability by recycling your clothing, exploring the solar system with NASA, making your own lip gloss, taking a virtual tour of EMU’s campus, and much more.

“Digital Divas is a conference that is heavily looked forward to by hundreds of young girls each year,” said Bia Hamed, Digital Divas program director. “Even though we can’t come together in-person for this conference, we know it is still important to promote STEM careers to young girls.”

“We are thankful to our wonderful partners who have worked hard to make their breakout sessions happen virtually, and we hope that the community will thoroughly enjoy the virtual conference.”

Digital Divas mission is to provide a venue for connecting middle and high school women with careers in STEM through:

  • Introducing young women to careers in technology
  • Recruiting women into technology majors
  • Breaking down gender stereotypes regarding tech careers
  • Creating awareness of safe online interactions
  • Encouraging ethical behaviors in texting, emailing and social media

The Digital Divas conference was founded in 2011 by Gerald “Skip” Lawver, former professor for the College of Technology, with the goal of connecting young women to opportunities in the fast-growing technology and computer science fields. This year’s event was slated to host more than 600 attendees, representing schools in Oakland, Monroe, Lenawee, Wayne and Washtenaw counties.  

Key sponsors for the Digital Divas event are GameAbove, AT&T and DTE Energy Foundation. Thanks to their generous contributions, the Digital Divas event continues to be free for its participants.  

Eastern Michigan’s Extended Programs and the College of Technology are the hosts of the event. To learn more about the Digital Divas conference, visit the EMU Digital Divas homepage. For more information, visit the College of Technology programs homepage. 

About Eastern Michigan University

Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest public university in Michigan. It currently serves nearly 18,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Engineering and Technology; Health and Human Services; and, its graduate school. EMU is recognized by national publications for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information, visit the University's website.

April 08, 2020

Written by:
Morgan Mark

Media Contact:
Morgan Mark
mmark@emich.edu
734-487-4402