UBC Geering Up recognized for impact on future engineers by IEEE
November 22, 2023
UBC Geering Up Engineering Outreach has been recognized for its achievements in promoting STEM education to youth, by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).
Geering Up received the Vice President’s Recognition Award from the IEEE Educational Activities Board in a ceremony last week for their continual efforts to inspire, empower and shape the next generation of engineers, innovators and problem-solvers.
The award recognizes a consistent and meaningful commitment to promoting equity, diversity and inclusion in engineering and science, acknowledging significant and substantial effect on the practice of engineering and engineering education.
Based out of UBC Faculty of Applied Science, Geering Up's mandate is to promote science, engineering and technology to children and youths across British Columbia. The team proactively reaches out to equity-deserving groups and groups traditionally underrepresented in STEM.
Geering Up aims to show participants how fun and exciting STEM can be through summer camps and year-round programming in Metro Vancouver and the Okanagan area. They also offer educators in Vancouver and Kelowna professional development resources and classroom workshops.
In 2022, Geering Up reached more than 22,000 youths and children, including more than 600 Indigenous youths and more than 130 Black youths. Girls make up 49.5% of program participants.
From its beginnings in 1995 as mechanical engineering student Christine Yeung’s capstone project, Geering Up continues to expand and build relationships with local partners to support demand for Geering Up programming. For their impact, earlier this year, Geering Up received the Actua Award for Excellence for a second time.
