NASA and Missouri Space Grant Consortium-funded program begins July 19.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – On July 19, a group of Kansas City-area Girl Scouts will set out for summer camp. But instead of practicing archery or soaking up the sun, these campers will be learning about technology, design, scientific proof and engineering principles at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) School of Computing and Engineering.

Led by UMKC School of Computing and Engineering faculty and students and funded by NASA through the Missouri Space Grant Consortium, Inventure University’s goal is to bring more minority middle school and high school girls into the realm of science. For seven days, the Girl Scouts will take up residence on the UMKC campus and learn engineering principles and analytical thinking skills. Activities include building robots, Popsicle stick bridges, Web sites and cars propelled by balloons. The Girl Scouts will visit the School of Computing and Engineering’s Gait Laboratory, which measures people’s movements with electromyography (EMG) sensors and metal plates. They will learn about GPS systems. And they will compete in an egg drop competition that begins one story above ground level.

“The UMKC School of Computing and Engineering is dedicated to increasing minority and women enrollment in the science, technology, engineering and math fields,” said School of Computing and Engineering Dean Kevin Truman. “Programs like Inventure University are helping to pique their interest through scientific modules and experiments.”

The University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), one of four University of Missouri campuses, is a public university serving more than 14,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students. UMKC engages with the community and economy based on a four-part mission: life and health sciences; visual and performing arts; urban issues and education; and a vibrant learning and campus life experience.