Department of Physics | Physics Wonder Girls
Department of Physics | Physics Wonder Girls
Physics Wonder Girls

About

Creating the Camp

 "Physics Wonder Girls" is a free, STEM/Physics Camp for middle school girls and the brainchild of Physics Professor Dr. Roberto Ramos. Originally funded out of his physics research grant from the National Science Foundation, the camp started out in Indiana in 2013 and came to Philadelphia in 2016, on the campus of the University of the Sciences!

The physics outreach camp aims to sustain interest of middle school girls in science through hands-on physics demonstrations, research lab tours, industrial plant trips, physics-based games, and career talks. Students in the Philly-South Jersey area, nominated by their science teachers for their potential in the scientific field, undergo final selection on the basis of science grades, letters of recommendation, and a short essay. This pool of top science students is narrowed down to form 1-2 small, specialized cohorts of 15 campers. Campers experience four intense days of project-building, physics demonstrations and experiments, and interactions with women scientists and engineers. The capstone activity is the Girls' Physics Showcase Event, given by the participants to friends, family, camp organizers and the general community on the last day. 

Dr. Ramos was inspired to create the camp by his daughter Kristiana, who expressed interest in the sciences at an early age. What started as a small idea turned into a bigger vision of inspiring middle school girls to pursue careers in STEM fields. Dr. Ramos is committed to advancing the role of women in STEM. Kristiana - the original Physics Wonder Girls, recently graduated with a BS Physics degree from the University of Maryland and will be a Physics PhD student at Northeastern University in 2023.

The camp has been funded by the Christian R. and Mary F. Lindback Foundation, Puratos Corporation, Bristol Myers Squibb and SPIE - the International Society for Optics and Photonics. In 2023, the camp will be sponsored by Constellation, and Puratos Corporation. The camp has received national attention, having been featured in The SPS Observer - the national magazine of the Society of Physics Students, Miss USA website, by ABC Network News 6 Philadelphia, Fox News 29 Philadelphia, CBS News 3 Philadelphia, and is registered with STEMCityPHL (City of Philadelphia) - a popular portal for STEM programming. It has attracted the participation of distinguished women physicists and STEM scientists. In 2018, the elite STEM cohort of high-performing girls represented 20 middle schools in the Philly-South Jersey area. For his work on the Physics Girls Camp, Dr. Ramos received Second Place in the 2021 Greater Philadelphia Social Innovators Award in the category of Community Impact.

Camp A Schedule of Activities

  • June 26, 2023

     

    9:30 – 10 a.m. | Orientation/Group Dynamics 10 – 11 a.m. | Intro to Renewable Energy/Solar Energy I (Make a Solar Spinner)11 – 12 p.m. | Solar Energy II (Solar Circuits) 12 – 1 p.m.  | Lunch 1 – 2:30 p.m. | Solar Energy III (Solar Circuits/Build a Solar Car) 2:30 – 3 p.m. | Physics Fun Experiences (Hovercraft) 3 p.m. | Camp Ends/Homework: Build a Solar Oven

     

  • June 27, 2023

     

    9:30 – 10 a.m. | Games 10 – 11 a.m. | Solar Energy (Build a Solar Tracker)11 – 12 p.m. | Build a Motor/Understanding Wind Turbines 12 – 1 p.m.  | Lunch 1 – 2 p.m. | Make Your Own LED Greeting Card 2 – 3 p.m. | Meet a Materials Scientist: Gianna Valentino, PhD - Rock Climbing to a Successful Career in STEM 12  – 1 p.m. | Lunch1 – 1:45 p.m. | Driving Shopper Engagement through Personalization ~ Steve Henig, Chief Customer Officer, Wakefern Food Corp 1:45 – 2:30 p.m. | Defining Moments in Food Marketing History and Challenges for the Future ~ Wayne Shurts, Former CIO Cadbury, Supervalu, Sysco and Stater Bros. Markets Board Member 3 p.m. | Camp Ends/Homework: Make a Poster on a Woman Physicist  

     

  • June 28, 2023

     

    9:30 a.m. | Depart Campus for Scientific Trip to Puratos Corporation 10 a.m. | Arrive at Puratos Corporation1: 30 p.m. | Depart Puratos Corporation for Campus 2 p.m.  | Arrive at Campus 2 – 3 p.m. | Why I Became a Physics Major/Visit to Research Labs  3 p.m. | Camp Ends

     

  • June 29, 2023

     

    9:30 – 10 a.m. | Building Scientific Presentation Skills 10 – 11 a.m. | Equity in Energy Poster Session: Women in Physics & Energy11 – 12 p.m. | Light Energy: Infrared Imaging, Polarization and Art 12 – 1 p.m.  | Lunch/Test Solar Ovens 1 – 2 p.m. | Physics Girl Talk  2 – 2:45 p.m. | Prep for Girls Physics Community Show 2:45 – 3 p.m. | Break3 – 4 p.m. | Physics Wonder Girls Community Show

     

  • Since the campers will be working in a physics lab, for their safety, it is required that they dress appropriately and comfortably: We require long pants (no shorts or skirts), shirt, and rubber shoes.

  • Free Lunch (including vegetarian options) will be provided. If you require a more specialized diet, you are welcome to bring packed lunch which we can store in our fridge. 

Camp B Schedule of Activities

  • July 10, 2023

     

    9:30 – 10 a.m. | Orientation/Group Dynamics 10 – 11 a.m. | Intro to Renewable Energy/Solar Energy I (Make a Solar Spinner)11 – 12 p.m. | Solar Energy II (Solar Circuits) 12 – 1 p.m. | Lunch 1 – 2:30 p.m. | Solar Energy III (Solar Circuits/Build a Solar Car) 2:30 – 3 p.m. |Physics Fun Experiences (Hovercraft) 3 p.m. | Camp Ends/Homework: Build a Solar Oven

     

  • July 11, 2023

     

    9:30 – 10 a.m. | Games 10 – 11 a.m. | Meet an Optics Scientist: Clemence Jollivet, Ph.D., Senior Engineering Manager, Coherent, Inc. - A STEM Journey to Laser Technical Expert and Team Leadership11 – 12 p.m. | Build a Solar Tracker using the Arduino/Understanding Wind Turbines (Part 1) 12 – 1 p.m.  | Lunch/Test Solar Cookers 1 – 2 p.m. | Build a Solar Tracker Using the Arduino/Understanding Wind Turbines (Part 1) 2 – 3 p.m. | Solar Energy IV (Series and Parallel Circuits)/Build and LED Greeting Card 3 p.m. | Camp Ends/Homework: Make a Poster on a Woman Physicist

     

  • July 12, 2023

    9:30 – 10 a.m. | Games 10 – 11 a.m. | Research Laboratory Tours/Why I Became a Physics Major11 – 11:30 p.m. | Meet Ex-Camper Lauren Kam, Comp Sci. Major, Cornell University 11:30 – 12 p.m. | TBA 12 – 1 p.m. | Lunch 1 – 2 p.m. | Physics Demonstrations/Build an LED Greeting Card 2 – 3 p.m. | Build a Solar Energy Work Station3 p.m. | Camp Ends

     

  • July 13, 2023

     

    9:30 – 10 a.m. | Building Scientific Presentation Skills 10 – 11 a.m. | Equity in Energy Poster Session: Women in Physics & Energy11 – 12 p.m. | Light Energy: Infrared Imaging, Polarization and Art 12 – 1 p.m.  | Lunch/Test Solar Ovens 1 – 2 p.m. | Physics Girl Talk  2 – 2:45 p.m. | Prep for Girls Physics Community Show 2:45 – 3 p.m. | Break3 – 4 p.m. | Physics Wonder Girls Community Show

     

  • Since the campers will be working in a physics lab, for their safety, it is required that they dress appropriately and comfortably: We require long pants (no shorts or skirts), shirt, and rubber shoes.

  • Free Lunch (including vegetarian options) will be provided. If you require a more specialized diet, you are welcome to bring packed lunch which we can store in our fridge. 

Participating School

Students from the following schools will be joining the 2023 Physics Wonder Girls Camp:

  • Garnet Valley Middle School
  • Penn Alexander Middle School
  • Saint Andrew School
  • Haverford Middle School
  • Cinnaminson Middle School
  • Mount Aviat Academy
  • Newtown Middle School
  • Saint Francis DeSales School
  • Academy 1 Middle School
  • Hartford School
  • String Theory Charter School
  • Thomas Holmes Elementary
  • Tilden Middle School
  • Charles Boehm Middle School
  • Haddonfield Middle School
  • Independence Charter School
  • Holy Child Academy
  • Overbrook Educational Center
  • Philly Performing Arts Charter
  • Moorestown Friends School

Camp Participants

Students attending the 2023 Physics Wonder Girls Camp from the participating school are:

  • Matab Abdelhalim
  • Sophia Beswick
  • Emily Craney
  • Logan Davis
  • Nina "Neo" Guevara
  • Ahjae Horton
  • Emily Huynh
  • Taylor Marcell
  • Darby Elizabeth Marquette
  • Jacqueline McGettigan
  • Emma Mikata
  • Muzen Mohamedsaeed
  • Aniya Mosley
  • Bella Smith
  • Talia Seshasai
  • Alaina Vible
  • Carolyn Yuan

Application

To participate in the 2023 Physics Wonder Girls Camp at Saint Joseph's University, be sure to follow the application steps below. 

  • You can apply directly or be nominated by your science teacher/principal 
  • Application Deadline: June 5 - Early Submissions Recommended - Slots fill up early) 
  • Important requirement: Your science teacher must email a nomination letter to physicswondergirls@gmail.com 
  • Successful applicants will be notified by email and asked to confirm attendance of the whole program.

 

Should you have problems submitting online, please email us at physicswondergirls@gmail.com.