About W.I.S.E. ​

Women In Science and Engineering (W.I.S.E.) is a free annual symposium, founded by Poly Prep educators, Fleurette Turkenkopf and Jamie Nestor. Since it began in 2012, the one-day conference has inspired NYC middle and high school girls to pursue science and engineering and has introduced them to a wide range career options in STEM fields. Each year, girls from all over the tri-state area descend on the beautiful Poly campus in Brooklyn for a day of inspiration and creativity. They meet accomplished women who work in STEM fields and enjoy a day of hands-on experiences in a variety of workshops specifically designed for grades 5-12. In the workshops, girls collaborate to solve problems using creative design processes. Run exclusively by women, the girls who participate in W.I.S.E. are able to see themselves in the program’s leaders. They leave empowered with the confidence to pursue higher education in STEM and a better understanding of a wide range of career opportunities they may pursue. Through W.I.S.E. and its philosophy, Poly continues to attract girls interested in STEM and to inspire women who are already here.
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W.I.S.E. Goals

  • Spark interest in the study of engineering and empower girls so they are confident to pursue an education in engineering
  • Introduce girls to female role models with extensive experience in engineering, so that they can learn about engineering from female engineers
  • Expose girls to a wide range of career fields in science, technology, and engineering
  • Provide a hands-on learning experience in the creative design process unique to engineering​
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About Poly Prep
Located in Brooklyn, Poly Prep Country Day School is one school with two beautiful campuses each providing an urban oasis. Poly’s Middle & Upper Schools reside on a 25-acre pastoral campus in Dyker Heights.  Our Lower School is situated in an award-winning, LEED-certified mansion in “brownstone Brooklyn” Park Slope. Poly’s mission is to prepare and inspire the next diverse generation of leaders and global citizens to act with intelligence, imagination and—above all—character. 


​Contact Us

If you’d like be added to our mailing list for next year, please submit your information below.
wise@polyprep.org
718-836-9800
9216 Seventh Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11228

The Impact of W.I.S.E.

More than 850 girls have attended W.I.S.E. Over 75% of them said if an engineering course were offered at their schools, they would take it.  After attending W.I.S.E., more than half are considering college engineering programs.

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