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“The Techbridge club has been wonderful for my daughter. She…counts the days until the next meeting and mourns the periods of school vacation because there is no Techbridge.” - parent of Techbridge student
About Us
Techbridge: An Innovative Program with a Big Impact
The mission of Techbridge is to encourage girls in technology, science and engineering through multi-faceted programs for girls. Techbridge offers after-school and summer programs with hands-on projects, career exploration opportunities, and academic and career guidance. Since its founding by Chabot Space & Science Center , Techbridge has served over 2,500 girls in grades 5-12 . Our mantra is to change girls' lives, one girl at a time, reflecting our philosophy to bring about significant change in a student's life through consistent, personal support and a dedication to increasing their choices for the future.
Techbridge also works to build a strong network of support for girls, and has reached over 7,000 educators, role models, families, and partners through professional development, trainings, publications, and other dissemination activities across the country. A grant from the National Science Foundation enables us to disseminate our resources for role models, including an outreach guide funded by Google and accompanying toolkit CD.
Techbridge works closely with partners to expand impact beyond our community. With support from the Noyce Foundation and the Gordon & Betty Moore Foundation, Techbridge is adapting its curriculum and rolling out programs-in-a-box to Girl Scouts.
Ongoing evaluations play a vital part in continually improving and refining the program at each of Techbridge's program sites. For more information on outcomes and results, please visit Highlights of Techbridge's Successes .
History of Techbridge
Based on extensive research, Techbridge was launched in 2000 by Chabot Space & Science Center in Oakland , California to expand the options of girls in underserved communities and to address the shortage of women and underrepresented groups in technology and engineering. Beginning with 11 elementary, middle, and high schools in Oakland , Berkeley and also at the California School for the Blind, the program has since expanded to 17 schools across three school districts.
In 2004, Techbridge teamed up with the University of Maryland, Baltimore County and the Shriver Center to launch ESTEEM (Enhancing Science & Technology Education & Exploration Mentoring), which impacted over 300 students in underserved areas of Baltimore.
A grant from the Gordon & Betty Moore Foundation supported Techbridge after-school programs from 2004 -2007 and helped us expand to new schools in underserved areas. In addition, the generous support of Stephen D. Bechtel, Jr. and the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation has supported the Techbridge Summer Academy and Techbridge after-school programs.
Going Forward
In 2008-2009, Techbridge is partnering with the Girl Scouts of Central Texas and the Girl Scouts of Northern California to launch Techbridge programs-in-a-box to inspire thousands more girls in technology and engineering. In addition, Techbridge is working closely with both partners to launch after-school programs at new school sites in Texas and the Bay Area. Two new Girl Scout Councils will be identified for phase two starting in the fall of 2009.
