Geek Is Glam STEM Expo has run as an annual day-long interactive STEM conference for middle school girls (grades 4-8) since 2014. Hosted by Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts on the Worcester Polytechnic Institute campus, GSCWM recruits some 60 to 80 education and adventure collaborators each year to give girls access to some of the region’s top scientific and engineering minds as they engage in the exploration and discovery of science, technology, engineering and mathematics on the beautiful WPI campus.
Saturday, October 10, 2026
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
For Girls in Grades 4-8
$65 per girl (includes lunch, snacks, a GiG t-shirt, drawstring backpack, and an exclusive GiG patch)
Registration opens August 3
Registration Closes September 24
Have you ever wondered, “How does that work?” or thought to yourself, “I could build that!” Explore, experience and experiment, not for a grade, but for fun! Meet talented women and experience exciting opportunities in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM). Discover how you can make a difference in the world.
This is a girl-only event, ADULTS DROP OFF AND DO NOT STAY WITH THEIR GIRLS. Volunteers are always welcome to join us for the day, please see below.
If you have any questions about our Geek is Glam event please email us at info@gscwm.org
At Geek is Glam, you'll enjoy:
This is a girl-only event, adults drop off and do not stay with their girls.
We are looking for adults to volunteer with us for the day! If you would like to be a part of this great event, please fill out our Volunteer Interest form at https://go.gscwm.org/GiG26Volunteer.
Volunteers are needed to assist in workshops, run registration, direct girls, be hall monitors, and various other opportunities. All volunteers must be a registered member of Girl Scouts, have an active CORI on file with GSCWM, and understand they will not be with their troop or daughter for the day. The first 35 approved volunteers will receive a Geek is Glam t-shirt and all volunteers get lunch on us!
This event is made possible by our wonderful sponsors. Would you like to join that list? Please fill out this form and return it to TBreen@gscwm.org to help us inspire our girls to a future in STEM!
Geek is Glam Media Kit
Geek is Glam Sponsorship Form & Information
We’d love to have you join us at our STEM GIG. Would you like to offer hands-on interactive workshops? Would you like to reserve a table during our Expo Hall? Would you like to put on a demonstration during our event? Are you interested in sitting on career panels and inspiring girls into STEM related fields with YOUR story? Please fill out the Expo Participation Form found at: https://go.gscwm.org/GiG26Partner and help us inspire tomorrow’s STEM leaders TODAY!
Grades 4-8
Have you ever noticed a hazy sky and wondered why? Learn about the science behind air pollution and how we can work together to keep our planet and our lungs healthy with the EcoTarium.
Session 1, 2, 4, 5, 6
Grades 4-8
This is your chance to meet women in fascinating STEM fields, find out why they chose their particular field and what it takes to get there! With small groups, you'll have plenty of time for questions and answers and really find out what it takes to get where you want to go!
Session 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
Grades 6-8
Who gets sick and who doesn’t? What factors increase your risk for falling ill or getting injured? What causes disease and injury? These are the questions epidemiologists seek to answer. By answering them, we can work to prevent illness, injury, and death. In this interactive workshop with Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, you will take on the role of an epidemiologist—a disease detective—and try to determine what causes specific diseases and how that information can be used to prevent others from getting sick in the future. This workshop is great for students interested in medicine, biology, and public health.
Session 1, 2
Grades 4-8
Hands-on, interactive, informative and yes- SUPER FUN - Expo Hall is wall-to-wall STEM excitement! The hall has robots, Giant Games, experiments, demonstrations, raffles and so much more! All girls MUST pick only one Expo session
Session 3, 4, 5, 6
Grades 6-8
Ready to dive into the world of small business ownership? Join the owners of Cedar and Sage Tax Advisors, former Girl Scouts and current Girl Scout leaders, as we take a journey from problem to pitch with stops along the way for prototypes and pointers. Time permitting, this workshop will cover most of the Cadette Business Creator Badge.
Session 5, 6
Grades 4-5
Ready to dive into the world of small business ownership? Join the owners of Cedar and Sage Tax Advisors, former Girl Scouts and current Girl Scout leaders, as we take a journey from problem to pitch with stops along the way for prototypes and pointers. Time permitting, this workshop will cover the Junior Business Jumpstart Badge (not included).
Session 1
Grades 4-8
Learn about defining bullying and the various forms of harassment, including cyberbullying. This presentation will inform you of current issues encountered when using social media and the legal ramifications of harassment. Internet safety tips are provided, along with addressing how your personal use of social media can affect your future opportunities and personal relationships. District Attorney Early’s Office will also provide tips on how to make good choices online and the positive uses of AI.
Session 1
Grades 4-5
What can make an object move on its own? Explore forces that we can't see and use what you've learned to become a toy engineer with Discovery Museum.
Session 4, 5
Grades 4-8
An all-you-can eat lunch in the college dining hall with more choices than you can ever imagine! Options available for all diets, dietary restrictions and likes! Clean kitchen and seating area also available. All girls MUST pick one lunch session, either Lunch 1 OR Lunch 2.
Session 2, 3
Grades 4-8
Learn about fire and the properties of combustion, different states of matter, and the secret behind some of Hollywood's special effects in this Mad Science Show with Mad Science and Imagine Arts Academy of Western New England.
Session 2
Grades 4-8
Learn more about how you think so that you can be safer, a better student, and a better communicator. We'll participate in 20-25 games which illustrate our strengths and weaknesses as we sense, perceive, think, learn, remember, make decisions, respond and multi-task. We'll also briefly discuss a career in human factors/ergonomics, which combines knowledge of engineering and psychology to design products and systems which are safe, easy and fun to use. Everyone participates in some activities. Some, but not all, adventuresome participants will participate "on stage". You may even win a prize!!! IMPORTANT: We will be making a photo album at this session that will be emailed to participants. IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO HAVE YOUR PHOTO TAKEN, PLEASE SELECT A DIFFERENT SESSION.
Session 1, 2, 5, 6
Grades 6-8
You will help a dog that had to have his leg amputated walk again by designing a prosthetic leg for the dog. Come help figure out why he had to have his leg amputated and then engineer a new artificial leg with Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University.
Session 5, 6
Grades 4-8
What makes water jump, strings shriek, and clothes hangers sound like a bell?Explore with Discovery Museum how sound waves travel through different materials and why sound moves fastest through the most unexpected substances.
Session 1, 2
Grades 6-8
In this session with Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, you will help to figure out why Barry the Labrador retriever is so tired all the time and cannot finish his walks. You will have to design a device that helps you to make a diagnosis during his physical examination.
Session 3, 4
Amgen Biotech Experience Massachusetts @ Northeastern University will have some basic biotechnology equipment at their table in the Expo Hall, including: micropipettes and practice activities, gel electrophoresis boxes with gel-loading and running, example agar plate, and chromatography column, as well as hands-on paper models of restriction enzymes and recombinant plasmids.
How to Start Your Own Business for Juniors: Ready to dive into the world of small business ownership? Join the owners of Cedar and Sage Tax Advisors, former Girl Scouts and current Girl Scout leaders, as we take a journey from problem to pitch with stops along the way for prototypes and pointers.
Time permitting, this workshop will cover the Junior Business Jumpstart Badge (not included) or most of the Cadette Business Creator Badge.
Emergency preparedness and medical reserve corps information and equipment will be available in our Expo Hall with City of Worcester Division of Public Health.
CreXo will have exciting hands-on STEM products to help you learn coding, robotics and other STEM activities in the Expo Hall! We have Finch (educational robot), Hummingbird (robot parts), Swift Saw (cardboard saw) and Hatchling- a robotics kit. Come play and learn with us!
Prosthetic Party: In this session with Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University, you will help to figure out why Barry the Labrador retriever is so tired all the time and cannot finish his walks. You will have to design a device that helps you to make a diagnosis during his physical examination.
Sounds All Around: You will help a dog that had to have his leg amputated walk again by designing a prosthetic leg for the dog. Come help figure out why he had to have his leg amputated and then engineer a new artificial leg with Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University.
Sonic Booms! What makes water jump, strings shriek, and clothes hangers sound like a bell? Explore with Discovery Museum how sound waves travel through different materials and why sound moves fastest through the most unexpected substances.
Invisible Forces! What can make an object move on its own? Explore forces that we can't see and use what you've learned to become a toy engineer with Discovery Museum.
Air We Share: Have you ever noticed a hazy sky and wondered why? Learn about the science behind air pollution and how we can work together to keep our planet and our lungs healthy with the EcoTarium.
Your Place in Space: Are you fascinated by space? Come explore the mysteries of our galaxy (and beyond!) with the guidance of an EcoTarium educator. This is a great opportunity to work toward your Space Science Investigator Badge. Join us for an “out of this world” hands-on experience, and become a part of the next generation of leaders in the rapidly growing space industry!
Mad Science Show: Learn about fire and the properties of combustion, different states of matter, and the secret behind some of Hollywood's special effects in this Mad Science Show with Mad Science and Imagine Arts Academy of Western New England.
Mad Science and Imagine Arts Academy of Western New England will have some hands on toys, take homes, descriptions of their programs, and some science electronics in the Expo Hall!
Epidemiologists: Disease Detectives: Who gets sick and who doesn’t? What factors increase your risk for falling ill or getting injured? What causes disease and injury? These are the questions epidemiologists seek to answer. By answering them, we can work to prevent illness, injury, and death. In this interactive workshop with Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, you will take on the role of an epidemiologist—a disease detective—and try to determine what causes specific diseases and how that information can be used to prevent others from getting sick in the future. This workshop is great for students interested in medicine, biology, and public health. And don't forget to stop by their table during the Expo Hall to learn more about academic programs!
We have an Arthropod Petting Zoo with Professor Bugman Entomoly Adventures in our Expo Hall!
Learn more about how you think so that you can be safer, a better student, and a better communicator with Ronald G. Shapiro, PhD, LLC. We'll participate in 20-25 games which illustrate our strengths and weaknesses as we sense, perceive, think, learn, remember, make decisions, respond and multi-task. We'll also briefly discuss a career in human factors/ergonomics, which combines knowledge of engineering and psychology to design products and systems which are safe, easy and fun to use. Everyone participates in some activities. Some, but not all, adventuresome participants will participate "on stage". You may even win a prize!!! IMPORTANT: We will be making a photo album at this session that will be emailed to participants. IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO HAVE YOUR PHOTO TAKEN, PLEASE SELECT A DIFFERENT SESSION.
Internet Safety & AI: Learn about defining bullying and the various forms of harassment, including cyberbullying. This presentation will inform you of current issues encountered when using social media and the legal ramifications of harassment. Internet safety tips are provided, along with addressing how your personal use of social media can affect your future opportunities and personal relationships. District Attorney Early’s Office will also provide tips on how to make good choices online and the positive uses of AI.
Tufts University-Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine will have interactive, hands-on exploration of animal x-rays, bones, and other animal resources to explore veterinary medicine in the Expo Hall!
Stop by the Worcestser Division of Public Health's table for hands-only CPR demonstrations, blood pressure education, tick/mosquito education, handouts, and health related activites!
TRAX, the Worcester Railers HC mascot, will be in the Expo Hall along with a prize wheel!
Information coming soon
This event is designed for girls only. Girls gain great independence and social skills working in groups with girls only. *If your child needs special accommodations, please contact Tammy Breen at tbreen@gscwm.org.
Please see above. We are looking for a large crew of volunteers to help in various roles at the event (not stay with their troop/girl or participate). Volunteers for the event MUST be registered, CORI’d adults who understand they are not going to be with their daughter or girls. If you are interested in volunteering for the event, please fill out our Volunteer Interest form at https://go.gscwm.org/GiG25Volunteer
GSCWM staff and registered, CORI’d volunteers, WPI staff and faculty, and 2 nursing supervisors and/or EMTs will be present for the event and will more than cover proper adult/girl ratios as set forth by GSUSA and GSCWM.
Try explaining what she can expect at the event. Talk about the fun, new things she will learn, and the new friends she will make. You can relate this event to being away from home during a day of school. If she is still not comfortable, then she may not be ready for this type of event-and that is okay! We have many other programs and events scheduled this year where you can stay and participate with your child.
You would be contacted on your phone/cell phone you listed on the permission slip given to us the day of the event during the event. Prior to the event you may be contacted by phone/cell phone or e-mail.
No. There are many reasons why we need to add on additional workshops within the first couple of weeks once registration opens. We cannot switch girls out of workshops once they have signed up.
Lunch will be provided in the WPI college dining hall! Additionally, snacks and drinks will be provided during the day.
The dining hall offers many food choices and is accustomed to providing choices to accommodate different food concerns. Your child will have many options available to her. We will not have refrigeration available to us but if you feel you need to send a lunch or her snacks, please provide her with something she will be able to carry in her backpack.
The dining hall has a “clean” kitchen where your daughter can choose from many options for lunch that should meet any severe food allergy requests. There will also be gluten-free, nut-free table options clearly marked and staff available to help guide in decisions. If your child needs to bring their own lunch and snacks, it will need to be something she can carry around with her in her backpack.
Yes, all girls will be required to bring an event permission slip with them and they will be collected at drop off. The event permission slip will be sent to you in your confirmation packet prior to the event and must be returned to council staff at drop off; do NOT send to council prior.
The workshops are intended to be groups of 15-20 girls unless otherwise noted.
Yes! Your child will be able to pick from a large variety of workshops when you register for the event. When you register on-line, you will be able to see immediately if workshops have openings and know what you are enrolled in. If registering by paper, registrations and workshops will be entered on a first-come basis. When registering by paper, you will not have the ability to see immediately what workshops are still available. For this reason, we ask that you register on-line. Due to many factors such as last minute cancellations, unforeseen circumstances, etc., girls do not receive confirmations of workshops until the day of the event when they will receive their schedules.
All our exciting workshops are being run by professionals in their fields! From college professors to zoo keepers to scientists, every workshop is being presented by those who do it best! Each workshop will have GSCWM staff members and/or volunteers to assist in the program as well and to meet girl/adult ratios.
The press attends this event yearly to help spread the word about girls doing great things in STEM. GSCWM also takes photos to use in our publications and social efforts. If you do not want your daughter photographed for these purposes, you need to note that on the registration under “other” and on her permission slip. A yellow sticker is placed on her name tag and every adult is aware she cannot be photographed. Have a conversation with your daughter so she is aware of what the sticker is for IF APPROPRIATE, and so that she can actively take part in meeting your concerns.
Everything from the lunch in the dining hall, t-shirt, drawstring backpack, a GiG patch, workshops, expo, demonstrations, hands-on activities, program supplies, and snack is included in this one-low price.
You will tell us! You will be prompted to provide your child’s size during the registration process. Girls will receive their t-shirts at the event. No exchanges can be made.
Yes, an exclusive GiG patch goes to all girls registered by the close date!
We have a limited amount of financial assistance available. Please fill out the event FA form available on our website and submit it to Tammy Breen at TBreen@gscwm.org.
We of course would LOVE for your daughter to be a Girl Scout but if she is not already one, that is okay! This is the PERFECT program for girls who have never been part of the Girl Scout experience to come and see what it’s all about! And of course, if she has a FUNtastic time-she can always become a Girl Scout later!
A uniform is not required but we always love to see girls showing their Girl Scout pride! It is up to the individual girl whether she wears her uniform or not. Keep in mind some of the workshops may be messy. And many girls chose to change into their GiG t-shirts anyway!
We hate to see your child miss out on any part of this day but we understand there are special circumstances. Please contact Tammy Breen at TBreen@gscwm.org and she will work with you to make sure your child can experience this day. There is not a price adjustment for being dropped off late or leaving early, you are paying for a full “spot”.
This is a girl-only event and we would love to have any girl in grade 4th-8th join us.
Absolutely! The more the merrier! If your child’s friend is a girl and also in grade 4th-8th, we’d love to have her join us for this event!
Absolutely! If she is in grades 9-12, she can volunteer for the event. Have her reach out directly to Tammy Breen at TBreen@gscwm.org letting her know her interested and grade.
Because all of OUR prices went up and we need to cover our costs. While we do our best to keep this event as cost-effective as possible, we also have to make sure we cover the cost of facilities, the police details we hire, the all-you-can-eat lunches for girls, providers, staff, and volunteers, backpacks, patches, t-shirts, snacks and drinks for all, program supplies, insurance, and the many other costs associated with this event.