Women in Philanthropy and Leadership at Coastal Carolina University will host a panel discussion titled "Girls and Robotics" as part of its May Inspiring Women's Luncheon on Wednesday, May 10, at noon in the Alford Ballroom, Atheneum Hall.

The panel will address studies that indicate girls lose interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) subjects at an early age, and how local robotics teams can instill a passion in girls and boys in STEM education. Panelists include Jerrin Martus, a teacher at Ocean Bay Middle School in Myrtle Beach; Louis Rubbo, an associate professor of physics and astronomy at CCU; and Peg Skalican, the Myrtle Beach campus director for Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics (PIA). In addition, attendees will hear firsthand from local female students who are engineering robots, designing prototypes and competing globally on robotics teams.

Martus teaches STEM at Ocean Bay Middle School, where she was named Teacher of the Year in 2015-2016. She has taught eighth-grade science in Horry County Schools since 2009 and began teaching STEM classes in 2015. She mentors FIRST® LEGO® League robotics teams, a FIRST® Tech Challenge robotics team, Rubik's® Cube teams and Ocean Bay's Horry County Technology Fair competitors. Martus previously taught high school science in Brunswick County, N.C., and advanced placement biology in Howard County, Md. She earned a bachelor's degree in biology from Towson University and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Johns Hopkins University.

Rubbo, in addition to teaching at CCU, serves as the co-investigator on a National Science Foundation grant focused on the development and assessment of scientific reasoning-building activities for non-science majors. He also is part of an education team that leads an initiative to train middle school teachers in Marion County, S.C., to incorporate robotics as part of the county's math and science curriculum. The initiative is funded by the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education. Rubbo is the South Carolina affiliate partner for the FIRST® LEGO® League and FIRST® LEGO® League Jr. He organizes and runs the day-to-day operations of the two programs that reach more than 2,000 students throughout the state. Rubbo earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Colorado and a Ph.D. in physics from Montana State University.

Skalican joined PIA, one of the top aviation maintenance schools in the country, in 2000. She has held many roles at the school, including secretary on the board of directors and finance/human resource manager. She has been a committee chair for PIA's scholarship fundraisers and a member of the scholarship committee. She is a vocational education specialist focusing on campus administration. As an active member of the community, Skalican is involved with CCU's Spadoni College of Education board of visitors, the S.C. Aerospace Education Workgroup, Horry County Schools business cabinet, Waccamaw Region Council of Governments Workforce Development board and other advisory boards. Skalican earned a bachelor's degree in human resource management from Strayer University as well as an associate degree in accounting.

The cost to attend the luncheon is $10 for WIPL members and $15 for nonmembers. To register or for more information, email wipl-adm@coastal.edu or call 843-349-5033. WIPL was founded in 2007 under the leadership of CCU first lady Terri DeCenzo. It is committed to inspiring, connecting and empowering women to strengthen their individual and collective voices in leadership at CCU and in the community, state, region and beyond. Members include faculty, staff and community leaders who are committed to creating and supporting opportunities for women in all areas of leadership and across all disciplines, while continuing to invest in scholarships for CCU students. Since its inception, WIPL has awarded 184 students more than $200,000 in financial support through a fully endowed scholarship and annual awards.