Good leaders lead not with the example of their power, but with the power of their example." -Former VP Joe Biden
Sisters in Science.
The program’s mission is to introduce young girls to STEM and help them develop a passion for science through hands-on activities and through hearing the inspirational stories of women in our community. On a broader scale, we need to come together as a society to send the message to girls that their voices, intellect, and opinions are valued in STEM careers. All too often girls feel intimidated because of a system that perpetuates the white male hegemonic order of these fields. I have wanted to formally launch this program because I feel there is no better way to bridge this divide and empower women to reach their full intellectual potential than by sparking a lifelong passion in girls from an early age. I would love to include local organizations such as the MOST in this initiative with the new funds.
The program takes a seminar and laboratory format. High school girls who are passionate about science travel to local elementary and middle schools to lead a group of girls in fun science-related activities. Our labs include a variety of topics ranging from earth science to physics to chemistry. When a group takes a liking to a particular subject, we expand on it to the full extent of their intellectual curiosity. In one session, we created a scale model of the solar system in the school parking lot to an astronomy-driven group. Leaders in innovation are discussed as well as the accomplishments of women in STEM. I foresee speakers attending sessions to address the girls in person as well as highlight their work in their field. Field trips will also be incorporated with the new funds. I envision taking a group of girls passionate about environmentalism to a local forest on a camping trip with older students and college professors to get a glimpse of the opportunities this field has in store for them. I know that if this program had existed when I was primary school age, I would have jumped at the chance to be a part of it.
I have conducted a few seminars with children this past year including a partnership with local Girl Scouts and my elementary school. These events were a huge success, and I could see the spark in the children’s eyes when they realized that they were not only accepted as unique thinkers, but that their ideas had merit and would be treated with the respect they deserve. In just a small period, I saw the children gain confidence and become more outspoken with their ideas. It is my dream to bring this spark to a larger scale and positively influence girls across the country.
The program takes a seminar and laboratory format. High school girls who are passionate about science travel to local elementary and middle schools to lead a group of girls in fun science-related activities. Our labs include a variety of topics ranging from earth science to physics to chemistry. When a group takes a liking to a particular subject, we expand on it to the full extent of their intellectual curiosity. In one session, we created a scale model of the solar system in the school parking lot to an astronomy-driven group. Leaders in innovation are discussed as well as the accomplishments of women in STEM. I foresee speakers attending sessions to address the girls in person as well as highlight their work in their field. Field trips will also be incorporated with the new funds. I envision taking a group of girls passionate about environmentalism to a local forest on a camping trip with older students and college professors to get a glimpse of the opportunities this field has in store for them. I know that if this program had existed when I was primary school age, I would have jumped at the chance to be a part of it.
I have conducted a few seminars with children this past year including a partnership with local Girl Scouts and my elementary school. These events were a huge success, and I could see the spark in the children’s eyes when they realized that they were not only accepted as unique thinkers, but that their ideas had merit and would be treated with the respect they deserve. In just a small period, I saw the children gain confidence and become more outspoken with their ideas. It is my dream to bring this spark to a larger scale and positively influence girls across the country.
Girl Scouts
Classroom Connections
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We traveled back my elementary school with three stations: introduction to engineering via a tower building competition, introduction to biology with a DNA building activity, and chemistry with balloons! The class was so excited to learn and to see the results of their hard work. At the end of the session we reviewed what we had learned and the class asked us when we would be back! To know that our presence had excited the children meant the absolute world to us.
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