My Story
I excel in science and enjoy being a science communicator. I go a small, consolidated, rural, School District, and there are not many opportunities for S.T.E.M. learning. I have had to go outside my community to find learning opportunities. I have participated in a number of programs including Purdue Space Day, Purdue Society of Women Engineers sponsored programs, Purdue Gifted Education Resource Institute, University of Illinois Bonding with Chemistry Day Camp. I’ve also participated in Scholastic Bowl, Lego League, and Project Lead the Way.
After doing several things with the Women in Engineering Society of Purdue where they gave me materials and an activity, I came away with a sense of accomplishment, a sense that I learned something and the satisfaction that I did it myself. I would like to pass on that feeling to the girls in my community interested in science.
My Project
I plan to do a Girls S.T.E.M. Day. I myself will host one station and there will be one to two other stations per invited university group, like Society of Women Engineers from University of Illinois. The Girls S.T.E.M. Day will have about 6 stations set up altogether. An example station would be, girls would have an opportunity to construct a Mars Rover prototype using straws, cardboard and marshmallows. Another idea might be the girls would construct a battery using lemon and copper and zinc strips. Another example might be a station with balloon laminar flow which requires a balloon, tape, a bowl, water and something to cut the balloon. I would also host a companion website through newpathlearning.com which would provide supporting programs, like virtual scientific labs, fun quizzes, and videos like relevant Magic School Bus and Physics Girl episodes.