The Sally Ride Science Festival: Background
Information from Becky Decker

The Sally Ride Science Festivals are all about making science, math, engineering and  technology accessible, as well as fun and "cool" for 5th thru 8th grade girls with natural scientific curiosity.  The Sally Ride Science Team worked in partnership with Macomb Community College, girls' and women's organizations, clubs, museums, science and technology businesses and organizations, public and private schools, as well as existing networks of women in science and technology to coordinate this community festival.  During the festival there were an inspiring keynote address by Astronaut Kathy Sullivan and other "cool" science and tech related women professionals; hands-on, creative and fun science, math and tech-related Discovery Workshops designed with upper-elementary and middle school girls in mind; an adult track of workshops for supporting parents, educators and others; a festive "Street Fair" atmosphere that provided opportunities for girls to connect with like-minded friends (old and new), network with professional women in the diverse fields of science, explore possible vocations, visit booths sponsored by local organizations, and enjoy entertainment, food, and science-related shopping options.  Discovery Workshops were an integral part of the festival.  This is the time that  students have an opportunity to become engaged in a subject of particular interest to them, meet female professionals in the field who serve as role models, and have a chance to participate in lively hands-on activities and discussion with other girls who share a passion for science.  There were two workshop sessions and workshop leaders are requested to present their workshop twice (identical) so students are given the opportunity to participate in two.  Each workshop is 45 minutes long, and should be geared to appeal to the enthusiastic and interested upper-elementary/middle schoolgirl.

The Sally Ride Science Festival at LTU
By Dr. Lisa Anneberg

CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL!

I would like to commend all of us for our participation in the all-day 10/1 Sally Ride Science Festival, which was aimed at middle schools girls. It was more fun because we all helped.

The highlights as I saw them:

** The LTU/SWE students [Thanks Amanda!] were totally wonderful - they had the girls making resistor people and  houses with a soldering iron. The table around LTU/SWE was packed and very interactive! Thanks, ladies - great job.

** Dr. Hsaio-Ping Moore's very cool immunology project gave the girls a chance to find out how to figure out the spread of disease. Really interesting! I was impressed that your husband came to assist!

** Dr. Marianne Wilhelm had the girls designing egg protection devices. It was so interesting, only the second group figured out that the eggs could break!

**Dr. Maryam Roshanaei had the girls interacting with  programmable robots! Wow!

** My group made lemon batteries, which proved far superior than lime batteries, yam batteries, or potato batteries.

Others:
Thanks to Tracy Kash for her help in coordinating the LTU effort.
Thanks to Dr. CJ Chung for robot help and moral support.

Such events are so much fun, and I truly think that we can increase diversity in STEM with our participation!

Oh, one more thing.....
There is an LTU/Girl Scout Computer Fun Patch Day at LTU on 10/21. If you'd like to volunteer for that one, let me know. Here is our agenda: http://qbx6.ltu.edu/anneberg/girlscout.txt