Science for girls:
Spots open for Middletown summer camp
By Kathleen Schassler, The
Middletown Press
POSTED: 06/15/15, 4:42 PM EDT
MIDDLETOWN >> As female scientists use social media to
raise awareness about inequality in the sciences, a local science, technology,
engineering and mathematics camp for girls, hopes to spark ambitions for future
scientists.
Recently, Nobel Prize-winner Tim Hunt resigned from his
position as honorary professor at University College London after telling a
conference in South Korea that itÕs distracting to work alongside ÒgirlsÓ in
laboratories because Òthey fall in love with you and when you criticize them,
they cry,Ó according to Time online.
The hashtag #distractinglysexy
is now trending on social media, as women working in the sciences continue to
post humorous, enlightening photos of the Òunglamorous life of a research
scientist to ridicule the biochemist,Ó according to Time.
Another popular hashtag, #realwomeninscience, offers similar content in support of
womenÕs equality.
ÒIt just goes to show that we all still have work to do for
equality in the sciences,Ó said Sara MacSorley,
director of the Wesleyan University Green Street Teaching and Learning Center.
In addition to getting more girls interested in science, the
Green Street Girls in Science summer camp directly connects girls with female
scientists and role models.
Providing Òsupports throughout (the girlsÕ) education will
help them get them to connect with successful science careers,Ó MacSorely said in an email to the Press.
The camp offers programming on insects, life cycles,
bacteria, DNA mutations, states of matter, non-Newtonian solids, light and
more. Students also will learn how to use scientific tools, like lab notebooks,
pipets and microscopes.
Now in its second year, the camp piloted successfully last
summer with 15 students, helped by a grant from the Petit Family Foundation.
With a $12,500 grant for 2015 again awarded by the Petit
Family Foundation, the funding helps to cover scholarship costs for some stuents. Paid spots also are available on sliding payscale.
ÒLast year we had just Middletown students, and this year,
students from surrounding schools have applied,Ó said MacSorely,
of the program, aimed at fourth-, fifth- and sixth- grade girls.
ÒThat girlsÕ program sounds fantastic,Ó said Macdonough
Elementary teacher John Ferrero, who directs the schoolÕs new STEM program,
Students from Macdonough take part in the girlsÕ summer program.
Macdonough is entering the second year of its new STEM
program, according to Ferrero, adding that next year, the program will include
one student from every elementary school in the district.
ÒOnce the students are identified as gifted and talented,
parents have a choice to send them here,Ó Ferrero said.
Macdonough also has filled 21 spots available in its
first-year STEM summer program. offered for five weeks, from June 27 to July 29
at Lawrence School.
The Green Street Girls in Science summer camp will be held
from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays, Aug. 3 to 7 at the Green Street Teaching and
Learning Center, 51 Green St.
ÒOn one of the days weÕll shuttle to Wesleyan campus for a
tour,Ó sad MacSorley. ÒTheyÕll get a chance to see
the labs, see the equipment and do some hands on work in the lab.Ó
All three professors teaching the camp — a biochemist,
physicist and biologist — are women who also Òwant to promote women in
STEM industries,Ó MacSorley said.
To get an idea of the student programming view the 2014
Girls in Science Camp summary designed by biology professor Ruth Johnson,
chemistry professor Erika Taylor and physics professor Christina Othon.
It was important Òfor us to have the girls do real science
and to expose them to a variety of careers in science along the way,Ó according
to MacSorley.
ÒAt the beginning of camp, I thought science was just for
boys,Ó one camper told organizers last year, according to a press release. ÒNow
I know science is for girls, too.Ó
The cost for the weeklong camp is $350, that includes a $50
non-refundable deposit to reserve a space. Full scholarships are available for
free lunch students, and breakfast and lunch are provided each day. About six
openings are still available for the camp. Registration deadline is June 30.
Individuals may fill out the application form and return it
to Green Street with a deposit or scholarship letter.
Questions can be directed to 860-685-7871.