Girls in science: An outreach program to encourage young women into STEM disciplines

CHED 353

Julia C. Deutsch, deutscjc@eou.edu, Tara L. Boethin, boethita@eou.edu, Matthew J. Bechaver, bechavm@eou.edu, Trent Holcomb, holcomt@eou.edu, and Anna G. Cavinato, anna.cavinato@eou.edu. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Eastern Oregon University, La Grande, OR 97850
The Eastern Oregon University Student Affiliates Chapter of the ACS participates every year in an outstanding outreach event designed to provide hands-on science opportunities for girls in grades 6-8. The event has been recognized several times by ACS with ChemLuminary Awards to the Richland Local Section WCC. This past year the event was held on the campus of Eastern Oregon University, La Grande, OR on Saturday October 28, 2006 as the closing celebration for National Chemistry Week. This year's theme was “Save our fish: An environmental mystery”. Over 60 volunteers from many different organizations, including members of the EOU SAACS, Richland Section and the Women Chemist Committee came together to deliver a highly integrated curriculum where girls, based on archeological findings, chemical and biological tests, and aided by mathematical analysis of their data, were to investigate a major fish die-off striking a hypothetical lake. 109 girls attended the event representing 8 different counties and 25 different schools.