Museum’s Girls in Science program goes down to the river for a final semester

October 18, 2002
For Immediate Release
Education, science writers
Contacts: Karen Kemp (919) 733-7450, ext. 304

While thousands of middleschoolers trek to the State Fair Saturday, a dozen sixth-grade girls will take the road less traveled—through Schenk Forest and down to Richlands Creek for a close look at water quality.

The girls are part of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences’ Girls in Science Neuse River Program, a semester-long program that aims to foster girls’ interest in science. Each week, the girls meet at the Museum to learn about natural science research and interact with women in scientific professions. Because grant funding has expired, the popular 10-year-old program may be in its last semester.

“After 10 years, we’re seeing many former Girls in Science participants choosing science studies in high school and college, partly as a result of having been in this program,” said Chris Ogden, Girls in Science coordinator. “Our surveys show that the Girls in Science experience gives them confidence in their abilities and strengthens their interest in continuing in science.”

During weekly meetings at the Museum, the women scientists that the girls have met so far include: Ellen Damschen and Aimee Weldon, N.C. State University graduate students who are researching wildlife corridors; Ruth Swanek, a project scientist involved with Wake County watershed management planing; and Barbara Beaman, a Museum science educator and botanist, who spoke about invasive species of plants. The Tuesday evening sessions continue through December.

In November the girls will stay overnight at Blue Jay Point County Park, take a kayak trip on the Neuse River, conduct water quality sampling, and participate in a night hike. The girls will hike the same trail by day, so they can compare their diurnal and nocturnal observations of nature. On December 10, the girls will present highlights of their semester’s experiences at an Open House for parents, teachers and other guests.

Girls selected for the program this year are:

• Abby Bouchon, Durant Road Middle
• Lizzie Capel, Ligon GT Middle
• Zobaida Laota, West Cary Middle
• Lynn McLean, Exploris Middle
• Kathleen Petermann, Ligon GT Middle
• Jensen Starnes, West Lake Middle
• Alyssa Stewart, Lufkin Road Middle
• Gretchen Stokes, Lufkin Road Middle
• Lisa Tiefenthaler, East Cary Middle
• Megan Vaughan, Durant Road Middle
• Katie Womble, Ligon GT Middle
• Chandler Yandle, West Cary Middle

“We are actively seeking grant funding to continue the Neuse River Program,” Ogden said, “but at present we do not plan to continue it in the spring.” The program had been supported by the Burroughs Wellcome Fund. Nevertheless, the Museum plans to continue the Girls in Science Summer Outdoor Ed-ventures, six-day, residential science camps for 24 rising seventh-grade girls. One is planned for the Piedmont and one for the coast. More information and registration details on these summer camps will be available after January 1, 2003.

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, in downtown Raleigh, documents and interprets the natural history of the state of North Carolina through exhibits, research, collections, publications, and educational programming. Hours: Mon.-Sat., 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sun., noon to 5 p.m. Admission is free. Visit the Museum on the web at www.naturalsciences.org. The Museum is an agency of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, William G. Ross Jr., Secretary.

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