Sally
Ride festival coming to Caltech
Girls of
the world (with a love of science), unite! Girls between the sixth and
eighth grades will have a rare opportunity to get together with other
aspiring scientists on Saturday, March 23, the day that Sally Ride, the
first American woman in space, brings the Sally Ride Science Festival
for Girls to Caltech.
The morning’s
events get a kickoff with a keynote address by Ride, after which the science-related
workshops begin. A street fair replete with exhibits and food vendors
will cap off the festival.
The hour-long
workshops—there are 20 in all—touch on topics ranging from the
geology of Antarctica’s ocean floor, to the planets in our solar
system, to the science and the women behind weather forecasting.
The goal
of science festivals like these is to stoke the natural curiosity about
science that every girl has. As girls grow older, the proportion of them
interested in pursuing science-related careers shrinks dramatically. Ride,
who is also a Caltech trustee, aims to retain this interest by providing
budding scientists with mentor and peer support.
“The
festivals came about because we thought it would be fun and important
for girls to know they’re not alone in their interests,” said
Bear Ride, Sally’s sister and an organizer of the festival circuit.
“The festivals are geared to girls who are already interested in
math, science, and technology, but who are reaching that age where often,
due to social pressure, they are discouraged from following those interests
and dreams.”
One such
girl is Amber. According to her mother, the sixth-grader from Pasadena’s
Chandler School is looking
forward to the event.
“Although science is not Amber’s favorite subject, when she saw the variety of workshops, she got very excited,” said Deborah Williams-Hedges, a Caltech staff member in the public relations office.
Her eleven-year-old
chose to attend the Computer Animaniacs and Crime Lab workshops, both
of which touch on Amber’s interests.
“Learning
should be fun, and kids need to know that science can be interesting and
fun, too,” Williams-Hedges said. “These seminars will provide
an excellent opportunity for girls to explore the world of science and
see where their interests lie.”
The intriguingly
titled workshops include “Hot and Cold: Viewing Earth from Space,”
“Optical Illusions: Lightwaves,” and “Mind, Heart, and
Hands—Being a Woman Physician.” Several of the presentations
will be conducted by Caltech faculty and staff, including Ruddock Professor
of Biology Marianne Bronner-Fraser—“Tumble Through Time: The
Development of the Brain”—and Visiting Associate in Geophysics
Lucy Jones—“Shake, Rattle and Roll: Living with Earthquakes
in Southern California.” In addition, JPL staff will lead a workshop
on the Mars Exploration Rover project.
The festival
is one of several community science festivals inaugurated last year by
Ride and her company, Imaginary Lines, Inc. They are designed to provide
girls across the country the opportunity for contacts with other science-minded
girls and with female role models.
“We
look for workshop presenters who are respected and known in their fields
and who share Sally’s interest in keeping girls’ interests alive,”
Bear Ride added. “Different venues provide different opportunities
for workshop leaders—Caltech and JPL have been terrific.”
In anticipation
of the science festival, Ride will make an appearance on Saturday, March
9, at Vroman’s Bookstore on Colorado Boulevard to sign copies of
her books, including To Space and Back and her latest, The Mystery of
Mars. The signing begins at 11 a.m. To register for the festival and for
more information, visit www.sallyridefestivals.com. Information about
the Sally Ride Club, an online forum for girls to chat with other girls
about science-related topics, is available at www.imaginarylinesinc.com.
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