TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – The Washburn University Biology Department showed several northeast Kansas girls how exciting science can be at its annual Women in Science Day on Oct. 14.
The department invited 270 seventh-grade girls to campus for science experiments in microbiology, weather forecasting, forensics, chemistry and more.
Susan Bjerke, associate professor of biology at Washburn University, said the event is a good way to maintain interest in the subject.
“Studies indicate girls perform as well as boys in math and science throughout elementary school but begin to lose interest in such courses in junior high and high school,” Bjerke said. “This event is designed to demonstrate the practical applications in everyday life of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.”
“We think it’s really important to get them here, in the building, doing science. Sometimes it’s not quite what they think it’s going to be, and to show them all the different kinds of science that they can do.”
Bjerke also says they have held “women in science day” for so long, they are meeting more university students who have participated in the past.
“Some of them are now volunteers themselves for this event, and they are not necessarily all in science but they remember it fondly and they remember thinking, ‘Wow, this something that I might be able to pursue as a career,’ and that’s really important to us.”
The event was held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Professional female scientists also led presentations throughout the event, including a keynote speech from Kelly Farlow, vice president of transportation engineering at Professional Engineering Consultants.
The students who attended were from the following schools:
- Shawnee Heights Middle School
- Washburn Rural Middle School
- St. Matthews
- Wabaunsee Junior High School
- Southwest Middle School
- Christ the King, Mater Dei
- Most Pure of Heart Mary
- Perry Lecompton
- Corpus Christi Catholic School
- Homeschoolers from Topeka and Lawrence
Anna Debler, a seventh-grader at Wabaunsee Jr. High School, took part in the day, signing up for labs in Chemistry and Weather.
“Our school does it every year, and I really like Science. It’s probably my favorite subject, and I was very excited for it.”
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