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Nurturing Madame Curie: Women in Science Starts With Girls in the Lab
Oct. 16, 2008
PHOTO OPPORTUNITY: Approximately 150 tenth-grade girls will conduct laboratory work alongside working women scientists at University of Idaho Research Park in Post Falls and the Ponderay Events Center at Sandpoint Oct. 21 and 22
Written by Donna Emert
COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho – While parity has been achieved in most traditionally male professions, women remain underrepresented in mathematics and science-related fields. Bringing young women into these professions not only promotes social justice, it also could bolster the nation’s economic stability.
More than 150 tenth-grade girls from 10 Northern Idaho school districts have been invited to meet and collaborate with working women scientists Oct. 21 and 22. The scientists will share their educational and professional experiences and perform hands-on laboratory work with the students.
“We are missing out on a huge pool of talent that the country needs to drive the economy and maintain our quality of life, as well as solve the technological problems facing today’s society,” said Scott Wood, dean of the University of Idaho College of Science. “The Women in Science program strives to encourage young women in junior and senior high school to pursue courses of study that would lead to a college major in the science, technology, engineering or math fields.”
To achieve that end, the University of Idaho’s Women in Science program will host girls with high ISAT scores in math or demonstrated aptitude in math and science.
“Having the chance to hear from appropriate role models about educational experiences and career opportunities available to women and to participate in exciting, meaningful research will be a transformative experience for some of these young women,” said Wood. “One or more of them might turn out to be the next Marie Curie, Rachel Carson, Jane Goodall, Barbara McClintock, Diane Fossey, Lise Meitner or Rosalind Franklin, all of whom have contributed greatly to science and society.”
In the program, students will work with scientists to analyze water samples recently collected from the Spokane River to develop a profile of water quality at various locations in the river. Students will get hands-on experience running chemical and electronic tests for hardness, pH and conductivity.
Women in Science programs will take place at the University of Idaho Research Park, 721 S. Lochsa Street in Post Falls, and at the Ponderay Events Center, 401 Bonner Mall Way, Suite E, in Ponderay.
Participating scientists from the University of Idaho include: Jennifer Johnson-Leung, assistant professor of mathematics; Mark Nielsen, associate dean and professor of mathematics; chemist Anne Kern, science curriculum and instruction faculty at University of Idaho Coeur d’Alene; microbiologist David Newcombe, assistant director of the Water Resources Research Institute and assistant professor of environmental science at University of Idaho Coeur d’Alene; Associate Vice President for northern Idaho and nanotechnologies researcher in food and toxicology, Larry Branen; and Dean of the College of Science, geochemist Scott Wood.
Other featured scientists include Coeur d’Alene cardiologist Anita Robinson, a University of Idaho alumna, and Rhena Cooper, microbiology professor at North Idaho College.
University of Idaho faculty member Anne Kern, who has worked as a research chemist for SRI International, a nonprofit research institute, and in the private sector as laboratory Supervisor at the California Water Service Company, is pleased with the buzz the program is generating among students.
“Northern Idaho presents a unique opportunity for students to explore science, particularly environmental science,” said Kern. “If the response to this event is any indicator, there is strong interest among young women in the region to study science. The University of Idaho Coeur d’Alene, our partners in the public schools throughout the region and the university’s Research Park at Post Falls are situated to support these potential scientists by providing mentors, curriculum and facilities. The rivers and lakes of this region provide a great natural laboratory in which to study science.”
There will be opportunity for some students to get involved in a longer-term water monitoring project, said Wood. That project will involve more detailed analyses, including analyzing Spokane River water samples for heavy metals and taking measurements based on a more widely dispersed sampling.
Scheduled events include:
POST FALLS, Tuesday, Oct. 21
First Session: 8:45 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
The session kicks off at 8:45 a.m. with introductions by Larry Branen and Scott Wood. Keynote presentations by Jennifer Johnson-Leung, Rhena Cooper and Anne Kern begin at 9 a.m. Student/mentor experiments begin with a brief overview of the science by Anne Kern and David Newcombe at 9:30 a.m., and conclude with analysis of results and a question and answer period ending at 11:15 a.m. Some 50 students from Lakeland, Kellogg, Wallace, St. Maries and Plummer/Worley will participate.
POST FALLS, Tuesday, Oct. 21
Second Session: 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.
The session kicks off at 11:30 a.m. with introductions by Larry Branen and Scott Wood. Keynote presentations by Jennifer Johnson-Leung and Anne Kern begin at 11:45 a.m. Student/mentor experiments begin with a brief overview of the science by Anne Kern and David Newcombe at 12:15 p.m., and will conclude with analysis of results and a question and answer period ending at 2 p.m. Some 60 students from Coeur d’Alene and Post Falls will participate.
SANDPOINT, Wednesday, Oct. 22
9-11:30 a.m.
9 a.m. introductions by Larry Branen and Mark Nielsen, which will be followed by keynote presentations by Anita Robinson, Anne Kern and Rhena Cooper.
Student/mentor experiments begin at 9:45 a.m. with a brief overview of the science by Anne Kern and David Newcombe. The session will conclude at 11 a.m. with analysis of results and a question-and-answer period. Some 50 students from Lake Pend Oreille, Boundary County, Bonner County and West Bonner County will participate.
For more information about the University of Idaho's programs for women in science, technology, engineering or math fields, visit www.uidaho.edu.
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About the University of Idaho
Founded in 1889, the University of Idaho is the state’s flagship higher-education institution and its principal graduate education and research university, bringing insight and innovation to the state, the nation and the world. University researchers attract nearly $100 million in research grants and contracts each year; the University of Idaho is the only institution in the state to earn the prestigious Carnegie Foundation ranking for high research activity. The university’s student population includes first-generation college students and ethnically diverse scholars. Offering more than 150 degree options in 10 colleges, the university combines the strengths of a large university with the intimacy of small learning communities. For information, visit www.uidaho.edu.
Media Contact: Joni Kirk, University Communications, (208) 885-7725, joni@uidaho.edu
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