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Daily Digest Archive for September 23, 2004
Q: (Initially posted September 18, 2004) FROM
STUDENT MEMBER KUNJAL IN NY
My school is a small, all girls school where the emphasis is
put on academics, but the interest is not. A friend and I are
trying to recreate a science/technology club in our school,
but we don't really know what to do to start out. We don't want
to focus on the basic sciences that are taught in our school
(biology, chemistry, physics...) but we want to get girls interested
in other sciences like astronomy, forensic science, marine biology,
medicine (etc.) though they all feed off the basic sciences,
we want to explore the various other sciences too. Any ideas
on what to do (this is our first time heading this club, and
it was not a very strong club in past years) therefore any ideas,
suggestions or thoughts from mentors or other participants who
are in a science club or head it would be greatly appreciated!
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September 23, 2004
A: FROM MENTOR KRISTIN TAGHON
IN IL
Hi, Kunjal,
What a great idea!!
I think the first thing to do is to get backing by a teacher,
preferably a
science teacher. Perhaps this teacher has an interest in showing
how you use
the basic sciences in these more advanced fields. I'm SURE
this teacher would
love to help you explore this! It helps kids in school to
understand what they
could possibly use the science they are learning in the "real
world" so to
speak. My hunch is that your science teachers' curriculums
force them to stick
to the basic sciences. But, if there is interest outside of
class in pursuing
other ideas, they would probably love to be involved! So,
find a teacher you
would enjoy working with. Tell this teacher your ideas. get
the logistics down
about how many times you may meet, what meetings would be
about, what the
structure would be. At first, you might have meetings just
to talk about the
logistics with other kids who might have some good ideas,
too! The teacher can
help you find out what is doable and what the school might
allow. You will need
a student leader, or two. Perhaps vote for one or two once
you get enough
people interested.
You might be able to get community leaders and scientists
to come in and talk
about science. Get a forensic scientist to come in and give
a demonstration,
etc. I know a woman who takes a community class at night through
the park
district on forensics! You might get the teacher of such a
community class to
come in and give a few talks.
I'm sure other mentors will give you more ideas on this.
Good luck!
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