Gathered in a suburb of Chicago, Illinois, 75 fifth grade girls and their parents listened to a presentation by Louise and Mindy and scientists Tracy Frank, Sandra Passchier and Staci Kim while watching a powerpoint presentation depicting the frozen south and the science being done there.
The Girls + Science + Math = Success Conference used this live teleconference as the culmination activity to an exciting day of immersion in science activities. The scientists and educators in Antarctica answered questions as the girls posed them from thousands of miles away, many wanting to know how the scientists first became interested in science as a career. Sharing their life stories with these girls caused them to stop and wonder how many might consider science as a career path.
Without even boarding a plane, the next stop was Boulder, Colorado, for Super Science Saturday where Louise and Mindy along with scientists, Staci Kim, Christina Riesselman, and Kari Bassett met through the amazing world of telephones and teleconferences, with about 100 participants ranging in age from preschool to retirement. Again, with the use of a powerpoint and a conference call, questions from the audience were discussed and personal stories of living and working in Antarctica shared.
Antarctica is a continent of peace and science. As the world grows smaller, it is important that people everywhere understand this continent’s importance in the global scheme. The IPY and the many science research groups involved in it, are working to bring that message to many different audiences like Girls + Science + Math = Success and Super Science Saturday.