Rice hosts yearly Sally Ride Science Festival

By Ellen Liu     11/11/10 6:00pm

More than 1,000 fifth- through eighth-grade girls gathered on campus Nov. 6 for the Rice Space Institute's annual Sally Ride Science Festival, an event geared toward helping young female students explore and gain a deeper understanding of science. The fair was jointly hosted by science education company Sally Ride Science and professional services organization Deloitte, and featured astronaut Wendy Lawrence as a keynote speaker, discovery workshops for both children and adults and a street fair. The festival had a registration fee of $20, though some companies sponsored scholarships so that more girls could attend. Keynote speakers from previous years have included the astronauts Sally Ride, Eileen Collins, Peggy Whitson and Ellen Ochoa.

According to Sally Ride Science Vice President of Sales and Marketing Meredith Manning, the organization hosts multiple festivals around the country each year in order to help upper-elementary and middle school girls explore and get excited about science. She said the experience is a great opportunity for these students to interact with their peers, meet female role models and gain exposure to the science field.

"It's the first time that a lot of these girls have ever met a scientist," Manning said. "It is really inspiring to find someone to relate to."

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Sally Ride became the first woman in outer space in 1983, and she founded Sally Ride Science in 2001.

Manning said that Sally Ride Science began hosting science festivals after its founding in 2001 and has been coming to Rice for five years. She said they always hold the event on university campuses because they want to introduce children to the idea of going to college.

Manning cited the importance of a strong science and math education for all children as the reason behind the festivals and other opportunities Sally Ride Science offers. She stated that creating many future scientists was very important for the American economy and consequently, her organization aimed to spark a passion for science in young girls.

"We want to show girls that science is super cool and super fun," Manning said.

At the beginning of the festival, Lawrence delivered a speech about her career, all the training she went through and the importance of staying in school and studying hard. Afterward, she fielded questions from the girls about topics ranging from her family to using the bathroom in space.

Following her presentation,the girls explored a street fair that included music, food and booths with hands-on activities - including a popular make-your-own-slime booth. They ended their day at workshops with themes ranging from volcanoes to toxic sludge.

Armand Bayou Elementary fifth grader Serina Weathers said she enjoyed the festival overall and that the only part of the festival she did not enjoy was a workshop called "Magnetic Attraction and Electric Shocks."

"They made us attach a wire to a battery and tape one end to our tongue to feel the shock," Serina said.

Serina's father, Brett Weathers, said his daughter had exhibited a curiosity for science since a young age, and he and his wife wanted to nurture that curiosity.

"I don't think girls get exposed to science and engineering or are as naturally drawn to it as boys are," Weathers said. "I wanted to show Serina there's a lot more out there."

According to Weathers, his daughter was very excited about the festival and even skipped her drill team's performance at a youth football playoff game to attend.

Harlem Elementary fifth grader Tijanae Simmons said her favorite part of the festival was when Lawrence told the girls to go to college and study hard so that they could be anything they wanted to be.

"She convinced you to go to school and get good grades so that you could come to Rice and study whatever you want," Simmons said. "We love this school, and if I can, I will come here."

Administrator of the Rice Space Institute Umbe Cantu, who was the festival's event manager, said she wanted to motivate girls to become scientists and engineers.

"All the hard work and the long hours invested to make this festival a success is definitely worth it," Cantu said, "If we can make one more woman scientist, it is a real gain."

Fort Bend Independent School District teacher Patti Arnold also volunteered as a group chaperone for the festival.

"Rice is doing its part to help kids get their feet wet in science," Arnold said. "The university is providing a very good service to the scientific community, educating young minds.

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