The Denver Museum of Nature & Science and CBS4, KCNC-TV, will host the seventh annual Girls & Science in a new all-virtual format. Activities are oriented to children ages 8 to 18.
The former one-day event will take over the month of March with free live programming and on-demand activities from March 4-20 via dmns.org/girlsandscience and #girlsandscience.
Girls (and boys!) and their families will enjoy connecting with women scientists working in STEAM fields (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) through live interviews on Facebook and Zoom, Virtual Clubhouses, and Stories with Scientists — TED-talk style presentations from mentors followed by live chat via IGTV.
Through hands-on activities and conversations, career mentors will share their personal experiences and encourage girls and their families to try careers on, test them out, and play.
"Hosting events virtually makes Girls & Science a new kind of meaningful,” said Taliah Farnsworth, Denver Museum of Nature & Science programs specialist and Girls & Science host. “The most beloved aspects of previous events will still be present this year: guests can learn from women about their careers in STEAM, ask questions about what matters to them, and engage in hands-on activities. This all-virtual Girls & Science means that travel is no longer a barrier and more future scientists can find inspiration.”
This year, the Museum’s Clubhouse will feature Earth Sciences Collections Managers Kristen MacKenzie and Nicole Neu-Yagle illustrating how the Museum keeps records for collections management. Participants will learn how numbers are assigned to specimens, the information kept with specimens, and why that information is kept. Then, they can try it out on their own collections at home: rocks, shells, stickers, stamps – you name it!
“Girls & Science is such a worthwhile event and I am honored to be part of encouraging the next generation of scientists to fulfill their dreams,” CBS4 Meteorologist Lauren Whitney said. “This year, students everywhere can learn about meteorology and other STEAM careers on a virtual platform. I’m excited to show girls how fun a career in a scientific field can be.”
According to a 2020 study by UC San Diego Center for Research + Evaluation and Athena, only one in four STEM jobs are held by women. The Museum and CBS4 host this event to inspire students to pursue their interests in STEAM, and increase participation — working toward parity — among women and other underrepresented groups in these careers.
Because girls and all students are inspired to pursue STEAM topics when adults and peers believe in them and encourage them, Girls & Science is an event designed for families, friends, teachers, mentors, and extended social groups to experience together.
Event sponsors have collaborated to create Girls & Science To Go, activity kits full of instructions and materials to use when trying out elements of the mentors’ careers. Girls & Science To Go kits are free and available for pick up at the Museum, located at 2001 Colorado Blvd. in Denver, from 9:00 AM to noon on Saturday, February 27.
Full instructions and video demonstrations for the hands-on mentor activities will also be available at dmns.org/girlsandscience.
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Girls & Science is presented by Ping Identity, with support from Bank of America, Raytheon, Xcel Energy, and Metropolitan State University. Telemundo Denver is the Spanish-language media sponsor.
About the Denver Museum of Nature & Science
The Denver Museum of Nature & Science is the Rocky Mountain Region’s leading resource for informal science education. Our mission is to be a catalyst and ignite the community’s passion for nature and science. The Museum envisions an empowered community that loves, understands, and protects our natural world. A variety of engaging exhibits, discussions, and activities help Museum visitors celebrate and understand the wonders of Colorado, Earth, and the universe. To learn more about the Museum, visit dmns.org or call (303) 370-6000. Many of the Museum’s educational programs and exhibits are made possible in part by the citizens of the seven-county metro area through the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District (SCFD). The Museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. Connect with the Museum on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
About CBS4
CBS4, KCNC-TV—Denver, is part of CBS Television Stations, a division of ViacomCBS. Connect on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CBSDenver.
