MONET Inspires Girls in STEM at Fleet Science Center Outreach Event
On May 15, 2024, MONET postdoctoral researcher Jorge Leganés Bayón and his team engaged 30 girls aged 12-18 in a two-hour interactive materials science outreach event at the Fleet Science Center in San Diego, California. Feedback from the 21 participants surveyed revealed high engagement with hands-on activities, with 52.4% enjoying seeing the soccer ball cut open and testing water interactions with materials.
MONET's commitment to inspiring the next generation of scientists was on full display at the Fleet Science Center in San Diego, California, on May 15, 2024. Postdoctoral researcher Jorge Leganés Bayón from Nicole Steinmetz's lab at the University of California San Diego, along with Zhuohong Wu, two undergraduate students, and facilitators Andrea Decker and Silvia Valdivia, led an engaging two-hour outreach event for 30 girls aged 12-18 through the BeWise Program.
The event focused on the materials science of soccer, with participants predicting the materials used in soccer balls, examining a cut-open ball, testing water interactions with different materials, stretching and pulling materials, and discussing their findings. Feedback from the 21 participants surveyed showed high engagement, with 52.4% enjoying seeing the soccer ball cut open and testing water interactions. Participants also provided valuable suggestions for improvement, such as incorporating more advanced concepts, improving measurement tools, and discussing real-world applications.
A highlight of the event was the final 20 minutes, during which the instructors, representing various stages of scientific careers from undergraduate to postdoctoral levels, shared their experiences and answered questions about pursuing a career in science. This career-focused discussion provided participants with valuable insights and inspiration for their own STEM journeys.
The Better Education for Women in Science and Engineering (BE WiSE) program aims to engage female and female-identifying students in grades 7–12 with exciting STEM learning experiences in partnership with the region's research, industry and academic institutions. Our primary objective is to spark your interest in STEM by offering opportunities to interact with professionals, expanding your knowledge of STEM fields, and creating a community of young women interested in science through out-of-school activities.
The Better Education for Women in Science and Engineering (BE WiSE) program aims to engage female and female-identifying students in grades 7–12 with exciting STEM learning experiences in partnership with the region's research, industry and academic institutions. Our primary objective is to spark your interest in STEM by offering opportunities to interact with professionals, expanding your knowledge of STEM fields, and creating a community of young women interested in science through out-of-school activities.
