SCI's Girls in Science Initiative aims to empower and equip girls in science, technology, engineering and math.
Research shows that while women are attending and completing college at higher rates than ever before, they represent only 26% of the college-educated workforce in science and engineering occupations, according to the National Science Board. The Science Center of Iowa wants to help change that. SCI’s Girls in Science Initiative was created in the hopes of inspiring the next generation of female STEM professionals.
Rarely are students taught about the accomplishments of female scientists, nor do they see their portraits hung on the walls of classrooms. The Girls in Science Initiative seeks to introduce girls to female STEM professionals that are in the workforce right now. These successful women, representatives of an ever growing minority in STEM, are available to lend advice to the participants.
SCI’s Girls in Science Initiative provides a rare opportunity for girls to meet and connect with female mentors and role models in an array of disciplines. SCI is on a mission to develop a diverse 21st century workforce, and that starts with empowering and equipping girls in science, technology, engineering and math today.
Girls in Science Events
Meals with Mentors (Grades 7–12)
November 7, 2024 (6:00–9:00 PM)
This is a more formal evening event where we pair up school age girls in grades 7-12, female college students in the STEM fields and female STEM professionals for an engaging evening here at SCI. Attendees will be served a plated dinner and participate in conversations about how STEM is important in their lives and career. This event will include time to explore the Science Center of Iowa as well as participate in special workshops.
This event is free for girls to attend. Registration deadline is Thursday, October 31, 2024.
Student (grades 7-12) Registration
Girls in Science Festival (All Ages)
February 22, 2025
Interested in learning more about science, technology, engineering and math? Girls and families of all ages are invited to SCI's Girls in Science Festival to explore a variety of STEM careers and connect with female role models. This an event for the general public to celebrate the ways that girls/women have made contributions to science as well as ways the science and STEM are a part of everyone lives. There will also be workshops available for more in-depth experiences.
If you are a university, business, organization or club, interested in hosting a table with interactive activities for our visitors during our Girls in Science Festival, please contact GirlsInScience@sciowa.org.
Festival activities are included with SCI general admission with the exclusion of the Advanced Workshops.
SciGirls® Camps
SciGirls is designed to give girls space to explore STEM in a new type of environment. SciGirls camps look to broaden girls’ STEM participation, build a positive STEM identity, increase their understanding of STEM learning goals, and experience wonders through STEM activities.
SciGirls®: Create (Grades 4-5)
2025 Date TBD
If you like science and creating, this is the camp for you. This camp will explore different ways to create, combining conventional crafting with science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.
STEM Learning Goals: Using the engineering design process, build creations to expand engineering skills and knowledge of the design process.
SciGirls®: Conserve (Grades 4-5)
2025 Date TBD
Do you love our planet and have a passion for protecting it? Join us for this remote camp held at Macrae Park where we will explore nature, ecology, botany, and survival.
SCI Girls: Conserve is a remote camp held at Macrae Park.
STEM Learning Goals: SCI Girls will have an increased understanding of native species, habitats, and challenges facing our area.
SciGirls®: Code (Grades 6-8)
2025 Date TBD
Do you have a desire to make the world a better place with the power of coding and robotics? Join us as we dig into coding, robotics, and technology in this camp. The tech is here, we need you to bring it to life!
STEM Learning Goals: SCI Girls will have an increased understanding of coding and robotics.
The Science Center of Iowa is an official SciGirls® museum. Based on the best practices in STEM education for girls, SciGirls’ videos, online resources, hands-on activities and professional development work together to address a singular but powerful goal: to inspire, enable and maximize STEM learning and participation for all girls, encouraging greater interest in these careers.
