"Lab Chicks" Ready To Share Their Love For Science

KSAL Staff - Sun 05:33 PM 03/03/2013

Girls test for the presence of Vitamin C, starches, sugars, fats and proteins as part of Food Science at a recent "Girls in the Lab Day" event.

Monday is supposed to be a day off for Salina USD 305 high school students. But a group of girls at Salina South High School aren't staying home. They'll be at school, teaching their own lessons.

One hundred and sixty Saline County students are registered to attend "Girls in the Lab Day" at South High School, put on by the SHS club, Lab Chicks. The day is designed for female students, grades 4-8, to work alongside high school girls in science labs.

According to USD 305, though their ages differ, their love for science brings together the older and younger students. Each girl will participate in activities such as Balloon Cars, Slime Science, Tower Building & Spaghetti Arches, Save the Stream and more. A highlight of the event is lunch, when local female scientists join the students for pizza and talk about their careers.

The SHS Lab Chicks club was established eight years ago by Nikki Chamberlain, a 2010 finalist for Teacher of the Year.

Chamberlain, explains, "Our hope is that Girls in the Lab Day will develop a love of science in elementary and middle school girls, develop their critical thinking skills, and inspire the next generation of engineers and scientists."

The Lab Chicks were established as a way to encourage women to pursue STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) careers. The club sponsors a number of out-reach projects to younger students in addition to giving the club's high school members the opportunity to explore the sciences more fully.

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