More than 40 West Chester University women STEM undergrads will spend Saturday, Nov. 4, inspiring younger versions of themselves at the university’s annual Super Science Saturday. Geared for girls in grades 6-12, this free event is designed to boost the girls’ confidence in their ability to be scientists, to provide inspiration and nurture career aspirations through role models, and to engage them in interactive projects and experiments.

This year, coordinator Karen Schwarz, professor of Earth and space sciences and director of the WCU Planetarium, reports that 17 WCU female STEM faculty are participating in addition to the WCU undergraduates. She has also recruited women from Dow Chemical to lead an experiment and another group of women from the American Association of University Women to host a science station.

In small groups, the girls are guided by a WCU student leader through various science stations where they participate in hands-on activities led by WCU STEM faculty and other women scientists. There is also time for talking directly with the scientists, plus a Q&A session and raffle prizes. Lunch is provided for all participants.

The events take place in Merion Science Center at 750 South Church Street from 8:30 AM to 4 PM.

This free event is limited to 160 girls. Register here.

Super Science Saturday is a program of WCU’s Center for STEM Inclusion (CSI) in the College of Science and Mathematics. Established in 2021, CSI actively works to increase access to STEM careers for a diverse body of students, with programming conducted by a large and enthusiastic faculty committee.

CSI has four pillars: Outreach, Access, Persistence, and Career Readiness. Each pillar represents a range of activities to support diverse STEM students and strengthen the STEM pipeline. CSI has been recognized with a 2023 Inspiring Programs in STEM Award from INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine, the oldest and largest diversity-focused publication in higher education.

Learn more at West Chester University.