Event Recap: Rieke Elementary Science Fair
Last week, we let off a little steam at the Rieke Elementary School Science Fair in southwest Portland. Stephanie and Shivali of the WIS-PDX Outreach and Education Committee’s STEMpowement team were on hand to show kids that science is fun and it’s for everyone. STEMpowerment is all about increasing visibility of women in science and showing girls that they can be scientists, too!
Shivali engaged the students with the ever-popular Crushing Can demo, which shows how a vacuum is created when water changes to steam and there’s a pressure imbalance, causing the can to implode. Stephanie showed everyone how carbon dioxide gas from dry ice sublimation can inflate balloons, which the kids really enjoyed...and they were thrilled to take home the balloons!
The fun-filled evening also included many impressive K-5 student science projects, a kinetic sand table, awesome robots from the Wilson High School Robotics Club, and an interactive performance by The Reptile Man.
The Women in Science Outreach & Education committee strives to show kids in local schools that they are surrounded by amazing scientists who identify as female - that women love to do science, too! Through programs like STEMpowerment, we aim to encourage young women and girls to pursue their passion for discovery in the sciences and increase visibility of women in STEM careers. The Outreach committee is actively recruiting volunteers, so if you'd like to share your love for science, get in touch by clicking the button below!
