These are the responses from the participants
of the annual Sisters4Science
leadership retreat when they were asked,
"How has being a Sisters4Science
leader and this retreat changed you?
How will you be different when you get
back to Chicago?"
Photo: A.
Patel © Project Exploration
The retreat brought together 23 Sisters4Science
program participants, chemist Laurie
Parker, Roberta Pondexter, a parent
chaperone, as well as Conor Barnes and
Alpana Patel, Project Exploration educators.
The reflective and fun Sisters4Science leadership
retreat took place from March 21-22
at Williams Bay, Wisconsin. During the
two days, the girls were challenged
mentally, physically as well as socially,
and got the rare opportunity to think
about how they, as Sisters4Science participants,
impact and influence the program as
well as the world around them.
| The
girls participated in team building
activities, group challenges, read
and wrote together all the while
discussing and reflecting upon barriers
to science for young girls and women.
Although learning and reflection
took place throughout the retreat,
there were two critical highlights.
One of the high points was the change
in attitude among the girls about
teamwork. During the first day of
the retreat the girls had a frustrating
time communicating with each other
during the group challenges and
left the activities discouraged.
After regrouping in the afternoon
we went over various leadership
traits that Sisters4Science participants bring
to the group. |
Photo:
A. Patel
© Project Exploration
|
Photo:
A. Patel © Project Exploration
|
Qualities such as cooperation,
ideas, energy, self-expression,
intelligence, determination, and
advocacy were mentioned by the girls;
along with realization that they
did not utilize these assets themselves.
After such discussions, there was
a noticeable change in their attitudes
towards each other as well as a
tremendous improvement in teamwork
the following day. |
Not only was there much more effective
communication among the girls; along with
a lot of support and cooperation; but
they successfully completed the challenges
and had fun!
A second highlight was an activity
we did with the girls to get them to
think about why a program like Sisters4Science exists
and what it means in a context that
is larger than themselves and their
schools. A “true-false”
activity presented the girls with startling
and (unfortunately) true statistics,
such as only 9% of engineers are women,
97% of child care workers are women,
over 75% of young people in youth programs
are boys, 34% of high school-aged girls
are advised by teachers not to take
senior math. These facts generated frustration,
anger, and feelings of discrimination.
The experience was facilitated by Laurie
Parker, who presented her personal experience
as a woman scientist and helped provide
context and background to these numbers.
She explained that almost 50% of undergraduate
science majors are women, however the
number drops through college, graduate
school, Ph.D. programs, and science
professorships. As a result, most of
Laurie’s teachers have been men
and she has had to constantly battle
gender stereotypes and discrimination.
By putting a face to the statistics,
Laurie was able to convey to the girls
why their participation in a program
like Sisters4Science is critical to a picture bigger
than themselves. The girls were excited
to realize the ways in which Sisters4Science gives
them opportunities, broadens their views
on science, and gives them a chance
to change the status quo.
We hope these highlights have captured
the spirit and the learning that took
place at the retreat.
Photo: A.
Patel © Project Exploration
