Retreat Encourages Girls to Expand Horizons in Math/Science

Studies have shown around 13, maybe 14 years old, girls check out of science and math.

They raise their hands less often, and sign up less frequently for demanding classes in either discipline. But an event I volunteered at this weekend is attempting to turn the tide on girls fleeing math and science careers. The Expanding Your Horizons workshop brought together 400 girls, parents in tow, to take three of 43 workshops ranging from chemistry classes like  "Crack the Code"  to a math class called "Testing Games Uses Math Too!," which was taught  gamer Sakura Thompson, a software design engineer at MIcrosoft.

Did I mention all the classes were taught by women?

The hope by Seattle University, which hosted the Seattle event this year, is that the fire of interest and enthusiasm will keep on burning in these girls through middle and high-school and onto college.

Probably the class that was the biggest hit, judging on the chatter in the 40 girls in my lunch group, was where fat and sugar were rendered out of a MacFlurry and Big Mac. The yellow, granulated goo that resulted was...well.. .enough to turn anyone into a health nut.

I'm sure quite a few girls swore off fast food this Saturday.