March 19, 2007
Sally Ride, America's first woman in space, is presenting the
Sally Ride Science Festival, held in association with the California
Institute of Technology, Pasadena, Calif., on Saturday, March 24,
on the Caltech campus. The popular science festival targets
middle-school girls, grades five through eight. Parents, educators
and all others are encouraged to attend.
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, also in Pasadena, is a sponsor of
the event. Several female JPL researchers, engineers and scientists
will participate in the festival and talk with the girls about their
careers. The JPL participants will show images of earthquakes and volcanoes
from space, demonstrate how robots work, and discuss NASA's search for
habitable planets beyond our solar system, incorporating a "build your
own alien" hands-on activity.
This year's event will feature a talk by Ride and Dr. Maria Zuber,
a geophysicist and the first woman to head the Department of Earth,
Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences at the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology, Cambridge, Mass.
Discovery workshops will include information on computer and planetary
science. A street fair will include booths and exhibits, demonstrations,
food, music, and drawings for prizes. An adult program for parents and
teachers will focus on topics such as reinforcing hands-on science
instruction, science resources for girls, and gender equity.
Northrop Grumman Foundation is a national sponsor for Sally Ride Science
Festivals, along with lead sponsor International Rectifier, Lockheed
Martin, JPL, and Caltech.
This marks the sixth year for the Sally Ride Science Festivals. More
than 50 festivals have been held in cities throughout the country.
Each festival has attracted hundreds of girls and parents for a day
of science, socializing, and fun.
The festivals are organized by Sally Ride Science, a company founded
by astronaut Sally Ride to support the large numbers of girls who are,
or might become, interested in science, math and technology. The
company creates innovative science experiences for girls that empower
them, engage them and encourage their interests.
The day begins at 11 a.m. with check-in and the street fair, and ends
at 4:15 p.m. The cost is $18 in advance and includes lunch and all
festival activities and materials. Advance registration is required.
Teachers, parents, and students can register and learn more about the
festival by visiting www.SallyRideFestivals.com or by calling (800) 561-5161.
To learn more about Sally Ride Science, visit http://www.sallyridescience.com.
Media contact: Natalie Godwin 818-354-0850
Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.
2007-031