Spooktacular event shakes up girls’ interest in science at IMSA

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AURORA — Elizabeth Chacon got a tricky, scientific surprise at Saturday’s Science Spooktacular at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy.

Sherry Tseng, a Naperville North High volunteer, aimed a vortex generator at Elizabeth.

“That was just really funny,” said Elizabeth, 10, of Yorkville. “At first I’m like, please don’t shoot me ... And then all of sudden — it’s just air. It just blows right in my face.”

Elizabeth, along with many other girls around Fox Valley, learned lots of lessons at Science Spooktacular, a Halloween-themed event designed to show fourth- and fifth-grade girls about possibilities in science, technology, engineering and math.

Naperville and Aurora Area branches of the American Association of University Women and the Office of Science Technology, Engineering and Math, along with Northern Illinois University’s STEM Outreach, sponsored the event.

Linnea High, project director of Science Spooktacular, said research has shown that until junior high, girls do like science and math and do well in both, just like boys. However, after middle school, that math and science interest changes for girls.

“We are trying to get them before they change their minds about math and science to influence them by either creating a new interest in math or science or by supporting one that they already have,” High said.

A plump spider with webs dangled from the door of the gymnasium. Inside, girls could check out more than 50 hands-on scientific displays.

Students could play the role of scientist by peeking in a microscope and seeing tiny white worms that moved like slithering snakes.

According to Kalpana Ramakrishnan, a scientist representing the Association for Women in Science, the purpose of studying worms is to learn about human DNA.

A Microsoft display showed a glimpse at what could be in the future: two children from different countries interacting with nothing separating them but a touch screen.

Miss Black Illinois USA 2011 Jalissa Amber Meredith, from Oswego, was on site, her sparkling crown on her head.

“I’m here to encourage them, to tell them to step out and explore the different facets that are in the science field,” Meredith said.

Outside the gym, there was a dark room.

The Flash Shadow Wall display allowed children to strike a pose in front of the phosphorescence paper and see their shadow stick.

High acknowledged that there could be a college computer science lab stereotype where there are many males with glasses and a pocket protector.

“We’re trying to point out to the kids that women can be scientists, too. You don’t have to be somebody wearing a lab coat,” High said. “We want them to see you can be a doctor, you can be a computer scientist, you can be all of these things. It’s up to you.”

After Katrin Gatz, 9, of Aurora, created science by leaving her mark on the phosphorescence paper after jumping into the air, Gatz talked about what she wants to be when she grows up.

“I want to be a scientist,” Katrin said.