Girls get glimpse of science, technology

By Lisa Simunaci, AMCNovember 3, 2014

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HUNTSVILLE, Ala. -- A day after Halloween, more than 400 third- through fifth-graders attending Girls' Science and Engineering Day at the University of Alabama in Huntsville had an opportunity to top the sweet-laden holiday.

"Today is about mind candy," said Redstone Arsenal Senior Commander Lt. Gen. Patricia E. McQuistion, who helped kick off the event. "You're going to get a lot of treats and learn a little bit about the tricks of science."

McQuistion, who also is the deputy commanding general of the U.S. Army Materiel Command, urged the participants to "feed their minds."

As a surprise to the girls, a competitive parachute team from the Army's Golden Knights jumped onto the lawn of the university's Shelby Center to help kick off the event. The four female and two male Soldiers took questions from the girls before the hands-on portion of the program.

Girls wanted to know what it felt like to jump out of a plane.

"Have you ever stuck your hand out of car window when the car was going really fast? That's what it's like, but over your entire body," a team member told them. Team members, most with thousands of jumps under their belts, admitted that parachuting was a little scary, but also a lot of fun.

"Everyone loved the Golden Knights. They are spectacular role models for the girls and shows them it's cool to be smart and that they can do anything," said Emily Vandiver, UAH's Women's Leadership Council chair and the event's chair. "All of the Army's involvement and the community's involvement is such an inspiration."

Corporate sponsors and Redstone Arsenal-based Army commands presented a total of 50 different presentations and experiments for the event, now in its sixth year. Girls had the opportunity to attend four 40-minute programs during the half--day event.

Lemon juice missiles and strawberry DNA extractions were on the menu, alongside investigations into the intricacies of catapults, flight, robotics and chemistry.

Mill Creek Elementary School fourth grader Rylie Rivera, 9, said the Carnegie Science Center's demonstration by Ion Jones and the Lost Castle of Chemistry was among her favorite parts of the day. "I got to learn about carbon dioxide, oxygen, water and fuel and how they go together and how they can explode," Rivera said. She also was excited about the focus on girls and the chance for this exposure to subjects that she finds interesting. "Sometimes I like math, but I really like science."

University of Alabama in Huntsville's Assistant Vice President of University Events April Harris said the purpose of the event was to peak the girls' interest of the "so-called" hard subjects. "They have a chance to see real-life applications and to see good role models."

In a room full of girls testing model airplanes and conducting other experiments, Darnell Whitney, a strategic analyst for the U.S. Army's Aviation and Missile Research, Development and Engineering Command, said he was glad to be among the team of volunteers who took time to impart their knowledge and offer a glimpse into science and engineering opportunities.

"We're investing our time and resources into the future of these young ladies and exposing them to the day-to-day things we do in support of the warfighter," Whitney said. "Our hope is they may go on to be engineers or possibly work for us in some capacity. It's an investment in their future and in ours."

McQuistion, who has participated in three of the six Girls' Science and Engineering Days, said the event is one that is close to her heart. "I attend about 250 events a year," she told the girls. "This one is my favorite!"