Nearly 100 high school students from across Maine gathered at Thomas College in Waterville on April 10 to explore STEM for an inspiring day of discovery, experimentation, and hands-on learning at the annual Girls in Science Day.
The event welcomed girls in grades 9–12 who are curious about careers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Representing 14 high schools statewide, students had the opportunity to step inside Thomas College’s new science labs and work alongside faculty and student mentors.
Throughout the day, participants engaged in interactive workshops designed to spark curiosity and build confidence in scientific exploration. Sessions covered a wide range of topics, including:
- Birds and Big Data
- Blast Off into Genomics
- Chill Factor: Exploring Endothermic Dissolution with Sensors
- Utilizing Immunohistochemistry to Investigate Protein
- Testing the Accuracy of Crime Science Mapping Using Tape Measures and Lasers
- River Health: What Do the Macroinvertebrates Say?
Adding a unique peer-learning element, Thomas College Lunder School of Education students designed and led the workshops, giving attendees a chance to learn from near-peers while experiencing college-level science in action.
This event was part of a Maine Space Grant Consortium grant initiative that was announced recently to develop a database of ready-to-use STEM activities for Maine K–12 teachers.
This material is based upon work supported by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) through the Maine Space Grant Consortium under award number 80NSSC25M7116.