Xavier promotes math, science clubs to younger girls

By Ambria Hammel | April 16, 2009 | The Catholic Sun

Girls at local Catholic schools show a great interest in the math and sciences, but studies show that women account for only 29 percent of college math and computer science degrees.

To bridge that gap and keep girls interested in such fields, Xavier College Preparatory teamed up with middle-schoolers throughout the diocese March 27 to host a “Girls Have IT Day.”

The all-girls Catholic high school math and information technology fair included 15 activity booths and featured presentations by two young science professionals — both Xavier alums — who talked about their career paths.

“I never thought, going into science and math, that people would expect you to be creative. But they do,” Tammy Greasby, a 2000 Xavier alumna, told 200 middle schoolers. “Creativity is a must because if you can only do what you’re told, you’re not going to go very far.”

Greasby, a doctoral candidate in biostatistics, has had to determine the best way to test, chart, color and interpret data. She’s studied the most efficient way to capture wind energy and the cause of tumors in cats.

Greasby also told the middle-schoolers about a handful of female friends in related science, technology, engineering and math fields. They’ve studied proteins, memory and the brain, DNA and the environmental impact of fuel cell vehicles and trash.

They’ve also volunteered abroad, worked for the CIA, competed in bike and swim races and created crafty projects.

“We’re not nerds, we’re normal people,” said Patricia Blaha, assistant principal at St. Thomas the Apostle School, of engineers and like-minded people.

Blaha, who has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, brought a group of students to the event to help them consider math and science careers.

The girls explored math, science and music activities in small groups. They looked through telescopes to see the sun, played Math Twister, used a green screen to star in a film, worked with puzzles and video games, controlled a flight simulator and made music with their water bottle.

“The whole thing behind the water is to blow in it and the sound changes as your water goes down,” explained Catherine Wyman, Xavier’s technology director. Wyman helped organize the IT day.

Many of the girls who attended IT day already had an interest in math and science classes, but learned more about major and career opportunities.

Frankie Leija, a seventh-grader at St. Louis the King School in Glendale, likes exploring computer programs, especially those that allow photo manipulation. She plans to go into forensic science, though.

“I like learning how you can talk for the dead,” Leija said.