LMS Girls Learn to be Women in Science

Ten girls from Lawrence Middle School (LMS) attended the Young Women in Science, Mathematics, Technology, and Engineering Conference at the Princeton Plasma Physics Lab towards the end of March.

The conference aims to expose middle and high school-aged girls to the wide breadth of careers available to them in the defined areas. The conference does this by introducing attendees to prominent female scientists and engineers from around the country in a variety of formats including keynote addresses, small-group speaker presentations, hands-on activities, and laboratory tours. 

Jayatri Das, chief bioscientist at the Franklin Institute and Ninaad Desai, plasma scientist for the Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, gave keynote addresses. After hearing these the LMS girls rotated to a laboratory tour through the chemistry labs at the new Frist Campus Center located on Princeton University campus, to view cutting-edge technology and techniques utilized by graduate students and staff members.

In the afternoon the girls traveled to an exhibition hall to participate in hands-on activities related to a variety of careers and interests. Heather Paul, Astronaut Space Suit Design, NASA Johnson Space Center, gave the closing address. She explained her progression through education and life as well as her experiences working as an astronaut.