Project 5 Researchers Mentor Students through Science Club for Girls

On July 24th, 2017, Project 5 researchers Dr. Lily Rajic and PhD student Kimberly Hetrick began a weeklong mentoring service for the girls summer program “Young Leaders in STEM” organized by Science Club for Girls’ (SCFG). The program serves girls from grades 8-12 and was created to help young women to develop interests in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Since its founding in 1994, Science Club for Girls has provided girl-centered programming by connecting girls from grades K-12, especially those from underrepresented groups, with female mentor-scientists through free STEM programs in the Boston area.

Rajic and Hetrick organized a week of activities for the girls that centered on environmental engineering and included hands-on experiments and discussions shaped around challenges and issues related to safe drinking water access. Program participants learned about and tested different ways to clean water (simple sorption tests, electrocoagulation) and engaged in discussions about environmental injustice cases. These discussions functioned to emphasize the importance of systemic approaches to ensuring safe drinking water is accessible for all.