 | Ann Valentine (right), an assistant professor of chemistry, is one of the three scientists who will talk about their passion for their work in the "Science Saturdays" series. Valentine is shown here with Yale senior Emily Eames, who has been doing research with Valentine since her sophomore year. |
This fall, Yale's "Science Saturdays" series for schoolchildren will feature programs by three successful women scientists -- a physicist and two chemists -- who will discuss their fascination for their fields and share their research findings.
Their talks will be held in Davies Auditorium, 15 Prospect St., from 10:30 a.m. to noon on three successive Saturdays beginning Oct. 7. Scheduled programs are designed for students in the 7th grade and up, and are free and open to the public.
Now in its third season, "Science Saturdays" are hosted by assistant professors Ainissa G. Ramirez of the mechanical engineering department and Erin Lavik of biomedical engineering. Ramirez created the series of talks to introduce children to scientists -- who they are, and how and why they study what they do. The program is designed to shatter stereotypes about scientists and to show the fun of science.
"This year's focus on 'Women in Science' was developed to bring attention to the women who delight in and excel in fields once considered only for men," says Ramirez. "Science is for everyone and I believe these women are shining examples of what science brings to their lives and what they contribute to it."
"We don't know precisely why so few girls decide to become scientists, but we do know that the result is our society losing a very large proportion of this talent pool. This is a loss we cannot afford," said H. Kim Bottomly, deputy provost for science, technology and faculty development at Yale.
"'Science Saturdays' is wonderfully conceived to attract and engage young minds and to present them with not only facts and puzzles, but also with real people to emulate who have dedicated their lives to grappling with these puzzles," adds Bottomly. "Ainissa is a shining example for them. She is a committed and successful scientist in a very competitive field, yet she finds the time to dedicate her Saturdays to reaching out to young minds."
This season's talks are:
Oct. 7 -- "Having Good Chemistry: Formation and Analysis of Compounds" by Iona Black, lecturer and associate research scientist in chemistry. She will discuss resonance raman spectroscopy, the "vibration signature" of molecule complexes, and how these tools help in the design of useful drugs and drug mixtures.
Oct. 14 -- "How Astronomers Discovered the Universe Is Flying Apart Faster and Faster" by C. Meg Urry, the Israel Munson Professor of Physics and Astronomy. She will describe how scientists learned the universe is expanding, how its acceleration is measured and what this means for its future.
Oct. 21 -- "Medical Metals" by Ann Valentine, assistant professor of chemistry. She will explore the value of metals in biology, including the story of the most successful metal-based medicine so far.
Ramirez, a much-honored material scientist, says she has been "tremendously gratified by the response from teachers, parents, children and professors who have asked to be part of this program." Last year, she and the "Science Saturdays" program was awarded an Elm-Ivy Award for their contribution to the community.
"Professor Ramirez and Yale University have created a model program for helping our children to understand the importance of science and the role it plays in our daily lives," said New Haven Mayor John DeStefano Jr. in presenting her award. "They are providing a great service as we make the teaching of math and science a top priority."
Past "Science Saturday" programs can be seen on public access CTV, Channel 26 at 1 p.m. on Sundays in the New Haven, West Haven and Hamden viewing area.
The "Science Saturday" program is supported in part by the National Science Foundation, the Yale Faculty of Engineering, the National Society of Black Engineers, the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Tau Beta Pi and Scienceworks. More information is available by contacting Ramirez at ainissa.ramirez@yale.edu or online at www.eng.yale.edu/science.
T H I S
This year's 'Science Saturdays' for
children celebrates women scientists
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