Taking it Personally:Project Exploration’s

Sisters4Science

Gabrielle LyonCofounder and Executive Director

July 14, 2009www.projectexploration.org

Goals

• Create a safe space for girls to explore science and develop leadership skills

• Expose girls to the wide variety of roles played by women in science

• Improve girls’ school performance by developing goal-setting, decision-making, and communication skills

One Diva,One Mic

Code of Conduct

Girls co-create curriculum

GET, KEEP, EQUIP

Is getting girls interested in

science really a problem?

Some Stuff We Know…

• Providing high-quality courses is “necessary but not enough” to retain women in science programs – intervening at precollege levels is critical…

• Students from underrepresented minority groups face specific obstacles at different points…

What about co-ed programs?

Co-ed programs typically do 1 of 3 things:

• Emphasize differences• Males are the model• Everyone is the same

Girls No Boys Programs run by

women, who also serve as role models;

Help girls recognize inequities and develop strategies for addressing them;

Girls learn respect for themselves, shared concerns and how to work together;

Girls are exposed to a range of roles women play.

From Girls For Girls…• Welcoming place to

talk about lives• Caring relationships

with adults• Meaningful

experiences• Support, rather

than “direction,” from adults

“Speak for yourself,” Girls Best Friend Foundation

Project Exploration773.834.7614 773.834.7614

www.projectexploration.orgwww.projectexploration.org

Thank you Motorola Foundationand to all the funders who support

our work to change the face of science!

Research of Interest• Girls’ Coalition of Greater Boston (2006) Where

are the Girls? Boston: MA. www.girlscoalition.org/resources/Wherearethegirlsreport.asp

• Jolly, E., Campbell, P., & Perlman, L. (2004). Engagement, capacity, continuity: A trilogy for student success. GE Foundation.www.smm.org/ecc

• Phillips, L.M. (2005) Speak for Yourself: What Girls Say About What Girls Need. www.girlsbestfriend.org/speak_for_yourself.htm.

• Strobel, K., Kirshner, B., O’Donoghue, J. & McLaughlin, M. (2008) Qualities That Attract Urban Youth to After-School Settings and Promote Continued Participation. Teachers College Record. 110(8), 1677-1705.