According to a report issued by the National Center for Education Statictics, by the time U.S. students reach the eighth grade, boys are twice as likely as girls to show an interest in science. The National Science Foundation (NSF) found similar results in research they conducted, stating that “stereotypes consistently convey messages that science is for boys, not girls.” To combat this stereotype and encourage more girls to pursue careers in science, the NSF developed the Women’s Adventures in Science (WAS) project. As part of this project, the NSF created an interactive website, http://www.iwaswondering.org/, that is geared toward science teachers and, predominantly, female students at the middle-school level. This free service is meant to engage students in the process of scientific research and inquiry. 
The site is hosted by a female cartoon character named Lia and it offers students the opportunity to learn about the work of ten prominent female scientists currently doing research. The “ASK IT!” feature lets the students ask Lia specific questions about the featured scientists’ research topics (such as “How much does a gorilla eat in one day?”) and receive answers on-line. The female scientists represent a diversity of ethnic groups (offering role models for many students) and work in the following fields: forensic anthropology, planetary astronomy, wildlife biology, planetary geology, physics, robot design, sociology, biomechanics, climate research, and neuropsychology. There are links to profiles of each scientist, as well as a series of books written about them that the teacher can purchase for the classroom. The scientists provided information about themselves for each book so that students can get a feel for the personal side of being a woman working in a field of science.
In addition, there is a specific link for teachers to the “Teacher Guide” pages. These pages offer suggestions for a variety of classroom activities and teaching techniques, covering such ideas as creativity and collaboration in science, encouragement of participation and intellectual contributions of female students, positive representations of how the work of female scientists helps to make the world a better place, and science topic “games” for the classroom setting. *
I think this web site is a fantastic resource for students and teachers alike. But then, I am biased: the Science Department at Amsco is composed of three women. Those negative stereotypes did not stop us ladies from loving science!
* See also http://sciencecareers.sciencemag.org/tools_tips/outreach/loreal_wis_2009 for a booklet called Young Women in Science, produced by Science/AAAS in collaboration with the L’Oreal Corporate Foundation, which helps fund innovative female scientists’ research.
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