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Of the entire agricultural faculty in North America, only five percent are female.

Dalhousie’s Faculty of Agriculture is looking to change that.

On Saturday, March 7, Dal AC will be hosting Girls Get Wise- an interactive workshop introducing science to girl’s from grades 7-9 in a hands-on way. Taking place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Dal AC campus in Truro, the workshop will involve topics such as analytical chemistry, genetics, marine biology and more.

“Our goal is to introduce science to young girls in our community in a hands-on way,” explains Sarah Stewart-Clark, event facilitator and assistant professor at Dal AC in the department of plant and animal sciences. “We want to inspire them to become scientists if that is what they desire and to do. We also want to show them that they are smart and that they can do whatever they want to do in their life.”

The day will be broken into two scientific activities for girls to participate in- a crustacean health lab and an essential oil extraction from a lemon. Each girl will get the chance to participate in these hands-on activities. The day will end with the opportunity to meet 12 different female scientists who can answer questions and talk to the girls about their potential career choices in science.

Girls will gain hands-on experience and confidence in science related fields. Covering a variety of topics, the girls will have the chance to ask questions and break down any perceptions they might have about any of these areas of research. The workshop will be hosted by female graduate students from Dal AC.

“There have been many barriers for female scientists to vertically advance in academia,” Sarah Stewart-Clark explains.  “I run a group of phenomenally talented female graduate students called Female Leaders in Academia. Our group provides the support and inspiration for our female graduate students to expand their careers in science. This Girls Get Wise event is occurring because our female graduate students were interested in reaching back to the community to inspire young girls to consider science as a career choice.”

Girls younger than grades 7-9 will hopefully have the chance to take advantage of the program in the future. Sarah Stewart-Clark explains that they hope to make Girls Get Wise an annual event.

“It was a group of female scientists and mathematicians who visited my class in grade five that opened my eyes and set me on my scientific path,” Sarah explains. “I feel very strongly about the impact of programs like this so we absolutely want to make this an annual event.”

Interested girls can sign up by e-mailing sarah.stewart-clark@dal.ca for a registration form. Once the registration formed is returned, the spot will be reserved. There is a $10 registration fee that includes lunch. Interested girls are encouraged to sign up as soon as possible as space is limited due to the size limitations of laboratories the girls will be working in. Registration and welcoming remarks will take place in Jenkins Hall starting at 10 a.m. and all activities will take place in the Haley Institute of Animal Science and Aquaculture.