Young girls build space stations, tie-dye t-shirts to learn science at NJIT

FEMME program makes science fun for 8- to 15-year-olds

More than 100 young girls from throughout New Jersey enrolled in the NJIT FEMME program will complete an assortment of hands-on, exciting science projects—from building space stations to tie-dyeing t-shirts--during the next two final weeks of FEMME.

The five-week program, now in its 29th year will whirl to a fabulous finish as the girls (ages 8-15), participate in captivating lessons designed to inspire. Experienced classroom science teachers help them understand the principles of physics, chemistry and more. (See more below for specific towns and cities.)

"FEMME overcomes the perennial gender gap in math, science and engineering," said Suzanne Berliner-Heyman, program director. Studies show, she added, that girls inexplicably fall behind boys in math and science once they hit middle and high schools. FEMME redresses the problem by making difficult math and science concepts relevant, memorable and fun. Instructors are intentionally female to demonstrate role models. Outcome data and alums for interviews are available.

Ken Zushma, who teaches technology to middle school youngsters in the Livingston Public Schools, highlights the space program over the next week.

Designing a Space Station

Students will learn about the International Space Station and the Intrepid, visit the Intrepid and then design and construct their own space stations.

Stephanie Suriano, who teaches during the school year science at Roosevelt Middle School in West Orange, will focus on the following.

Solar Cookers

This lesson shows how recycled newspapers can be made into solar cookers.
What's Insulation?

Lab work examines how different materials act as insulators.

Elizabeth Zushma, a chemistry teacher at Howell High School, works with the oldest group of girls entering seventh and eighth grades this fall. Her projects will include the following.

Designing Wheelchairs

This gives students a taste of one of the newest fields: bio-engineering.
Understanding Acids

Working with an acid-based cleaning lab, students come to understand and rank acids versus bases.
Chromatography

Chromatography, which is the separation of mixtures, will be the focus of several lessons teaching how to make glue from milk and more.
Tie-Dye T-Shirts To Learn About Chemical Reactions

Building on earlier lessons Zushma explains through tie-dyeing cotton t-shirts how a chemical reaction takes place.

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FEMME participants live in Belleville (2), Bloomfield (4), East Orange (1), Fords (1), Glen Ridge (1), Hillside (2), Hoboken (1), Jersey City (5), Livingston (6), Maplewood (2), New Milford (1), Newark (6), Passaic (12), Paterson (2), Perth Amboy (15), Plainfield (1), Rahway (1), Rutherford (2), Scotch Plains (1), Skillman (1), Somerset (1), South Orange (1), Teaneck (2), Union (1), Union City (32), Warren (3), Weehawkin (1), West New York (1).

NJIT, New Jersey's science and technology university, at the edge in knowledge, enrolls more than 8,400 students in bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in 92 degree programs offered by six colleges: Newark College of Engineering, College of Architecture and Design, College of Science and Liberal Arts, School of Management, Albert Dorman Honors College and College of Computing Sciences. NJIT is renowned for expertise in architecture, applied mathematics, wireless communications and networking, solar physics, advanced engineered particulate materials, nanotechnology, neural engineering and e-learning. In 2009, Princeton Review named NJIT among the nation's top 25 campuses for technology and among the top 150 for best value. U.S. News & World Report's 2008 Annual Guide to America's Best Colleges ranked NJIT in the top tier of national research universities.

EDITORS: Interview times are available through Aug. 4, 2010. Not all students are included in all events. Contact Sheryl Weinstein, 973-596-3436, for details.