GEMS: Girls in Engineering, Math, & Sciences

GEMS is a mentoring program that connects people working in the sciences and in technological fields with primarily middle school young women to get and keep them interested in engineering, math, and the sciences. The program exposes them to potential careers beyond the traditional medical fields that many students think of when they consider the sciences. Schools in Champaign and Urbana, IL, coordinated through the Franklin Science Center have received funding through the National Science Foundation for this program.

Looking towards the future, but in the garb of the past, J. Marie Metz, with help from Carie Nixon, Amanda Buck, and Mark Metz, plays Beatrix Potter in a program for sixth and seventh grade GEMS (Girls in Engineering, Math, and Science) students, an NSF-sponsored outreach program involving the Illinois Natural History Survey (and other institutions) and area middle schools (Franklin Middle School & Edison Middle School, Champaign, IL). Adorned in 19th century garb as Beatrix Potter, Marie teaches young women about Potter's life and scientific accomplishments. Activities such as scientific illustration, field journals, and Potter's early efforts in conservation, impart to young women that they too can play a vital role in the sciences.

Franklin Middle School photos by Amanda Buck; Edison Middle School photos by Gail Kampmeier

In another GEMS program involving three eighth grade girls from Franklin and Urbana Middle Schools, J. Marie Metz worked with them for 6 mornings throughout the spring of 2000 on a more in depth introduction to scientific illustration. The girls also toured the fly (Diptera) taxonomy lab of Mike Irwin where graduate students Mark Metz, Kevin Holston, and Martin Hauser are working on dissertation research on stiletto flies.

J. Marie Metz, Mark Metz, & Gail Kampmeier attended the GEMS Recognition Ceremony for all of the area GEMS programs, which was held at Edison Middle School in Champaign, IL on 17 May 2000. They beamed proudly as their mentees spoke on stage of their experiences in the program with scientific illustration, and clapped wildly as they got their certificates. The girls also created the best, most colorful poster (we're only a little biased!) on their project.

Photos by Gail Kampmeier

Other Outreach Activities