Horace Mann - Summer 2016 - 21

photo by Jasmin Ortiz Women in Science & Engineering (WISE) Allegra Kawles '16 watched as one group of WISE girls lined up in the Lower Division gymnasium behind three trebuchets provided by Katie Diaz' husband Robert Diaz, who runs Mad Science of New York City and Westchester. "Radical Rob" (as he introduced himself to the students) explained that he'd brought these projectile-launching instruments because this day's installment of WISE focused on engineering. Based on designs from the Middle Ages, the trebuchets offered examples of early engineering ingenuity, and represented a specific branch of science known as physics "Radical Rob" explained to the girls. Kawles noticed a third grader wearing a lab coat over her clothing, clearly ready to "do science." The soon-to-graduate UD senior appreciated the younger girl's attentiveness during Lower Division Science Specialist and WISE coordinator Katie Diaz explains to second and third grade girls the the brief physics lesson. An experience Kawles, sublimation of frozen carbon dioxide, or dry ice as it is more commonly known. herself, had in physics class is what transformed her own engagement with science. Taking physics A number of fourth and fifth grade girls said they appreci- at HM during the summer following her sophomore year ated the opportunity to work with one another, at least for Kawles described a meeting she had with her teacher, Dr. these special science sessions. "The problem is, sometimes Jeff Weitz, at the end of "SuPhy"-as HM's summer school when we're working on a lab the boys take over, and don't let physics class is known. "Dr. Weitz asked if I was going to go us do as much of the work. I don't think they're trying to be on taking more science classes after I'd finished my requiremean. That's just what they do. Here we take turns more," ments. He told me 'This is something you like and you could she said. Another fifth grader reported mentioning that she do well at,'" Kawles said. would be coming to HM on a Saturday. "The boys asked me "I liked science, but I didn't think I could be a 'science why, since there was no school on Saturday. I told them I was person.' I thought of myself as more of an 'English person,'" coming to do science. One of the boys didn't know about the Kawles reflected. "I do think these attitudes start early. So program. He was surprised and said he wanted to come too. many of the boys I was in school with knew since they were But, I think he actually respected me for doing this." Other really young that they wanted to do science. I always did WISE participants said they now feel better able to take on well in science but I didn't have the confidence to think that equal roles with boys in labs and in Makers' Corner projects. I could pursue it. The encouragement I got from Dr. Weitz changed that for me. I ended up taking advanced science HM's Upper Division women students endorse Women in Science classes, and some of those classes mostly had boys. Now I The Lower Division's November 2015 parent-teacher can say science is definitely something I'll pursue. I'd like conference day brought 68 fourth and fifth-grade girls to to study medicine, and possibly become a psychiatrist. I HM for a full day of science activities, with teachers from may never have allowed myself to think that way if I hadn't HM's John Dorr Nature Laboratory helping out. For the received that extra nudge from Dr. Weitz. I think women February parent-teacher conference Diaz asked Upper students do need extra encouragement, or extra opportuniDivision Science Department Chair Dr. Stephen Palfrey ties in subjects like science. to invite UD science students to go to the Lower Division "I really like this initiative," Kawles added. "There aren't during their free periods or lunchtime to help the girls often programs dedicated specifically to girls, but here you with their projects. Dr. Palfrey and several other UD scihave all these young girls who came to HM for a day of makence teachers announced the opportunity to both their ing rockets that they drew on and decorated with stickers. It men and women students. Fourteen UD students-all was fun, and it will definitely give them confidence they can women-volunteered. use in class and in the future." Aurora Grutman '18 came to lend a hand as the Lower For parent-alum Penny Hecht, the long-term impact of Division girls assembled self-propelling skateboards (fueled HM's WISE initiative on her children's future education, by diet soda and Mentos), and rockets to launch later on. and that of their friends, will result from how programs like "For me, it meant a lot to be part of this. When I was in the these "build upon themselves. The more the children learn, Lower Division I was very interested in science. I wish there the more they're interested in continuing. What we're seeing had been something like this when I was in third grade- is girls being empowered in the area of science, without any something that would have introduced me to role models stigma. Programs like this take the children above and beof women in science. To be able to be a role model for these yond. That's what Horace Mann School does in all aspects of girls now is very rewarding," Grutman said. education. That's what makes Horace Mann Horace Mann." $ Horace Mann Magazine Summer 2016 21

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