Science Museum Okla. Celebrates Girls In Science, Offers Learning Opportunities During Pandemic

Thursday is International Day of Girls and Women in Science.

Not only is Science Museum Oklahoma run by a woman, but the museum also offers opportunities for girls to get involved all year long.

Sherry Marshall is the president of Science Museum Oklahoma and she said she first went to the museum when she was a young girl and that exposure to the world of science is what made her realizer her passion.

“You don’t really notice the impact when it happens but later in life there was just a comfort with science that happened, just because of being introduced to it at the right age and finding the right encouragement," said Marshall.

Marshall wants other young women to experience it.

“If we want girls to get excited and see themselves in science, we have to show women succeeding in science," said Marshall.

Every year, the museum hosts a "Woman in Science" conference. Thousands of girls grades 6 through 12 are participating in that. Unfortunately, registration for that event is already closed. However, there are so many ways to get your child involved and excited about science.

The science museum is open to the public daily with COVID-19 precautions in place. They have a spring break camp coming up on March 15 and will have summer camp opportunities and new exhibits coming out as well.

They also have virtual opportunities to learn.

“If you happen to have a child at home who seems to really enjoy that whole scientific process, the whole mixing things together and just the whole curiosity. Grab these resources that are at your fingertips that can help develop that and you could truly change your child's life,” Marshall said.

The scientist said that it takes a village to get girls excited about the opportunities in STEM.

"When it comes to encouraging girls in science it is not just up to the teachers, it is not just up to the museum it is up to the whole community," said Marshall.

Marshall thinks science is about so much more than just experiments and studies. 

"When you are studying science you are really studying culture, art, and history so it is a way to interpret the world around us," said Marshall

She says science can help you be a more creative and critical thinker and enhances everything else that you do. 

Click here to learn more about the program.