STEM Trek
STEM Trek
Last year we created an opportunity for the girls who from Atascadero had previously attended Tech Trek to continue their exploration of the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (stem) fields. We called the group STEM Trek. Only one other AAUW branch, to our knowledge, in California is doing a similar program. This year we have invited the 2011 Tech Trek applicants as well as the girls who attended the summer camp at UCSB to participate.
On October 10, when the girls did not have school, we took 15 girls to Santa Barbara to tour the California State Department of Justice forensic lab. Barbara Brogan, Janet Morales and Jan Parker plus two moms drove. Leigh Livick came along as an additional chaperone. The presentation included what courses the girls should take in high school and college to be able to get a job with DOJ. Nick Coronado, our guide and alcohol/drug criminalist, emphasized that now is the time for the girls to be aware of their behaviors that could effect their future job possibilities e.g. use of drugs. He also did a power point presentation of all the functions of the lab. A young woman, recent graduate of UCSB, explained how DNA is tested.
All the functions of the lab were explained and we were able to go in the area where guns and bullets are analyzed, blood testing is preformed, and drugs and alcohol samples are tested. Two girls got to be blow into a field sobriety unit to test for alcohol. One passed, the other had alcohol on her breath (after washing her mouth Scope). Some of the hands-on activities the staff had planned for us included looking through a microscope to identify fiber vs. hair and watching blood sample identification. After the tour we had a picnic at Tucker’s Grove Park.
The emphasis of the STEM Trek program is to introduce the girls to the many women in various STEM fields. In January the focus will be on archeology. March the girls will present the program for the AAUW general meeting. We plan to do another field trip in April to the Avila Sea Life Center.
