PATRICIA REIFF
Rice University
Reach for the Stars
NNX16AP14A
2021 (see original presentation & discussion)
Grades 6-8
At Rice University we create an annual event for middle school girls to teach them about STEM careers and have them experience STME science. The video shows some of the highlights of the April 17 2021 event.
Science, Broadening Participation, Informal Learning
Rice University
National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
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Discussion from the 2021 STEM For All Video Showcase (10 posts)
PATRICK HONNER
Teacher
Hi-
Sounds like a great event! And how nice to have NASA as a neighbor. 😊
Is Reach for the Stars a standalone event, or are ways you maintain engagement with the students throughout the year and beyond? In the video you mentioned that former participants come back to volunteer, but I’m wondering if there are any other persistent connections with the students who attend.
Patricia Reiff
Professor
We typically have 800-900 girls so we have not been keeping them on a mailing list, but starting a few years ago we are. I hope we can get some good long-term results and not just anecdotal.
Marion Usselman
Associate Director, and Principal Research Scientist
I agree. It looks like the everyone, students and instructors alike, were happy to be back face-to-face!
Patricia Reiff
Professor
This was the FIRST outreach event allowed on campus since COVID lockdown. We had ZERO reported COVID cases from this event - all the presenters were vaccinated, and almost all of the volunteers had at least one dose. Science works!!
Vivian White
Khyati Sanjana
Senior Manager
Such a wonderful event for the girls with a variety of tracks. In the video, you mentioned that the girls are invited to the event. I am curious about your criteria for selection? As a follow-up from the event, are the girls (who attend) required to present anything to their classmates?
Ari Hock
So many activities! And it is great to hear that the girls enjoy the event so much that they come back to volunteer. Thanks for sharing this.
Patricia Reiff
Professor
I especially was elated with a girl graduated from Rice with a Chemistry degree a couple of years ago. When she was asked "why did she choose Rice?" she replied that she had come to a Sally Ride Festival at Rice when she was in middle school. Continuity is key!
Patricia Reiff
Professor
Hi, welcome to our "Reach for the Stars" video. In three minutes, we couldn't begin to thank all the wonderful women role models who made it happen! http://space.rice.edu/ReachForTheStars This was our 13th event, and because of COVID, the smallest but it was still a lot of fun and inspiration for the girls!
Carolyn White
This is a wonderful project for the Diverse group of girls pictured. My question is, how were the girls selected? Did you have partnering schools or just girls applied that were interested?
Jacqueline Ekeoba
Jacqueline Ekeoba
What a great opportunity for students, especially girls engaging in STEM! I also wanted to know how students gained access to this opportunity. Have you been able to remain in contact with the participants to see what career paths they have chosen (aside from the one mentioned in the video). Of course not all of our students will go into STEM careers, but it would be interesting to see if there is a tendency for participants to pursue fields with STEM influences (like environmental policy for example).
Lastly, I wanted to invite to view an informal STEM experience done at University of Houston: https://videohall.com/p/2031
Further posting is closed as the event has ended.