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"When I get back to Chicago...

These are the responses from the participants of the annual Sisters4Science leadership retreat when they were asked, "How has being a Sisters4Science leader and this retreat changed you? How will you be different when you get back to Chicago?"

Photo: A. Patel © Project Exploration

The retreat brought together 23 Sisters4Science program participants, chemist Laurie Parker, Roberta Pondexter, a parent chaperone, as well as Conor Barnes and Alpana Patel, Project Exploration educators. The reflective and fun Sisters4Science leadership retreat took place from March 21-22 at Williams Bay, Wisconsin. During the two days, the girls were challenged mentally, physically as well as socially, and got the rare opportunity to think about how they, as Sisters4Science participants, impact and influence the program as well as the world around them.

The girls participated in team building activities, group challenges, read and wrote together all the while discussing and reflecting upon barriers to science for young girls and women. Although learning and reflection took place throughout the retreat, there were two critical highlights. One of the high points was the change in attitude among the girls about teamwork. During the first day of the retreat the girls had a frustrating time communicating with each other during the group challenges and left the activities discouraged. After regrouping in the afternoon we went over various leadership traits that Sisters4Science participants bring to the group.

Photo: A. Patel © Project Exploration

Photo: A. Patel © Project Exploration

Qualities such as cooperation, ideas, energy, self-expression, intelligence, determination, and advocacy were mentioned by the girls; along with realization that they did not utilize these assets themselves. After such discussions, there was a noticeable change in their attitudes towards each other as well as a tremendous improvement in teamwork the following day.

Not only was there much more effective communication among the girls; along with a lot of support and cooperation; but they successfully completed the challenges and had fun!

A second highlight was an activity we did with the girls to get them to think about why a program like Sisters4Science exists and what it means in a context that is larger than themselves and their schools. A “true-false” activity presented the girls with startling and (unfortunately) true statistics, such as only 9% of engineers are women, 97% of child care workers are women, over 75% of young people in youth programs are boys, 34% of high school-aged girls are advised by teachers not to take senior math. These facts generated frustration, anger, and feelings of discrimination. The experience was facilitated by Laurie Parker, who presented her personal experience as a woman scientist and helped provide context and background to these numbers. She explained that almost 50% of undergraduate science majors are women, however the number drops through college, graduate school, Ph.D. programs, and science professorships. As a result, most of Laurie’s teachers have been men and she has had to constantly battle gender stereotypes and discrimination. By putting a face to the statistics, Laurie was able to convey to the girls why their participation in a program like Sisters4Science is critical to a picture bigger than themselves. The girls were excited to realize the ways in which Sisters4Science gives them opportunities, broadens their views on science, and gives them a chance to change the status quo.

We hope these highlights have captured the spirit and the learning that took place at the retreat.

Photo: A. Patel © Project Exploration