FIST conference held at Blair

The Females in Science and Technology (FIST) conference was held at Blair in the SAC on Nov. 13. Seventh-grade girls from across the county were invited to attend workshops on topics relating to math, science and technology.

According to FIST coordinator and Magnet math teacher Judith Bishop, FIST has existed since the Magnet started around 20 years ago. "[FIST] is a conference to…encourage [seventh-grade girls] in the areas of math, science and computer science," she said. "I hope they find out that girls can be successful in these fields and get as much joy out of it as I do."

FIST invitations were sent out to every middle school in Montgomery County, Coordinator and Magnet Secretary Margie Berardi said. A total of 185 middle-school girls registered for the event with an approximate ten percent no-show rate, according to Berardi.

Workshops were presented by Magnet students and Magnet and non-Magnet teachers. Members of different organizations in the Metropolitan area, such as the U.S. Drug Administration (USDA) and the National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST), also held workshops and sent keynote speakers.

This year's keynote speaker, Katherine Bernard, a Technical Information Specialist at the USDA, spoke to the girls about food safety and contamination. She ended her presentation on an inspirational note. "Once you find an area that interests you, dive into it – follow your heart," she said. Keynote speakers from past years include former Maryland Congresswoman Connie Morella, astronomer Vera Rubin and Mary Cleave, an astronaut who flew on the Space Shuttle.

"Wiggling Jiggling Creatures,” presented by juniors Rose Feinberg and Madeline Driscoll, was among the student-led workshops this year. The session was spent attaching motors to animals made of cardboard and was a success, according to Feinberg. "The girls were very enthusiastic and really seemed interested in what we were doing,” she said. "Presenting was a fun experience.”

Saturday school was cancelled due to the event. SAT Prep classes and night school's Saturday classes proceeded as scheduled.

Additional reporting by Tiffany Yee.