Seventh grade girls attend FIST conference at Blair

The annual Females in Science and Technology (FIST) conference was held at Blair in the SAC and several classrooms on Nov. 12. The conference invited seventh grade girls from across the county to attend math, science and technology workshops.

The FIST conference serves to introduce girls to different areas of science, according to Magnet coordinator Eileen Steinkraus. "We want to encourage girls to consider math and science, to go on in these fields," she said.

FIST invitations were distributed by school counselors to gifted seventh grade female students at middle schools across the county. This year marks Magnet science teacher Pat Miller's first time organizing FIST, as former FIST coordinator and Magnet math teacher Judith Bishop transferred schools last year.

Workshops are organized and presented by Magnet students and both Magnet and non-Magnet math, science and computer science teachers. FIST presenters held twenty-six workshops this year, according to Miller. "One of my students came back and told me the girls were thrilled at seeing living microorganisms," she said. "It's nice to share that excitement with them."

This year's keynote speaker, Susan Wilson, a Molecular Biologist with Medimmune and pioneer in medical research, spoke to the girls about vaccines and molecular biology. Her presentation included an explanation of her work over the past fourteen years, during which she worked on a vaccine for Human Papillomavirus (HPV). She currently has two vaccines on the market: Synagis, a monoclonal antibody against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), and FluNist, an oral flu vaccine.

Wilson began her scientific career with a bachelor's degree in biology at Washington University in St. Louis, and she continued on to obtain a master's degree in genetics from Emory University. She wanted the FIST attendees to "know that science is a great career path for young women, and being able to understand how things work will help maneuver through life," she said. "Career opportunities for science in the future are going to be very large and lucrative."

Keynote speakers from past years include former Maryland Congresswoman Connie Morella, astronomer Vera Rubin and an astronaut who flew on the space shuttle Atlantis, Mary Cleave. "We like to have female speakers who are normal, live normal lives, but still have successful careers," Steinkruas said.

FIST originated in 1989 when Blair Magnet teachers sought a way to encourage female students to enroll in the Magnet program. "It was hard to get girls to apply, not to mention getting [them] to accept [admission to the Magnet]," Steinkraus explained. "Studies were conducted asking girls to draw a picture of a scientist – almost all the pictures were of a guy in a lab coat with crazy hair going all over the place."

Steinkraus wanted the girls to experience science as a fun subject and to consider a scientific career in the future. "In non-Magnet high schools, very few girls go on to AP sciences. I used to teach eighth grade, and I used to get female students coming to me all the time saying, 'I don't want to do [science]. I'm afraid.'"

Educators still hold a discriminatory view of women in science, Miller claimed. "When one of our seniors was in seventh grade, a teacher told her she's really smart, it's a shame she was a girl," Miller said. "Teachers need to encourage females to apply themselves."

Magnet secretary Margie Berardi, in charge of handling middle school invitations and registration, agreed. "It's almost a cultural thing, that women are 'second-rate,'" she said.

Miller attributed the widespread stereotype to attitude differences between genders. "Boys respond differently to teachers, jumping to volunteer," she said. "Girls are contemplative. Eventually, they are going to be shoved out until they alter their behavior or get a teacher that will foster a conducive environment."

Steinkraus cited a study with similar conclusions. "I was talking to a science teacher at another school once, and she told me that the thing holding girls back was usually their first C," she said. "I found that interesting. She claimed, guys shrug it off while girls internalize it, blaming themselves and saying, 'I just don't get it.'"