Earlier this week, in honor of the International Day of Women & Girls in Science, we worked together with King Middle School in Portland to organize a special event featuring a panel of women scientists.
For nearly an hour, a group of 80 King students heard from four Maine women about their experiences as scientists, the challenges they’ve faced, and their advice for the next generation. Panelists included Maine Audubon conservation biologist Sarah Haggerty; WMTW-TV meteorologist Sarah Long; Portland Water District specialist Kirsten Ness; and Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife biologist Amanda Shearin. The panel was moderated by Maine Audubon environmental educator Linda Woodard.
The students — boys and girls alike — posed excellent, thoughtful questions to the panel. Women and girls interested pursuing science continue to face many challenges…but hopefully this conversation with women who have built successful scientific careers helped the students envision a brighter future.
Thank you the panelists, the students, King Middle School teachers and staff, and everyone who worked together to create a great conversation around this important, timely topic!
