WOW! Children's Museum encourages girls to remain interested in science

The WOW! Children's Museum in Lafayette hosted its seventh annual Girls in Science event to inspire young girls to pursue careers in STEM fields. The initiative addresses a concerning trend: while interest in science and math is evenly split among third graders, by eighth grade significantly fewer girls continue pursuing these subjects. The event targeted girls ages 5-11, featuring interactive booths on herpetology, solar panels, aerospace, and medicine. Female professionals demonstrated their work, allowing children to see women actively engaged in science careers. Anna Talley, director of operations, emphasized the program's core message: If you feel that fire now, keep it lit, keep pursuing science fields.