Baylor Environmental Research Program Partners with SciGirls National Effort

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Contact: Tonya B. Lewis, Assistant Director of Media Communications, (254) 710-4656

WACO, Texas (Sept. 25, 2014) — Baylor University's Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research has been selected to partner with SciGirls Connect, a national effort with the goal of getting young girls engaged in the scientific field.
“Here at CRASR we focus on water education and research. As an educator, I also have the idea that science is for everyone. Everyone who has an interest in science should be involved,” said Melissa Mullins, CRASR coordinator and environmental education specialist.
Prior to its partnership with SciGirls, CRASR had begun to initiate after school science clubs led by female undergraduate and graduate Baylor students for local girls between ages 8 to 12.
“It’s good for the young girls to have scientific role models who are female. It’s good for the mentors, too, to get out and engage in the community,” Mullins said.
After becoming aware of SciGirls during a local training session in Waco, Mullins began to incorporate the SciGirl curriculum into the CRASR after school clubs. When SciGirls publicized a call for official partners, Mullins brought the proposal to CRASR director and chair of the department of biology, Robert Doyle, Ph.D., who approved the application. CRASR was selected as a partner shortly after.
As a partner, CRASR will host a full day SciGirls educator training workshop early spring of 2015. The workshop will have a maximum of 30 participants and be held at the Baylor Sciences Building. Anyone who is interested in the program is welcome to participate.
“Even if you don’t see science as a personal strength, the curriculum is for everyone,” Mullins said. “Science is a huge part of our society and society is a big part of science.”
For information on SciGirls, CRASR or the SciGirls spring training workshop, contact Melissa Mullins at (254) 710-2382 or Melissa_Mullins@Baylor.edu.
by Sarah Czerwinski, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805
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