Last week, our Water Quality Director, Sandra LaVigne, led a very special hands-on water science workshop with a group of girls here at GSWA HQ. The project, called “Girls in STEM” is one program offered by the local Chatham based organization of educators and professionals, JerseySTEM. The Girls in STEM program strives to provide enrichment activities to young students to inspire them to embrace careers in STEM paths through continued support and mentorship.
Girls in STEM underway
These young students learned about the principles of water quality and why it’s important to maintain a healthy water system in the environment we live in. Using samples from three streams that make up the Passaic River headwaters, they tested for PH, nitrogen and phosphate levels, and surveyed the macro-invertebrate diversity. Thanks to this cooperation between our two organizations, we were able to provide these kids with experiences they’d only be exposed to at the college level!
By incorporating volunteers and leaders from their own communities, JerseySTEM strives to bridge the gap between unfamiliar subjects with familiar faces. You can read more about Girls in STEM at JerseySTEM.org.