Girls Empowered with Math and Science Workshops

Our GEMS Workshops are aimed at providing girls with hands-on activities and  experiences to keep them involved in STEM. Each month, GEMS will study  the work of a renowned female scientist while engaging in hands-on  lessons. GEMS is a free drop-off program that is fun, educational, and shows  the numerous ways STEM topics can be pursued both in their future  educations and as potential career pathways. If we support a young woman  in STEM, then she can change the world.

Second Saturday of Each Month

​10:30 am- 12:00 pm

Location

Fort Walton Beach Library

185 Miracle Strip Pkwy SE

Fort Walton Beach, FL 32548

​

Cost & Registration 

Workshops are free

Pre-registration is recommended so that there are enough materials

To register, please call the Fort Walton Beach Library at 850-833-9590

​

Program sponsored by MTSI

////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS

​December 11: Jane Goodall- Primatologist

• Swing into a wild month and discover how Jane Goodall transformed our understanding of chimpanzees. GEMS will explore methods of primate adaptations, communication, and tool-making skills. GEMS will be challenged to do as the chimpanzees do, solving problems in teams by using non-verbal communication, engineering tools to accomplish tasks, and tackling the opposable thumbs challenge!

January 8: Katie Bouman- Computer Scientist

• GEMS will plunge into the unknown and explore how scientists are able to gain vast amounts of information once deemed impossible before the age of technology. Discover how computer scientists like Katie Bouman are able to use analytics and algorithms to assist technology in making astronomical discoveries that have changed our understanding of science. GEMS will learn about a variety of discoveries like taking the first ever picture of a black hole and using mathematics to discover the planet Neptune. They will then work hands-on with computer programs and even have the opportunity to create graphics with 3D pens!
• Katie, our female crested gecko & Katie Bouman's namesake, will even be in attendance for workshop participants to meet.

February 12: Diana Roman- Volcanologist

• We’re dealing with a hot topic that will have GEMS erupting with information and activities centered around volcanoes. Just like Volcanologist Diana Roman, GEMS will learn about how magma moves through the Earth’s crust, the impact of volcanic eruptions, and how earthquakes are associated with volcanoes and volcanic eruptions. Get ready to manipulate tectonic plates, measure the flow of lava, and at the end build and erupt your very own volcano.

March 12: Marita Cheng- Roboticist

• Have you ever wondered how robots are created and how they are able to function all on their own? GEMS will explore these questions in depth and learn about the features a robot must have, exploring how they are coded, debunking common misconceptions, and discovering how robots are used on and outside of Earth. Students will also learn about how roboticist Marita Cheng has inspired robotic engineers with her life-changing robots. GEMS will take this knowledge and work with two very distinct robots, Dash and Sphero, and learn how each robot is coded in very unique ways before programming them to complete a variety of tasks.

April 9: Greta Thunberg- Environmentalist

• “You are never too small to make a difference” - Greta Thunberg. GEMS will fight against climate change by learning about our planet and how it is being negatively affected. GEMS will be drawing inspiration from environmentalists to explore how we can reduce our carbon footprint, incorporate renewable energy, reduce water waste, and integrate recycling into our everyday routines. Students will work together to perform a variety of labs demonstrating these concepts and create something of their own that could help combat the changes being made to our planet.

 May 14: Laura Kojima- Herpetologist

• It’s all about HERps right? Get ready to go wild because we’re focusing on reptiles, amphibians, and dragons...oh my! Well bearded dragons to be precise, but not only will you meet some of our reptiles up close, you will be able to learn all about what makes them unique. GEMS will learn about how herpetologists like Laura Kojima are advocating for accessible education dealing with reptiles that are typically met with hostility and unnecessary fear, debunking common misconceptions due to society negatively stigmatizing these animals, and exploring what makes each and every animal unique. 
• Bindi, our female bearded dragon, Fang, our male bearded dragon, and Babbage, our corn snake will also be in attendance for GEMS to meet.