Girls learn about science, math, engineering at GEMS Science Camp
Girls learn about science, math, engineering at GEMS Science Camp
July 14, 2010
| Girls learn about science, math, engineering at GEMS Science Camp By Liz Dadson |
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| The sweet science of chocolate was one of the delicious topics that about 25 girls delved into at the GEMS (Girls Engineering Math Science) Camp which started Monday and runs for the week at the Bruce Power Visitors' Centre. Sponsored by Women in Nuclear (WiN) Bruce, the camp is open to girls, aged eight to 13, and encourages them to learn about science and engineering, and possibly choose a career in those fields. Led by engineers Sudduf Wyne of Ontario Power Generation and Rafia Waraich of Atomic Energy of Canada Limited, the camp also has several adult counsellors who help out with the activities. The morning activity each day centres on "Rube Goldberg" machines which the girls are building throughout the week, to be completed by Friday. Using reverse engineering, the girls are to come up with a complicated process to complete a simple task. It's the opposite of what most scientists and engineers do, which is to find an easier way to do things. Each afternoon has a sports and fitness component. Monday's activities focused on chocolate - its texture, taste, smell, and how it's made, followed by checking out the components of bubble gum and making their own gum. Tuesday, the girls learned about fitness and healthy eating; Wednesday (today), developing water for third world countries and learning about Global warming; Thursday, Superhero science and the hero factory; and Friday, Mythbusters and Mathemagic, followed by an open house to end the camp. "We want to help girls understand that science is not boring and it's not all about being a 'nerdy' kid," says Waraich. "We use science and engineering every day. In fact, we do a lot with it."
Annie Leppington (L), 9, of Kincardine and Erin Bjelan, 9, of Hensall (visiting grandparents in Inverhuron), check out the texture of the chocolate
Leaders Sudduf Wyne (L) and Rafia Waraich don lab coats for some sweet science on Monday morning
Falon Laur (R), 11, of Port Elgin digs into the melted chocolate under the watchful eye of camp organizer and counsellor Linnea Catalan |
In Monday's chocolate activity, the girls learned where the cacao beans come from and how they are turned into chocolate. Then they became chocolate scientists and checked out the texture, taste, and melting point of white chocolate, Hershey chocolate, Bliss chocolate and Aero chocolate.
Of course, the best part was tasting it. The girls at the camp come mainly from the Kincardine and Port Elgin areas, while some are here visiting for the summer.  Chloe Wheeler (L), 10, of Kincardine and Katrina Jaszkul, 10, of Tiverton give the chocolate the taste test  Leader Rafia Waraich (R) helps the girls find the melting point of white chocolate  Robyn Bjelan (L), 10, of Hensall (visiting in Inverhuron), and Rachel Bohnert, 10, of Port Elgin, examine the white chocolate  Jessica Vandenberg (L), 12, of Port Elgin and Jillian Bjelan, 13, of Hensall (visiting in Inverhuron), taste the chocolate
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Utilities
Sharon Therrien