The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy (AWSC) located at 235 Orleans Road (Route 28), North Chatham, has announced that its popular Gills Club program, a science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) based education initiative to connect girls with female scientists worldwide, will hold its first event of the new year on Saturday, Jan. 21, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. at the Shark Center.
The free event, targeted to youth in grades 2 through 5, will offer participants a hands-on learning experience to explore the research of accomplished scientist Vicky Vasquez, including her studies of deep-sea sharks, discovering a new species and how to study the deep ocean.
With the motto “Smart About Sharks,” Gills Club members are provided with tools to educate their peers about sharks through hands-on learning opportunities. In addition to fostering positive attitudes toward sharks, the Gills Club program is designed to motivate girls’ interest in STEM subjects, inspiring them to pursue careers in science. Monthly Gills Club events will be held through May.
“For nearly a decade, the Conservancy’s Gills Club program has been promoting female empowerment to create the next generations of STEM scientists in professional disciplines typically dominated by men.” said Maddie Poirier, Community Educator, Atlantic White Shark Conservancy. “By showcasing the work of women shark scientists, we are demonstrating to girls that the sky is the limit if they want to pursue careers in STEM-related fields.”
The free event is sponsored by Nauset Marine. Registration is required due to capacity limitations. Registration information can be found here.
This event is not a drop-off program, and adults are expected to stay with their children for the duration of the event.
