How did you first learn about the Children's Science Center?
I first learned about the Children's Science Center through the Family Science Nights during my junior year of high school. I participated in multiple events and fell in love with the mission and message of the organization. Working here this summer has been an amazing experience; teaching experiments and sharing my love of science with these kids!
Tell us a little bit about yourself:
I have lived in Virginia all of my life and just graduated from Oakton High School.This fall, I will start school at Vanderbilt University to pursue a degree in Elementary Education. Outside of school and volunteering, I am an avid ballet dancer, and have been a dancer for 17 years, participating in 3 full length productions each year. This summer is my first summer working in the Children's Science Center, as an intern for four weeks of summer camp.
What do you enjoy most about volunteering with Camps?
The part of volunteering I enjoy the most is sharing my passion with kids, and introducing the world of science to them in new and interesting ways. Also, I enjoy being in an environment where the teachers and camp leaders and all other volunteers have the same love of science and desire to teach that I do.
What scientist do you admire most and why?
The scientist that I admire most is Charles Darwin, who introduced natural selection to the world of science. His ideas and findings are what jumpstarted modern science and is the way that our entire world changes every day. He went against the scientists in his day who were not on board with his theories and chose to research what he believed in, eventually inspiring a whole new generation of rising scientists.
How can we inspire young people to become interested in science?
Children love science when they can experience it for themselves. Hands-on experiments and projects give them a first person viewpoint of the magic of science.
What is one scientific question you would like to see answered in your lifetime?
The ocean and its health have always been important to me, and the urgency to explore the science behind the ocean has become more prominent in recent years because of the changing climate. One science question I would love to have answered in my lifetime is: What effect does the deep sea have on the overall climate of the ocean?
If you would like to learn more about volunteering with the Children's Science Center, please visit
childsci.org
.