Don't Try This at Home

That was the enviable task of Miriam Deutsch, associate professor of physics, and her team of graduate students and support staff, who last summer launched the Optical Science Discovery Camp for girls. The OSDC brought together 15 middle-school girls and four high-school girls from Eugene-area schools, for five days of physics fun.

“We made sure that something exploded every day,” said Deutsch, who is affiliated with the Oregon Center for Optics at UO.

But the intent was not all fun and games. There is a pronounced shortage of women in many science careers, and research suggests that lack of confidence is one of the most important factors contributing to this disparity.

"Girls often become disinterested in science around middle school,” said Deutsch. “Boys tend to be willing to forge ahead with the attitude ‘ok, so maybe I’ll break it,’ while girls tend to be more cautious.” So the camp organizers designed experiments to foster a spirit of experimentation and success.

“We want girls to feel comfortable taking risks and entering into something where the answer is unknown,” she said.

To sustain the girls’ motivation and interest, they will be invited to join a Facebook group that will keep them in continued interaction with each other, as well as with UO physics faculty, graduate students and undergraduates.
 
The Optical Science Discovery Camp was funded by the UO Office of Institutional Equity and Diversity and the College of Arts and Sciences.