Many girls are not interested in studying science these days. Find out how you can encourage your daughter to at least give it a try.
When studies suggest that girls lose interest in science and math as they grow older, it may leave parents wondering if their daughter will be offered the opportunity to grow their interest in science if they already have one. If your daughter has no interest in science you need to give her what she needs in order to see if science is something that she is interested in or not.
Studies show that by the eighth grade the number of girls interested in science drops to half as much as boys still interested in the subject, according to Caroline Reid, project director for Girls in Research at UK (University of Kentucky Public Relations, January 12, 2005).
Because more educational facilities are leaning toward the fact that girls are not as interested in science as boys, it may appear that they are not promoting science careers to girls. Once a girl realizes that having a career in science is not just about wearing goggles and white coats, or about the fear of killing innocent animals for experimental reasons, she may find that there are plenty of other careers in science she might enjoy a lot.
Career Possibilities
There are several careers in science that a girl may be interested in including:
- Biologist
- Engineer
- Astronomer
- Science Teacher
- Pathologist
- Ecologist
- Psychologist
There are several other careers that are available for boys and girls to consider, as well. The careers are both rewarding and profitable after they complete their education. Science careers for women can decrease if more girls do not become interested in the field.
How to Encourage a Love of Science
There are several different ways that you can encourage your daughter’s interest in science, but it does take your effort to help with the encouragement.
You may want to talk to other parents about starting after school or weekend Science Clubs that will be made available to girls who may have lost their interest in this subject. Teaming up with other parents can be easy to do and it will have everyone working together for the girls’ interest.
While at home show your daughter some great ways to experiment and encourage her interest in science. Everything can be a project and an experiment that can spark the interest. A quick search online can also point you to websites that offer activities and challenges for those who are interested in science careers. These online programs can provide experiments, games, activities, recipes and more to try so your daughter can become more creative and feel better about her ability to work on science projects. If you find that she is not interested in science after all you will feel better knowing that you offered her every opportunity before she made her decision.
Many colleges are now offering programs for girls that aim to peak their interest in science. Some of these programs include:
- Expanding Your Horizons - Offered by UC Santa Cruz
- Information Technology: Engineering and Environmental Education Tools - Offered by UC San Diego
- Girls & Tech Expo - Offered by St. Joseph College in Connecticut
