Women in STEM Club Visits Kitty Stone Elementary School
12/13/2024
By Brett Buckner
In November, the Jax State Women in STEM (WIS) club performed STEM activities for fourth graders at Kitty Stone Elementary School. This is the second time the WIS has visited Kitty Stone since the club was established in 2022. Last year, club members conducted STEM activities with second graders. “They enjoyed it so much that they requested another visit this year,” said Sharifah Albraiki, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry at Jax State and WIS club member.
This time, WIS members organized a variety of activities ranging from chemistry, physics, geography, and animal illustration. They taught students about states of matter, the periodic table, chemical reactions, and acid-base reactions/indicators. For the geography portion, they explored different rocks and minerals. Little River Canyon field school assistant director Rebekah Taylor brought frogs and turtles for the animal illustration session.
“Both the second and fourth graders at KSE, along with our JSU student volunteers, had a fantastic time,” Albraiki said, “making the experience both fun and educational for everyone involved.” Given how well this trip was received, Albraiki hopes more will be scheduled, possibly to Jacksonville High School. “During these visits, we look forward to hosting activities such as DNA Day, along with other engaging STEM events,” she said, “to continue inspiring and recruiting students in the Jacksonville and surrounding areas.”
Introducing these STEM activities for young learners helps them build foundational knowledge in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and inspires and encourages them to pursue careers in these fields. Additionally, it provides a valuable opportunity for JSU students to volunteer, collaborate in teams, and enhance their resumes through hands-on experience conducting these activities. “I just wanted to express my sincere gratitude and recognition to our incredible JSU students and advisors from various STEM fields who volunteered their time, effort, and expertise to make this outreach experience a success,” Albraiki said. “Their flexibility, hard work, and dedication truly made a difference, and we couldn’t have done it without them.”
The Women in STEM (WIS) club was established to support and empower JSU female students who are studying or interested in the STEM fields. The club has several advisors from various STEM disciplines who play a key role in recruiting new members and leading the outreach activities. WIS focuses on three main agendas:
- outreach activities with elementary, middle, or high school students to expose and recruit them to science
- annual conferences for students to present their research as well as having key speakers and recruiters for internships or jobs
- professional development such as preparation for job interviews and resume feedback.