Rising Stargirls is an educational outreach program dedicated to encouraging middle school girls of all colors and backgrounds to learn, explore, and discover the universe using their own creativity. We do this by engaging girls in interactive astronomy and astrobiology workshops using theater, writing, and visual art to promote scientific inquiry. The Rising Stargirls program successfully hosted a virtual workshop this past summer, bringing together 23 girls from around the globe.
The summer workshop, held in July 2024, provided participants with an engaging platform to explore the universe and express their creativity. Girls from diverse backgrounds participated in a variety of activities, including designing their own imaginative exoplanets capable of sustaining life. This hands-on project encouraged them to think critically about planetary science and the possibilities of extraterrestrial life.
In collaboration with graduate students from the photonics department, the workshop also featured a captivating session on building kaleidoscopes. This activity not only introduced the participants to fundamental scientific concepts but also allowed them to appreciate the beauty of light and color through art.
Another component of the workshop focused on research, where the girls delved into the lives and contributions of famous female scientists of color, spanning from ancient Egyptian astronomers to contemporary trailblazers in the field. One participant chose Ellen Ochoa, stating that “she is Mexican American like me, and I thought it was pretty awesome to learn about someone that I have a common background with. Because of women like her I believe my possibilities are bigger than I ever imagined.” This exploration served to inspire the participants and emphasized the importance of representation in STEM fields.
The Rising Stargirls program aims to break barriers and create a supportive community for girls interested in the sciences, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds. The virtual workshop exemplified this mission, allowing participants to build friendships and share their ideas and aspirations with peers from different cultures.
As the program looks ahead, it plans to host more workshops and events, continuing to cultivate a sense of wonder and possibility in young women worldwide. The Rising Stargirls initiative is more than just an educational program; it’s a movement dedicated to fostering diversity and innovation in the field of astronomy.
We are so grateful to UCI Department of Physics and Astronomy, the Heising-Simons Foundation, and all of our private donors for their continued support of Rising Stargirls.
With the success of the summer workshop, Rising Stargirls is paving the way for a brighter future, one where girls everywhere feel empowered to reach for the stars.
For ways to get involved, email risingstargirls@gmail.com or Kayla at coronak6@uci.edu.