Middle School Girls in Science Day at Gould

Mallory Raymond ’27 recently organized and held a Girls in Science Day at Gould, as part of her Senior Four Point project, although she’s still a junior. Getting a jump start will allow her to share her experience during her college application process next year, and she was eager to establish this day as an annual tradition.

She invited science faculty and middle school girls from Hebron, Telstar, and Waynflete Middle Schools, as well as the Eddy School in Newry, Maine. Mallory also arranged to have MIT Climate and Energy Professor and Gould trustee Dr. Desirée Plata ’99 as the keynote speaker for the day.

Desirée delivered an inspiring message to the 31 middle school girls in attendance.

“Stay positive in your pursuits and recognize that life isn't going to happen exactly the way you imagine, but you can still find success as scientists or otherwise,” said Desirée. “Stay focused on your own mission in life and don’t be distracted by discrimination. Focus on the joy you find in your career, and how to carve that path in a meaningful way.”

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After the assembly in Trustees Auditorium, the students broke into groups and headed into the McLaughlin Science Center labs for workshops in physics, chemistry, forensics, and biology. The lab experiments were mentored by Gould Science faculty members and were designed to be fun and engaging.

Mallory had a positive experience as a ninth-grader at Gould when she traveled to Thomas College for a similar program, and was inspired to pay it forward to other girls.

I hope they take away that they have a group of young women and science teachers who are willing to support them. I hope they learn that there’s a community for them. Mallory Raymond ’27

“I hope they take away that they have a group of young women and science teachers who are willing to support them,” said Mallory. “I hope they learn that there’s a community for them.”

Following lunch, the middle school science students attended a panel discussion and then toured the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum, just steps from campus on Main Street in Bethel, which is home to the world’s largest collection of moon rocks.

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The day was a huge hit with the students, a remarkable success for Mallory’s Four Point project, but more importantly, a necessary event for girls interested in science.

“It's been really rewarding to watch Mallory take on something that’s personally meaningful to her and bring it to the next generation,” said Desirée. “Mallory is doing everything she can to lift up the girls coming down the pipeline behind her, and that's exactly what we need, if we’re going to realize the future we imagine.”

Check out more photos from Girls in Science Day!