On Saturday, April 4th, All Girls STEM Society hosted our Machine Learning workshop at the Mira Mesa Library. The girls learned about artificial intelligence, evolutionary algorithms, and reinforcement learning. They also got to deep dive into neural networks and robotics through various activities.

Our woman in STEM this workshop was the renowned Ada Lovelace, who defined the terms that computers could not actually be intelligent, along with inventing the first computer. This tied into the lecture about what artificial intelligence is and how it works.

For the first activity, the girls got to explore neural networks through writing numbers on a computer screen and watching the computer in real time as it narrowed down their writing and deciphered what digit they wrote. Then they further explore AI through Teachable Machine, training the AI to categorize various hand gestures as rock, paper, or scissors. 
After a short lecture on reinforcement learning, the highlight of this workshop arrived. Each table was given a Raspberry Pi Pico Kit and diagrams of 5 different robotics projects they could make. They spent the last hour of the workshop making LEDs light up at the push of a button, temperature sensors, intruder alarms, and even piano-playing robots! The girls had some much fun exploring all the possibilities of their robotics kits!

​The Machine Learning Workshop was super fun, educational, and inspiring! We hope to see you at our annual All Girls Math Tournament on May 23rd!

​On March 21st, we hosted our Data Science Workshop at the College-Rolando Library. Our participants learned about categorical and numerical data, types of data charts, and randomness. After highlighting a renowned woman in the field of data science, Fei Fei Li, our participants partook in various activities.

As a way to introduce the topic of data science, participants were to answer a brief question as they entered the room: “What is your favorite ice cream flavor?” They had the choices of vanilla, cookies and cream, chocolate, and mint chip. Their answers were later recorded to make a bar graph and revealed at the very end of the workshop!

During our first activity, participants created their own data charts on a poster, and later presented them. This activity allowed them to apply data science to real-world scenarios. They were instructed to come up with a research question as a group and survey other girls in the room. Then, they were to utilize the answers from around the room to make an appropriate chart. For instance, one group asked, “What is your favorite season?”, and made a bar graph with the answers they received. Participants applied their knowledge of categorical and numerical data, types of charts, and applicable real-world situations for this activity, with one participant saying, “It’s fun, I’ve learned about new charts!”

Our second activity was based on the topic of randomness. After learning about independence and dependence, each table group was given a die and were asked to record the numbers they received after rolling it multiple times to determine if it was fair; however, some groups unknowingly received a weighted dice that resulted in one number constantly being rolled! Considering this, a couple groups were skeptical about their dice and eventually deemed theirs unfair. This activity spurred much discussion about fairness and how patterns can appear in things that are usually viewed as fair. 

Finally, but certainly not least, our last activity was our Mystery Jelly Bean Bag Activity. For this activity, participants expanded their knowledge about randomness into the idea of samples and populations. This taught them how to use a small, randomly selected sample to make predictions about a larger population. They were instructed to close their eyes, pick 10 jellybeans, count each color picked, and determine the total number of each color inside the bag. Through this process, participants saw firsthand how randomness can both support fair sampling and lead to natural variation in results! 

Overall, our participants had a lot of fun exploring data science, with one participant excitingly saying, “I learned new charts, and a new type of science!” Our next workshop is on Machine Learning on April 4th, hosted at Mira Mesa Library. Hope to see you all there!

On February 21st, we held an Electricity and Power Workshop where students explored how energy works. We started the day by defining electricity as the flow of tiny particles called electrons that move in waves. The students learned about the three main parts of an atom: protons, neutrons, and electrons. We talked about how atoms get an electrical charge when they gain or lose these electrons. To make this easier to understand, we compared an electric circuit to a water pump. Just like a pump pushes water through a pipe, a battery pushes electrons through a wire.

We used real-world examples to see electricity in action. The group learned that lightning forms when warm air and cold ice trade electrons until a giant spark jumps to the ground. We also did a hands-on activity called the Magic Butterfly. Students rubbed balloons on their hair to create static electricity. They then held the balloon over a paper butterfly, which caused the wings to flap and fly up toward the balloon. We even proved that the human body can carry electricity. Everyone stood in a large circle and held hands. When the last two people touched a special energy stick, it lit up and made noise because the electricity traveled through every person in the circle.

Next, we talked about the difference between conductors and insulators. Conductors are materials like metal that let electricity flow easily. Insulators are materials like rubber or plastic that stop electricity from moving. We also highlighted Dr. Lisa Su, an important woman in STEM. She is a famous engineer who helps design the powerful computer chips that make our laptops and game consoles work.

The workshop also covered power and renewable energy. The students learned that some energy sources like oil and coal are non-renewable, which means they can run out. Other sources like wind, sun, and water are renewable and do not run out. We looked at how the energy from fast-running water can be turned into power for our homes. For a design challenge, teams worked together to help a student named Alysa. Her family could not drive her to school, so the teams drew special vehicles that used clean energy like solar panels or wind fans to get her there safely.

After a snack break, we focused on building our own simple circuits. A circuit needs a battery for power, wires for a path, and a light bulb or LED to shine. We learned about resistors, which are tiny parts that slow down the electricity so the light does not get too much power and burn out. We also talked about transformers, which are the big boxes on power poles or the blocks on your charger that make electricity safe for our devices. To end the day, everyone made their own LED lanterns. We used copper tape as the "wires" and stuck them onto paper with a small battery and a light.
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Overall,it was a great day of learning how the world stays powered up. We hope you see you at our next workshop on March 21st!

​On January 31st, we hosted our Genetics Workshop at the San Diego Public Library. Our participants learned about genetic material (DNA), the processes of Transcription and Translation, genes, and traits. After highlighting two acclaimed women who have undoubtedly contributed to the field of Genetic studies, Barbara McClintock and Rosalind Franklin, our participants partook in 4 different activities.

During our first activity, participants created DNA bracelets. This activity reinforced the topic of base pairs, complementary nucleotides within a DNA strand. They were given two pieces of string, representing two strands of DNA, and were to tie both of them together at one end. Each participant received a paper displaying a gene’s nucleotide sequence, represented by colors, and used colored beads to replicate the sequence onto one strand of the bracelet. Participants then applied their knowledge of base pairing to form the other side of the bracelet with colored beads. 

Our second activity was Strawberry DNA Extraction. Participants were individually given one strawberry inside a plastic bag, two plastic cups(one with a solution of soap, water, and salt, and one empty), a coffee filter, and a paper that included the instructions. This activity spurred up much excitement and anticipation from the participants! Although this activity was a bit messy from the girls crushing strawberries to allow their cells to break open and release their DNA, it was ultimately a huge success with them isolating the DNA and being able to pick up the strawberry’s DNA with a spoon! One participant energetically said, “It’s easier to grab strawberry DNA than I thought!”

Next, our third activity was tasting PTC Paper. Following a lesson about traits that included the topics of genotypes and phenotypes, recessive and dominant alleles, and punnet squares, participants were given a PTC paper to test their own traits! With a drastic range of having the ability to taste the bitterness of the paper and not, the girls got to compare and discuss how traits work. They all received gummy worms to enjoy and cleanse their taste buds if the PTC Paper taste was too strong!

Finally, but certainly not least, our last activity was our Alien Genetics Activity. Participants were to apply what they learned about genes to create a custom Alien baby. This taught them how to determine genotypes and phenotypes and challenged all their knowledge from the entire workshop. While determining what genotype an alien would receive, a participant said, “It’s interesting how the dominant trait takes over the recessive trait!” Participants created various unique aliens that ranged from having one to two eyes, and two to four arms! 

Overall, our participants had a lot of fun exploring genetics! Our next workshop is on Electricity and Power on February 21, hosted at Mission Valley Library. Hope to see you all there!

​On December 13th, we hosted our Holiday STEM Party at the Mission Valley Library! 

This was a workshop exploring the sciences of Christmas spectacles. Over 50 students rotated around 5 different activities! 

The first activity was making snowglobes. Participants started with a jar and added a quarter of water and baby oil. The separation between the two liquids showed how different densities had different buoyancies. Then, they added food coloring and glitter to decorate and put in a tablet of aspirin. The baby oil dissolved the aspirin and the water reacted with it in a process called hydrolysis. The participants were very enthusiastic about this activity and one participant who made four jars said “I like how the glitter bubbles all the way to the ceiling of the jar and there are 3 layers of color” 

The second activity featured a snowball launcher. Participants attached a cut balloon to the bottom of a cup. Then they filled their cup with pom poms. When they stretched and released the balloon, the pom poms would fly out like snowballs. This activity helped teach them about projectile motion and elastic potential. 

The third activity was making bracelets with binary code. Based on the numbers created by the code on their chart, participants put different color beads on their pipe cleaners. This taught them how to count in binary, a very useful skill. One participant said “I had never seen binary code before, but I learned very quickly, because making the bracelet was fun and interesting” 

The fourth activity was creating paper chromatography. Participants colored pieces of paper and used wood clips to dip them in a cup of water. Over time, the different colors traveled through the paper at different speeds. This was a great demonstration of how different compounds affect the solubility, attraction, and distance traveled. Participants made art ranging from christmas trees to candy canes and santa hats! 

Last but not least was an activity featuring math puzzles and games. Some of these were Santa’s Sudoku, Who Owns the Reindeer (where a set of parameters were given to find the right house with the reindeer) and Subtracting Stockings (using systems of equations to find gifts in each stocking). This activity challenged participants to think critically and to retain patience through hard math problems. In fact, one group was cracking Who Owns the Reindeer during the snack break!  

Overall, participants had a lot of fun exploring a variety of science topics while celebrating the Christmas spirit! Our next workshop is on January 31st at College Rolando Library. We hope to see you there!

On November 22rd, we held our Environmental Science Workshop at the Logan Heights Library.

First, participants learned the core definition of environmental science and discussed the various roles of the environmental scientist, including an overview of the work from the famous oceanographer Dr. Sylvia Earle. A key discussion on why plants matter was given to emphasize that in each ecosystem, plants always play a foundational role, whether on land or in water, at the base of every food chain. Key takeaways included that plants provide habitat, release essential oxygen, and absorb CO2​, which is very important in regulating the planet's temperature.

Participants defined the different roles within an ecosystem, such as producers (like plants), which make their own food; consumers (like lions or foxes), which eat other organisms; and decomposers (like fungi and bacteria), which break down dead matter. They also learned about trophic levels and the 10% rule, which explains how energy is transferred and lost from each successive level.

Our first activity was a web-of-life activity. The different organisms of a food web were each participant, holding a piece of string to show how energy flows from the sun and how all species are connected. Each could literally see and discuss how the stability of the whole web and every other organism was immediately affected by cutting one piece of string, which in this case represented when a species dies out. This activity provided a powerful visual of the impact of events such as the introduction of an invasive species.

It continued with a deep dive into two critical global processes: the carbon cycle and photosynthesis. Through this, participants traced the steps of the carbon cycle and were able to identify carbon sinks, areas that absorb carbon (oceans and forests), and carbon sources, areas that release carbon (fossil fuel combustion).

This was the knowledge base for the definition of climate change, its main causes-that is to say, burning fossil fuels and manufacturing products-and its effects, among which are the greenhouse effect and increase in natural disasters. They learned about positive feedback loops, such as the ocean absorbing CO2​, which in turn accelerates ocean warming and acidification.

Then, participants applied their knowledge through an "Overheating Design Challenge." Presented with a scenario where a school's blacktop and playground were getting too hot for kids and plants, teams banded together to draw and present a design solution. Among the creative ideas were adding water parks, increasing tree planting, sprinklers, and reflective pavement. The participant teams then presented their solutions to the group, coming up with a variety of innovative ways for helping the environment within their local community.

After enjoying the snack, attention was turned to the structure of Earth and the forces that shape it. Participants became familiar with basic geological processes, including identification of the main Earth layers (crust, mantle, inner/outer core) and tectonic plate movements (continental/oceanic plates). Convergent and divergent plate boundaries were introduced and explained.

With the marshmallows and toothpicks given, the goal of the participants was to make a building that would sustain seismic activity. They needed to construct a building that could withstand an earthquake simulation model and apply principles based on structural engineering and stability.

Overall, our participants had a great time engaging with the complex environmental topics through hands-on learning activities! Our next workshop is in December. We hope to see you there!

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On September 20th, we hosted our Engineering Design Workshop at the Pacific Beach Library. Before the workshop, I spoke with a first-time AGSS participant. She said, “I’ve never been to an AGSS workshop before, and I’m nervous about this one. I also don’t know a lot about engineering, but I really wanna learn more.” 

First, our participants had a lecture where they learned about the different steps of the Engineering Design process. They learned how to identify a problem, conduct research on past solutions, brainstorm, create the prototype (following different Criteria/Constraints), finalize the prototype, analyze (by creating a pro/con list), and continue to improve their solution! They also learned about the different types of simple machines, including the wheel and axle, lever, inclined plane, pulley, screw, and wedge. They used this knowledge to help them create a solution that would help their friend, Bella (who fractured her legs), transport her backpack up the stairs. They had to follow the specific constraints and criteria when proposing their solution.  

After the snack break of yummy cookies and bananas, our participants learned about models(simplified representations of a system). They learned that there were two types of models: physical and abstract. Additionally, they were able to understand that models needed to fit the correct requirements of having the correct scale, dimensions, and 4 views (3D, top, front, and side). Applying this knowledge, participants designed their own wind turbines using the design process. One participant said that “I liked that even though it was a model,it still worked and moved like an actual wind turbine.” We ended the workshop with some Engineering Design Trivia.

Our next workshop is on Algorithms on October 4th at Pacific Beach Taylor Library. We hope to see you there!

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​On June 7th, AGSS hosted a mechanical engineering workshop at the Mission Valley library. Our woman in STEM was Emily Roebling, the engineer behind the Brooklyn Bridge, who took over after her husband became chronically ill. Before the workshop, I spoke with a girl who said, “I don’t know what Mechanical Engineering is, but it sounds really cool and I am super excited to learn about it.” 

Their first lecture involved them learning about force and energy. They learned that energy is the ability to exert a force, and their hands shot up to provide many examples of when we use energy, such as running, brushing our teeth, etc. They also learned about different types of energy, like potential and kinetic. Additionally, we discussed the First Law of Thermodynamics and how energy is neither created nor destroyed, only changes form. The concept of simple machines was introduced to them, which they then used to build catapults that launched an M&M onto a chair. The participants said “Building the catapult was frustrating sometimes … [but] it was really fun and a good activity to start with.”

After a snack break with cookies, bananas, and water, they learned about civil engineering and bridges. They talked about the best way to build a bridge, and the engineering behind it, including tensile and compressive forces. We also discussed balancing forces and how this could be use to create the most sturdy bridge possible. The group that made the bridge that held the most books said “it was really fun and a cool activity.”

The last and final activity related to aerodynamics, where the participants built an egg drop but with water balloons. A girl told me that “this activity was a lot of fun because it was super hands-on and required creativity.” Overall, the mechanical engineering workshop introduced the participants to concepts they weren’t previously familiar with, but they learned a lot while having a lot of fun.

Our next events are our NASA Astro camps on June 13th and 14th at Logan Heights and Pacific Beach Library, respectively. These super fun camps are in collaboration with the Clueless FTC Robotics team, and we hope to see you there!!