Purdue’s “Cheering in the Classroom” is a five day summer camp for 7th-12th graders that uses cheerleading to teach girls about about technology-related careers. Recently, there was an article on the program in Indiana’s Journal & Courier, and it sounds like the camp has been effective in getting girls excited about opportunities in technology by combining these two very different, although fun, interests.

Hmmmm. Cheer and technology. Who would have thought?

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Visit NOVA’s scienceNOW to watch Yoky’s segment and/or read her interview. Not only is Yoky’s work, life, and attitude so impressive–she is truly a role model–but I appreciate how candidly she talks about being a former “airhead” and why she decided to stop. “I’ve realized now that I only have one lifetime to do the best that I can do, just like my role models have done. I’ve been given a chance to make a difference in society–to change the world–and I can’t pretend to be an airhead or anything else that I’m not because it will only hold me back.” In my mind, this is a truth to apply in every aspect of our lives.

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This New York Times article discusses the possibility of gender quotas in science education. Federal agencies are looking into discrimination against women at schools that receive federal grants, but not everyone is thrilled with the idea of gender quotas as a solution.

One of the most interesting points (to me) was an argument against the common notion that we must achieve equal representation of men and women in the sciences. If women are equally good at science and math, but are more interested in other majors and careers, who are we to tell them they should try engineering instead of what they’re naturally drawn to?

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