Blog May 2021
Celebrating Science, a Launch the Future Watch Party is this week and it wouldn't be a party without you!
Remember to register for the Premiere Broadcast on Thursday, 5/20 @ 5:00 pm here and encourage your friends and family from near and far to join you!
When will there be more Volunteer Opportunities Available?
Even though the Lab is planning to re-open in June (see updates posted on the website), due to space limitations and the continuing pandemic, we are still unable to offer any volunteer opportunities at this time.
When available, opportunities will be shared through the volunteer portal, in blast emails and future blogs. We hope to have some more news about volunteer shifts over the coming months and look forward to seeing you safely in person.
We appreciate your interest in supporting our mission to inspire a love of learning STEM by providing unique opportunities to explore and create. Do not hesitate to contact volunteer@childsci.org if you have any questions.
Volunteer Highlight - The Youth Advisory Board (YAB)
Volunteer. Lead. Collaborate.
The Youth Advisory Board is a team of innovative, entrepreneurial and passionate high school students from Fairfax and Loudoun Counties. This month we will introduce you to the last 4 members. All are currently in 11th grade. We hope you enjoyed meeting this hard working group of high school students working to forward the Children's Science Center's mission and vision through student volunteerism, leadership and collaboration.
Gitika Gorthi is an 11th grader at Chantilly High School. She enjoys the STEM fields of Medicine (specifically biology) as well as the study of Space Science and Astronomy. The scientist she most admires is Pearl I. Young. Pearl Young is the first female technical employee of NASA, providing a pathway to many moving forward. Ms. Young went against original stereotypes with who could participate in space sciences. Ignoring comments that she is "not good enough," she is an inspiration to many women who want to pursue a career in space sciences.
Gitika is a huge space lover, with a curiosity for black holes. She would love to see this question answered in her lifetime: "What's at the bottom of a black hole?"
Mustafa Lonandwala is an 11th grader attending Oakton High School. He enjoys studying computer science. A scientist that fascinates him is Stephen Hawking. His work in quantum mechanics, specifically on the physics of black holes, is amazing. Mustafa was first introduced to Stephen Hawking after watching The Theory of Everything in 2014. Mr. Hawkings contributions to the field of theoretical physics even with his condition is truly inspiring.
He hopes to find out how can we unify quantum mechanics and general relativity (gravity), to create a "Theory of Everything"?
Ananya Malipeddi is an 11th grader at Rock Ridge High School who enjoys the learning about Chemistry. Benjamin Franklin is her favorite scientist because of his risky yet successful experimentation with lightning. He was also a writer, inventor and politician.
Ananya hopes to find out in her lifetime if aliens or extraterrestrial life exists.
Sitara Soeb is an 11th grader at South County High School who enjoys studying and learning about Biology. She admires Rosalind Franklin. Franklin was the first person to take a picture of DNA in 1952, but her work was stolen by James Watson and Francis Crick. For many years, they took credit for her work and even won a Nobel Prize for it. Sitara admires her because the majority of information we have on DNA is from her work.
She is very curious to know if there is life on other planets, and if they are intelligent enough to communicate with us?
See previous blogs to learn about the other YAB members.
