Georgia Southern University Partners With Girls Scouts to Promote STEM Education

The College of Science and Mathematics at Georgia Southern University has signed a memorandum of understanding to partner with the Girl Scouts of Historic Georgia. The partnership will provide girls with access to opportunities in STEM education.

The alliance will involve consultation on scientific displays and programming by faculty and interns at the Girl Scouts’ GIRL Center in Savannah, as well as trips by Girl Scouts to the Armstrong and Statesboro campuses. Girl Scouts will also be able to take tours and do hands-on lab experiments on both campuses, which could help them earn badges, including one for STEM Career Exploration.

Delana Gajdosik-Nivens, professor of chemistry and dean of the College of Science and Mathematics, stated that “this is a wonderful partnership that will enable Georgia Southern faculty in STEM disciplines to work with local Girl Scout leaders and girls. Projects such as these are a tangible result of the Alliance for Women in STEM, a five-year-old initiative that brings faculty and students together with industry and community partners to discuss and learn about issues facing girls and women in STEM careers.”

Professor Gajdosik-Nivens is a graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, where she majored in chemistry. She holds a Ph.D. in analytical chemistry from the University of South Carolina.