This is a NASA video of Sally Ride talking about being chosen as NASA’s first female astronaut, and what it was like to ride the shuttle into space. What an experience that must have been.
I had the honor of working closely with Sally Ride several years ago, first at Space.com, then when she hired me to create a middle school science competition for Imaginary Lines, Inc. (www.SallyRideScience.com), a company she founded to support the large numbers of girls and young women who are, or might become, interested in science, math, engineering and technology.
Thanks to support from founding sponsors Hasbro and Smith College, TOY Challenge was created in a few short months. (So happy to see it’s still going strong!)
TOY Challenge is based on the belief that “toys are a great way to learn about science, engineering, and the design process! As girls and boys create a toy or game, they experience engineering as a fun, creative, collaborative process, relevant to everyday life.”
Teams of middle school students work together to dream up and design new toys. Check out last year’s winners.
Registration for the 2010 Toy Challenge is open now through November 20.
Good luck! And, thanks Sally, for all you do for girls and science.
