GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Museum of Natural History will host a free, public event celebrating women and girls in science on Feb. 15 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

People of all genders, ages and backgrounds are invited to the “Women and Girls in Science Celebration” to learn about the achievements of female science advocates through activities and a presentation by Jenny Tung, an evolutionary anthropologist and geneticist at Duke University.

From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., guests may participate with scientists in more than 15 projects, experiments and educational games, including crafting an aerodynamic paper plane, building snap circuits, making a brain hat, dressing up as a scientist and more.

“Teams of scientists will lead visitors in activities to do science, not just learn about it,” said Florida Museum educator Chelsea Collison. “Visitors will have the opportunity to meet scientists with a variety of expertise and learn about women and girls who have contributed to science throughout history.”

The celebration continues from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. with a presentation by Tung, a 2019 MacArthur Foundation Fellow. Tung, who is investigating the connection between social experiences and health, will present “The Social Lives of Genomes: Lessons from our Primate Cousins.”

The celebration is being held in recognition of the United Nations “International Women and Girls in Science Day” on Feb. 11. The University of Florida is marking the occasion with special events across campus Feb. 10-19. For more details, visit www.phys.ufl.edu/womeninscience2020.

For more information about the Florida Museum’s celebration, visit www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/event/science-day or call 352-273-2062.

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Writer: Gillian Sweeney, 352-273-2032, printern@flmnh.ufl.edu
Source: Chelsea Collison, 352-273-2062, ccollison@flmnh.ufl.edu
Media contact: Paul Ramey, APR, 352-273-2054, pramey@flmnh.ufl.edu