About the program...

Begun in 1993, this series of programs was supported by two National Science Foundation grants. The project spans grades 5-12, and involves collaboration among teachers and administrators of the Columbia Public Schools, University of Missouri faculty, local industries and parents. Curricular, extracurricular and training components are designed to nurture the participation, interest and knowledge of female students in the physical sciences.

The project supports extracurricular programs at four levels: Exploring Physics for 5-7 grade girls; Family Evenings with Science and Technology (FEST), a middle school parent / student program; Saturday Scientist, in collaboration with local industries for 8-9 grade students; and the Newton Summer Science Academy for 9-11 grade girls, which integrates Science, engineering and mathematics through a toy factory building project.  Training components include physics summer institutes and a gender equity course for science teachers; curricular components offer support to 9th grade science classes and a female targeted section of physics. We are currently developing a CD of hands-on activities in Electricity and Magnetism, which you may view at our test site, Exploring Physics, the CD. The CD targets teachers and students at the middle level (5-9).

The members of the above projects are currently involved in conducting a teacher training and leadership institute program A TIME for Physics First, also funded by the National Science Foundation.

EPIC Program Developers and Contact Persons

Exploring Physics | Saturday Scientist | Fest | Newton Science Academy
Summer Teacher Institute | Science Projects | Gender Equity Course | Publications
Presentations | Evaluation Materials