Members of the Carthage Microgravity Team were the featured guests at a dinner meeting of the Racine American Association of University Women (AAUW) Nov. 1.

KelliAnn Anderson, '14; Amber Bakkum, '12; Stephanie Finnvik, '12; and Kimberly Schultz, '12; discussed their participation in NASA's Systems Engineering Educational Discovery program, or SEED. The program pairs undergraduate student teams with NASA researchers to conduct experiments aboard a zero-gravity aircraft. Carthage is one of only three schools in the country to have been selected for the program in each of its four years.

Stephanie Finnvik, '12, aboard NASA's zero-gravity aircraft.

At the AAUW meeting, the students talked about their trip to the Johnson Space Center, what it felt like to be weightless, and a resulting trip to see the final launch of NASA's space shuttle program.

"As you know, AAUW has a national effort to support girls and women in all STEM areas: Science, Technology, Engineering and Math," said AAUW program committee member Marge Mauer as she introduced the group. "The Carthage Microgravity Team consisted of seven women — and one man," she added, drawing applause from the audience of over 100 women at Racine's Meadowbrook Country Club.

During the presentation, the students showed photographs and video from their trips, and talked about the opportunities they've received through their studies at Carthage. Just this summer, Amber was selected as a member of the Wisconsin Space Grant Consortium High Altitude Balloon Payload Team; she worked at the Milwaukee School of Engineering with five other students to design and build an experiment for a high altitude balloon (watch a video about the project). Kim was selected to participate in a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) in applied physics at the University of South Florida; she used computational techniques to study thermodynamics of nanowire materials. Stephanie traveled to the Netherlands, Paris and South Africa on two different internships with international space science organizations.

The audience asked the students to share how they discovered their passion for science. The Carthage students also offered advice for other girls and young women considering science as a major or career.

"We would say first, do not be intimated," Stephanie said. "The world is science. Kids are doing science, even if they don't realize it. Second, build a rocket. Get your hands dirty. It's a lot easier to understand a science concept when you do it yourself. Finally, find a collaborative environment. Our Physics Department at Carthage is a whole other family. It is our life. Science is not done by one individual; it's done by many."

Ms. Mauer said the AAUW was honored to hear from four young scientists. "It is a joy for us to see women enjoy and succeed in science," she said.

The 2011 Carthage Microgravity Team: (back row from left) Cecilia Grove, '11; KelliAnn Anderson, '14; Danielle Wieland, '14; Stephanie Finnvik, '12; Steven Mathe, '13; Amber Bakkum, '12; Prof. Kevin Crosby; NASA engineer Rudy Werlink; (front row from left) Erin Gross, '11; and Kimberly Schultz, '12.