Thomas College Hosts 2nd Annual Girls in Science Day

Nearly 100 high school students explore STEM fields through hands-on activities led by Thomas College students.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 9:36pm

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A vibrant, high-contrast silkscreen print featuring a grid of scientific equipment like microscopes, test tubes, and beakers in neon colors, conceptually representing the hands-on STEM activities at the Girls in Science Day event.Thomas College's Girls in Science Day brings STEM learning to life through hands-on activities and college student mentors.Waterville Today

Thomas College's second annual Girls in Science Day event welcomed nearly 100 high school students to campus, where they participated in hands-on activities related to forensic science, chemistry, and biology. The lessons were taught by current Thomas College students studying to become teachers, providing valuable teaching experience. The event aims to inspire young women to explore STEM fields and see themselves represented in these fields.

Why it matters

Encouraging young women to pursue STEM education and careers is crucial, as women remain underrepresented in these fields. Events like Girls in Science Day help expose students to STEM subjects in an engaging, hands-on way and allow them to see female role models in these disciplines.

The details

During the event, students had the option to participate in activities such as a "chill factor chemistry lab" where they learned about endothermic and exothermic reactions, as well as lessons in forensic science and biology. The activities were designed by the Thomas College student teachers, a process that took months of preparation. Last year's pilot program had around 20 participants, but this year's event nearly quintupled in size to almost 100 students.

  • Thomas College held its first Girls in Science Day in 2025.
  • The 2nd annual Girls in Science Day took place on April 10, 2026.

The players

Allison Moloney

Associate Biology Professor at Thomas College who helped run the Girls in Science Day event.

Sophie Damon

A secondary education student at Thomas College who taught a chemistry lab activity during the event.

Katy McIntyre

A Thomas College student teacher who also helped with the Girls in Science Day event the previous year and noted the growth in interest from young girls.

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What they’re saying

“It's been a huge expansion, so last year was our pilot program, and we were really thrilled to have like 20 total people involved. This year we have almost 100 students.”

— Allison Moloney, Associate Biology Professor

“I'm doing the chill factor chemistry lab, so we are doing the salt dissolution process, learning about endothermic and exothermic reactions. This is one of my first teaching experiences in the field. So, it is a really great opportunity, and I'm just excited that Thomas [College] was able to make it happen.”

— Sophie Damon, Secondary Education Student

“To see the excitement of women collaborating with each other and bringing more awareness to the fact that it is an underrepresented field.”

— Katy McIntyre, Student Teacher

What’s next

Thomas College plans to continue hosting the Girls in Science Day event annually, with the goal of inspiring more young women to pursue STEM education and careers.

The takeaway

Events like Thomas College's Girls in Science Day play a crucial role in addressing the gender gap in STEM fields by exposing young women to these subjects in an engaging, hands-on way and allowing them to see female role models in these disciplines. The significant growth in participation from the inaugural event to the second year demonstrates the strong interest and need for such programs.