Girl Scout Troop hosts STEM event featuring Hall-of-Fame Astronaut Dr. Bonnie Dunbar

Dr. Bonnie Dunbar will speak at
Girl Scout event in Shoreline

Retired astronaut Dr. Bonnie Dunbar, who was recently inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame®, is returning to Seattle to be the featured speaker at a STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) event hosted by Girl Scout Junior Troop 41002.

The event will include two presentations by Dr. Dunbar, who will share the pictures she took from space, and a presentation by two video game designers, Bronwen Grimes and Kristine Ishii. It will also include an egg drop competition, and about 40 hands-on activities and exhibits. The Troop expects more than 400 girls to attend the May 11th event at Einstein Middle School in Shoreline.

The troop invited Dr. Dunbar to speak after one of the troop’s members heard Dr. Dunbar speak at a Seattle Rotary luncheon. Dr. Dunbar mentioned that most kids have decided by about third grade whether or not they will pursue a career in science, technology, engineering or math. After some discussion at a troop meeting, the Scouts decided that they could make a difference by hosting a STEM event to get girls excited about these fields.

“We didn’t understand why all the STEM classes are in middle school and high school and not in elementary school,” says Emily Goergen, the event marketing chair. “By the time you reach middle and high school, it’s too late.” Ms. Goergen is a fourth grader at Edmonds Elementary.

Dr. Dunbar was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame a few weeks ago, joining the ranks of legendary space pioneers such as Neil Armstrong, John Glenn, and Sally Ride. Dr. Dunbar served as a shuttle mission specialist and payload commander on five shuttle missions from 1985 to 1998. 

She logged more than 1,200 hours – more than 50 days – in space. She has received many awards, including NASA’s Outstanding Leadership Award in 1993. Dr. Dunbar was recently appointed to lead the University of Houston’s new science, technology, engineering and math center, and to teach in the College of Engineering.

The event will be held on Saturday, May 11th, from 9:30am until 12:30pm at Einstein Middle School in Shoreline. 19343 3rd Ave NW, Shoreline 98177. Dr. Dunbar will be speaking twice, at about 9:45am and again at 10:45am.

The Troop expects about 400 girls, primarily from King and Snohomish counties, about 200 troop leaders and 100 community volunteers to attend the event.

About Girl Scouts

Girl Scouts of Western Washington serves more than 26,000 girls in Kindergarten to 12th grade in western Washington with the help of nearly 13,000 volunteers.

Girl Scout Junior Troop 41002 is based in Edmonds, Washington, with troop members in Edmonds, Lynnwood and Shoreline. The girls are in fourth and fifth grades.