"There are more problems in math and science than there are people in math and science," said Nance K. Dicciani, vice president of the petroleum chemicals division of Rohm & Haas.
She was one of 12 women who spoke to the girls about the benefits and challenges of choosing a career in a traditionally male-dominated field.
Ichthyologist Dominique Didier recalled being teased throughout her school years for choosing to read about biology rather than go out. Now, she said, her job with the Academy of Natural Sciences lets her travel all over the world studying fish in a Discovery Channel, Jacques Cousteau manner.
"It's hard to be a 'geek' to those around you," Didier told the group. ''But do your thing, don't ever be afraid to be yourself."
Some of her enthusiasm rubbed off on the girls who participated in her workshop.
"We got to use rubber gloves and look at the fish," said Leslie, the budding ichthyologist. "She let us look at them and pick them up and examine the size of their fins."
Other speakers, such as molecular biologist Laura Gumbiner of the Fox Chase Cancer Center, also took the tools of their trade to the classroom.
An electrophoretic gel system taught Laura Robertson, a Tredyffrin/Easttown student, and Leah D'Anastasio, an Upper Merion pupil, how the DNA testing in the O.J. Simpson trial was done.
Financial manager Merrie Schippereit explained how her job in business allowed for the combination of math- and science-related thinking.
"What I do lets me blend my qualitative skills with problem solving," she said. "Math and science teaches one to think. You learn to identify problems and work out solutions."
