Sally Ride in Kansas City

Sally Ride, the first American woman in space, delivered the keynote at the Science Festival at UMKC on April 26, 2003. She is the founder of Imaginary Lines, Inc., the host of The Sally Ride Science Club™. The mission of this organization is to help engage girls in science:

“According to the latest statistics, 8 of the 10 fastest growing occupations are science or technology related. Today, women make up only 19% of the technical workforce. Yet, in elementary school roughly the same numbers of girls and boys are interested in science and math.

“Beginning in about sixth grade, more girls than boys begin to disengage from these subjects-- even though they may have both the interest and the aptitude to pursue them. If only a fraction of those girls pursued their interests, the nation would not face a shortage of scientists and engineers.

“Our mission is to keep those girls and young women in the pipeline!

“Imaginary Lines, founded by astronaut Sally Ride, is dedicated to supporting the large numbers of girls in elementary school and beyond who are (or might become) interested in science, math and computers – and providing this support in ways that they will find interesting and entertaining.

“The organization’s aim is to create an environment that will support girls' natural interests in science, math and technology, and increase the numbers of girls and young women comfortable with science and math.”

To be continued