May 15, 2018

More than 200 Girls Scouts and leaders from throughout Western Ohio gathered at Davis-Besse on Saturday, May 5 for a “Go Nuclear” event. Davis-Besse volunteers helped the girls earn a “Getting to Know Nuclear” patch for their uniforms. Patch requirements focus on learning about nuclear science and technology through teamwork, and are flexible so scouts of all ages can participate.

D-B Engineer Jarrod Nolan coordinated the event. D-B’s Women in Nuclear chapter and the D-B North American Young Generation in Nuclear group were sponsors and provided most of the support along with the Girl Scouts. The girls spent time at various stations learning about things like the half-life of radioactive isotopes, building an atom, creating an electroscope and the difference between fission and fusion. They also got to experience operating a nuclear plant first-hand with a visit to the control room training simulator.

The event is designed to introduce scouts to STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) related careers. STEM occupations are growing at double the rate of other professions, and the Girl Scouts organization is committed to filling the STEM workforce pipeline. Its STEM Pledge is a multiyear initiative to put 2.5 million girls through hands-on STEM programs, like this one, by 2025.

A scout tests her electroscope with a static-charged ruler for her “Getting to Know Nuclear” badge.

Co-op student Emily Park (c.) supervises as scouts flip wooden tokens to learn about the half-life of nuclear materials.