In January, the Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences at Rice and the Climate and Water Lab Institute at Rice will host the fourth Girl Scout Climate Challenge, a one-day event that seeks to educate Houston girls about climate change through a range of hands-on experiments and activities led by experts in the field.
Hosted by Sylvia Dee, a climate scientist in the department, the program aims to ensure that girls leave feeling confident about discussing climate concerns.
Each year, 75 students, ranging from kindergarten to 12th grade, attend this hope-filled program that not only earns them a special GSCC patch but also leaves scouts empowered and excited to share their knowledge with others. To earn their badge, Girl Scouts must complete a series of tasks by exploring the Rice campus, learning about climate science and interacting with scientists.
Topics offered at the conference include biodiversity, urban flooding, carbon storage, albedo, and the distinction between climate and weather. Additionally, Girl Scouts are given the opportunity to talk to scientists about their careers and visit green spaces at Rice, such as the Harris Gully Natural Area.
Dee has been at Rice University since 2018 and started the GSCC in 2022 as part of her efforts on multiple National Science Foundation grants, which include Broader Impacts. This is just one of her most recent volunteer efforts with the Girl Scouts of the USA. In 2021, she was recognized with a leadership award at the Girl Scouts Global Leadership Conference of the Green and White Mountains.
The Girl Scouts helped me develop confidence, appreciation of science and nature, and a deep respect for community engagement and service as a young woman. It’s a privilege to be able to give back where I can.
— SYLVIA DEE
In each program she hosts, Dee proudly shows the audience a picture of herself as a young Girl Scout in uniform. “The Girl Scouts helped me develop confidence, appreciation of science and nature, and a deep respect for community engagement and service as a young woman,” she said. “It’s a privilege to be able to give back where I can.”
The GSCC program makes a significant contribution to the EEPS department’s recruitment and outreach efforts, serving approximately 1,500 youth, college students and community members annually.
To learn more about EEPS Outreach or to get involved, visit eeps.rice.edu/eeps-student-outreach.
ARI JOHNSON
Coordinator
EEPS Undergraduate and Environmental Science
LINDA FRIES
Science Writer
Department of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences