Love science and making a difference? Cranbrook Institute of Science is holding their 5th annual Women Rock Science fundraiser, a women-led event being held in-person for the first time since 2019, on Wednesday, October 12 from 6:00-9:00 PM at the Cranbrook Institute of Science in Bloomfield Hills.
Women Rock Science has two goals—to celebrate women in STEAM-related fields (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math) and to spark curiosity for STEAM in children. The proceeds raised from the event help to bring STEAM programming to pre-K to 12th grade children in underserved communities throughout Michigan, including Detroit, Hamtramck, Pontiac, Flint, and Southfield.
The support for students generated by Women Rock Science will create STEAM outreach programs for over 35,000 students in their classrooms, in-person or virtually. In addition, Women Rock Science will fund ten scholarships to Cranbrook’s first ever girls-only museum career bootcamp, which will run for one full week. Proceeds will also create over 25 summer camp scholarships for girls interested in STEAM at the Cranbrook Institute of Science and an inaugural Women Rock Science speaker series.
This year’s gala event will recognize three women who are making a difference in STEAM-related fields. The honorees include Melissa Koronka, a science teacher at the Accelerated Learning Academy in the Flint Community Schools, who will receive the Outstanding Educator Award; Raven L. Jones, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Teacher Education at Michigan State University, who will be recognized with the Rock Star Award; and Beth Paretta, CEO/Team Principal of Paretta Autosport, who will be honored with the Outstanding Leader Award.
The Women Rock Science gala will feature an exciting experience including hors d’oeuvres and signature STEAM-themed cocktails, hands-on STEAM education activities, shows at the famed Acheson Planetarium, remarks from the Women Rock Science honorees, and access to museum exhibits, including the newest traveling exhibit on display at the Institute of Science, SUE: The T. rex Experience. The SUE exhibit includes a 40-foot-long exact cast of the T. rex skeleton, realistic animations on a giant floor-to-ceiling screen, interactives, and more.
Tickets for the 5th Annual Women Rock Science gala are available at science.cranbrook.edu/women-rock-science. Sponsorship opportunities are also available. Visit science.cranbrook.edu/women-rock-science/sponsorships for more information.