SciGirls" Dolphin Dive

A child participates in "SciGirls," a weekly series on PBS stations that seeks to change girl's outlooks toward science, technology, engineering and math, and possibly spark their interest in careers in these fields. For this particular project, participants designed their own experiment to see whether dolphins can recognize themselves in a mirror. [Picture taken from episode 103, "Dolphin Dive."]

Each half-hour episode of "SciGirls"--which targets girls ages 8 to 12--follows a different group of real middle-school girls as they collaborate, communicate, engineer and discover. Filmed in a reality-style, the girls, with the help of scientist mentors, design their own inquiry-based investigations on a wide variety of topics that can range from the environment to technology to engineering or nutrition. The series includes two animated characters--Izzie, a plucky "SciGirl," and her best friend Jake--who embark on their own adventures and call on the "SciGirls" for help.

"SciGirls," which is funded by the National Science Foundation (grant DRL 08-13519) with additional support from ExxonMobil, integrates the Web into the TV series. Each episode begins on the show's home page, where Izzie goes when she finds herself in jams that only science can fix. She surfs to the site, jumps into a video of real-life "SciGirls," and follows their story, learning and exploring every step of the way. In addition, viewers are invited to create their own profile pages and upload their own science projects on the "SciGirls" website.

For more information, visit the "SciGirls" website. (Date of Image: 2009)

Credit: Twin Cities Public Television, Inc.

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What is Desert RATS ???

NASA is inviting the public to choose an area in northern Arizona where explorers will conduct part of the annual Desert Research and Technology Studies, known as Desert RATS.

NASA Opens Online Vote for Next Desert Exploration Site

NO SEAT FOR OVERWEIGHT TEEN-SOUTHWEST AIRLINES

A petite woman says Southwest Airlines removed her from a full flight to make room for an overweight teenager, The Sacramento Bee reports.

The newspaper says the incident involving the 5-foot-4, 110-pound woman "happened last week on an early-evening Southwest flight from Las Vegas to Sacramento."

The Bee reports that the woman paid to upgrade to Southwest's full fare so that she could fly standby on the flight. The newspaper adds she was given the "last available seat, got on board, stowed her bags and sat down – only to be told she would have to deplane immediately."

That, of course, was so the airline could accommodate the heavy passenger that needed two seats.

Then, the booted woman -- the Bee writes "she has asked to remain anonymous for fear some may regard her as insensitive" -- claims she was berated by Southwest workers when she questioned their decision.

Southwest spokeswoman Marilee McInnis acknowledged to the Bee the airline could have managed the incident more carefully. "We know this was awkward and we should have handled it better," she tells the paper.

Still, Southwest spokesman Paul Flannigan tells The 33 News of Dallas/Fort Worth that extenuating circumstances made the situation difficult.

"The passenger in question was a minor who was traveling alone," Flannigan tells the station. "Normally if the passenger were an adult, she would be required to purchase an extra ticket, but we did not want to leave the 14-year-old stranded."

McInnis adds to the Bee that the airline's staff also may have been reluctant to put the teenage girl into a possibly embarrassing situation.

Southwest put the thinner woman on a later flight. Company officials say the airline will apologize to the woman and offer her credit toward a future flight.