By Sherry F. Pruitt

JONESBORO -- Test scores suggest that girls begin to lose interest in science at the fifth- or sixth-grade level.

ARKANSAS STATE UNIVERSITY is trying to counter that trend by offering a science program for girls for the seventh year in a row.

Some 100 girls have pre-registered for the event, which will be held Saturday from 8 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. at several campus locations, beginning at the Lab Science East Building, said Dr. Jeannette Loutsch, assistant professor of biological sciences.

The charge for attendance is $5 per child, and each child is asked to bring a sack lunch. A lunch beverage and a morning snack will be provided. ASU officials have advised parents to send an umbrella because the children will be going from building to building. They can carry it in their goodie bag.

The age of fifth- and sixth-graders is appropriate to redirect their interest back to science and show them careers in math, science and technology, Loutsch said.

When girls reach the upper elementary grades they begin to think science is "icky," she added.

Usually about 250 girls sign up to attend, and they are welcome without pre-registration.

They come from all over the Northeast and North Central Arkansas. A busload from Marion Elementary School is expected, and students from Delaplaine, Cave City, Blytheville and Osceola plan to attend.

They will rotate from one workshop to another manned by college students, ASU faculty and volunteers from the Jonesboro community.

Instructors come from all walks of life and have many anecdotes to share with the children. A Batesville resident will talk about her experience teaching at sea.

Making asphalt cookies is on the agenda for the ASU engineering students and the girls under their direction.

"It's going to be a blast this year," Loutsch said.

Other professionals involved include a dentist, veterinarian, optometrist, psychologist, audiologist, botanist, plant agriculture researcher and a computer specialist. Twenty-five to 30 speakers will participate.

Participants will move from the LSE Building to the College of Nursing and Health Professions, and the Chickasaw Building.

After this year, the program will be held every two years rather than annually.

In addition, a group is monitoring the programs and plans to conduct a follow-up from the first workshop. Members of the group want to learn how the girls felt about science then and now, determine what impact the program had on them and find out where they plan to attend college.

The program is sponsored by the Northeast Arkansas Association for Women in Science.

sherry@jonesborosun.com