YWIB-Seattle at the Expanding Your Horizons Conference at Edmonds College

YWIB-Seattle had an amazing time leading two workshop sessions at Expanding Your Horizons at Edmonds College this year! Our YWIB team kicked things off by introducing both Young Women In Bio and Women In Bio Seattle, sharing how we support and empower women pursuing careers in STEM, as well as younger students with an interest and curiosity in STEM. From there, we dove into the basics of DNA - what it is, why it matters, and how it connects to real-world science, before guiding students through a hands-on strawberry DNA extraction experiment. Students worked in small groups of two to three, which gave us the chance to connect more personally and learn about their grade levels, interests in STEM, and future aspirations.

Many of the students came from local north-end schools like Meadowdale, Lynnwood, and Mountlake Terrace, and it was especially exciting to see their curiosity and enthusiasm throughout the session. Several students shared that they don’t often get opportunities to do hands-on experiments like this at school, which made the experience even more impactful. We also introduced the YWIB Ambassador Program, and it was incredibly encouraging to see strong interest from students eager to stay involved. We wrapped up each session with an open Q&A, where students asked thoughtful questions about school, careers, and research pathways. Overall, it was a fun, engaging, and meaningful experience, and we’re looking forward to future events like these!

Submitted by Sadie Josephs