GirlsConserve: Where the Natural World and Social World Intersect

By Susan Galpin-Tyree

Sunflower, Prickly Pear, Rock, Wind, and Water were among the “nature names” chosen by students who participated in GirlsConserve’s first in-person conservation-focused Interpretive Hike on the Hieroglyphic Trail in Gold Canyon, AZ on Saturday, November 12, 2022.

GirlsConserve students enrolled in this program engage at the intersection of the natural and social worlds in unique ways to learn through virtual meetings, field trips, and collaborating with peers from other Arizona high schools.

The GirlsConserve program aims to engage girls in STEM using a culturally relevant One Health approach which inherently recognizes interconnectivity between systems of human, animal, and ecosystem health. Longer-term outcomes aim to improve engagement and retention of girls in environmental, conservation, and public health fields, as well as provide the framework for implementing culturally responsive curricula in communities across the nation.

Modeled on the highly successful program CompuGirls, the GirlConserve program is a collaboration between the Center for Gender Equity in Science and Technology (CGEST) and the Center for Biodiversity Outcomes (CBO). The two centers leverage their combined expertise to generate short and long-term benefits for girls and women in STEM, the environment, and equity.

Visit GirlsConserve and register for the program!