This weekened, Seattle's Convention Center is getting overrun by thousands of women and girls gathered for the annualGeekGirlCon event. But the convention is not just about gaming.
Raychelle Burks, a research scientist and post doctoral fellow in chemistry, is running the DIY Science Zone. It's a place where you can meet scientists, get your hands dirty and make slime.
The Science Zone is a first for GeekGirlCon. Its rationale: to help inspire more girls to consider STEM—science, technology, engineering and math—careers.
"There’s a leaky pipeline for women in the STEM fields, and we’re trying to get more diversity," Burks said.
Women account for about half of all jobs in the U.S., but only a quarter of STEM jobs.
This weekend's GeekGirlCon is the third annual event, and is expected to draw 6,000 people.