Volunteer Spotlight: Wendy Peikes

This month, we are highlighting Wendy Peikes, a software engineer.

What do you do professionally?

I am a software engineer, also known as a computer scientist.

How long have you been volunteering with Science is Elementary?

For about eight years.

How did you hear about Science is Elementary and what made you decide to give your time to our cause?

I heard about the organization from Tzipor Ullman, the founder, on the recommendation of my friend Victor, who adjudicated science fairs for elementary school students. Vic was telling me all about the organization. I got in touch with Tzipor and brought her to my company to do a presentation to encourage staff to volunteer.

What is your favorite experiment or memory from a lesson?

The students made moon landers from sticks, rubber bands, and marshmallows. It was hard to get the kids not to eat the marshmallows, but eventually, they all made their moon landers and had the best time dropping them onto the ground and seeing how well they did.

Why do you think it is important for children to develop scientific thinking?
It helps kids develop critical and scientific thinking, making it easier for them to separate truth from fiction. It gets kids excited about science, which could lead to a career in STEM or a non-STEM career where their engineering and science skills help them with their methodology.

And it makes kids less afraid of science. This is especially important for girls, who get the message that science and engineering aren’t for them as they reach middle school. It’s a lot harder to tell a girl that she can’t do science or engineering when she’s had the experience of actually doing it.

Do you have any advice for new Science is Elementary volunteers?

Just do it! Don’t be afraid. It’s fun, the kids are great to work with, and you get a wonderful feeling of having made positive changes in the lives of elementary school kids.