Air Liquide Hosts Kate the Chemist at Young Women's College Preparatory Academy
Published on October 19, 2023
2 minutes
For the second time this year, on Wednesday, October 11, Air Liquide hosted an event with Dr. Kate Biberdorf, better known as “Kate the Chemist”, at Young Women’s College Preparatory Academy (YWCPA) to celebrate International Day of the Girl and the women and girls in STEM who continue to break down barriers and empower others to achieve their dreams and overcome obstacles.
Watch the highlights!
Kate is a chemist, science entertainer, and professor at the University of Texas whose mission is to educate young women on the importance of STEM and break down the image of the stereotypical scientist, all while performing fun experiments to ignite interest in science!
Students in grades 6-8 were able to experience and learn from Kate as she shared her journey as a woman in STEM and performed nine fun scientific experiments involving liquid nitrogen and dry ice supplied by Airgas, water, fire, and more! Some students were also able to get hands-on experience by volunteering to help Kate with her demos! After each experiment, students put their science skills to the test by guessing whether or not the materials used had a chemical or physical reaction.
To kick off the event and introduce Kate to the stage, Laura Parkan, VP of One.net delivered a welcome speech emphasizing the critical roles women play in STEM industries and the importance of educating the next generation to invent the future. Laura also shared some of her personal background which inspired the students to pursue their dream goals.
Before Kate performed her experiments, Matthieu Giard, CEO of the Americas hub, shared his background working and learning from many intelligent women throughout his tenure. In addition, Matthieu discussed the importance of gender diversity and equality, leading to more innovative thinking, comprehensive problem-solving, better team collaboration, and increased opportunities for all.
To end the event, students and Kate engaged in an open Q&A session. For more information on the Kate the Chemist event, please visit the Air Liquide USA social media channels or watch the recap video here!
