By Anna Michael
The Cincinnati Enquirer

CLIFTON - Twelve-year-old Rebecca Thomas wants to be a crime scene investigator, and she knows to reach her goal she needs to take a lot of science classes.

That is why the Covedale Elementary sixth-grader decided to participate in a science program hosted by the "Showcase of UC Women Scientists" Saturday at the University of Cincinnati.

The program is designed to give girls a hands-on experience with the sciences, while encouraging girls to enter scientific fields.

Woodford Paideia Elementary sixth-grader Kiaya White, 11, said she likes science because it's fun.

"I like to mess around with my hands," she said.

The sixth-grade girls from three Cincinnati schools did get to use their hands to make slime, study fossils, examine bacteria and explore a wind tunnel.

University of Cincinnati physics professor Margaret Hanson worked for a year with the American Association of University Women (AAUW) to create the program, which incorporates eight learning sessions for the sixth-graders.

"We decided on sixth-graders because ... (they are) not too old to have their minds made up," Hanson said.

Each month a scientist visits St. Teresa, Covedale Elementary and Woodford Paideia Elementary to give an after-school science program. Twice during the school year the girls are invited to UC's campus for all-day event.

The three schools were chosen by how willing the teachers were to participate in the program.

The all-day events give the girls an opportunity to interact with women scientists, most of them graduate students.

"A big part is to meet women scientists they can admire," Hanson said.

Graduate student Beth Shell, 27, is a scientist who worked with the girls on the chemistry experiment.

Shell said the program is a great way to get girls involved with the sciences.

Kris Ketcham, a teacher at Woodford Elementary, said her students enjoy the program.

"They are excited about all the activities," Ketcham said. "A lot of them today are talking about 'when I go to college.' "

And that's what Hanson is hoping to encourage.

E-mail amichael@enquirer.com