Meredith College’s School of Natural and Mathematical Sciences will host the Sally Ride Science Festival on Saturday, March 17, from 11 a.m. until 4:15 p.m.

Best known as the first American woman to travel in space, Sally Ride is also a physicist, educator and author. She is the president and CEO of festival presenter Sally Ride Science, an innovative science content company dedicated to supporting girls’ and boys’ interests in science, math and technology.

Elizabeth Wolfinger, interim dean of the School of Natural and Mathematical Sciences, has led the effort to bring the Sally Ride Science Festival to Meredith. The event is an example of Meredith College’s efforts to educate, support and promote women as leaders in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Sally Ride Science Festivals are designed for girls in grades 5-8. Each festival includes an inspiring talk by a female scientist, science workshops for girls, parent/teacher workshops focusing on ways to support girls’ interest in science and mathematics, and a street fair featuring hands-on activities, booths, food and music.

Astronaut Mary Ellen Weber is scheduled to be the keynote speaker for Meredith’s festival. She became an astronaut in 1992, and is a veteran of two space flights, logging more than 450 hours in space. She holds a doctorate in physical chemistry from the University of California at Berkeley. Weber’s principal technical assignments within the Astronaut Office included participating in critical launch, landing and test operations at Kennedy Space Center, testing Shuttle flight software and developing with international space agencies the training protocols and facilities for experiments aboard the Space Station.

The event will also feature dozens of local female engineers and scientists who will facilitate fun workshops like “Catapults – Launch Into Science,” “Science Detectives,” and “Crickets – ‘Jumping Jiminy.” Areas of discovery include Biological Sciences, Physical Science, Force and Motion, Energy, Earth Science, Nature, Toxicology, Chemistry, Exercise Physiology, Dentistry, Math and Medical Imaging, Geoscience, Biology, and Organic Chemistry.

Advance registration is required and is $18. The registration fee includes the featured talk, workshops, lunch and the street fair. Visit www.sallyridefestivals.com to register or for more information.