On April 10, 2024, HPCAT hosted a group of Chicago-area high school girls for the Science Careers in Search of Women Conference (SCSW) at Argonne National Laboratory. This annual conference provides female high school students with an extraordinary opportunity to learn about possible careers in science and engineering through interacting with Argonne’s scientists and engineers. Beamline Scientists Tyler Eastmond and Innocent Ezenwa led discussion on the basics of high pressure science, and the high pressure research conducted at HPCAT, in our off-line High Pressure Lab. The students enjoyed a unique opportunity to handle demonstration DACs, view a sample inside of a DAC under a microscope, and see the offline PE press. It was a lively and engaging group. The students asked thoughtful questions and left with a better understanding of what it’s like to be an experimental physicist. 

HPCAT enjoys the opportunity to participate in S.T.E.M. outreach activities each year. For more information on this annual event, and other outreach programs, see: https://www.anl.gov/science-careers-in-search-of-women