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<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoHeader"><span
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<h1 style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><font
face="Arial" size="2">GIRLS INTERESTED IN REAL LIFE SCIENCE
SPEAKER SERIES CONTINUES</font></span><span
style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></h1>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"><o:p><font
face="Arial" size="2"><font size="3"> </font></font></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoHeader"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"><font face="Arial"
size="2"><font size="3">NEW BEDFORD, MA (March 13, 2012) —
The speaker <span style="">series </span><b style="">G</b>irls
<b style="">I</b>nterested in <b style="">R</b>eal <b
style="">L</b>ife <b style="">S</b>cience (<b style="">GIRLS</b>)
continues as the <span style="">Ocean Explorium welcomes
</span>Teresa Ramirez and Marcela Soruco,<span style=""> </span>Ph.D.
candidates at Brown University in Providence, Rhode
Island.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoHeader"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"><o:p><font
face="Arial" size="2"><font size="3"> </font></font></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoHeader"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"><font face="Arial"
size="2"><font size="3">Ms. Ramirez is pursuing a doctorate
in Molecular Pharmacology and Physiology at Brown.<span
style=""> </span>As a child, Ms. Ramirez was intrigued
by science and medicine; as a sixth grader, she entered
her first science fair and won 3rd place.<span style="">
</span>A first-generation Mexican-American, Ms. Ramirez
was the first in her family to receive an undergraduate
degree.<span style=""> </span>Ms. Ramirez participated
in the Minority International Research Training summer
program in England in 2001 and has been a member of the
Society of Advancing Hispanics/Chicanos and Native
Americans in Science (SACNAS) since 2000.<span style="">
</span><o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoHeader"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"><o:p><font
face="Arial" size="2"><font size="3"> </font></font></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoHeader"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"><font face="Arial"
size="2"><font size="3">Ms. Soruco is pursuing a doctorate
in Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry,
having earned her Bachelor's degree in Biology at San
Diego State University and a Master's in Biology from New
York University.<span style=""> </span>Ms. Soruco began
her education in the sciences early; as a high school
student, she studied marine biology, physics, chemistry
and physiology.<span style=""> </span>While in high
school, Ms. Soruco was a member of Women in Strong Profile
(WISP) club for girls interested in science and math and
competed in the Physics Olympics by building an amphibious
vehicle.<span style=""> </span>Ms. Soruco is now in her
third year of a research fellowship funded by the National
Institutes of Health (NIH).<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoHeader"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"><o:p><font
face="Arial" size="2"><font size="3"> </font></font></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoHeader"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"><font face="Arial"
size="2"><font size="3">The <b style="">G</b>irls <b
style="">I</b>nterested in <b style="">R</b>eal <b
style="">L</b>ife <b style="">S</b>cience (<b style="">GIRLS</b>)
series runs each Thursday in March and features inspiring
speakers drawn from professions in which the STEM subjects
play a major role.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoHeader"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"><o:p><font
face="Arial" size="2"><font size="3"> </font></font></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoHeader"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"><font face="Arial"
size="2"><font size="3">The series continues with:<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoHeader"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"><o:p><font
face="Arial" size="2"><font size="3"> </font></font></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoHeader"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"><font face="Arial"
size="2"><font size="3">March 15:<span style=""> </span>Teresa
Ramirez and Marcela Soruco, Ph.D. candidates, Brown
University, in <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoHeader"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"><font face="Arial"
size="2"><font size="3"><span style="">
</span>Molecular Pharmacology/Physiology, and Molecular
Biology/Cell Biology/ <o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoHeader"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"><font face="Arial"
size="2"><font size="3"><span style="">
</span>Biochemistry, respectively<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoHeader"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"><font face="Arial"
size="2"><font size="3">March 22:<span style=""> </span>Sara
MacSorley, NSF Experimental Program to Stimulate
Competitive <span style=""></span><span style=""></span>Research<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoHeader"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"><font face="Arial"
size="2"><font size="3">March 29:<span style=""> </span>Kate
Clopeck, Executive Director and Co-Founder, Community
Water <span style=""></span>Solutions<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoHeader"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"><o:p><font
face="Arial" size="2"><font size="3"> </font></font></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoHeader"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"><font face="Arial"
size="2"><font size="3">The <b style="">G</b>irls <b
style="">I</b>nterested in <b style="">R</b>eal <b
style="">L</b>ife <b style="">S</b>cience (<b style="">GIRLS</b>)
speaker series is free and open to the public, thanks to
the support of the Women’s Fund.<span style=""> </span>Doors
open at 5:00 pm each Thursday in March for refreshments
and mingling in the Ocean Explorium before the talks begin
at 5:30 pm. <span style=""> </span>Students will receive
a special memento to indicate attendance at each week's
event.<span style=""> </span>Girls and boys in grades 5
– 12 are encouraged to attend:<span style=""> </span>families
are always welcome!<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoHeader"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"><o:p><font
face="Arial" size="2"><font size="3"> </font></font></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoHeader"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"><font face="Arial"
size="2"><font size="3">The Ocean Explorium is grateful to
the Women’s Fund for making the GIRLS speaker series
possible.<span style=""> </span>We look forward to
students of all ages attending the evening speaker series
to be inspired by women who have found success in the STEM
subjects.<span style=""> </span><o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoHeader"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"><o:p><font
face="Arial" size="2"><font size="3"> </font></font></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoHeader"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"><font face="Arial"
size="2"><font size="3">The Ocean Explorium is located at
174 Union Street in downtown New Bedford and is handicap
accessible via the rear entrance.<span style=""> </span>Call
508.994.5400 for after-hours access.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoHeader"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"><o:p><font
face="Arial" size="2"><font size="3"> </font></font></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"><font face="Arial"
size="2"><font size="3">For further information, contact
Abbey Spargo at </font><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="mailto:aspargo@oceanexplorium.org"><font size="3">aspargo@oceanexplorium.org</font></a><font
size="3"> or 508.994.5400, or visit the Ocean Explorium
website at </font><a moz-do-not-send="true"
href="http://www.oceanexplorium.org/"><font
color="#800080" size="3">www.oceanexplorium.org</font></a><font
size="3">.<o:p></o:p></font></font></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"><o:p><font
face="Arial" size="2"><font size="3"> </font></font></o:p></span></p>
<p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;" class="MsoNormal"><span
style="font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"><o:p><font
face="Arial" size="2"><font size="3"> </font></font></o:p></span></p>
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'Arial','sans-serif';"><font face="Arial" size="2"><font
size="3">###<b><o:p></o:p></b></font></font></span></p>
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