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Albany, NY – Actress, Sigourney Weaver, describes herself as a "serious science junkie." She may be best known for her roles in movies like the "Alien" series and "Gorillas in the Mist." Weaver was at Syracuse University a few days ago helping dedicate a new life sciences complex, and called on more women to study science. The actress said women might decide not to study science because it isn't always taught in an interesting and exciting way. Well, that's not the case at Manual Arts High School in South Central Los Angeles, where teacher, John Santos, is doing all he can to change that perception. Girls in his science academy are building robots and competing in science bowls all the time. Fully half of his students last year were girls. And despite the poor socio-economic urban conditions, not only did all the girls graduate, about 40% went on to a four-year university, proving this program's tremendous impact.
Robin Urevich reports from Los Angeles.
To read more information about the schools mentioned in this story, the website for Manual Arts High School is: www.lausd.k12.ca.us/Manual_Arts_HS.
The University of California, Merced website is: www.ucmerced.edu