This year marks the 50th anniversary of the first female flight in space.
As the world prepares to celebrate this important milestone, the lack of female scientists continues to be reflected in the women unfriendliness of many products.
Organized by the Institute for Women Of Aviation Worldwide (iWOAW), in collaboration with NASA, the Canadian Space Agency, the European Space Agency and the Association of Space Explorers, the "You are an Inventor" contest challenges young women to help women astronauts explore space more comfortably.
"Our message to young women is that if they want to enjoy products that meet their needs better, they must consider being the ones inventing them," says Tsawwassen pilot Mireille Goyer, founder of the Institute for Women Of Aviation Worldwide.
"This contest is designed to awake the inventor in them, let them experience the fun of the procedure and the usefulness of the solution, and trigger their interest in scientific careers."
Young women worldwide, ages 13 to 19, are encouraged to view themselves as inventors and follow the scientific process to create an invention with tangible benefits for all space explorers.
A distinguished panel of female space scientists will judge the competition. The winners will get a chance to speak with a small group of astronauts from around the world via teleconference.
The entries of all finalists will become part of a roaming exhibit.
Entries must be submitted by Feb. 8. The name of the finalists will be announced on March 4, the first day of the 2013 Women Of Aviation Worldwide Week. The name of the winner(s) will be announced on April 3.
Detailed information about entering the contest is available at www. WomenOfAviationWeek. org/Contests/Invention/.
