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CORDOVA -- Twenty Girl Scouts, in grades sixth through 12, visited Exelon's Quad-Cities Generating Station north of Cordova on Aug. 27 to learn about nuclear energy and careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

They learned about the variety of careers offered in nuclear energy and met women working in the field, such as Jennifer Nelson, Design Engineering – Drafting, who coordinated the event with Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois.

“It’s so important for girls to see women working in the STEM field,” said Ashley Arnold, Program Specialist for Girl Scouts. “The Girl Scout Program is designed to prepare girls for the future and events like this are great for girls to develop an interest in this growing field.”

Beyond experiencing the careers available at the plant, the girls learned about how nuclear plants produce reliable energy and atoms by participating in activities that represented half-life, fission, fusion and building elements.

They also experienced a control room simulator and were able to dress in the gear necessary to go inside the plant.