As part of its ongoing efforts to promote education, the OSA Foundation has announced that it will partner with the Girl Scouts of the USA on a project designed to interest young women (11 to 17 years old) in math, science and technology. Specifically, it will produce a workbook about optics and photonics, providing basic concepts, experiments, activities and career information.

Volunteers from the optics and photonics fields will work jointly with troop leaders to help guide the educational activities. When a youngster finishes the workbook, she will receive the modern equivalent of a merit badge -- an optics charm -- to add to her Girl Scout bracelet. With any luck, a whole lot of girls could be “charmed” into further scientific pursuits.