Palatine library looks at women in science

The Palatine Public Library District will host a discussion panel at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 19, at the main library, 700 N. North Court, highlighting women in science and engineering.

“We hope to give teens an opportunity to learn about what it takes to succeed in these professions,” said Teen Librarian Megan Buttera.

Invited to this panel are three successful, young professionals: Lindsay Schubel, ceramics engineer; Jen Chaplin, civil engineer; and Kristin Petersen, science high school teacher.

These women will discuss and answer questions about their day-to-day work, challenges and educational requirements for their specific field of study.

Schubel is a native of Palatine and graduated from Palatine High School in 2001. She was able to combine her passion for pottery and glassblowing with her technical and academic background when she attended the University of Illinois and majored in material science and engineering, while concentrating in ceramic engineering.

Chaplin graduated from Plainfield High School and studied civil engineering at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She has since completed a master’s degree in project management at Northwestern University. For the past six years, Chaplin has worked as an engineer for a general contractor in downtown Chicago and has been involved in the green building movement.

Petersen studied biology and secondary education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She is a science teacher at Gordon S. Hubbard High School in Chicago. In her spare time, she worked as a DNA lab Intern at the Field Museum and was selected to participate in the Yale National Teaching Initiative, a long-term project to strengthen teaching in public schools.

To sign up for this discussion, call (847) 358-5881 or visit palatinelibrary.org.

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