Black Girl Scientist Teen Girls Fun with Chemistry!
Inspiring the Next Generation of Women in STEM
On October 11, 2025, Pender United Methodist Church welcomed Dr. Kameron J. King, Ph.D. in Environmental Chemistry, for an exciting and hands-on STEM workshop for young women ages 10–18.
Sponsored by BlackGirlScientist, LLC, this FREE STEM workshop gave participants the opportunity to explore science in a fun and interactive way. The young women created their own custom-scented bath salts using safe, clean ingredients, turning a familiar everyday product into an engaging science experiment.
Making STEM Exciting and Accessible
STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics—four closely connected fields that play an important role in education, innovation, and our future.
But this workshop was about more than science. It was about opening doors, building confidence, and helping young women see themselves as scientists, engineers, researchers, and innovators.
Dr. King knows firsthand how important that representation can be.
Growing up and pursuing her career in STEM, she rarely encountered people who looked like her in the field. Her experiences as both a woman and an African-American woman in STEM have inspired her to encourage others—particularly young women of color—to develop the confidence, skills, and tools they need not only to succeed but to make their own mark in STEM fields.
Meet Dr. Kameron J. King
Dr. King is the founder of BlackGirlScientist, LLC. She earned her Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from Old Dominion University while working in the ODU Biomass Research Laboratory. Her passion for environmental science began early, including work with the Chesapeake Bay Foundation while she was in high school.
Her career and research have included algae cultivation, environmental policy, biofuels production, renewable energy, solid waste management, food waste reduction, and environmental protection.
She has worked in private industry as well as with the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Department of Defense, and has conducted research through universities, laboratories, and national research facilities in the United States and internationally.
Dr. King currently works as a Physical Scientist with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, where her research focuses on mitigating PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances)—a large family of chemicals used in many water-, grease-, and stain-resistant products.
She holds a Master of Science in Geography and Environmental Engineering from Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Environmental Science and Policy from William & Mary.
Giving Back and Opening Doors
For Dr. King, science isn't simply a career. It is a way to serve others and make a difference.
Her ultimate goal is to give back what has been given to her by creating opportunities for students who may not otherwise have the chance to experience a laboratory or see someone who looks like them pursuing a career in science.
Through BlackGirlScientist, Dr. King hopes to provide young people with the skills, tools, resources, and confidence to pursue their dreams and succeed in STEM.
The workshop at Pender was a wonderful example of that mission in action. A room full of young women had the opportunity to experiment, create, ask questions, and discover that science can be exciting, creative, and accessible.
We are grateful to Dr. King and BlackGirlScientist, LLC, for sharing their time and passion with the young women of our community—and for helping inspire the next generation of scientists!
Music for the Video
The audio accompanying this video is the second movement of Beethoven’s Pathétique Sonata (Sonata No. 8 in C minor), performed on piano by Liz Sellers as the postlude during Pender’s Traditional Worship Service on January 9, 2022.
It is a beautiful musical backdrop to a story about curiosity, creativity, education, and the encouragement to discover what is possible.
Learn more, dream boldly, and keep exploring! 🔬🧪✨
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