Microchipped Monarchs

ROSE Blog: Rikki's Open Source Exchange

At dinner last night with my daughter, I read through a list of upcoming events and anniversaries that the restaurant includes in a little display on each table, right next to the dessert list. According to the event list, September 9-14 will be peak days for Monarch butterflies to make their way through Kansas, heading to Mexico for the winter. I've already seen quite a few early-bird Monarchs as they stop off in our yard for a butterfly bush snack or a break on a purple coneflower. Tagging monarchs for their annual flight south is kind of a big deal here in Kansas, and my daughter experienced her first tagging in elementary school.

Now IBM is using the butterfly tagging as a way to get girls interested in technology (although I'd argue that it's a great way to get anyone more interested in technology). Jennifer Kavur's article on InfoWorld, IBM Appeals to Girls with Microchipped Butterflies, says, "Twenty five girls between the ages of 12 and 13 released a group of microchipped butterflies last week, one of several activities on the roster this year at IBM Canada Inc.'s 3-day E.X.I.T.E. camp." The camp is restricted to girls in 7th and 8th grade, and students are nominated by school counselors and teachers.

To find out more about IBM grant programs, visit: http://www.ibm.com/ibm/ibmgives/grant/index.shtml