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TULSA, Okla. — Black to the Lab is hosting its Galentine’s Edition of STEM Saturdays, giving girls the opportunity to explore science through beauty and creativity.
The event is taking place at the Tulsa Beauty Collective pop-up shop at 114 N. Boston Ave. in downtown Tulsa from 12:30 to 2 p.m.
Combining Chemistry and Cosmetics
The Galentine-themed event called “Be My Labmate,” is designed for girls ages 6 to 18. Participants will create custom body scrubs and lip scrubs while learning about the science behind cosmetic products.
Founder and CEO Kristen Collins said the idea for Black in the Lab came from her own experience as a chemistry major.
“Starting Black to the Lab really began with identifying a gap,” Collins said. “As someone who majored in chemistry, I had some struggles in the field, but I knew I really loved science. I started thinking about how I could connect the things I loved academically with cultural experiences around beauty, makeup and cosmetic products and how those two worlds merge together.”
Collins said after recognizing the underrepresentation of women and girls in the industry, she wanted to create an early entry point for young girls.
“We want them to learn about the industry, experience it and connect with science before that interest drops off when they transition to middle school and begin to feel like they don’t belong,” she said.
Building Community Through STEM
The Tulsa Beauty Collective has been operating the pop-up shop for several weeks as it prepares to open a permanent storefront. Hosting events like STEM Saturdays allows the collective to connect with the community while supporting organizations that empower young girls.
In addition to hands-on experiments, Collins said the Galentine’s theme encourages students to build friendships, express themselves and enjoy a fun “girls’ day” while exploring STEM.
Black to the Lab also plans to expand its impact by becoming part of school curriculums and opening a permanent storefront in the future.
Can’t Make It?
If you can’t attend Saturday’s event, lab kits are available for purchase by clicking here.
