Pat McNees, author of New Formulas for America's Workforce: Girls in Science and Engineering (National Science Foundation), explored numerous studies on the most effective ways to interest girls in careers in science and math. Here's one point she discovered:

Encourage girls to make mistakes. As girls are often expected to be good, they may be wary of taking chances. Teachers need to encourage experimentation, and realize that mistakes are an important part of the learning process. Teachers also need to resist the urge to rescue the girl student who has made a mistake. Instead, motivate the student to keep pushing to find a resolution.