About a dozen girls, from 6th through 12th grade, have joined an afterschool program called Universe Quest. Through their participation in this ITEST project, they're learning about astronomy and building their own 3-D, immersive online game that centers around creating characters, who explore the cosmos and answer questions along the way.

The ITEST X-Tech program's goal is to foster critical thinking among its participants. Drawing from local, underserved populations, this program requires its participants to commit for two years, including summers--90% of participants stick with it.