Aurora Ortuno ’26

I really enjoyed the close-up talks at the Cube!

What’s the place you can recycle, go shopping and pet bamboo sharks? Well, you can do all of this at the Discovery Cube, in Santa Ana, and even hear from some professionals. This past Sunday, I attended the 3rd annual Women in Science Symposium at the Discovery Cube with the Science National Honors Society. They hosted a panel of women in various fields of science, and after the panel, they kept the Cube open after hours to explore. It was an excellent opportunity to learn more about possible careers and revisit a fun place!

The panel hosted four professionals in the fields of engineering, biotechnology, technology and psychology. Each panelist was asked questions about how they got into their jobs or were influenced by others. It was nice to hear different perspectives and some of the unconventional routes they took. SNHS moderator Mrs. Hunt says, “Our Science National Honor Society seniors represent the next generation of women who will shape discovery and innovation. Attending the Women in Science Symposium isn’t just an event—it’s an affirmation that their voices, curiosity, and leadership belong in every field of science.”

It was a great experience listening to several accomplished women. Specifically, it was helpful to learn from one of the panelists, Ms. Jaffe, who came from a family of doctors whose dad steered her away from medicine. Now, she works in biomechanical engineering and works with spinal technology. Aurora Ortuno ‘26 commented, “The panel was very nice because I’m interested in engineering, and most panelists had backgrounds in engineering. It was also nice to see the different routes they each took with engineering careers.” 

After the panel, they provided snacks and let us explore the Cube after hours. The first thing we did was go straight to the grocery store exhibit. We grabbed our carts and immediately started shopping for the list provided. Aurora says, “Going grocery shopping was so much fun, and I especially loved not having to spend money.” I agree, I wish I could shop forever without spending any money.

Then, we found the recycling game and sorted through the different types of waste. We continued walking through the cube and exploring each activity and game they had. Aurora adds that “going through the Discovery Cube brought me nostalgia because I used to go there often as a kid, and finding out they opened a new sea lab area where we got to pet different animals was super exciting.” It definitely was nice to revisit the Cube and even pet some bamboo sharks!

I enjoyed hearing from each of the panelists and knowing that not everyone knew exactly what they wanted to do at the start of their career. Exploring the Cube was also a lot of fun, especially playing the grocery game, going in a wind simulator and even dodging lasers. Overall, this was such a great event they hosted, and if they host again next year, I highly recommend attending!