NILES — International Day of Women and Girls in Science takes place Feb. 11, but Fernwood Botanical Garden and Nature Preserve is extending the day of celebration, education and empowerment into 13.

From Feb. 8 to 20, the nonprofit at 13988 Range Line Road, Niles, will host informative, fun and inspirational activity stations on five women in science: Maria Sibylla Merian, Rachel Carson, Marjory Stoneman Douglas, Janaki Ammal, Mildred Matias and Beatrix Farrand.

The stations at its Sims Education Center will be kicked off by a presentation on women in botany and horticulture by Fernwood executive director Carol Line Feb. 11. She gave a similar presentation in March 2019 at the Chicago Flower and Garden Show in March 2019.

While both opportunities are free with paid admission, registering for the presentation is recommended and can be completed online at fernwoodbotanical.org or by calling (269) 695-6491.

The events are meant to match the reasons why the United Nations launched the international day in 2015, said Elaine Rowland, director of development and external relations.

“We want to celebrate women in STEM,” she said. “We want to honor their legacy, and then we want young women to pursue a career in science. We can do that by raising awareness and sharing other women’s stories.”

Last year, when Fernwood first hosted an event around the international women’s day, turnout was of all ages and genders, a good fit for the all-ages activity stations, Rowland said.

This international day’s theme works well with Fernwood’s emphasis on horticulture, gardening and the environment. The theme is investment in women and girls for inclusive green growth.

To work around the theme, Rowland, membership coordinator Laurie Bubala chose women whose work centered around plant science to be featured in the activity stations.

Most of the women were printed on the Sims Education Center’s walls and their books were in its library. Choosing the five women gave Bubala and Rowland the opportunity to learn more about the women whose names they walk past nearly every work day.

Line’s 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8 presentation at the Sims Education Center will describe whom she calls “plant women” locally, nationally and internationally from the past and present to empower women and girls for their futures. Like the women featured in the activity stations, many are not well known, despite their accomplishments.

“At Fernwood, we feel every day is a good day to recognize and celebrate the important work happening in public gardens and plant science,” she said. “The United Nations’ International Day of Women and Girls in Science gives us another reason and opportunity to draw attention to the broad spectrum of valuable work being done by great plant women today — many unsung heroes — and also the work done historically by the amazing plant women who blazed the trail before us.”

These “plant women” go far beyond being researchers. Some are journalists, illustrators, gardeners and citizen scientists. Some even stop by each Fernwood.

“We have women in science here every day,” Rowland said. “Our executive director is a woman of science.”

One person Line will speak about in her presentation will stop by Fernwood after a talk at the Smithsonian museums in Washington, DC.

At 2 p.m. March 22, United Kingdom author Andrea Wulf will discuss her new book, “The Invention of Nature: Alexander Von Humboldt’s New World.” Afterward, select Fernwood members will be invited to a meet-and-greet.

Wulf is a historian and the author of five science-based books that weave in storytelling.

The cost for her presentation is $40, or $32 for members. Tickets are on sale at Fernwood’s website.