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National Aquarium Celebrates Women's History Month

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- March is Women's History Month, a time highlighting the contributions of women across our nation and close to home here in Baltimore.

Mary Bubala has more.

As curator of fishes at the National Aquarium in Baltimore and the head of dive safety, Holly Bourbon is making waves in a once male-dominated industry.

"You are often thought that you may not have the strength to do the job and it's not always about the strength but how you plan, manage it, look at it. I think women are very good at looking at a big, wider picture and think of alternate ways to do something," she said.

Bourbon led us underwater when the blacktip reef exhibit opened at the aquarium in 2013. One of her biggest accomplishments is now caring for the 600 animals in the exhibit and getting others interested in the world of marine biology.

"The opportunities are vast now for internships and scholarships and it's amazing," she said.

The aquarium also has a female head of conservation. Laura Bankey majored in biochemistry and marine science when few other women were.

"It was a male-dominated field and in fact when you applied for graduate school, if you were a woman, you were considered a minority," Bankey said.

But that's changing as more girls are exposed to science and math and Bourbon has some advice for them:

"Keep focused and passionate about where you want to go," she said.

Bourbon was recently inducted into the Women Divers' Hall of Fame, a very elite and prestigious honor.

On Friday, March 6, the aquarium will hold a special event featuring live performances, exhibits, and activities focusing on Women's History around the world! Guests will be able to engage in performances honoring women from Dance Baltimore, the Barakaat Middle Eastern Dance Company and the Lincoln University Concert Choir. Attendees can enjoy live music from the female group, Roumana and test their knowledge of women's history with a trivia game. Guests can also join in on an interactive Zumba performance and explore a special exhibit celebrating women's accomplishments.

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