ABSTRACT
VISTA was also the only part of the Girls into Science and Technology (GIST) initiative whose success were able to measure separately. GIST team members accompanied the visitors to schools and made notes after each visit. Teachers who were supportive and interested made a considerable difference to the children's response. Teachers interviewed by an independent team of evaluators were asked what they thought had been the 'best feature' of the GIST programme, and nearly half mentioned the VISTA visits. Some teachers complained that children were not aware of the 'feminist' message of the visits, that women can do science and technology as men. Positive support from the teaching staff was crucial if girls were to come to believe science and technology can really be for them. The efficient professionalism of the visits, remarked by some teachers, may also have given the impression that VISTA was just a service offered by the team, requiring no positive effort on the teachers' part.
