Cycle for Science — the brainchild of Rachel Woods-Robinson and Elizabeth Case — is a 4,000 mile bike ride from San Francisco to New York. Along the way, Case and Wood-Robinson will make stops at classrooms and summer programs to teach science, talk with teachers and encourage girls to continue studying science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). Follow their journey on Energy.gov and their website, cycleforscience.org.

This spring and summer, Rachel Woods-Robinson — a researcher at the Energy Department’s Berkeley Lab — and Elizabeth Case — a science journalist — are biking from San Francisco to New York City. Their mission? Educate middle schoolers about science and renewable energy, encourage girls to pursue studies in STEM and get a snapshot of how science is being taught in America. They call it “Cycle for Science.”

Rachel and Elizabeth, who met while studying physics at UCLA, leave today on their 4,000-mile cycling journey across the country. Along the way, they plan to stop at 10 schools and teach a hands-on physics lesson using a miniature 3D-printed, solar-powered bicycle — called the SOL cycle — that they designed. They hope to challenge the perception that science is boring and scientists are all Albert Einstein look alikes.

In fact, neither of them thought they’d be studying science. Rachel, who plays trombone, thought she’d study music. Elizabeth thought she’d be an English major. But during a science seminar their freshman year, they met each other and discovered their mutual love of physics.

The duo is traveling with only what will fit in the saddlebags on their bikes (the SOL cycles will be sent to them along the way), and they plan to camp or sleep on friends’ couches while on their journey.

Stay tuned for monthly check-ins from Rachel and Elizabeth on Energy.gov and follow along on their blog, cycleforscience.org.