Natalie Portman launches STEM contest for teenage girls

Actress Natalie Portman has launched a contest for teenage girls who are interested in science, technology, engineering and math.

The Oscar winner's own love of science prompted her to sign on to her role as astrophysicist Jane Foster in Marvel's Thor: The Dark World, and now she wants to encourage other young women to become involved in the field through the comic giant's Ultimate Mentor Adventure.

The competition's finalists will have an opportunity to conduct interviews, participate in experiments and interactive events, as well as meeting inspirational female figures in the sciences.

A film short about the girls' experiences will be shown prior to the opening day screening of Thor: The Dark World.