By Elaine Yaw, SMWC assistant professor of journalism

Sixty-five girls in grades sixth through eighth attended the Expanding Your Horizons conference at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) on Oct. 25.

Expanding Your Horizons (EYH) is a career conference for girls in sixth through eighth grades, and it is designed to highlight the wonderful and interesting career possibilities that are available in science, technology, engineering and math. Numerous EYH conferences are held throughout the United States each year, but this was the first conference in the Wabash Valley area.

During the conference, SMWC faculty and other Wabash Valley women who work in science and mathematics led hands-on workshops from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the College’s Hulman Hall.

The goal was to show that science and math can be fun and that they can lead to careers.

“Studies still show women are not persisting through college in math and science majors or careers,” said Janet Clark, Ph.D., SMWC assistant professor of chemistry and co-organizer of the event. “ Many times it is middle school when girls decide if they do or do not like math and science.”

Clark and co-organizer Anneliese Payne, Ph.D., director of the master of education program at SMWC, welcomed the girls and their parents. A keynote address followed by Casey Stephenson, a 2004 graduate of Rose Hulman Institute of Technology who is now a processing engineer in fermentation operations for Eli Lilly and Co. in Clinton.

Topics included ecology, fun with physics, chemistry Sudoku, naturific and horse and animal care.

The presenters included professionals representing Indiana State University, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Associated Physicians and Surgeons, Illinois Department of Transportation, Petcare Animal Hospital and the White Violet Center. Twenty current SMWC students from the science, math and education departments also helped at the conference, providing college role models for the girls.

The day also included tours of the stables as well as White Violet Center for Eco-justice, and all the girls who attended SMWC’s EYH conference were awarded a $1,000 scholarship certificate from SMWC’s Enrollment Management that can be used in the future should they decided to attend SMWC.

Clark said this year’s conference was such a success that the College plans to make EYH an annual event.

The Sciences and Mathematics Department at SMWC offers majors in biology, life sciences education, medical technology, pre-professional studies (pre-dental, pre-med and pre-vet), mathematics and mathematics education. The College also offers minors in biology, chemistry, environmental sciences and mathematics.

In these programs, innovative teaching methods, a collaborative learning atmosphere, pedagogically sound laboratory curricula, computer-based experiments/activities and opportunities for undergraduate research present students with an inspiring and experiential learning environment.

To learn more about the science and mathematics offerings at SMWC, contact Clark at jclark@smwc.edu or 812-535-5295.