Girls in sixth through eighth grades are invited to explore science, technology, engineering and math during the Expanding Your Horizons career conference at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC) on Sept. 19. Registration will be available online at eyh.smwc.edu beginning Aug. 21, and the registration deadline is Sept. 12.

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, and this is the only conference in the Wabash Valley area.

The conference, which will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., will feature Deidre Adams as the Keynote Speaker. Adams is an eighth grade science and math teacher at West Vigo Middle School who has spent the past year at NASA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. She will share some NASA innovations that affect our daily lives and interesting careers she encountered while working there.

The conference will also include hands-on workshops led by professional women who are working in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math. Girls who attend will get the chance to participate in two of the following workshops:

• TO FUN-INITY AND BEYOND II: Experience hands-on fun with computers. Come and play on the web, explore the inside of a computer, build a Lego “Thing,” IM each other on an iPod Touch or DS Lite, or paint a picture with a Tablet PC. (Led by Lana Lytle, assistant professor of computer science, SMWC)
• IF THE (HORSE) SHOE FITS: Students will be able to identify the parts of a hoof, clean them out, and learn about the different shoes that are put on horses and their purpose. It’s a chance to interact with a real horse! (Led by Sara Schulz, assistant professor of equine studies, SMWC)
• WHAT’S IN YOUR DNA? Have you ever questioned why you have your particular color of eyes, why you fold your hands a particular way or why your earlobes are attached or free? In this workshop, we will extract some DNA and explain the link between DNA, genes and your traits. (Led by Joyce Cadwallader, Ph.D., professor of biology, SWMC)
• DOES YOUR CAR SENSE YOU? Have you ever wondered how your airbags know when to go off? Do you know how your vehicle is designed to protect you from harm? Join us in this workshop to find out about making circuits, where they belong in your car and what job they perform. (Led by Lisa M. Albaugh, chemist/manufacturing engineer, GM/Delphi Electronics and Safety)
• HAVE FUN WITH PHYSICS: Discover this branch of science, which answers almost all intriguing questions of the world that we see and do not see. Come prepared to learn some basic principles behind telescopes and microscopes. (Led by Sudipa Kirtley, Ph.D., research physicist, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology)
• WHAT IS YOUR DATA SAYING? Will this drug treat this illness? What factors contribute to homelessness? Do other solar systems contain planets like Earth? Wouldn’t it be neat to be able to answer all of these questions and others like them? Learn how to gather data and analyze it to test a claim. (Led by Concetta DePaolo and Connie McLaren, statistics professors, Indiana State University)
• CHEMICAL SUDOKU: Solve puzzles like a scientist! You will perform chemical reactions by mixing chemicals in test tubes and observe their reactivity through exciting changes involving energy and color. (Led by Rebecca DeVasher, Ph.D., research chemist, Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology)
• CSI – SAINT MARY-OF-THE-WOODS COLLEGE: Become a Crime Scene Investigator as you use science and math to re - create and analyze blood spatter patterns from a crime scene. Not only will you take away new skills, but also your very own lab coat and goggles. This workshop is not for the faint of heart! (Led by Diedre Adams, science teacher, West Vigo Middle School)
• NATURIFIC! Learn all about honeybees and worms and their importance in agriculture and the natural world. Interactive activities will give you an opportunity to see the inside of a hive and get the “real dirt” on worms. (Led by Candace Minster, environmental educator, White Violet Center for Eco-Justice)
• WHEN “MEOW” OR “WOOF” MEANS “OUCH, THAT HURTS!” How do doctors treat patients who can’t tell them in words what is wrong? In this workshop find out what a typical day is like for a vet, and have a chance to evaluate some furry patients! (Led by Nancy Schenck, D.V.M., veterinarian, Petcare Animal Hospital)
• TAKE A CHANCE WITH MATHEMATICS: Do games that involve choices and strategy between the players intrigue you? Using mathematics and the game theory, you could increase your chances of winning! (Led by Dottie King, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Mathematics, SMWC)
• CRITTER CARE: Do you like animals? Do you want to become a vet? This session gives you the opportunity to talk to a veterinarian who can give you the scoop on her career and what it is like to work with small animals like dogs and cats and large animals like horses and cows. (Led by Katy Portwood, D.V.M., Hendricks County Animal Hospital)

A separate program for parents and adults will run concurrently with the girls’ workshops. During “A Rachel Carson Saturday,” parents may be surprised to find out that they don’t need to know everything about nature in order to inspire an “awe” of nature in their children. This session will introduce activities that will help to instill in children an awareness and respect for the world around them. The session will be led by Theresa Boland, SP, assistant professor of education at SMWC.

During the “S.T.E.M. Opportunities” session, parents will learn that S.T.E.M. stands for Success Takes Exploration and Mentoring. Parents will be encouraged to consider careers that will be in demand when their daughters finish college. According to Economist magazine, Indiana is already considered a life science hub. The science industries are actively seeking women to bridge the gender gap, and if parents have a daughter with an interest in math and science, those skills can open the door to a great career.

Cost to register for the conference is $20, and the registration fee includes lunch and a t-shirt. If a student and a parent wish to register, the cost is $20 per person and two separate registrations must be submitted. Online registration for the conference will be available beginning Aug. 21 at eyh.smwc.edu, and a PDF of the registration form will also be available online. For more information about the Expanding Your Horizons conference, contact Janet Clark, Ph.D., jclark@smwc.edu or 812-535-5295, or Anneliese Payne, Ph.D., 812-535-5183 or apayne@smwc.edu. More information about the Expanding Your Horizons network can be found at www.expandingyourhorizons.org.

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.

For more information about the science and mathematics programs at Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College, contact the SMWC Office of Admission by email at smwcadms@smwc.edu or by phone at 812-535-5106 or 1-800-926-SMWC.