The West Virginia Chapter of the Association for Women in Science, and Mountain State University will be hosting Expanding Your Horizons in Science and Mathematics, an educational conference that nurtures girls’ interest in science and math.
The event is open to girls in middle school in West Virginia and will be held on Saturday, (April 2) from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Wiseman Hall on the Beckley campus of Mountain State University.
The West Virginia chapter of the association is a network of women in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math throughout the state who educate and advocate for women in science. Amy Keesee, a research assistant professor in the Department of Physics at West Virginia University, is the current president of the state chapter.
“West Virginia and U.S. economic competitiveness will depend upon a diverse, high-tech workforce to tackle the problems we face as a society,” Keesee said.
“Studies have shown that middle school is a critical age to foster girls’ natural curiosity in science and math. This conference provides an opportunity for girls to do some fun experiments while interacting with role models in successful science and math careers.”
Students will participate in hands-on workshops on a variety of science, engineering and mathematics topics. The workshops include: “Become a Legal Drug Dealer,” in which students will perform pharmacy experiments; “It’s Electric!” in which students will learn about electric motors and vehicles; and “Genetic Inheritance of Dragons,” in which students will learn about genetic traits.
The workshops will be presented by faculty members and students from Mountain State University, WVU and Marshall University. A program offered for parents, guardians and teachers of participants will include, “The Admissions and Financial Aid Process for College,” presented by an MSU representative, and “Science Opportunities for Students in West Virginia,” presented by Pamela Casto from the NASA IV&V Facility in Fairmont.
The event is supported by a grant from the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission, Division of Science and Research.
Participants can register for the event at http://www.expandingyourhorizons.org/girls/ through Friday (March 25). A $5 registration fee applies for student registrations, with waivers available for economic hardship. There is no charge for the adult program.
Contact Dr. Amy Keesee, AWIS-WV President, at amy.keesee@mail.wvu.edu or 304-293-3422 ext 1418 for more information.
-WVU-
CONTACT: Amy Keesee, AWIS-WV president
304-293-3422 ext. 1418, amy.keesee@mail.wvu.edu
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