New Mexico State University is the first of several locations throughout the state to host an “Expanding Your Horizons” conference for girls in grades 5-10 next year. The event will provide hands-on training in science and computing from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 31, in Science Hall on the Las Cruces campus.
The Network for Women in Science & Engineering is helping to sponsor the conferences across New Mexico.
NMSU’s Young Women in Computing program in the College of Arts and Sciences is hosting the Las Cruces conference, which will offer opportunities for young women in middle and high school to explore hands-on projects to expose them to careers in engineering, computing, medicine and other science, technology and math professions.
“We accept any young woman from anywhere in the state who is in 5th to 10th grade and would like to participate in the conference in Las Cruces,” said Rebecca Galves, YWiC program coordinator who is also organizing the local conference. “In previous years, we have had young women come from Alamogordo, Deming, Mescalero Apache middle and high schools, Anthony, Gadsden, Santa Teresa, Truth or Consequences and more. We’ve even had girls from El Paso come up here to participate.”
Registration for the conference will run from Friday, Jan. 2, through Thursday, Jan. 29, but walk-ins also will be welcomed to register on the morning of the conference. The cost is $5 per student. Scholarships are available and lunch is included.
Each student will participate in two hands-on workshops that will each last an hour and 15 minutes. Workshops include “Make an online game in a SNAP,” “Java & HTML,” “Alternative fuels for moving vehicles,” “Soil science” and many more.
Participants can register through the site: http://www.expandingyourhorizons.org/conferences/LasCruces/,or by completing a paper version with their school, teacher, or any adult, and faxing,scanning or emailing it in. All participants will also complete a release form, either prior to the event or on that day.
Information from NMSU