Expanding Horizons program is March 13 at the Laboratory

Contact: Steve Sandoval, steves@lanl.gov, (505) 665-9206 (02-017)

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LOS ALAMOS, N.M., Feb. 14, 2002 --About 120 girls from Northern and Central New Mexico will discover the wonderment of math and science as participants in the national Expanding Your Horizons program March 13 at the Department of Energy’s Los Alamos National Laboratory.

During the all-day event, girls in grades eight through 10 will take part in hands-on workshops presented by female scientists, engineers and professionals from around the area.

Schools in Northern and Central New Mexico can nominate five girls to attend Expanding Your Horizons at Los Alamos, or girls can fill out a registration form at http://www.t12.lanl.gov/home/lawis/eyh online. The deadline to register is Feb. 20.

The program is designed for girls who already show an interest in math and science as well as those who are uncertain about their career paths. The forum also is an opportunity to meet and form personal contacts with women working in traditional male occupations, said Diane Lamkin of Los Alamos’ Human Resources Division.

There also will be a conference for teachers who accompany students to the Laboratory. Teachers will learn methods for encouraging female students to pursue technical fields, Lamkin said.

Past workshops have included demonstrations on a variety of subjects, including computer hardware, astronomy, Web page development, robotics, fluid instabilities and veterinary medicine.

Missy Cummings is this year’s keynote speaker. One of the Navy’s first female fighter pilots, she will speak about how girls can believe in themselves and rise to life’s challenges. Cummings is the author of “Hornets Nest: The Experience of One of the Navy’s First Female Fighter Pilots.”

In addition to speaking to the EYH attendees at the Laboratory, Cummings also will speak that evening at the Bradbury Science Museum in downtown Los Alamos. This talk is free and open to the public.

The Los Alamos chapter of EYH is sponsored by the New Mexico Network for Women in Science and Engineering and the Los Alamos Women in Science.

The NMNWSE is a non-profit organization with a membership of more than 100 female scientists and engineers who volunteer their time and energy to ensure that young women have access to information on exciting and meaningful careers in the sciences and engineering, said information provided by the EYH committee.

For more information, contact Lisa Colletti at 667-9621 or write to lcolletti@lanl.gov by electronic mail.

Los Alamos National Laboratory is operated by the University of California for the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) of the U.S. Department of Energy and works in partnership with NNSA's Sandia and Lawrence Livermore national laboratories to support NNSA in its mission.

Los Alamos enhances global security by ensuring the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear weapons stockpile, developing technical solutions to reduce the threat of weapons of mass destruction and solving problems related to energy, environment, infrastructure, health and national security concerns.