Girls in grades six through 12 will be able to meet and speak with a number of women working in non-traditional careers during the 11th annual Expanding Your Horizons conference set for March 14 at UNLV.

The conference is intended to increase girls' interest in taking more math and science courses during their middle school and high school years.

Recent studies show that girls' self-esteem in their ability to do well in math and science courses decreases once the girls reach middle school, said Joyce Nelson-Leaf, director of UNLV's Educational Equity Resource Center. While boys also experience some drop in self-esteem around the same age, their decrease is not as pronounced as the decrease among girls.

Girls who take fewer math and science courses in middle school and high school as a result of this phenomenon often pay for those decisions later when it comes to choosing a career, Nelson-Leaf said.

Girls with limited math and science backgrounds find they have fewer career options than students with backgrounds in those fields, she said. Additionally, the careers requiring extensive math and science education often pay more than other jobs, she noted.

The conference will take place from 9 a.m. until 1:20 p.m. in the Classroom Building Complex. More than 80 women working in a variety of careers will be making presentations and talking with the student participants.

Workshops will include hands-on experiences of actual career activities, as well as discussions concerning career preparation. Among the scheduled workshops are "Women in Motion," "More Power to You," and "G.I. Jane."

A "parent track" for parents and educators also is available and will include a variety of workshops designed to teach participants how to help students prepare for their further education and for their careers.

The registration deadline for the event is March 6.

Last year, more than 400 girls from throughout Nevada attended the conference at UNLV.

For additional information, call the Educational Equity Resource Center at 895-1380.