Girls in grades 6 through 12 are invited to attend a conference at UNLV on March 11 that is geared to increasing their interest in math and science in order to prepare for expanded career options.

The Expanding Your Horizons in Science and Mathematics Conference is set for 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. This year's conference is designed to meet the specific needs of each age group. Girls in grades 6 and 7 will be assisted in "Developing Awareness," while the theme for 8th- to 10th-graders will deal with "Clarifying Choices." The "World of Work" will be introduced to 11th- and 12th-grade girls.

A luncheon in scheduled at which students and parents will have an opportunity to interact with the career role models.

Over 30 workshops are scheduled to spark the interest of young women in science and math related careers, such as "Romancing the Stone--Geology," "Electric Auto Repair--An Electrifying Career," and "A Business of My Own--Entrepreneurship." Each workshop offers exciting hands-on experiences.

A new feature this year will be "A Day in the Life of a College Student." Many local professional women will be on "Guess My Job" panels to serve as role models and discuss career preparation.

Typically, girls drop or quit taking mathematics and science courses earlier than boys. The long-term result of this decision is that these girls do not have as many career options available to them. EYH conferences seek to expand career options for girls by encouraging them to prepare for the future.

Last year 127 conferences were held in 32 states, bringing the total number of students served to over 300,000 since the first EYH conference in 1976.

In addition, 40,000 parents and teachers have attended the adult portion of the conferences. A major goal for EYH conferences on a national level is to involve young women who have less exposure to successful women and limited access to positive math and science experiences for any reasons such as chronic poverty, language and cultural barriers, physical handicaps, or other circumstances.

Last year at the Las Vegas conference, 124 out of 228 participants were minority girls, a result of an intensive recruiting effort.

Girls in grades 6 through 12 who are interested in attending may call the Educational Equity Resource Center at 895-1380 for registration information. A $7 registration fee will cover the cost of materials and refreshments.

Registration deadline is March 3.

Parents and teachers are invited to attend a special session on careers and educational opportunities available for young women at the Adult Conference.

EYH Conference Planners and Speakers generally volunteer their time.

Support for this year's conference expenses has come from several organizations, including EG&G Energy Measurements Inc.; Port of Subs; Desert Research Institute; Math/Science Network and its sponsors; Dwight D. Eisenhower grants through the Math and Science Act; Nevada State Department of Education and University and Community College System of Nevada; and the Department of Energy grant through the Nevada Department of Education.