22nd ‘Expanding Your Horizons’ for Middle School Girls Explores Math, Science Careers

Contact: Jamie McCurry, (207) 581-1259, George Manlove, (207) 581-3756

ORONO — Hundreds of Maine middle school girls will spend a day at college on Thursday, March 13, learning about math- and science-oriented careers historically pursued by males.

Coming from all corners of the state, more than 500 girls will attend the University of Maine’s 22nd annual “Expanding Your Horizons” program to get a look at more than a dozen math-science career fields. With fun, hands-on experiments, students will learn about model bridge building using popsicle stick trusses; the many surprising uses for fungi; optics and the nature of science with lasers; how germs spread; field biology with animals, plants and their signs and behavior; what can be learned from owl scat what they really eat; and how DNA samples can aid in population studies and forensics; and other fascinating topics.

The day of career-field exploration begins with registration from 8-8:45 a.m. and a 9-9:45 a.m. welcome and keynote address by Tara Treichel, director of education at the Coastal Studies for Girls in Freeport, at 9 a.m. at Hauck Auditorium.

Workshop sessions are scheduled from 10 a.m. to 2:15 p.m., with lunch available in the Memorial Union Marketplace from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. Ceremonies reviewing the day’s activities are from 2:30-3 p.m. in Hauck Auditorium. Workshops have been scheduled in classrooms and laboratories throughout the campus.

Visiting students also will have an opportunity to tour university research facilities, including the Advanced Engineered Wood Composites Laboratory, the Advanced Manufacturing Center and the Electron Microscopy Laboratory in the Laboratory for Surface Science & Technology.

Students can choose among a variety of workshops and will be mentored by almost 200 teachers from their schools, professional women from UMaine and the community, in addition to UMaine students.

“Expanding Your Horizons” has been coordinated for the past 11 years by the University of Maine Women’s Resource Center with support from the Office of Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost. It is a one-day event designed to increase the interest of girls in mathematics and science through hands-on experiences, to foster awareness of opportunities in math and science careers, provide young women opportunities to interact with positive female role models active in math and science careers, and provide opportunities for young women to explore gender socialization and equity issues in a supportive environment.

Keynote speaker Tara Treichel holds a B.A. in zoology, a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction and a teaching certificate in biology. She has taught young people in and about the outdoors in Wisconsin and Washington before relocating to Maine’s Coastal Studies for Girls school. The school has a rigorous, marine science-based curriculum that focuses on leadership and environmental science. It brings together a community of dynamic educators to provide high school sophomore girls an opportunity to excel in science and technology in an academic, experiential and inspirational learning environment.

Schedule of Workshops

:

Non-Point Source Pollution: A Little x A Lot of People = One Big Mess

15/17 Boardman Hall (Basement)
10:00-10:45 / 12:30-1:15

Sensory Evaluation of Apple Varieties

202 Shibles Hall
10:00-10:45 / 11:00-11:45 / 12:30-1:15 / 1:30-2:15

Dilbert is NOT Crazy-Engineering is FUN!

Soderberg Conference Center-Jenness Hall
10:00-11:00 / 11:30-12:30 / 1:15-2:15

Plants to Dye for – Harnessing the Colors Nature Makes

22 Deering Hall
10:00-11:00 / 12:00-1:00

The Astronomer within You

105 Donald P. Corbett
10:00-11:00 / 12:00-1:00 / 1:15-2:00

Planning a Field Expedition

206 Rogers Hall
10:00-10:45 / 11:00-11:45 / 12:30-1:15 / 1:30-2:15

What’s Buggin’ Them?

103 Murray Hall
10:00-10:45 / 11:00-11:45

(DNA) The Thread of Life

226C Jenness Hall
11:15-12:15

Sisters on Submarines

113 Donald P. Corbett
10:00-11:00 / 11:15-12:15

Exploring the Natural World

100 Lord Hall
10:00-11:00 / 11:15-12:15

How Germs Spread

109 Murray Hall
10:00-11:00 / 11:30-12:30

FUNGI — Friends or Foe?

203 Hitchner Hall
10:00-11:00 / 12:00-1:00

How do they know how strong that is?

AEWC Building
1:15-2:15

Laser Maze: Exploring Optics and the Nature of Science

315 Bennett Hall
10:00-11:00 / 11:15-12:15

Beyond The Bakesale: Using Online Tools 4 Your After-School Biz

111 Donald P. Corbett Hall
11:15-12:15

Ladies in the Lab, Bugs in the System

107 Donald P. Corbett Hall
10:00-10:45 / 11:00-11:45 / 12:30-1:15 / 1:30-2:15

Bridge Building

105 Murray Hall
10:00-11:00

Color My World: The Scoop on Food Colorings

204/206 Hitchner Hall
10:00-10:45 / 11:00-11:45

The “Wild” Life of a Wildlife Biologist

201 Shibles Hall
10:00-10:45 / 11:00-11:45

DNA Gel Electrophoresis

310 Murray Hall
10:00-10:45 / 11:00-11:45

Eyes: Windows to the Brain

109 Donald P. Corbett
10:00-10:45 / 11:00-11:45 / 12:30-1:15 / 1:30-2:15

Lumpy Liquids and Squishy Solids

231 Aubert Hall
10:00-10:45 / 11:00-11:45

Soils: What’s Under Your Feet

113 and 118 Deering Hall
10:00-11:00 / 11:15-12:15

Women Mathematicians

108 Neville Hall
12:30-1:15

Owl Pellet Analysis

101A Deering
12:00-1:00 / 1:15-2:15