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Women's
Resource Center |
Expanding Your Horizons
Expanding Your Horizons
March 12, 2009
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What is Expanding Your
Horizons?
Expanding Your Horizons (EYH) is a one-day conference
focused on providing middle school girls with opportunities
to connect with women who are in underrepresented career fields
including science, engineering, mathematics and technology.
The goals of
EYH include:
- provide
young women with opportunities to meet
and interact with positive women
role models who are active in math & science
related careers;
- involve
young women with limited opportunities for success in
positive experiences in mathematics & science;
- increase
the interest of young women in math and science
by providing exciting and fun hands-on learning experiences;
- encourage young
women to study as much mathematics & science
as possible by showing them the benefits of education
and its relevance to their lives;
- foster awareness of
career opportunities in science & mathematics
related careers.
(courtesy of the Math/Science Network, 2000)
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Frequently Asked Questions:
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Who attends the EYH Conference?
The conference
is open to girls in 7th and 8th grade who are accompanied
by an adult or is a part of a school group. Space
is limited, however, we do accommodate as many girls
as possible. We ask that schools organize girls into
groups of 10 or fewer with one adult chaperone for
each group. Please call if you have questions. Final registration
for the conference will begin in January 2009.
- Why is EYH important?
Women have traditionally
been underrepresented in all mathematics and science
career fields, as well as in other careers that require
mathematics and science backgrounds. For many reasons,
girls are often unintentionally directed away, or discouraged from taking mathematics
and science courses, that will serve them late in their
education or career fields. As a result, women find
many academic and occupational doors closed to them.
The EYH Conference invites girls to meet with, and
hear stories from and about, women who have found science
and mathematics essential to their personal and professional
lives.
- Why just girls?
Research on
educational equity clearly indicates that girls benefit
from opportunities to explore their options and potentials
in an environment that is free of competition or
other pressures of social and sexual stereotyping.
This is a conference when they can do just that.
- What has been the impact of EYH?
Students who have
attended the conference in the past have reported that,
as a result of their participation, they:
- had a better
understanding of the relationships between math
and science and possible career choices;
- believed
that they could enter any career of their
choice;
- were more aware of non-traditional and
less publicized career choices;
- would consider
continuing their education beyond high school,
particularly at the college or university
level.
- What will the EYH Conference be
like?
On arrival to
the University of Maine, Orono campus, all conference
participants will gather at the Hauck Auditorium located in the Memorial Union Building for an opening presentation to kick off the day!
All adults must check in at the registration desk for
their group numbers and schedules for the day. Each
group will meet their guide - a University of Maine
staff or student who will accompany you around the
entire day - and each participant will receive a packet
and bag of goodies. After the kick off, each group
will attend throughout the day, several interactive workshops,
including a gender discussion workshop that each girl
will have the opportunity to attend. The other sessions are hands-on workshops led by community and
UMaine faculty and staff volunteers. Lunch is provided
for all participants in the Marketplace, Memorial Union and a brief
closing session, back at the Hauck Auditorium,
closes the day out.
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2009 Conference:
The 2009 Maine EYH Conference
will be held on Thursday, March 12, 2009 on the
University of Maine, Orono campus.
Registration information
will be mailed out in December. If you have not received
information and would like to attend, please email
or phone the Women's Resource Center at the
following:
Email: faye.boyle@umit.maine.edu
Phone: (207) 581-1508
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Contact Information:
For more
information about the goals of EYH, the conference
program, or registration procedures, contact the Women's
Resource Center at the University of Maine, Monday
through Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm at the following:
Phone:
(207) 581-1508 or (207) 581-1501
Email: faye.boyle@umit.maine.edu
Mail: 5728 Fernald Hall, room 102
Orono, ME. 04469-5728
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