Three Mathematics Department faculty members participated in the third annual "Expanding Your Horizons" career conference for middle school girls held at Purdue on April 1. The EYH is a day-long conference centered around hands-on workshops led by women engaged in careers which involve some aspect of mathematics or science. Sponsored by the Department of Chemistry and Iota Sigma Pi National Honor Society for Women in Chemistry, the conference drew 375 6th to 9th grade girls and 100 parents and educators.
On the basis of the girls' evaluations, workshops given by mathematics instructor Dr. Roberta Schonemann and Professors Patricia Bauman and Barbara MacCluer were very popular. Dr. Schonemann demonstrated the computer program "Geometric Sketchpad" to show how learning and teaching mathematics is enhanced by "high tech". A workshop given jointly by Professors Bauman and MacCluer revolved around four mythological towns (Algebraville, MathCity, Calctown, and Geoburg) in Mathland, located at the four corners of a square. Roads were designed so that it would be possible to drive from any one of the towns to any other.
Thanks to the participation of Schonemann, Bauman, MacCluer and other women scientists, hundreds of talented girls at the conference were exposed to positive role models and hopefully will be encouraged to pursue careers in mathematics and science.