Expanding Your Horizons
Expanding Your Horizons, San Diego (EYH) celebrated an amazing 10th year of inspiring girls to pursue their dreams of careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM)—an anniversary which would be impossible if not for the support of Girls RISEnet through its mini-grant program and our partnership with the Reuben H. Fleet Science Center. EYH promotes awareness, understanding, and excitement among young women in grades 6-10 about science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). EYH organizes an annual conference with 40-45 simultaneous hands-on workshops. Girls attend three different workshops, one in an area of their choice and two that introduce them to other disciplines within STEM.
Young women have the opportunity to meet and interact with positive women role models who are active in math and science-related careers. Furthermore, they are assigned female college age mentors with whom they can discuss educational steps that are available to further their interests in STEM subjects. Many of the young women who participate in our conference are potentially first generation college participants or come from schools with limited opportunities for hands-on experiences in mathematics and science. The EYH Conference may be their first visit to a university campus, first experience in a fully equipped laboratory, or first meeting with women who work in STEM careers. The conference increases the interest of young women in math and science by providing exciting and fun hands-on learning experiences and encourages young women to study as much math and science as possible by showing them the benefit of post-secondary education and its relevance in their lives.
This year's Expanding Your Horizons San Diego conference was another successful event with participation of over 500 girls, presenters, volunteers and parents.
Presenters (over 80 this year) from the thirty academic, private industry and other organizations that provided hands-on workshops include BIOCCOM, City of San Diego Public Utilities Department, Qualcomm, Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, SeaWorld, Sempra Energy, the University of California, San Diego, U.S. Navy, San Diego State University, Ocean Discovery Institute and more!