Conference encourages young women to explore scientific, technical careers

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ARGONNE, Ill. (Feb. 16, 2007) — The U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory will host the 20th annual Science Careers in Search of Women conference, Thursday, March 8.

About 350 students from nearly 60 schools throughout the Chicago area will participate in the day-long conference, which aims to encourage high school women to consider careers in science and technology.

Science Careers in Search of Women puts students face-to-face with scientists in a variety of fields and provides an opportunity to spend a day interacting with positive female role models.

"Women are still under represented in scientific and engineering fields," says conference chairperson Cristina Negri, a researcher in Argonne's Energy Systems Division. "Having these young women meet with successful female scientists is an important way to show them that, contrary to gender stereotypes, this is a career path that is accessible to them."

Teachers who bring their students to the conference agree. "I had many students tell me they never realized how many opportunities there were for women in science and that they now planned on considering a career in a science-related field," said Bob Schmitt, a retired teacher from Naperville North High School.

Students who attend the conference participate in panel discussions with speakers from a variety of scientific and engineering disciplines. They also have the opportunity to tour several different laboratories at Argonne, including biology, chemistry, physics, computer science and engineering, as well as visit career booth exhibits.

"All of the girls I've brought to Argonne have been wowed by your program and the great day of encouragement," said Downers Grove South High School teacher Patricia Lenning. "I'm positive that you have helped young women have the dedication to reach high goals in the science academic areas."

At lunchtime, students are grouped by their areas of interest and have lunch with a woman scientist in that field, providing an opportunity for more informal, one-on-one conversation. "The one aspect of the conference that leaves a lasting impression is the contact with'real' female scientists," said Ami LeFevre, a teacher at Niles West High School. "They enjoyed learning more about the careers and the person behind the career label."

Keynote speaker for this year's conference will be environmental engineer Laura Skubal of Argonne's Chemistry Division. Her talk will be titled "Science, You and the Future." Skubal first joined Argonne in 1986 as a student. She has a bachelor's degree in environmental engineering from Northwestern University, a master's degree in environmental engineering from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a doctorate in environmental engineering from Pennsylvania State University.

Skubal's work focuses on the development of novel processes for environmental cleanup and contaminant detection. Her recent research projects have included the development of sensor technology, including electrochemical and photocatalytic sensors for field use. These sensors can detect toxic gases such as cyanide compounds, chlorine, ammonia, chemical warfare agent simulants, organic diesel exhaust constituents and chemical constituents in fires. Another of Skubal's projects focused on developing and assessing chemical methods to destroy chemical warfare agents including VX, Sarin and mustard.

"In the two decades Argonne has been hosting the conference, we have reached thousands of students," Negri said. "As we begin our third decade, I hope we can reach thousands more of these bright young women and eventually see more of them in scientific and engineering careers."

The conference is sponsored by Argonne's Office of the Director, the lab's Division of Educational Programs, Argonne's Women in Science and Technology Program, and the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science. — Donna Jones Pelkie

For more information, please contact Steve McGregor (630/252-5580 or media@anl.gov) at Argonne.