The annual Women in Science Conference at South Dakota Mines is an immersion-based
experience designed to provide young women with engaging opportunities to learn
about careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).
An estimated 1,400 middle school girls will converge
on the South Dakota Mines campus from 9 a.m. to 2:35 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday,
March 15-16, for the annual Women in Science Conference.
The immersion-based experience is designed to
provide young women with engaging opportunities to learn about careers in
science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). This year’s conference
will span two days in order to provide outreach to students who would have been
eligible to participate in 2021 when the conference had to be cancelled due to
COVID restrictions.
A wide range of STEM careers will be demonstrated by
professional women leading interactive exhibits and discussions. Among the
speakers are engineers, physicians, dentists, meteorologists, science
educators, veterinarians, geologists and accountants.
Dr. Jennifer Hasvold, hospitalist at Monument Health
and Pillar 3 Director for the University of South Dakota Sanford School of
Medicine, will offer the keynote address.
Every 7th and 8th grade girl
in the Rapid City Area School District will attend as well as homeschooled
students and girls from Custer, Douglas, Hermosa, Hot Springs, Isna Wica
Owayawa Loneman School, Kadoka Area Schools, Little Wound, Long Valley, New
Underwood, St. Thomas More and Wall.
The program is hosted by Youth in
Science Rapid City, Inc. and co-sponsored by Mines’ Women in
Science and Engineering (WiSE) program and funded by grants and community
partners.