The Program for Women in Science and Engineering is providing Iowa girls in junior high and high school an opportunity to explore nontraditional career options.

Conference coordinator Linda Dutton said careers in math, science, and engineering were investigated by between 400 and 600 girls on Oct. 3. She said five more programs are set for Oct. 10, Oct. 17, April 3, April 10 and April 17.

Dutton said the conference offers young women a chance to explore career opportunities in nontraditional professional fields.

“Girls aren’t as encouraged to go into math and science fields as men are,” Dutton said. “They’re not necessarily discouraged, but they’re not encouraged.

“Very few women have female role models in those areas, so they really don’t have access to those females,” she said.

Conference participants get exposure to women in professional fields, and get a chance to explore the nature of the career field, Dutton said.

Karen Zunkel, program manager for WiSE, said the conference is a good opportunity for girls to meet other girls who are interested in the same fields they are.

“There is a negative peer pressure telling girls that math and science isn’t cool,” Zunkel said.

She said she wants girls to keep their options open and to know there are many career options available to them.

One of the program’s goals is to increase the enrollment of women in science and engineering disciplines at Iowa State, she said.

Women in various professional fields are invited to come and speak at the conference, Zunkel said.

Sandra Larson, director of the Research and Technology Bureau for the Iowa Department of Transportation, was the keynote speaker at the Oct. 3 conference.

In her speech, “Charting your future with mentoring and pivotal moments,” Larson said attending a women’s conference can be a pivotal moment in a woman’s life.

She said she has been participating in the WiSE conference since 1988.

“I feel it is vital to share with students of all ages about career opportunities they have, especially non-traditional careers,” she said.

Larson said she feels the WiSE conferences are excellent opportunities for young women to explore their career options.

“It gets them thinking about their careers, their talents, and careers they might not have thought about before,” she said.

Larson said conference participants have responded positively.

“We are on the verge of great things happening here,” she said. “[The girls] are realizing that they are responsible for making things happen for themselves.”

WiSE is looking for ISU students to volunteer at the conference and as student role models, Dutton said.

Role models would give math and science presentations at local schools to spark an interest in the subjects, she said.

To participate in WiSE conferences, contact Linda Dutton at 294-5319.