Information and Technology Conference for High School Girls

Posted September 17, 1999


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - September 16, 1999
99-09-07-AR

Information and Technology Conference
Aimed at High School Girls

SASKATOON - Concerned about a steady decrease in the numbers
of women entering computer science, the Gender and Information
Technologies Group is hosting a one-day conference aimed at high
school girls.

One hundred young women will attend "Go for I.T., Girls: Career
Opportunities with Information and Technology" on Friday,
September 24th at the U of S. In cooperation with the Saskatoon
Public School Division and the Saskatoon Catholic Board of Education,
the girls were nominated by their high schools to participate after
expressing an interest in computers and/or information technologies.

The conference was organized in response to a drastic drop in the
numbers of women in computer science and related fields. Given the
high rate of growth and demand for jobs in this area, girls are
limiting their options by not having the skills required to participate.
In an effort to encourage young women to explore and pursue
careers in information technologies, the conference will feature
speakers, hands-on workshops, and game-oriented programming.

On Saturday, Sept. 25th, a second conference will be held, entitled
"New Frontiers: A Roundtable on Encouraging Girls into Information
and Technology". This conference is a half-day session organized to
discuss strategies that would motivate girls to consider careers with
information technologies. High school girls, teachers, guidance
counselors, parents, employers, and members of the University
community are invited to participate. The conference will be held at
9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in Room 146 of the Arts Building at the U of S.

For more information, please contact:
Lesley Biggs, Conference Coordinator
Dept. of Women's and Gender Studies
University of Saskatchewan
(306) 966-6931 or (306) 966-4327