January 15, 2004

Contact:
Amy Vineyard
avineyard@adventuresci.com
615-401-5059

Nashville, TN - Adventure Science Center will offer T.W.I.S.T.E.R., a one-of-a-kind conference for high school-age girls from around the state, on Saturday, February 7, from 8 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. T.W.I.S.T.E.R., which stands for Tennessee Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Research, is designed to encourage young women to pursue careers in these fields.

Participants will experience hands-on activities and discussion during sessions led by women in a variety of science fields. Additionally, they can compete in an essay contest to win a $500 scholarship from Women in Technology in Tennessee.

"This conference has the potential to make a significant impact on the career decisions these young women will make," said Jeri Hasselbring, director of education for the Adventure Science Center. "The professional women leading the workshops have already overcome many of the same hurdles that the girls considering study in these fields will encounter."

Sandra J. Rosenthal, Ph.D., an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry at Vanderbilt University, will kick off the day's activities with a keynote address. Rosenthal is also an adjunct professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy and leads a research team in the area of nanotechnology for applications in biology and solar energy conversion.

After the opening session, the participants will divide into various workshops based on their individual interests. The students will interact with professionals in the following fields:

• Aerospace
• Auto mechanics
• Astronomy
• Aviation
• Biomedical engineering
• Chemistry
• Construction management
• Dentistry
• Engineering
• Fashion design
• Forensic science
• Information technology/computer engineering
• Landscape architecture
• Medical research
• Nursing
• Paleontology
• Pediatrics
• Pharmacology
• Physics
• Veterinary medicine

Last year's scholarship winner Jessica Raines considers the workshop the most important thing she did her senior year in high school.

"I went to T.W.I.S.T.E.R. thinking I was most interested in biology, but after hearing the keynote speaker and the panel of engineers, I was formally introduced to the world of engineering. That's really important for girls who secretly love math and physics, but never considered engineering because they don't know about it or think it's a man's field."

Jessica is a graduate of Springfield High School and is attending Tennessee Tech this spring to study engineering.

Interested 11th and 12th grade girls are encouraged to enter the essay contest, which will be judged by a panel of educators. Details may be found at www.adventuresci.com/twister. The scholarship winner will be announced at the closing ceremony of the day.

Cost for the event is $10, which includes lunch, a T-shirt and a family pass to Adventure Science Center. Participants are encouraged to register by February 1. Space is limited to 100 girls. For more information, call (615) 401-5069.

T.W.I.S.T.E.R. is sponsored by Tennessee Women in Technology in Tennessee, the Girl Scout Council of Cumberland Valley, Belmont University, Vanderbilt University, and Randolph-Macon Women's College Alumni Association.

For more than 59 years, the Adventure Science Center has brought science to life for children in Middle Tennessee, Southern Kentucky, Northern Alabama and beyond. The museum offers hands-on, interactive exhibits and engaging programs that encourage children to explore the ways science, invention and innovation affect our lives. The Adventure Science Center is a place where imagination and curiosity are encouraged, where touching is expected - a place where all the senses are engaged in learning.

Regular Adventure Science Center hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday. Regular admission is $8.75 for adults and $6.75 for children ages 3-12 and seniors age 65 or older. It is located at 800 Fort Negley Boulevard. For more information, call (615) 862-5160 or visit our web site at www.adventuresci.com.