To increase their interest in math and science-and help expand their future career options-Mount St. Mary's College is hosting hundreds of middle school girls from throughout Los Angeles at a series of workshops on March 17.

The 28th annual "Expanding Your Horizons in Science and Mathematics Career Conference" is sponsored by Math/Science Interchange (MSI), a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting science and math education for girls. The event will be held at MSMC's Doheny Campus near downtown Los Angeles (10 Chester Place).

The conference seeks to close the gap for women and minorities who are typically underrepresented in the fields of math, science, and engineering. Studies show that girls often lose interest in and stop taking math and science courses earlier than boys. The long-term result is that girls have fewer career options available to them.

Twenty-five Los Angles-area women who work in math and science careers will present hands-on workshops for conference participants. Girls in grades 5 through 8 may choose from workshops about such diverse fields as theoretical physics, engineering, chemistry, and veterinary medicine.

The conference also includes an adult program for parents, teachers, and school counselors with workshops on how to nurture prospective young scientists and how to obtain financial aid for college.

Organizers of the event include women working in math and science research and education at institutions including Mount St. Mary's College, RAND Corporation, Cal State Northridge, UCLA, and St. Jude Medical Center.

For more information and to register online, students and adults can visit the conference website at www.expandingyourhorizonsla.org.