Enhancing Your Future with Mathematics & Science (EYF)

Funded by a special request to the Kansas Legislature.

Every year, 220 young women in grades 6 through 8 from the state of Kansas come to Emporia State University to take part in Enhancing Your Future With Mathematics and Science. This STEM outreach program is held every year on the first Saturday in March. Approximately 50 female professionals from the state of Kansas volunteer their time every year to make the event a success.

During the day, students participate in career discussions and hands-on workshops led by female professionals in science and mathematics careers. Students choose from an extensive list of career discussion sessions such as Mathematics Professor: More than Numbers; Dentist: Drills, Frills and other Thrills; Field Biologist: Cool Girls Play in the Mud; and Volcanologist: An Exploding Good Time. The hands-on workshop session topics are also extensive, including It’s a Zoo Out There; What’s Up Doc?; Getting Into the Game; and Let’s Take Flight.

Students hear presentations from two speakers, one at the opening ceremony and the other after the luncheon. All participants receive an Enhancing Your Future t-shirt designed specifically for the conference at the end of the day.

Parents and teachers are encouraged to attend this event as well. The concurrent adult program includes separate sessions where the focus is on learning strategies for encouraging young women to pursue careers in science and mathematics as well as observe the hands-on workshops.

Emporia State University celebrated 25 years of hosting EYF in 2019 and is the first university in the state to offer such a program. EYF has acquired such a reputation that the 220 spots are often filled in less than two weeks after the application forms are sent out, so send in your form and registration fee as soon as possible. Preference is given to those who have not previously attended. On-site registrations will not be accepted; you must preregister. Those not accepted are put on an early mailing list for the following year’s conference.

For more information about the program, contact the Department of Mathematics & Economics at Emporia State University at 620-341-5281.