University Advancement

Public Relations and Strategic Communications

MEDIA RELEASE

Local Middle and High Schoolers to Explore the Opportunities
in the Worlds of Science, Math & Engineering

(NORTHRIDGE, Calif., Feb. 7, 2008) — Their futures may lie in robotics, or perhaps in biology and botany. Then again, about 200 San Fernando Valley middle and high school students may discover that biotechnology or a career in health care is better suited for them.

The Educational Talent Search (ETS) program at Cal State Northridge will give the students an opportunity to explore the possibilities at the university’s "Math and Science Day" scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 13, from 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Among those schools sending students are Pacoima, Maclay, Madison and Olive Vista middle schools as well as Monroe, San Fernando, Sylmar and Van Nuys high schools. The students are all participants in Educational Talent Search, a federally funded TRIO program that operates out of CSUN’s Student Outreach and Recruitment Services and reaches 15 middle and high schools throughout the San Fernando Valley. Educational Talent Search is designed to encourage underrepresented, low-income young people who are the first in their families to finish high school and go on to college.

"Statistics indicate that minorities and women have traditionally been underrepresented in the fields of science, math and engineering," said program director Niki Dixon. "The intent of our program is to address this shortage by creating a learning environment that promotes student access in the areas of science, math and engineering."

The day will start with a presentation from nationally recognized Northridge biology professor MariaElena Zavala, followed by visits to the university’s acclaimed Brown Center for Adaptive Aquatic Therapy, the research greenhouses in CSUN’s Botanic Garden, the robotics lab and the DNA Sequencing facility as well as other laboratories and research facilities on the campus.

Throughout the day, the students will have an opportunity to meet with faculty and students and take part in hands-on, interactive labs in CSUN’s College of Engineering and Computer Science, College of Health and Human Development and College of Science and Mathematics in addition to attending career workshops and taking campus tours.

For more information about the program, call Dixon at (818) 677-4867.