Advocates for guiding girls and young women into STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) careers will gather Wednesday through Friday, Feb. 6-8, at MTSU for a professional development conference.

“Building STEM Capacity for Girls: Expanding Your Horizons in the South” is the theme for the GRITS Collaborative Project conference, which will be held in Cantrell Hall inside the Tom H. Jackson Building, also home for MTSU News and Media Relations. GRITS stands for Girls Raised in Tennessee Science.

In addition to participants being informed on how to plan for their own EYH conferences, one of the Wednesday highlights will be a 5:30 p.m. panel of young girls sharing their experiences of attending an Expanding Your Horizons event.

A special Thursday morning session on “Role Models Matter” by representatives from Techbridge, an organization whose mission is to both promote girls’ interest in STEM through multi-faceted programs and develop resources for teachers, role models, families and partners.

Heather Gibbons, new CEO of the San Francisco Bay Area-based Expanding Your Horizons Network, will lead “EYH Nuts and Bolts” sessions throughout the conference.

Visit http://mtsunews.com/2013-grits-conference/ for more details.