Seventh-grade girls are invited to become social science researchers at Wayne State University for 10 Saturdays while learning that mathematics knowledge is both useful and interesting.

The project, called "Gaining Options: Girls Investigate Real Life" (GO-GIRL), is an enrichment program for middle school girls offered by Wayne State University in cooperation with the Institute for Research on Women and Gender at the University of Michigan. A National Science Foundation grant award funds it.

Scheduled to launch on Saturdays beginning Oct. 5 through Dec. 14, 2002,and then continuing during the spring semester, GO-GIRL is designed to encourage girls to achieve their full academic potential in mathematics and at the same time, demonstrating its usefulness and viability as a potential career option.

Spearheaded by Pamela Trotman Reid, director of the University of Michigan Women's Studies Program and professor in education and psychology, and Sally K. Roberts, assistant professor at Wayne State's College of Education, GO-GIRL will also provide academic training for college students. Pre-service teachers from Wayne State and undergraduate mentors from the University of Michigan will work with the girls providing them with assistance and instruction on their research projects and help them explore future career alternatives.

"The GO-GIRL program provides an opportunity for girls to become engaged in mathematics and, at the same time, become familiar with Wayne State University and the University of Michigan," Reid said. "This dynamic experience will expose them to career and role models at all stages through the mentoring process that our staff will offer. They will meet a diverse group of university and community researchers composed of talented women who will demonstrate skills the girls can learn," Reid added.

GO-GIRL is designed to help girls develop skills useful for success in the seventh grade and beyond including: scientific reasoning, confidence with computers, using a graphing calculator, learning about careers in mathematics and science, friendships with college student mentors and teachers and enhancing academic self-confidence.

GO-GIRL is free and open to a limited number of seventh-grade female students. An adult educator nominates participants. For more information, contact Prof. Sally Roberts at: s.k.roberts@wayne.edu.

At the end of the program, girls will present their project findings to family and friends at a closing reception. Students will also enjoy fieldtrips to Wayne State University and University of Michigan campuses and the Detroit Science Center.

Wayne State University is a premier institution of higher education offering more than 350 academic programs through 14 schools and colleges to more than 31,000 students in metropolitan Detroit.