The University of Hawai`i at Manoa's mathematics department is inviting math- and science-loving girls and boys in elementary and middle schools, and their parents, to "An Afternoon of Beautiful Mathematics for Girls," from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the UH-Manoa Campus Center Ballroom.

Attendees will be able to explore mentor-run discovery stations designed and run by women graduates and undergrads, and supervised by UH-Manoa faculty members, in the disciplines of science, technology, engineering and math, event organizers said. The stations, whose topics will include robotics and space exploration, will encourage the solving of hands-on math and engineering problems. In addition, there will be a short expository talk at the beginning of the session.

"A major goal of our initiative is to address the dual barriers of gender and ethnicity that Native Hawaiian females face in the STEM disciplines," Monique Chyba, UH-Manoa associate professor of mathematics and event organizer, said in a news release. "To create gender and ethnic equity in the STEM areas, we must motivate girls to pursue educational choices and careers in those disciplines," Chyba said.

The event is funded by the National Science Foundation and the UH-Manoa Diversity and Equity Initiative.

No pre-registration is required. Boys are welcome. For more information, send an e-mail to Monique Chyba at mchyba@hawaii.edu or see the Web site at www.math.hawaii.edu/~mchyba/public/index.htm.