Math and science hold little fascination for many teenage girls.

In fact, while 81 percent of grade school girls said they enjoyed math, the percentage dropped to 61 percent by high school, according to a recent study conducted by the American Association of University Women.

Only 9 percent of American engineers and 10 percent of physicists in 1993 were women, according to the Women’s Bureau of the U.S. Department of Labor.

Girls who are considering such careers may find role models next month at Spokane Falls Community College.

Women representing business, engineering, military aviation, medicine, science, education and other fields will talk about their jobs and share their experience with hundreds of local teenage girls, their parents and educators.

“Expanding Your Horizons,” a daylong math and science conference designed to introduce girls to technical careers, will be held March 25 at SFCC.

“We want to inspire these girls, to encourage them, to challenge them to go into these traditionally maledominated fields,” said Grace Sato, conference publicity chairwoman.

The conference will emphasize how math and science are needed for these jobs.

College financial aid information also will be available.

The conference format will give girls from Eastern Washington and North Idaho a chance to ask professionals about specific careers and to talk to them about academic preparation for college-level courses.

About 860 girls and 160 adults attended last year’s conference.

The registration fee is $10, which includes lunch and a T-shirt. For more information, call 245-3518. March 6 is the registration deadline.

The conference is sponsored by Eastern Washington University, Gonzaga University, Hewlett-Packard, U.S. Bank, the National Math and Science Network and Medical Service Corp.