Prompted by concerns that Harvard's science departments are inhospitable to women, a group of women science concentrators, faculty and administrators last week held a first-ever conference for 32 female first-years interested in the sciences.

The conference, called the "Harvard-Radcliffe Science Alliance," sought to introduce participants to a variety of scientific fields, according to Jennifer J. Lin '93, one of three student coordinators.

Begun last Wednesday, the three-day gathering featured lectures by women science professors and professionals, career panels and tours of Harvard's science facilities.

By bringing together a group of first-years with established women scientists, said student coordinator Katherine A. Tulenko '93, the program hoped to foster important connections which would serve undergraduate women scientists during their time at Harvard and after graduation.

Too often, Tulenko said, women are discouraged from the sciences by their parents and by societal pressures. Interacting with other aspiring women scientists can give them the networking capacity they need, she said.

"We want to make sure they make their own decisions, rather than being forced into them," said Tulenko.

Professor of Chemistry Cynthia Friend, one of the conference's panelists, said she hoped the Science Al- liance would "build the self-confidence ofyoung women students."

"There's a very large amount of loss of womenstudents in freshman year in science, and this isa mechanism for offsetting this attenuation,"Friend said.

Friend, who in the past has taught a number ofintroductory science courses including Chem 10,said that first-year women in science should"believe in themselves, take advantage ofresources...especially office hours, and try tofocus on learning rather than be too worried aboutgrades."

Strong Student Response

While coordinators had planned for 18 spots,the response was strong enough to merit space for32 students, according to Tulenko, Admission tothe program was decided on a first-come,first-serve basis.

Participants last week expressed satisfactionwith the conference, saying they felt part of agroup which would help support them through thechallenging years ahead.

"As a woman, one feels a little intimidated,"said Vancouver, Canada native and Hollis residentRern T. Lau '96. "This is encouraging andreassuring because there are 32 other womeninterested in science."

Sanford E. Cha '96, who hails from Potomac,Maryland and will reside in Canaday, said thatpanels also stressed "being more aggressive" incombating sexual discrimination in the scienceclassroom.

Other first years said that dispelling commonmyths about women in science was helpful. Byhearing from many successful women scientists,said Brownsville, Texas and Wigglesworth residentL. Paulina Cardenas '96, participants could nolonger believe women are incompetent scientists.

Plans to make the conference an annual eventawait a evaluation by the participants, saycoordinators.

The Science Alliance will also sponsor a BigSister/Little Sister program during the year forall those women science concentrators interested