Seven speakers are lined up to talk today during the Women in Science and Mathematics program “Overcoming Barriers: Diverse Women in Science at Eastern Illinois University.”

Jie Zou, an assistant professor in the physics department, said all seven of the speakers that will be present at the discussion are female students and teachers from science departments at Eastern. Many of the presenters are international faculty and staff.

This event is aimed to support female students in the mathematics and science departments, but the event is open to the public.

The speakers will give PowerPoint presentations on experiences they have overcome. The presentations will include photos and personal stories from each individual’s life.

“The focus of the event is for women from diverse backgrounds to come together and share their stories,” said Zou, the chairwoman of Women in Science and Mathematics. “Hopefully the stories they tell will be inspiring for female students in science and mathematics at Eastern and encourage them to overcome barriers in their careers.”

According to the Eastern website, the goal of WiSM is to recruit and retain women from the science and mathematics departments and to mentor them so that they can achieve advanced degrees and succeed in their careers.

The students that attend will also be able to seek advice, as well as get ideas for their own career goals from the students and faculty that are present.

“WiSM has been at Eastern for a few years now,”Zou said. “Each year there is an event in the fall and then another in the spring.”

Jie Zou and Sandra Durain, the assistant to the dean for Administrative Services, put the event together. The College of Sciences and the Booth Library sponsored the discussion.

The presentations will start at 6 p.m. and is planned to run until 8 p.m. It will start in the north-entrance foyer of the library, and a sign is posted outside of the library that will have directions.

There is no cost to attend.

Zach White can be reached at 581-2812 or ztwhite@eiu.edu.