The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences is looking for candidates for the Girls in Science (GIS) Neuse River project.

Sixth-grade girls from Wake and surrounding counties, with a budding interest in the natural sciences, are encouraged to participate in the eight-week program that begins Jan. 30 and runs through March 25.

Fourteen girls will be chosen based on an application process that includes science teacher recommendations and a student essay.

Applications can be downloaded from the Web site www.naturalsciences.org and are due by Friday, Jan. 5, by 5 p.m. Those selected will be notified by Friday, Jan. 12.

During the program, the girls will participate in eight weekly meetings at the museum, field trips and an overnight camping experience.

They'll also spend time in the field involved in an array of activities from testing water quality to exploring local waterways and the rich wildlife those waterways support.

The girls will also interact with several female scientists and learn about science-based career opportunities. An open house for parents and sponsoring science teachers ends the experience.

Tuition for the Neuse River Project is $45 per student. Fees include lodging, meals, transportation, instructional supplies and a T-shirt.

Families must provide transportation to and from the museum.

GIS provides opportunities for girls to work with and share their knowledge of science with other students and the chance to grow through science adventures.

The Neuse River Project is just one of three programs that fall under the GIS program -- the Outdoor Ed-Venture Camp, a six-day residential summer camp and site-based clubs (when the museum takes the meetings to the school) are provided to underserved rural counties in North Carolina.

Since 1992, over 700 sixth-grade girls have participated in hands-on projects, fieldwork and mentoring through the GIS program.

For more information on this project and other Girls in Science offerings, or to obtain an application, call M.T. Palmer at 919-733-7450, ext. 621.

The North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences in downtown Raleigh documents and interprets the natural history of the state of North Carolina through exhibits, research, collections, publications and educational programming.

Museum hours are Monday through Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Admission is free.

Visit the museum on the Website at http://www.naturalsciences.org.

The museum is an agency of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, William G. Ross Jr., Secretary.