MOFFETT FIELD, Calif. - News media representatives are invited to join hundreds of San Francisco Bay Area girls, their teachers and parents on a fun-filled interactive exploration of science, technology, engineering and mathematics on Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008.

As part of NASA's commitment to the next generation of explorers, NASA Ames is collaborating with Sally Ride Science to sponsor and host the Sally Ride Science Festival at the NASA Research Park. Girls will have the opportunity to hear an inspirational talk by former astronaut Wendy Lawrence, participate in two of the 23 featured workshops and an interactive street fair with experiments, food and music. A veteran of four space flights, including the STS-114 Shuttle Discovery Return to Flight mission in 2005, Lawrence has logged over 1,225 hours in space. She retired from NASA in June 2006.

Workshop topics range from astrobiology to veterinary medicine, with enticing titles such as 'Rocks, Mud and Bones: Reading the Diary of Earth's Past;' 'Explosive Volcanic Eruptions: Rockets Made of Rocks?;' 'Meteorites: Rocks from Outer Space!!!;' 'Solar Technology and How Big is BIG.'

Workshops are led by professionals at the Federal Aviation Administration, GaryAir, Moffett Field, Calif.; Google Inc., Mountain View, Calif.; Marine Science Institute, Redwood City, Calif.; Planners Collaborative Inc., Boston, Mass.; Roche Palo Alto LLC, Palo Alto, Calif.; San Jose State University (SJSU), San Jose, Calif.; Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, Calif.; Stanford University, Stanford, Calif.; the Universities of California, Santa Cruz and Berkeley; Temecula Rocket Group, Temecula, Calif.; and the Women in Science and Engineering at SJSU. Parents and teachers may attend separate workshops dedicated to supporting these students' interests in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Attendees are required to pre-register on the Internet at www.sallyridefestivals.com or by phone at 800-561-5161.

WHEN: 11 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. PDT, Saturday, Sept. 27, 2008

11 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. PDT: NASA Astronaut Wendy Lawrence available for media interviews. Street fair activities.

1 p.m. - 2 p.m. PDT: NASA Astronaut Wendy Lawrence gives presentation.

2:15 p.m. - 4:15 p.m. PDT: Discovery workshops.

WHERE: The event will be held at Shenandoah Plaza and various buildings within the NASA Research Park at NASA Ames Research Center.

Reporters interested in coordinating interviews with Wendy Lawrence prior to the event must contact Meredith Manning at 858-638-1432 or by e-mail at: mmanning@sallyridescience.com.

Driving Directions: To reach Ames, take U.S. Highway 101 to the Moffett Field, NASA Parkway exit and drive east on Moffett Boulevard towards the main gate. Guards at the main gate will direct reporters to NASA Research Park, directly behind the gate.

For Wendy Lawrence's complete biography, visit:

http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/Bios/htmlbios/lawrence.html

For more information about NASA's Education programs, visit:

http://education.nasa.gov

For more information about the Sally Ride Science Festival at NASA Ames, visit:

http://www.sallyridefestivals.com