Peaking young girls' interest in science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM, subjects, is the purpose behind Girl Start and the Expanding Your Horizons conference at the University of Texas.

Local women with STEM careers led hands-on workshops Saturday for fourth through eighth grade Girl Start members. They're hoping to pass down the torch and ignite an interest in similar careers.

"The fourth through eighth graders are typically the age where you start to lose that interest for a variety of different reasons. So today, we're just giving them a really great experience to show you that it's fun and just show you a professional that actually does this career," Katelyn Wamsted said.

News 8's parent company Time Warner Cable sponsored the event, as part of its Connect a Million Minds initiative.

Check out ConnectAMillionMinds.com for information on efforts to get students excited about science, technology, engineering and math.