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CORVALLIS - Oregon State University is hosting its third annual Conference on Gender and Culture and the 2002 Women's Studies Association's Northwest Regional Conference April 17-19.

The conference, which is free and open to the public, features Nikki Giovanni delivering the keynote speech as this year's Difference, Power and Discrimination Program's Distinguished Lecturer. Giovanni's presentation is at 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 18 in OSU's LaSells Stewart Center. Her lecture will be preceded by a performance of the gospel quartet Four Justice singing some of Giovanni's favorite gospel songs. A book signing will follow her lecture.

Named Woman of the Year by Essence, Mademoiselle and Ladies Home Journal magazines, Giovanni burst onto the national scene with her first book of poetry, "Black Feeling, Black Talk," in 1968. The work established her as a prominent voice of black America, tackling racism, inequality and injustice. A University Distinguished Professor at Virginia Tech, she travels extensively, from readings in New York's Philharmonic Hall to a State Department-sponsored lecture tour to Africa.

There will be sign language interpretation for both the songs and Giovanni's lecture. For information or for additional accommodations, contact the OSU Difference, Power, and Discrimination Program at 541-737-2760 or DPD.Program@oregonstate.edu.

Conference events are focused on bringing together students, faculty and community members to discuss the far-reaching influence of gender and culture, said Beth Rietveld, OSU assistant director of Student Involvement. This year the Conference on Gender and Culture is expanding to include regional members of the National Women's Studies Association, she said.

The conference begins at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 17, in LaSells Stewart Center with a panel discussion on "Women in Science and Technology." Oregon State faculty members, Dawn Wright associate professor of geosciences, Virginia Weis, associate professor of zoology, and Terri Fiez, head of the Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering, will address community members and middle and high school girls about encouraging and supporting females in science and technology.

Individual and group presentations are set from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, April 18 and 9 a.m. to noon on Friday. Topics include the film, "The Feminist Itch," examining feminism today; a slide show of feminist stories acted by Barbie dolls called "What Dolls Do;" and the impact of Rachel Carson and her book, "Silent Spring."

Other presentations include a performance of poetry from 25 years of CALYX publications, a look at the biology of women's reproduction, rethinking racial identity, gendered constructions of response to crisis, and women farmers and agricultural knowledge.

A celebration commemorating OSU's Women's Center's 30 years of service, as well as OSU's Women Studies program, the President Commission on the Status of Women and Title IX is set from 3:30 to 5 p.m. on Thursday, April 18, at the CH2M-HILL Alumni Center. A reception will recognize past and present members of the commission and the Women's Center advisory committee, Women of Achievement award winners and other supporters of women's rights at OSU.

A lunch with Giovanni is scheduled from noon to 2 p.m. on Friday, April 19. The cost for the vegetarian meal is $8.50 and reservations must be made by April 12. For information, contact the Women's Center at 541-737-3186 or womens.center@mu.orst.edu.

A feminist film festival is also scheduled from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday in the Memorial Union, and from 2:30 to 5 p.m., the National Women's Studies Association will conduct its regional meeting. The meeting will be convened by Barbara Winkler, NWSA co-representative from Southern Oregon University and will include a presentation entitled "Women's Studies Programs in the Western United States."

Conference sponsors include: Difference, Power, and Discrimination Program; the OSU Critical Issues Project; the OSU English Department; the OSU Ethnic Studies Department; the OSU Convocations and Lectures Committee; the OSU Provost's Office; the OSU Women's Center; and the OSU Women Studies Program.