One of America's newest astronauts, Major Michael Anderson, will give a motivational speech to 150 minority students from 18 colleges and universities at an undergraduate research conference to be held at DePaul University April 25-26.

Anderson, an African-American, was selected to address the Second Annual Chicago Alliance for Minority Participation (ChAMP) Student Research Conference because he embodies achievement in the sciences and serves as a role model to minority students, said Carolyn Narasimhan, associate dean of DePaul's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Anderson will provide words of encouragement to students considering careers in the sciences, math, engineering and technology, supporting ChAMP's goal of dramatically increasing the number of baccalaureate degrees awarded to minorities in these fields by the year 2000.

Anderson will address the students at 7 p.m. in the Corteylou Commons, 2324 N. Fremont St., on DePaul's Lincoln Park Campus. The conference officially opens April 26 with a full day of activities. Anderson will give brief remarks at the 8:45 a.m. opening session to be held in Room 154 of the Schmitt Academic Center, 2320 N. Kenmore Ave. Students will then head out to give and hear presentations on their research efforts.

Morning activities will include a session of oral presentations while the afternoon activities will include formal poster presentations of undergraduate student research projects. There will also be workshops on internship opportunities, surfing the Internet, preparing for graduate school and undergraduate research opportunities.

Narasimhan, who coordinated the ChAMP conference, said minority students and women have been under represented in science, mathematics, engineering and technological careers. "Research has shown that these fields can be made accessible to everyone," she said. "ChAMP is designed to provide students with opportunities for experiencing science while learning it."

Anderson was selected in December 1994 to begin training as an astronaut. Prior to that he served as an aircraft commander and pilot instructor in the U.S. Air Force (USAF). Anderson earned a bachelor's in physics/astronomy from the University of Washington and his master's in physics from Creighton University. Anderson was awarded the USAF Meritorious Service Medal and the USAF Achievement Medal.

ChAMP is a consortium of 18 Chicago-area universities funded by a five-year $5 million grant from the National Science Foundation. It provides students with scholarships, research opportunities, annual conferences and mentoring programs.

Members of ChAMP include: Chicago State, DePaul, Governors State, Northwestern, Northeastern Illinois, Western Illinois, Illinois Institute of Technology, Loyola, University of Illinois at Chicago, Harold Washington, Wilbur Wright, Kennedy-King, Malcolm X, South Suburban, St. Augustine, Harry S. Truman College, Richard J. Daley and Olive Harvey.