Grace is one of 420 inquisitive girls from throughout the state who attended the all-day conference, organized by Sycamore School and dubbed "Curiosity, Confidence, Challenge!" The event's aim was to promote interest in math, science and technology among sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade girls. At least one fifth-grader also attended. The conference's $25,000 cost was covered by Sycamore, sponsors and a small entrance fee, said Carla Bennett, special programs director at Sycamore, a private school at 1750 W. 64th St.

Participants were offered the chance to sit in on a grab bag of seminars and presentations. Volunteers in 23 professions, ranging from computer animation to forensic science, put on the talks. In one classroom, Beth McCord, an archaeology professor at Ball State University, wowed students with ancient deer bones and 600-year-old kernels of corn unearthed in Hamilton County.

E'Lisa Kelley, 12, a sixth-grader from Kokomo with a keen interest in marine biology, had the seemingly once-in-a-lifetime chance to dissect the eye of a cow in the ophthalmology room. Abby Northrup, 12, a Fairland seventh-grader, stoked her courage to stroke a salamander in nature studies. One of the conference's biggest attractions was a presentation by chemists from Eli Lilly and Co. They generated horror-movie-style fog by mixing dry ice with boiling water. They also froze rubber with liquid nitrogen. And that's where Grace detonated her hydrogen balloon.

"It's important that these kids see women -- normal women that look like their moms -- doing science," said Mary Macler, one of the three Lilly chemists who put on the show. It's the conference's seventh year and, from what organizers say, attendance from year to year has swelled faster than a hydrogen balloon.

This year, organizers were forced to turn away 125 applications. One group of 15 girls embarked in the gray dawn from New Albany to make the conference's 8:30 a.m. start. All told, Bennett estimated as many as 2,500 girls have participated over the years. Pam Stults, who traveled from Muncie with daughter Libby, 11, said she wanted her daughter to "see other women in the science profession and see their enthusiasm." "She's just exploring, but it will allow her more options in the future," said Stults, 40.

Before the conference ended, the ambitions of some participants already were stirring. Abigail Duerlinger, 12, a sixth-grader from Mooresville, arrived at the conference with a passion for animals. Later in the day, she also had developed an interest in computer animation and chemistry.