It's not every day that Utah's Latino and Native American youths have the opportunity to mingle with hundreds of rising stars in the fields of math and science.

That's just one reason why Rosanita Cespedes, member of the Board of Regents, is excited about an upcoming national conference to be hosted in Salt Lake City.

The Society for Advancement of Chicanos and Native Americans in Science will meet at the Salt Palace this October, bringing hundreds of bright minds to discuss education, research and professional development.

"It's such an impact to see that (role models) in reality," Cespedes said. "What a motivation for our young Chicanos."

In addition to bringing role models, the conference will give attendees an opportunity to showcase their talents and a chance for all of Utah's universities to recruit from an estimated 1,400 undergraduate students seeking to pursue advanced degrees, along with doctorate and postdoctorate candidates, Cespedes said.

Cespedes was among Utahns who met Friday with leaders of the national society in advance of the conference. There are chapters at the University of Utah and at Utah State University.

The society, which strives to expand opportunities for minorities in the scientific work force and academia, is celebrating its 35th anniversary. As part of its celebration, SACNAS is focusing on climate change, particularly in the Arctic and Antarctic.

Judit Camancho, executive director of SACNAS, says youths will have direct access to conferees.

"One of the most powerful way to encourage youths is through role models," she said.

Marigold Linton, a founding member of SACNAS, says she didn't have role models when she pursued higher education. The former U. psychology professor believes that in 1964 she may have been only the 12th American Indian to have earned a doctoral degree.

The society was founded in 1974. Back then, when seven faculty members rode an elevator together, the joke was, "If the elevator crashes, it would wipe out the entire population of American Indian and Hispanic scientists," Linton said.

About 225 people attended its first national meeting in 1978. The organization has since grown to 2,000 conference attendees last year.

"We have been able to find 600 American Indians with Ph.D.s," she said. "This is a very recent phenomenon."

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E-mail: dbulkeley@desnews.com