Hampton University is hosting a computing conference next week that encourages women and minorities to enter the field.

The seventh annual Students & Technology in Academia, Research & Service (STARS) Alliance Celebration is August 11-13 at the Embassy Suites in Hampton.

The event is an annual leadership conference for faculty and students in the Alliance, which encourages students in middle school through graduate school to seek careers in computing. It’s mission includes increasing participation among women, under-represented minorities, and people with disabilities.

“We are excited to host the conference in Hampton this year,” said Jean Muhammad, chair of the HU computer science department, in a news release. She is also vice general chair of the conference.

“The conference is a great opportunity to continue to expose our students to the various aspects of the computing world and encourage more engagement in the industry,” she said.

The conference will include sessions on topics including programming Android phones, web development, and women in the informational technology field.

For more information or to register for the conference, visit http://www.starsalliance.org/celebration. Registration is listed at $350 for the entire conference or $150 for a single day, according to the website.