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Ghandi's famous quote, "Be the change that you want to see in the world" is easily applicable to engineering because engineers change the world everyday. Abraham Lincoln said that if you can imagine it, you are already half-way to making it a reality. To promote engineering to a younger community, you have to first find out what they want and what is interesting to them. Once you figure that out, you can find ways to grab their interests with engineering. I ran across the video below at Hydro, an aluminum and energy company, and couldn't have said it better. Not only is this great marketing for Hydro, it's a great example of the creative thinking we need to reach a new generation. Note: This video has subtitles and one word may be offensive to some. -- Posted by Celeste Baine on January 7, 2009 The Engineers Week AdvantageI've received many emails lately about Engineers Week and what it's all about. To briefly summarize, Engineers Week is always during the president's birthday week. So this year, it's Feb. 15-21. Eweek statistics show that last year, 40,000 engineers visited classrooms to educate students about the field of engineering. Eweek extrapolates that those engineers reached 5 million students! It's not too late to get involved.Below, I have provided suggestions for teachers, engineers and programs. From a marketing point of view, no matter who or where you are, this is your time to really educate, inspire, motivate and/or cajole interest in engineering. It's a time to celebrate the profession and the amazing advances and achievements of the field. It's also the perfect opportunity to get people to help you in this mission. If you are a teacher, there are five things that you can do right now.
If you are an engineer:
If you are a coordinator or a volunteer for a program, camp, competition or event:
This list in itself is a reason to celebrate. There are many things that you can do and the resources are there. Often you just have to know where to look or who to talk to. What are you doing for eweek? Questions, suggestions? Post them here! -- Posted by Celeste Baine on January 13, 2009 Like the rest of the world, I watched Obama’s inauguration with hope in my heart. As our governmental power transferred hands, I couldn’t think of one person that wasn't hopeful about a better future. The part of his speech that applies to engineering education was the following paragraph: “For everywhere we look, there is work to be done. The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act _ not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth. We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together. We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost. We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age. All this we can do. All this we will do.” To sum it up, he just said that there will be jobs for civil, structural, biomedical, chemical, environmental, electrical, computer, mechanical, geotechnical, ocean, power, industrial, manufacturing, telecommunications, automotive and transportation engineers in the near future. Mechanical, electronic, civil, manufacturing and environmental technicians and technologists will also find employment. You can use this inspiration to get your students acting and thinking like engineers! Begin with your home town. Have students:
This list is only the tip of the iceburg on what you can do to make students more involved in this new beginning. Today’s youth will inherit this earth and we have to give them the tools to take care of it properly. Luckily, they seem inspired and excited about the challenges ahead. -- Posted by Celeste Baine on January 22, 2009 A few years ago I was the keynote speaker at a Mother-Daughter Day in Michigan. The day started with everyone attending my talk and then the girls went with college students to do engineering projects while the moms got to listen to me again. I gave my “Grow your own Engineer” talk and we discussed my 10-step program. We laughed as these moms envisioned trying to encourage their teenagers towards an engineering career. The girls and moms had a happy reunion in a few hours and they got to hear more stories of real-life engineers and all the possibilities that an engineering degree affords. It was one of the best events that I had ever attended because it seemed that every girl left with the very best impression of what engineers do and how they fit into the profession. Last weekend I happily participated in another Mother-Daughter Day and again, it was a remarkable event. The day was put on by The Center of Excellence for Materials and Process Development at Edmonds Community College and the Center of Excellence for Marine Manufacturing & Technology at Skagit Valley College in Washington State. Originally, the event was scheduled for October but there were no registrants. Feeling disappointed but still believing that mothers and daughters would be ecstatic to attend, the centers rescheduled it for February 7. Ann Avery, the Director of the Center of Excellence for Marine Manufacturing & Technology at Skagit Valley College Whidbey Island Campus contacted the Girl Scouts and Mary Kaye Bredeson, the director for the Center of Excellence for Materials and Process Development at Edmonds Community College gave an interview on their local radio and television shows and advertised to all the local schools. Hoping to get 40 girls and their mothers, she was soon overwhelmed with the response. At 60 girls, she began turning people away. The night before the event, worried that people would just show up, she was very alarmed to receive emails from people on Craigslist saying that they also wanted to come. When the room seemed like it wouldn’t hold another person, we closed the doors and got busy with problem solving activities, engineering quizzes, building hovercrafts and shooting rockets. By the end of the day, the girls wanted to have engineering project birthday parties, the moms were delighted and we were exhausted. One mom told me that her daughter enjoyed the day so much, she thanked her mom for bringing her. That, in itself, was cause for celebration. Of course, even though we were exhausted, we were already planning how to hold another event! I was told that if you are planning an engineering workshop for girls, never overlook the Girl Scout in your advertising plans. We didn’t directly offer a badge but it’s my understanding that many professional societies such as the Society of Women Engineers and the ASME offer a Girl Scout engineering badge or patch. This is a great opportunity to collaborate, investigate and have a fantastic event with eager participants. If you are looking for more information about holding an event, don’t hesitate to drop me a line. If you are holding an event, what are you doing to make it successful? What would you say is the secret to your success? -- Posted by Celeste Baine on February 10, 2009 Why we hold eventsThe reasons that we hold events, competitions or camps may often seem so obvious – we want to recruit into our programs or schools or lead students toward their untapped potential (a.k.a. - a better future). I just read today that robotics has become so popular because it’s an integrated and engaging approach to all things STEM plus teamwork, problem solving, collaboration, and innovation. The softer reasons that we hold events are also because we want to tell students that we believe in them or that we believe they can do it. It’s great for their self-esteem to know that they have a champion on their side. In a way, it’s also how we are building a better world. A world where people are happier with what they do and achieve. When you believe in yourself and your abilities, what is there to stop you from doing exactly what you want with your life and making the perfect career for yourself? -- Posted by Celeste Baine on February 22, 2009 Last week I attended the National Science Teacher Association (NSTA) annual conference in New Orleans. I wanted to meet as many people as possible that were doing engineering at the K-12 level so I splurged on a booth and made it colorful. Happily, there were many people that stopped to talk about their programs and give me some insights about what is going on in classrooms across the country. I’ve listed my observations below but keep in mind that only about 20 percent of NSTA attendees are interested in engineering and the conference is so overwhelming, it’s difficult to have linear conversations after the first day. My observations:
So how do we tell all the new K-12 engineering teachers where to find what they need? I connected with around 50 teachers that needed direction but I bet that’s only a tiny fraction of who needs help. I listed my Top 11 Engineering Education Programs in a previous blog. What do you do? What is a solution that can help everyone? -- Posted by Celeste Baine on March 25, 2009 Promoting engineering to K-12 students is about much more than teaching, mentoring, you or me. Promoting engineering is a movement to help students learn to problem-solve, explore, investigate, analyze, create and think for themselves. It’s a way to teach them to think, assess situations and look for solutions to the problems that confound them daily. It’s about helping them find better ways to get through each and every day – to make life more fun, be more productive or make the world a better place. If the students of today are not up to the task of making the world a better place, where will we be in 10 years, 20 years or 50 years? What kind of planet will we be leaving to future generations? -- Posted by Celeste Baine on April 7, 2009 Book Review – Educating Engineers: Designing for the Future of the Field
-- Posted by Celeste Baine on April 20, 2009 How Can We Attract More Girls? "Hi Celeste,I am trying to do some research on how we can attract more girls to our technology classes. We have tried some things but have had very limited success. Could you guide me where I could get some information on other programs, or other methods, or research on the topic. It just frustrates me that we are missing over half of our population and some very bright people in our classes." My answer: This a common problem across the country. Some programs have been wildly successful while others struggle. There doesn't seem to be a recipe that works for everyone but there are two really good web sites that can help you get started. In this blog, there are also postings on using the Society of Women Engineers as a resource, cheerleaders as engineers and I also gave a webinar about recruiting women. Holding a Mother-Daughter Day is also a very supportive way to help girls maintain their interest in all STEM fields. -- Posted by Celeste Baine on May 7, 2009 Summer is an excellent time to learn more about engineering. When you travel around the country or even in your local area, there are many sights that will help you, your students or your family learn about engineering. Places such as Hoover Dam, the National Inventors Hall of Fame, Thomas Edison’s Birthplace, Museums of Ceramics or Aeronautics, roller coasters, etc. can all be educational and fun too. Take advantage of every opportunity to learn more. For sights in your area or to help you plan a road-trip, visit www.engineeringsights.org -- Posted by Celeste Baine on June 8, 2009 As I write this blog, I’m on way home from giving a keynote at the BEST (Boosting Engineering Science and Technology) Robotics conference at Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama. As my plane moves smoothly over hundreds of miles, I’m continually impressed with the commitment of the program teachers, coordinators, volunteers, and industry advocates. The potential of robotics as a tool for creating interest in STEM and for doing great things in the world is almost unlimited. Any student interested in robotics can be involved in changing the world as we know it. Robots are being used to explore the oceans, blow up blood clots in arteries, care for the elderly, investigate toxic areas, aid the military, assemble a large variety of things in manufacturing plants, explore Mars and much more. Robots are an excellent vehicle for students to ride into the future. Personally, I’m excited about the day they can be full-time house-keepers too. BEST is entering its 17th year and is a totally volunteer organization. Industry and academic coaches act as mentors for the students, encouraging and guiding them as they design and build their robots. In the BEST process, students remain the primary decision-makers and builders. BEST has five new hubs starting this year and hub growth looks very promising for 2010 and beyond. This fall, they will have about 750 schools, over 11,000 students, and over 3500 volunteers participating. Educators value the project-based learning experience BEST provides students. Teams are organized geographically into "Hubs" consisting of at least eight schools. The BEST program is made possible through a collaboration of teachers, technical mentors, corporate and academic hub volunteers, and funding sponsors. Each hub depends on a business, university, or other organization willing to coordinate area teams. Funding is obtained from local sponsors. Six weeks before the competition, the teams gather for Kick Off Day in early September at local hub sites where they receive identical kits of equipment (motors, r/c unit, batteries, etc.) and raw materials from which to build their machines, and a detailed set of game rules. The machines they build cannot weigh more than 24 pounds, must fit within a 24-inch cube, and must be built only from the raw materials supplied to them by the local hub. Get involved! This is a fantastic way to get students excited and interested in engineering. -- Posted by Celeste Baine on June 22, 2009 Late last week, I attended a Sustainability Summit hosted by the Center of Excellence for Energy Technology at Centralia College in Washington State. The keynote speaker, Dr. Alan Hardcastle from Washington State University Extension Energy Program said that in these bad economic times, many people have put off their retirement. He went on to say that when the economy rebounds, these people plus many others would all retire at the same time leaving a substantial shortage of engineers and technicians. As you may know, there are more baby-boomers retiring than there are students graduating from programs to fill the void. According to Forbes magazine, “For the second year in a row, engineer is the hardest job to fill in America.” The article went on to say that there will be a shortage of engineers because, “First, the federal stimulus program is hastening the rebuilding of America's highways, bridges and tunnels, and the refitting of buildings to be more sustainable, which is making the demand for engineers soar. Also, the demand for new sustainable energy sources such as wind farms is increasing too. Meanwhile, the profession's most experienced workers are retiring in droves. "Companies are looking to replace more than half of their engineers over the next eight years, because baby boomers are retiring," Jacobson says. "When you have 80,000 engineers working for you, as Lockheed Martin does, that's a lot of jobs." He says that even if every single seat in the nation's engineering schools is filled, that's only 75,000 engineers being trained annually. That won't come close to making up the shortage.” This is good news for students and possibly one of the factors that are accounting for the Information Week report that a diverse enrollment in graduate engineering is on the rise. -- Posted by Celeste Baine on June 29, 2009 Last week, I had the pleasure of giving the keynote address at the SeaPerch conference in Hawaii. If you aren’t familiar with it, SeaPerch is a kit that allows students to construct a simple, remotely-operated underwater vehicle, or ROV, from PVC pipe and other readily available materials. The SeaPerch Program is funded by the Office of Naval Research as part of the National Naval Responsibility for Naval Engineering (NNRNE) to find the next generation of Naval Architects, Marine Engineers, Naval Engineers, and Ocean Engineers. After the SeaPerch is constructed, the students are encouraged to test their vehicles, deploy them on “missions,” and compete in the SeaPerch Challenge. A two-day training program to teach the teachers how to build the SeaPerch, and also discuss curriculum for the classroom, is provided at no cost to the school district. The first-ever SeaPerch Stakeholders Conference was a big success. The program was timely, relevant, and the speakers did an outstanding job of communicating their various programs, models, topics and ideas to an eager audience. As I learned more about SeaPerch, I found myself wondering why there aren’t more schools participating – SeaPerch is hands-on, engaging, low cost, fun, dynamic, and encourages teamwork and communication. I wish this kit had been around when I was in school. If you’ve followed this blog and read my most recent book, Engineers Make a Difference, you probably know that I’m a big fan of finding ways to get more students involved in engineering. SeaPerch can be a wonderful vehicle to connect with a student’s altruistic ideals. What if the cure for cancer lies on the bottom of the ocean? Could our oceans one day be the largest generator of electricity? Can the shortage of water around the world be lessened through engineering a better/more efficient/lower cost desalinator? Get involved - you never know if SeaPerch will be the project that encourages a student to Save the World! -- Posted by Celeste Baine on August 11, 2009
-- Posted by Celeste Baine on September 2, 2009 Best Undergrad College Engineering Degrees By Salary
For the full list of salaries, visit Payscale.com -- Posted by Celeste Baine on September 8, 2009
For example:
Every cosmetics and hair care company also needs engineers to make sure the products that you apply to your face, eyes, hands, mouth and hair every day are healthy, don’t produce allergies and are not toxic to your system. Not only are they involved in keeping you beautiful, they are also involved in the packaging and distribution of the products. They make sure that all of your mascara, face powder, eyeliner, foundation, blush, lipstick and everything else get to the right stores in time for you to purchase what you need. -- Posted by Celeste Baine on September 15, 2009 Getting Girls into Engineering Today's blog is about the resources that can help you get more girls into engineering. 1. If you weren't able to make it to the Focus Your Future Webinar last week, you are in luck! There are some great data, ideas, hints and tricks here. Don't miss it! The webinar recording is located on the Engineer Your Life website. 3. Here at the Engineering Education Service Center (EESC), we have a booklet to entice girls, posters of women engineers, a Women in Engineering DVD, buttons and many engineering project kits that are very girl friendly. Check us out. 4. The EESC also maintains a list of Women in Engineering Programs at Universities around the country. We also have a web page of about 100 websites with resources for Women in Science and Engineering. Are you using something that isn't listed? If so, tell us about it! -- Posted by Celeste Baine on October 28, 2009 I gave a presentation a few months ago and a man said, "People all over the world have always been trying to promote engineering. What you do isn't any different than what they've been doing for the last 30 years. It's not going to work." He claimed that all the competitions, all the events and camps are all the same and it's never going to make a difference in how the general public views engineering. -- Posted by Celeste Baine on November 5, 2009 Book Review: Ship of Gold in the Deep Blue Sea
Posted by Celeste Baine on December 7, 2009 |
