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Depicting Science, Engineering and Technology
January is High-Tech Month!
 A Message from EIC's President, CEO & Co-Founder, Brian Dyak
This month is high-tech month and EIC is proud to join in the celebration by Spotlighting a young lady who recently won the National Center for Women in Technology (NCWIT) Award for Aspirations in Computing. Allison Collier is a senior at Massaponax High School in Fredericksburg, VA and a former EIC Intern. She fell in love with computer science during her first C++ class and has followed her passion ever since. We sat down with Allison to talk about her award, her love of technology, and why she thinks the media can play a key role in inspiring more young people to get involved!
High school Student Allison Collier won the 2012 NCWIT Award for Aspirations in Computing
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EIC: What first inspired you about technology?
Allison: When I was younger I was fascinated with how my computer games worked. I loved playing them but could not figure out how the computer displayed the game. Was it little elves? Was it magic? I knew then and there that I needed to figure it out and that was the start of my interest in technology; which ultimately led up to an email stating that I had won the NCWIT Award, out of 1,800 applicants, I literally fell out of my chair!
What do you think holds young people back from getting involved in these fields? What advice to you have?
I think that every field related to science, technology, engineering, and math has its own issues and stereotypes that prevent young people from really putting themselves out there and exploring it. My advice is try EVERYTHING! If you find one aspect of technology or science boring, it is never a good thing to discredit the whole field. And, never go down without a fight! Some of these courses are challenging but never give up. Seek out help from a teacher, parent or friend. There are so many resources out there that are happy to help students succeed!
How can the entertainment industry get involved?
Science, engineering and technology professionals should be more relatable to young people, if they see someone that they feel they have the potential to become, they will be more likely to feel inspired to explore these fields. Also, it would be great to see these role models as well rounded individuals that can excel at their field and hang out with their friends doing everyday things that we all enjoy!
Want to know more of Allison’s thoughts on what prevents student involvement in these fields and her thoughts on the current stereotypes of S.E.T. professionals? Click here to read the full interview on my blog.
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Did you know?
- Science, engineering and technology is the second fastest-growing occupational group, second only to healthcare.
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By 2018, employers will need 22 million new workers with post-secondary degrees to fill the 63% of U.S. jobs that, by then, will require degrees in those skill areas.
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Portions of this newsletter have been adapted from these EIC S.E.T. Resources:
 Spotlight On: Engineering
Think Tank on Engineering: Blueprint for Action!
Visit
www.eiconline.org/readyontheset
for more!
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Meet Laura...
Click here to view!
This is Laura is a short film created by Molly Cinnamon, the 2011 NCWIT Award Winner, which addresses some of the stereotypes that face today's young people when it comes to pursuing the fields related to science, engineering & technology. |
January is
National High-Tech Month
Learn more about how you can engage in the fields of science, engineering, and technology by joining SETforJobs.org.
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