Cool To Be A Scientist

"The United States does need to increase—significantly—its investment in research. The nation needs Sputnik-like programs to solve a variety of critical problems: developing alternative fuels, reducing global warming, eliminating hunger, and treating and preventing disease. Engineers, scientists, mathematicians, and their associated colleagues have vital roles to play in such efforts. The nation- government, business, education, and society—needs to develop the road maps, create the excitement, and make it really cool and rewarding to become a scientist or engineer."
(Vivek Wadhwa, Issues in Science & Technology, Where the Engineers Are, Spring 2007)

Do people really know what the opportunities are in the science and technology fields? I spoke with a mother of two girls on a plane recently and her elder daughter is very interested in math and science and also has a flair for art. I mentioned the Industrial Design program at Georgia Tech and the mother had not heard about this type of program and asked what else there is to do besides engineering? This was a very smart and capable woman who, I believe, is asking a very normal question. A quick search on the Internet can start to help answer the question of what to do in math and science, but none of it is really “kid-friendly”. It certainly doesn’t help in the quest to “make it really cool to become a scientist or engineer”.

How can an organization “make it really cool and rewarding to become a scientist or engineer”? My initial thought centers around a conference with entertaining keynote speakers, fun breakout sessions, and an expo hall full of research projects and experiments. After much thought and discussions and feedback, I view this like a branding project. How can we brand STEM careers as the “cool” thing to do? I am looking forward to meeting with the founder of Tech High, a high school here in Atlanta that focuses on math, science and technology education for high schoolers. Perhaps he can help me structure the tools needed for this branding project.

Comments

[Steve Youngblood]

I saw your video on Techdrawl. I am Steve Youngblood, the CEO of Salestrakr (www.salestrakr.com). My wife Rena works for the Georgia Charter Schools Association. There are charter schools that focus on Science and Technology (such as the Fulton Science Academy.) I saw the note on Tech High in your post. I'm not sure if they are a GCSA member. However, there are many such schools around Georgia. They'd love to have some help and as well some exposure for what they do. Please contact me if you'd like to chat with GCSA and see if they would be a good partner for you in your efforts to reach out to charter schools to promote science and technology.

[Jessica]

Hi Steve! Thanks for watching the video and commenting. I would be very interested to meet with GCSA or anyone else you recommend on this subject. I know there are a lot of great programs out there and I really want to help them get exposure more than re-creating the wheel.