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contents
STEM
TABLE OF
Winter 2019
DEPARTMENTS 06 Publisher’s Note 27 STEM Scholarships 30 Inspiring Letters from STEM Majors 32 Ad Index
SPECIAL FEATURES 10 The Promise of Artificial Intelligence Explaining AI, Recent Trends, And Innovations By Amelia Mezrahi
12 3 Broad Pieces of Advice For Those Interested in AI
What Courses And Skills Should You Consider? By Amelia Mezrahi
14 So You Want to Code:
Here Are A Few Things To Help You Get Started And Advance To A Higher Level By Casey Kesterson
24 Are You Well Suited For A Career In STEM?
Pathways For Exploration In Course Work And Outside Activities To See What STEM Careers Are Like By Jim Paterson
STEM EDUCATION 13 Understanding Blockchain And Its Application
The Potential To Create The Ultimate Secure Payment Network By Anthony Gorman
10 The Promise of Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning and deep learning are ... Casey Kesterson “The hardest part for me when learning to code was understanding the way you have to think, the logic behind what I was trying to do.”
14
18 5 Keys To Choosing The Right STEM Program
Tips From Experts To Help Students Choose From A Variety Of Programs And Offerings By Jim Paterson
22 STEM Summer Enrichment Programs Update
A List Of Summer and Pre-College Programs For High School Students To Explore STEM Interests By NextStepU
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STEM Magazine • Winter 2019 • www.nextstepu.com
So You Want To Code:
Here Are A Few Things To Help You Get Started.
10
Are You Well Suited For A Career In STEM? The job market is broad and deep – and experts say it will continue to thrive in the future.
24
Gina Gerrato-Greenhaus “For good reason, there is a lot of interest in STEM careers, however, students should understand that many different types of careers fall into those fields, so they need to get to know what they entail.”
STEM CAREER AND LIFE 26 10 Hot Careers In Science
Interested In Science? Here Are 10 Popular Careers To Consider By NextStepU
28 Which Skills Engineers Need To Brush Up On To Soar In Their Career In 2019
Which Skills Engineers Need To Brush Up On To Soar In Their Career In 2019
28
The 4 Key Soft Skills To Prepare Engineers For The New Economy By Anubhuti Shrivastava
Five Keys To Choosing The Right STEM Program
22
“As engineers, we were going to be in a position to change the world – not just study it.” ------
HENRY PETROSKI, AN AMERICAN ENGINEER AND AUTHOR SPECIALIZING IN FAILURE ANALYSIS -----STEM Magazine • Winter 2019 • www.nextstepu.com
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STEM
PUBLISHER’S NOTE Welcome to this next issue of our NextStepSTEM magazine. We hope you are having a great year so far wherever you are and seeing your hard work pay off. At NextStepU, we are on a mission to bring you important topics that motivate you to study and pursue a career in STEM as well as to prepare you for a dynamic and technology-driven world. We begin the process of brain storming for ideas as soon as we publish each edition of our magazine and continue to take in all the inspiring news and development in the world of STEM as the year goes by. To be honest, it is easy to see why we need STEM education and mindset more than ever before. Everyday, we are bombarded by so much information about new research findings, products and breakthroughs in technology. All you have to do is to stop and think what an amazing world this is with so many great opportunities for you to get involved in something you are passionate about. In this edition, we look at how to leverage a foundation of education in STEM along with your other skills to be a part of this fast-moving world. Just examine the advances in space research over the last year. NASA launched the TESS satellite into orbit around earth in April with the mission to observe almost the entire sky to study the stars and discover new exoplanets. In November, the InSight lander (not a rover) safely reached the surface of Mars, with a mission to use seismic data to probe the interior of Mars and is providing real-time updates of its progress! And my personal favorite is the discovery of a new round, pinkish dwarf planet nicknamed “Farout” about 310 miles across. In July, we also heard about the discovery of a large lake underneath Mars’s mile of ice on the southern pole, which must be quite salty to remain liquid in the freezing temperatures beneath the ice. Other technological innovations that made news were in health care where we are uncovering greater insights in genetics and the role of DNA. The potential to reverse Alzheimer’s disease, a new technique for creating 3D structures of human organs and tissues such as the first ever artificial cornea and a groundbreaking discovery in manipulating the immune system to fight cancer are just a few of the new discoveries. Thanks to a newly uncovered gut enzyme, we got a bit closer to being able to convert types A and B blood to the universal-donor O blood. We also saw an 81% increase in the sale of Electronic Vehicles (EV) in the US to about 361,307 units, thanks in large part to Tesla’s ability to deliver more than 139,000 units of Model 3, and another 51,845 of its Model X and Model S. This in turn has generated a lot of enthusiasm by other manufacturers to invest money in EVs and expect to see a surge of electric vehicles from traditional manufacturers in 2019 and beyond. And last but not least, not a day goes by that we do not hear about Artificial Intelligence (AI), Blockchain, Quantum Computing, and Smart Homes (or more like Smart Everything)! Accordingly, we focused this issue on highlighting some of these advancements, in particular exploring Artificial Intelligence and the Blockchain, (i.e. what they are, their applications, trends and innovations, and advice on coursework, skills and careers that you can focus on). #23418f As always, we have tapped into experts in the education, admissions, counseling and employment fields to offer a range of articles to help you with your STEM education and career. In ‘So You Want To Code’, Casey Kesterson returns to give some ideas on how to get started in programing or advance to the next level. Jim Paterson skillfully captures advice from experts to help students choose from a variety of STEM programs. In ‘Are You Well Suited For A Career In STEM?’, he covers pathways to explore different fields and shares advice on outside activities to introduce you to the wide expanse of careers that are included under the acronym. Articles covering ‘10 Hot Careers in Science’ and the soft skills engineers need to soar in their career in 2019 hopefully help shed light on the S and E acronyms within STEM. We hope that you are as excited as we are to learn about STEM and the prospect for even more breakthroughs in the coming year to help create a brighter future. Thank you, as always, for supporting our magazines and providing feedback on what you would like us to cover. Please shoot me an email if you have any comments or suggestions. We love to hear from you. With warmest regards, Amelia Mezrahi CEO/Publisher Next Step Universe
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STEM Magazine • Winter 2019 • www.nextstepu.com
STEM Publisher/CEO: Amelia Mezrahi | Amelia@NextStepU.com Chief Revenue Officer: Rob Aronson | Sales@NextStepU.com Adviser: David Mammano | David@NextStepU.com Editor: Kate Alexander l Editor@NextStepU.com Art Director: Silvio Del Monaco | Info@BrainBleachMedia.com Advertising Sales: Rob Aronson | sales@nextstepu.com Lisa Mietelski | Lisa@NextStepU.com Editorial and Contributions: Evelyn Alexander, Kate Alexander, Steve Asztalos, Gina Gerrato-Greenhaus, Anthony Gorman, Jonathan Hoster, Bibi Malek, Ben Martin, Amelia Mezrahi, James Paterson, Paul Rivas, Anubhuti Shrivastava, Kristin R. Tichenor Cover photography: Photos provided by Casey Kesterson, and Gina Gerrato-Greenhaus For questions, comments or advertising information, Please contact us at Info@NextStepU.com or through NextStepU.com. Next Step Universe is a proud member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling.
For advertising information #168fceemail us at Sales@NextStepU.com. Some inside photos from iStock.com ©Copyright 2019 by Next Step Universe. All rights reserved. Material in this publication may not be reproduced in any form without permission. Copying, reproduction or transmittal of this publication by any means is strictly prohibited without the permission of the publisher. The publisher reserves the right to edit or omit all materials submitted for publication, including advertisements, article contributions and event listings. Although this publication is thoroughly edited, the publisher is not liable for any damages due to editing, changes, cancellations, errors, and omissions. All corrections should be directed to our editor. All work submitted for publication is assumed to be the provider’s original work, and the publisher accepts no liability as a result of publishing such works. NextStepU® is a nationally registered trademark. Unauthorized use of the Next Step names, logos, or indicia is prohibited. We strive to make sure the information and advice is accurate, but it is up to you to do your own research. Good luck!
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By Amelia Mezrahi
The Promise OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
T
erms like Artificial Intelligence (AI), machine learning and deep learning are much in the news and always hyped. But what are they and how are they likely to impact our future? This article takes a quick look at the differences between these fields and then explores some of the most important tech trends taking place today and what they mean for work, careers and the world around us. The article concludes with a discussion of what students should do to prepare themselves.
WHAT ARE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, MACHINE LEARNING AND DEEP LEARNING? These terms are bandied about all the time, often loosely or incorrectly, but have very precise meanings. Artificial intelligence is the broadest term (https://bit.ly/2j6kE10) and refers to programs that allow computers or machines to copy or mimic some part of human intelligence (to be “smart”). This is often quite narrow, for example a computer that can play Chess. Many of these programs are highly sophisticated, but require very explicit human programming. Machine learning is a type or subset of AI where computers are able to learn and teach themselves. Such software can analyze data and change its output. For example, when you use Google it studies which links you click on from its search results. Google learns to alter
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future search results to better match your needs. Type in AI and see what comes back in the search results? No humans program what it shows you. Google’s search algorithm constantly refines itself based on what you and every other user search. Similarly, social media apps try to target stories or posts that they believe will interest you based on past patterns. Amazon and Netflix try to guess your tastes. As more information has become available, firms now try to use “big data” for example to search for useful patterns in where consumers spend money, what they buy and how much they spend on those goods. Deep learning is in turn a key subset of machine learning that comes closest to replicating what a human mind can do.
Machine Learning Deep Learning
The subset of machine learning composed of algorithms that permit software to train itself to perform tasks, like speech and image recognition, by exposing multilayered neural networks to vast amounts of data.
STEM Magazine • Winter 2019 • www.nextstepu.com
Software uses algorithms to actually learn to perform cognitive tasks with humans giving only limited instructions. A deep learning computer can teach a robot to recognize shapes and consider how to pick them up (whether a robot on the surface of Mars collecting rocks for NASA or one trying to pack boxes for Amazon). Deep learning often requires even more data than machine learning but has greater capabilities. It powers state of the art tools like autonomous vehicles, language recognition or image/ facial recognition. For example, deep learning software could analyze a photo and write a sentence describing it to you (something that would seem out of science fiction only a few years ago).
Artificial Intelligence
A subset of AI that includes abstruse statistical techniques that enable machines to improve at tasks with experience. The category includes deep learning
Any technique that enables computers to mimic human intelligence, using logic, if-then rules, decision trees, and machine learning (including deep learning)
Source: https://bit.ly/2j6kE10
RECENT TRENDS ON FUTURE TECHNOLOGIES ROBOTICS While robotics is a well-established field and industrial robots have been used in the production of products like cars for decades, look for robotic manufacturing to grow massively in the next few years. Smart robots are already stitching clothing in some factories. Robots that can make and flip hamburgers for restaurants or even fold clothing for you are in the early stages of commercialization. Smaller armies of robots and drones will likely begin delivering goods directly to houses in the next few years. Advances in AI are teaching robots how to pick up smaller objects and they may soon take the lead in restocking store shelves for people or pulling feeds for farmers.
learning what a suspicious spot on the skin looks like, automatically identifying them and making a notation for a dermatologist to inspect more closely. Integration with health apps will allow real time monitoring of vital signs for heart health not only in intensive care units but as you go on your morning jog via your smartwatch. These devices will be able to look proactively for trends in your health and wellness, searching for warning signs and offering feedback on your overall health to your doctor while also helping you to plan your next workout.
SEMIAUTONOMOUS CARS
Expect voice assistants like Alexa and Siri to only get smarter, being able to listen passively to conversations and offer suggestions real time, take notes for meetings or plan dinner dates, making human assistants increasingly rare. Voice assistants will move from simply managing lights or the temperature in houses to communicating with refrigerators on when to restock foods and automatically creating shopping lists. Looking at recipes online while planning for a party? Alexa or Siri may automatically order the food, have it delivered to your house and even monitor the progress of that stew in your slow cooker.
Fully autonomous cars are slowly being rolled out in the U.S. (as well as China), with the Waymo division of Google/Alphabet taking the lead. Apple reportedly has a massive investment in developing its own car, while Uber is already testing out a self-driving car service in Arizona and Pittsburgh. Ford plans to have 100,000 autonomous vehicles on the road being tested in the U.S. in 2021. But beyond the hype about fully self-driving cars, a range of semiautonomous vehicles that require only the occasional assistance from drivers are already on the road. And move over Tesla, GM is installing its Super Cruise hands free driving system in all Cadillacs starting in 2020 (and all its other car models by 2023). Similarly, Mercedes, Nissan and Honda are also all rolling out models that will be partially autonomous on U.S. highways in 2020.
MEDICAL DIAGNOSTICS
INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION
Medicine is the furthest from commercial application in some cases, but may ultimately yield some of the greatest gains. Machine learning applications are tailor made for
One of the biggest trends is that AI is emerging as a crucial sphere for international competition. The US, long the technological leader, is facing a strong challenge from China,
VOICE ASSISTANTS AND THE SMART HOUSE (E.G. THE INTERNET OF THINGS)
where generous government funding as well as massive investment from private sector has allowed it to take the lead in a few areas of AI. China views AI as crucial to its national security and has invested substantially in technologies related to security and surveillance, especially facial recognition technology. The country hopes to have the ability to identify and pick each person out of a crowd of thousands of people on the street or in a soccer stadium in a few seconds (an amazing if Orwellian sounding innovation). China also has comparatively weak privacy laws allowing domestic firms to access massive data troves in a country with a population of almost 1.4 billion. For example, in fields like medical imaging, they may use machine learning to scan through billions of x-rays, MRIs and cat scans to teach computers to automatically find cancerous legions without significant privacy restrictions. The U.S. still leads overall in AI due to its long experience as the birthplace of modern computing. It is the headquarters for tech giants like Google, Amazon and Apple and is a global leader in microchip design and production (allowing it to design specialized chips that are much more efficient in AI functions). U.S. technology is very strong in technologies like voice recognition and digital assistants like Alexa or Siri as well as fields like robotics. This is also why beyond trying to dominate software, China recently unveiled a China 2025 plan (https://bit.ly/2dpvJKF) to develop a national microchip industry independent of the US (as well as Korea, Japan and other countries). China will be also aggressively rolling out autonomous and electric cars in several cities in the next few years.
STEM Magazine • Winter 2019 • www.nextstepu.com
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EDUCATION
3
BROAD PIECES OF ADVICE FOR STUDENTS WHO ARE INTERESTED IN AI
>>>
>>>
>>>
So how can students take advantage of these trends? In terms of coursework and careers, there are three broad pieces of advice – think about what courses to take in college, scrutinize how these trends are likely to impact different careers and more generally think about the analytic and reasoning skills that will allow you to thrive as AI spreads from industry to industry.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>
STEM
COURSES AND MAJORS FOR COLLEGE While fields like deep learning are highly specialized, the first step is to consider taking a coding class or two. Even if you have less interest in working/majoring in computer science, this will give you a skill set to interact with those that do and be able to utilize AI tools in different professions you may enter. If you get “the bug” and enjoy those courses, that is great news. Computer scientists, especially those with an AI background, are in hot demand. If not, even a single course is likely to prove invaluable in a host of careers to know how to interact with different computer systems, use AI programs to analyze data and also know the limitations of the software around you.
AI AND THE JOB MARKET The World Economic Forum recently issued a report (https://bit.ly/2MJy9k3) that argued that AI will create 133 million new jobs, while displacing 75 million other ones. No one knows with certainty how AI is likely to impact the job market and past guesses for how technology would affect the workplace (the car, the computer) have often been wrong. But to the extent possible, you need to identify which jobs you think will see declining demand (for example, long haul trucking). Also assess sectors where demand may be stable but the nature of the job may change significantly (medicine). Finally, it is important to try to identify those fields where employment is likely to grow.
2
DEVELOPING YOUR REASONING SKILLS AND A FACILITY FOR WORKING WITH DATA This last point about looking to new jobs created around the use of AI is particularly important. For example, the computer revolution and the growth of the Internet led to large increases in the demand for analysts broadly defined. This appears likely to continue. Rather than think about specific careers, focus as much on the quality of your analytic skills as your chosen profession. Perhaps the single biggest impact of the Internet has been the mountains of data produced every second around the world. AI is likely to give us some of the tools to analyze this data. But even most sophisticated of deep learning algorithms is likely to need someone to interpret and understand it. For jobs that require analysis, employment demand often grows because of rather than in spite of technological change. Perhaps the best example is Microsoft Excel. The development of spreadsheet programs led to a large reduction in the number of bookkeeping jobs in the U.S. (falling by 44% since 1985) (https:// on.wsj.com/2u0cdZt). But it also led to a far greater increase in the number of accountants, auditors, management analysts and financial managers in the U.S. over the same time period. Just look at the major banks today. In addition to hiring cyber security specialists, using AI experts for financial planning and machine learning to detect financial fraud, these banks are also hiring thousands of analysts to follow up on what their systems flag, win over new customers and share their findings with existing ones. What ties all of these jobs together is an ability to interpret and/or manipulate the data that software generates.
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STEM Magazine • Winter 2019 • www.nextstepu.com
3
By Anthony Gorman
Understanding Blockchain
AND ITS APPLICATION
T
hroughout the human history, transaction record methodology changed over the ages, with innovation being the main driver for improvements. Blockchain, being one of the newest technological achievements, holds promises of creating the ultimate secure payment network, connecting peers globally. This article explains what blockchain network is, what are the types of the blockchain systems out there, and the direction the technology is heading in future. We also provide some educational sources where interested parties can learn more about the new technology.
WHAT IS A BLOCKCHAIN? Formerly known as block chain, blockchain is an online ledger record that, much like accounting books, keeps track of all transactions conducted within its network. At the same time, blockchain is a payment system that uses digital assets, often called cryptocurrencies, as an asset transfer medium. These records of transaction data are in digital blocks, giving the technology its name. Cryptography is a protocol that moves all data, participants, as well as digital coins securely. It prevents third parties from gaining access to sensitive information and greatly improves the security of the network against hacking attempts. Blockchain also holds one of the greatest advantages over mainstream systems – a near irreversible payment system. Once recorded, a block would require previous blocks to be altered as well in order to change transaction data. The same works for payments, as hacking attempts would require reversing all previous payments as well, which would be nearly impossible. This makes huge systems like Bitcoin very secure. Blockchain first saw the light of the day in 2009 by an anonymous programmer called Satoshi Nakamoto. The first ever cryptocurrency is Bitcoin, which leads all the market charts today in terms of price and volume strength. Each network participant needs an address code, which acts as a storage location for cryptocurrencies. The wallet address is coded through numbers and letters, combined into one word.
WHAT ABOUT CRYPTOCURRENCIES? Apart from records and security measures, blockchain provides yet another feature that is quite well-known – an anonymous currency for payment. These are digital assets that act as a medium of payment, much similar to fiat currencies, such as U.S. Dollar, Euro, and British Pound Sterling. They are considered to be the alternative to mainstream traditional currencies though their adoption rate is still low compared to fiats.
Currently, there are over 1,000 types of cryptocurrencies in the market, with the most popular examples including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Litecoin and Ripple. Depending on the blockchain network, most of the digital coins rely on market trends for their value and no governmental body controls them.
DECENTRALIZED VS. CENTRALIZED NETWORK Blockchain networks differ in terms of control of supply and price. The very first blockchain system, bitcoin, used algorithms to make a decentralized, peer-to-peer network. That is to say, an organization that created it left the supply and price evaluation to the general public. There is no central location or controller. The same goes for system improvements in coding. Most blockchains, Bitcoin included, offer open-source code documents on GitHub, available for anyone’s use. However, there are also centralized blockchain networks, like Ripple and Stablecoins, which operate through tight control of the developer team. Whereas a free network allows nodes to modify it, centralized blockchains function as a property of the individual/ company that made it and change only with their system updates.
TRANSACTION SYSTEM AND MINING Many blockchain networks operate through Proof of Work (PoW) (https://bit.ly/2HeNWoi), which is an algorithm that demands participants to complete a specific task in order to be awarded a block of coins. Bitcoin uses this system and it is called mining. Through hardware, miners use complex mathematical equations to check the existing ledger of previous transactions (the power to calculate and perform these checks is called hash power). Once a series of equations is solved (e.g. checks on existing records are performed), the blockchain network would provide a block of coins as a reward. In Bitcoin’s case, it creates and distributes new coins to those participants with the largest hash power. Given the work entailed to win these coins, the process is called bitcoin mining. There are also other algorithms, such as Proof of Stake (PoS), in which coins are awarded directly by the blockchain developers, often to reward use of the currency. For example keeping either a large number of coins in a digital wallet or holding them there for a longer period of time could result in the algorithm awarding new coins as an incentive for participation within the network. Transactions in a PoW system require miners to confirm transactions as they compete for blocks. Without confirmation, transfers cannot go through the network. Some other blockchain systems use coded smart contracts. Developed by Ethereum founders, smart contracts act as a security measure in which both parties need to meet a set of
requirements before the transaction can take place, securing the market from fraud.
WHERE IS BLOCKCHAIN APPLICABLE? Smart contracts and ledger records have a wide range of applications, including retail systems, manufacturing, non-profits, and even government systems. Although the adoption rate has been slow to pick up (there are only about 10,000 systems adopting (https://bit.ly/2OsZlFg) or creating their own blockchain network), there are cases of blockchain implementation outside of the cryptocurrency market. These include Dubai’s logistics’ system (ready by 2020), IBM’s distributed ledger technology (DLT), many banks, and service companies. Ledger records would provide needed transparency for the entire supply chain, documenting all transactions, as well as the movement of inventory between firms or facilities. Banking institutions have shown a strong interest in the blockchain, hoping it can drastically simplify record keeping and secure, irreversible transactions with other banks. Lately, the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Transactions (SWIFT) (https://bit. ly/2RKhrZe) announced the development of the Global Payment Initiative (GPI) service that would include a blockchain network. Through it, banks can exchange sensitive information regarding their clients, effectively speeding up the process through automated data transfers and a transparent online ledger record system.
THE FUTURE OF THE TECH Although blockchain holds several benefits for the mainstream market, there are also criticisms that technology needs to address in the near future. Many of these systems provide privacy as a feature, yet this may enable illicit activities. Without strict regulation, criminal activity could flourish. Additionally, blockchain’s ledger records, although mostly irreversible, are just that – records. For the system to see a brighter future, developers need to account for features that matter the most for companies, which are smart contracts, ease of use and security of the network. However, it is important to note that many large and global companies, such as IBM, Microsoft, and Wal-Mart are already involved with the blockchain, often developing their own solutions. The future of the blockchain’s adoption will rely on its ability to improve the accuracy and efficiency of blockchain systems, continue to provide security and reliability to customers and reassure regulators about their potential use in criminal activity. Anthony Gorman is a freelance writer from Montreal, Canada. He is experienced in trading & investing, financial markets and how they work, Cryptocurrency and the Blockchain.
STEM Magazine • Winter 2019 • www.nextstepu.com
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STEM
EDUCATION
want to
code
HERE ARE A FEW THINGS TO CONSIDER THAT CAN GET YOU STARTED By Casey Kesterson
J
ava, C, Ruby, Python, SQL…the list of different programming languages https://bit.ly/2sfMyNk goes on and on. You’re super interested, and you want to learn everything technology related—how to code, how computer hardware works, how to hack— OR maybe you couldn’t care less, but your dad’s making you learn because of “how great the job market is” (he’s not wrong, to be fair). Either way, it can be hard to know where to start. It can seem like a tall order to break into the world of computers, especially if you didn’t grow up building your own desktop or playing video games. Sometimes the terms aren’t incredibly intuitive, and those online who already know them don’t always take the time to explain in words that non-technical people can easily understand. It just seems like there’s so much to learn!
THE LOGIC AND THE SYNTAX If you’re at all interested in learning how to
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code, and you’re scouring the internet for ideas on what language is the best to start with, you’re probably going to get a lot of different advice. I’ve heard it said (and I agree wholeheartedly) that coding has two very distinct parts that you need to learn, regardless of the first language you choose: the logic and the syntax. The logic is your thought process, how you take an idea of something you want the computer to do and use the little pieces coding languages give you to create it. The syntax is like the grammar of coding—making sure you use semicolons or commas where you need them, double-checking that everything is spelled right, things like that.
TAKING YOUR FIRST STEPS The hardest part for me when learning to code was understanding the way you have to think, the logic behind what I was trying to do. Coding is like a puzzle: you have an end goal in mind, and a ton of little pieces the language provides you with to help you get there. The challenge
STEM Magazine • Winter 2019 • www.nextstepu.com
is putting the pieces together correctly. The fun part is that everyone can solve the same problem differently—there’s no single right way to solve these puzzles. It’s like in math: 2x2=4, but so does 2+2=4. Neither way is better, and both give you the same results. It’s just a personal preference, and it lets you get creative. The first thing I’d like to suggest, if you’re new to this, is to play a logic game or two online, designed to help with coding. It’s a fun way to start teaching yourself how to think logically. Hour of Code (more on this further down) has a great website (https://hourofcode.com/us) where you can find tons of games grouped by age range, but I wouldn’t be scared of the ones focused on younger kids—we want this to be an easy introduction! For example, Scratch can be helpful to start learning the different basic structures you’ll have available to you while coding (https://scratch.mit.edu/). The syntax is like learning the grammar and how to spell. It’s sort of like writing a book; you know the story you want to tell,
You’re super interested, and you want to learn everything technology related—how to code, how computer hardware works, how to hack
now you just have to write it down so people can understand you. In this case, we need the computer to be able to understand you instead of readers. While the logic will generally stay pretty similar from language to language, the syntax can be quite different. For example, in Python, you don’t need a semicolon to end each line (https://docs.python.org/3/reference/ compound_stmts.html), but in Java you’ll get an error if you forget one. But I promise, once you have mastered one, it is much smoother sailing with each additional language you learn.
ADVANCING TO A HIGHER LEVEL When you feel like you’ve started to understand the different structures used in coding logic (like if-then statements, for loops, switch statements), I’d suggest you start looking into a “high level programming language https:// bit.ly/2sDvDEl.” Imagine you’re visiting a foreign country, and you don’t speak the language. Maybe you have a translator, so you don’t have to know how to say phrases in that language, you can just say what you want and trust the translator is getting the message
across for you. That’s sort of what a high-level programming language does; you don’t have to learn too much about how the actual hardware of the computer works. You don’t have to be an expert in memory or threading or things like that. It takes care of a lot of behind-the-scenes things for you, so you can just focus on learning the basics of programming. Even if you are interested in the more technical functions of a computer, starting with a high-level language and then working your way down may still be a good way to start. A lot of these languages
STEM Magazine • Winter 2019 • www.nextstepu.com
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STEM
EDUCATION have lots of words in English too, so it makes learning them a lot easier! I suggest looking at a language like Java or Python first. They are higher level programming languages, and they’ll help you learn the basics of coding. Another benefit of starting with these two is that they are object-oriented programming languages. This means that your programming revolves around objects and the attributes they have—like how a dog has a name, a breed, a color, etc. There are other types of languages as well, but object-oriented can be a good start because it’s an intuitive way of thinking. You can learn many other languages easily once you know one of them, anyway, so if you don’t like these, you don’t have to stick with them. You might also be interested in learning more specific things, like databases or how to create a website. If you’re interested in databases, SQL is a good place to start. For the front end of websites (the part of the website you see as a user, with buttons and drop-down menus and
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things like that), maybe look into HTML, CSS, or JavaScript. There is plenty of free help online for you to learn these languages plus many more, in addition to online courses you can pay for. I mentioned the Hour of Code website before, but there is also an Hour of Code event every year in December. Schools, libraries, and companies will host these events where they open their computer labs to the public and have volunteers there to guide you through various coding activities, tutorials, and games. These events can give you the chance to ask questions, which is great because sometimes it can help to hear something explained out loud instead of just reading on online.
EASY PEASY An important thing to keep in mind when learning is that it isn’t a lot of memorization (even though it might feel like it at first), and you don’t have to know everything before you get started. Sure, I suggest trying some games
STEM Magazine • Winter 2019 • www.nextstepu.com
first just to get a better understanding of what it is you’ll be doing once you’re writing actual code, but the internet is here for you every step of the way. Even if you end up programming professionally down the road, there will always be bits of syntax you don’t know or don’t remember, and you’ll end up Googling them. It’s just a part of coding. Also, try not to put too much pressure on yourself when you’re first starting out. You’re not going to build a video game or app in a day—just focus on getting the computer to print out your name first, and the app will come later. I hope you’re excited to give coding a try! There are so many different things you can create with code, and there really are so many different job opportunities that it’d be a shame to count yourself out before giving it a shot. Even if it doesn’t end up being your career, just learning can help you think more logically, which is a helpful skill to have in any job. So get out there, start trying to code something small while dreaming big, and good luck!
KNOW.
BE KNOWN.
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STEM
EDUCATION
5
Keys to
Choosing
by Jim Paterson
The Right STEM Program
Massachusetts Institute of Technology is the No. 1 STEM-centric school on the 2018 Top Colleges list.
I
n the first few paragraphs of Forbes Magazine’s recent review of the 25 best STEM colleges https://bit.ly/2QOaZuN, there were noteworthy trends evident – some positive and some perhaps a bit concerning for students interested in these fields. The bad news first: The two universities that were rated the best in the country for STEM – the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and California Institute of Technology – each only accept just eight out of every 100 students who apply, and both cost about $70,000 annually now. However, STEM programs have improved and expanded in recent years and nearly a quarter of the top 25 STEM programs accept half their applicants according to Forbes. Several cost considerably less than the big-name schools and may even be cutting tuition in future. Also, most have specialized programs or features that often fit the needs of individual students best. These trends are all related to advice that experts have for students considering a STEM career: that there are many good STEM programs with an increasing variety of offerings and students should study them carefully before they decide.
UNDERSTANDING THAT, HERE ARE FIVE TIPS FROM EXPERTS ABOUT CHOOSING THE RIGHT STEM PROGRAM:
1
AVOID ASSUMPTIONS.
“Don’t get hung up on the most visible numbers - ranking and reputation,” says Evelyn Alexander, founder of Magellan Counseling in California, which works with students in the Los Angeles region and nationwide, often those interested in STEM careers. “Don’t fall victim to the fallacy that only students who graduate from top-ranked programs get jobs.” She and other experts say students should challenge themselves, but keep an open mind about schools, and choose a program based on good research and how it meets their needs. In the same way they shouldn’t be persuaded to attend a college by good pictures on a website or a winning football team, they shouldn’t choose a STEM university based on its reputation or one cool advance it has made in robotics. Good programs are available at many schools – and Alexander says each student’s list should include colleges with a range of costs, sizes and other features.
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STEM Magazine • Winter 2019 • www.nextstepu.com
2
LOOK CLOSELY.
Kristin R. Tichenor, senior vice president for enrollment and institutional strategy at Worcester, MA, Polytechnic Institute https://bit.ly/2st8DHV, says that there are a number of characteristics of a college program that prospective students should examine, such as the curriculum (compare the range of required courses and electives directly with those at other schools), the size of introductory courses, the resumes of professors and whether students stay in the STEM program or transfer. Also check what their graduation rates are. “For many colleges and universities, the attrition rate out of STEM majors is relatively high. You don’t want to risk losing the chance to get your degree in a high demand discipline,” Tichenor says. Also, is the atmosphere competitive or collaborative? She says some students have a preference. Collaboration is often a key skill desired in the workplace and can contribute to learning.
3
THE TRACK RECORD.
Research opportunities are important in many STEM careers, and when those connections are made to outside businesses and organizations it’s a good indicator of the quality and reach of the program and its faculty, according to Steve Asztalos, who holds a PhD in nuclear physics from UC Berkeley and teaches college courses while advising students about graduate programs in STEM fields through his company Academically Speaking. “That’s just one of those things that is valuable in STEM training, because it gives students a close look at a specific career – and it is increasingly something employers look for.” Beyond that, he says, look for opportunities to do internships and check out the other types of connections people in the department have to the real world. Alexander says students exploring programs should also look at how well graduates succeed. “Research each college’s career center and which companies and graduate programs recruit from amongst their graduates. As much as you are worried about the ‘getting in’ part, your parents are worried about the ‘getting out’ part.” She also recommends they study graduates’ salaries. Career development staff should gather placement rate data and salaries for graduating students by academic discipline and have them available for review. Sometimes information about alumni success and their attitudes toward their alma mater and its STEM programs can provide a lot of useful information, including what is posted on social media.
Advice from BIBI MALEK, Founder of Select College Admissions https://bit.ly/2CnaoeA For Bibi Malek, a discussion of higher education admissions and STEM careers comes very naturally. Malek graduated from Brown University and got her masters from Harvard in Education. For more than a decade, she has worked as a consultant with students from different countries on college placement at hundreds of colleges. Being a member of a family of engineers, she is very familiar with STEM-related topics. “Our dinner table conversations have often revolved around STEM topics so I am well-versed in everything from Microelectromechanical systems and mining to solar power and hydroelectric systems in energy,” she says. Malek’s husband is a Stanford University-trained engineer, and both of her sons are in STEM fields, one working in Silicon Valley and the other employed as a civil engineer near their home in British Columbia. With that background, here are the questions Malek believes students should answer for themselves if they are exploring STEM programs to see if they have features they want – and if it is an active, energetic and up-to-date department: • Does the university offer the specific type of STEM study the student is interested in (since even within the STEM fields there are specialties)? For instance, for a student who is artistic and interested in both STEM and the design aspect of products, the Rochester Institute of Technology would be a good option. On the other hand, a student interested in design solutions that make our world a better place might be better suited to the Olin College of Engineering. • Is it a direct-entry program where the student is applying directly into the specific department or major? • Is the program accredited? Is an engineering program certified by Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology, for instance? • How much industry affiliation does the program have such as collaborative work with innovators? Are there co-op options, which allow the student to alternate between study and work? How about formal internship programs or job fairs? Are there research opportunities with professors at the undergraduate level and chances to attend conferences or to be published? • Does the school offer some flexibility and an opportunity to keep options open so that a student can explore some fields and gain experience in them early on if they are undecided or if they switch majors?
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STEM
EDUCATION
4
STUDY THE SUPPORTS.
Alexander believes students should check out a college’s career counseling office – or a department’s efforts to place students – and ask current students how hard it is to take advantage of the career services on campus. She also believes they should try to find how much time students have to communicate with professors and how current students feel about the level of support they receive in their department. They may also want to know about counseling for academic and emotional support as well as financial concerns.
5
THE REST OF IT.
Perhaps even more than students in other majors, STEM students exploring colleges often focus solely on their field and department. Instead, they should consider the entire school, says Tichenor. While it is important to find out specifics about the STEM department, students must realize they will spend a lot of time outside of the department and should make sure the college is what they want in many other ways https://bit.ly/2R69AzZ. “College is not just about academics. What are your other passions? The bottom line is that you want to take full advantage of your undergraduate experience to develop your STEM expertise, but you also want to be able to fine-tune your communication and leadership skills, and learn how to work well in groups,” says Tichenor. “Soft skills along with technical skills will set you apart as a job candidate and as a working professional in a technical career.” They should even consider what percentage of students at the college are pursuing similar majors, she says. “In other words, will everyone else in your residence hall be socializing when you have hours of work ahead doing problem sets and tackling lab assignments?” Plus, she notes, student who are happy at their campus perform better and are less likely to move out of a program or leave a school.
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STEM Magazine • Winter 2019 • www.nextstepu.com
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STEM
SUMMER PROGRAMS There are many different options for summer and pre-college programs for high school students. Search online resources to search by location and interests, such as https://www.nextstepu.com and https://www.collegexpress.com/lists/list/top-summer-pre-college-programs/1761/
STEM SUMMER PROGRAMS
iD TECH STEM Summer Camps - Multiple Locations Offers tech education for kids and teens including summer programs at over 150 college campuses including iD Tech Camps, iD Tech Coding and Engineering Academy, iD Game Design and Development Academy. 1-(888) 709-8324 • www.idtech.com University of British Columbia - Canada Focus: Environmental Science and Sustainability or Applied Science and Design www.summerscholars.ubc.ca UConn School of Engineering - CT Explore Engineering E2 is a one-week residential summer program for current high school sophomores and juniors who are interested in engineering. Students are nominated by their high school math, science, or engineering teachers. Email: engrexplore@engr.uconn.edu http://edoc.engr.uconn.edu/explore-engineering Lebanon Valley College - PA Focus: Actuarial Science. The actuarial science summer camp is a week-long intensive program for rising high school seniors designed to help them decide if they’re interested in actuarial work. Contact: Patrick Brewer, Director of Actuarial Science. 1-(866) LV-4ADM • Email: brewer@lvc.edu www.lvc.edu/academics/summercommunity-programming/actuarial-science-camp Vanderbilt University Center for Science Outreach (CSO) – TN Vanderbilt University offers a variety of pre-college programs for high school students. The Vanderbilt Center for Science Outreach (CSO) is a science program that establishes partnerships between university scientists, K-12 educators and students, and the local and global science community. It offers summer programs including GAS (Girls And Science) and BEST (Boys Exploring Science and Technology. https://admissions.vanderbilt.edu/prospective/precollege-programs.php Georgia Tech Summer Engineering Institute (SEI) – GA Since 2008 the College of Engineering at Georgia Tech has offered a 3-week residential summer program that focuses on underrepresented minority rising 11th and 12th graders from across the nation. The goal of GT-SEI is to provide students with a real world engineering experience that prepares them for the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow. Requirements: There is a minimum of 3.0 GPA requirement and individuals must have completed Algebra II and 2 lab sciences (preferably in biology, chemistry or physical science). Applicants must be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident. http://www.sei.gatech.edu/
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Hobart and William Smith Colleges– NY Each summer, 50 students, 18 faculty and 14 staff embark on a transformative adventure. The Environmental Studies Summer Youth Institute (ESSYI) is a two-week, college-level interdisciplinary course for talented high-school students entering their junior and senior years. ESSYI introduces students to environmental issues and interdisciplinary techniques for addressing environmental problems. Students make new intellectual and emotional connections as they explore current environmental crises through scientific, social, economic, philosophical, ethical, and political perspectives. http://essyi.hws.edu/ Wagner College – NY Focus: Pre-Med and Science Pre-College Program Wagner College offers 3-week interactive learning experience for highly motivated high school students. In addition to traditional classroom lectures, students will partake in demonstrations, labs, and simulators and have the opportunity to visit hospitals in the NYC metro area. http://wagner.edu/lifelong-learning/pre-college/ summer-pre-college/pre-med-science/ Science Camps of America – HI Camp summer programs are for teens ages 13-17. There are two 10-day sessions each summer. Programs include field trips to study the volcanoes, rocks, streams, forests, ocean and sky of the Big Island of Hawaii. Students will see science come to life as they experience geology, oceanography, ecology, climate, and astronomy, “up close and personal”. http://sciencecampsamerica.com/ Stevens Institute Of Technology Pre-College - NJ Stevens Institute offers 1-2 weeks summer sessions. Programs are carefully designed by faculty to be creative, project-driven, and hands-on to give the student not just a real college experience, but real world experience too. There are several different programs in Engineering and Science, Technology, and Business such as Cybersecurity, Civil Engineering and Architecture, Pre-Med, Engineering bootcamp, Computer Science, Game Design, and Virtual Reality. www.stevens.edu/summer U.S. Naval Academy Summer STEM Program – MD The Summer STEM program at USNA offers a series of week long, STEM Engineering & Construction Camps designed for High School students who excel in math, science and technology courses and are interested in pursuing engineering, architecture, or related fields in college. Rising 9th-11th graders participate in team-building activities, intramural sports, academic modules, and go on a field trip to a local venue. Students must have a strong academic performance and PSAT, SAT, or ACT scores. https://www.usna.edu/Admissions/Programs/index.php
Stanford University Mathematics Camp (SUMaC) – CA SUMaC offers intensive study in advanced mathematics for talented rising high school juniors and seniors. SUMaC accepts from around the world, so international students can apply! SUMaC offers two courses called Program I and Program II, with unique topics for each course. Students are enrolled in just one program during the summer, and the two programs allow students to potentially return for a second summer. http://sumac.stanford.edu/ Michigan State University HSHP – MI Michigan State University High School Honors Science/Mathematics/Engineering Program (HSHSP) provides its participants with a unique opportunity to “live and breathe” research in a university environment. Its goals are not only to educate individuals about the research process but also to provide the right kind of social context for such knowledge and expertise to flourish. Rising 12th graders engage in intensive research work over a seven-week period and to interact with peers who come from diverse backgrounds but who share a love of science and/or mathematics. Only U.S. citizens and permanent residents are eligible for this program. http://education.msu.edu/hshsp/ Worcester Polytechnic Institute Summer STEM Residential Programs – MA WPI offers several different STEM programs for students entering 7-12 grades. The Frontier program for rising juniors and seniors is an on-campus residential program. Students will be challenged to explore the outer limits of their knowledge in STEM disciplines with current laboratory techniques to explore unsolved problems. Workshops in the humanities and arts, ranging from writing, art, music, theatre, and more are also offered. There are two sessions offered in the summer. https://www.wpi.edu/academics/pre-collegiate/summer/stem-residential Penn State STEM Summer Enrichment Program – PA Penn State Harrisburg’s School of Science, Engineering, and Technology offers a two week STEM Summer Enrichment Workshop (STEM-SEP) in June. The program is free for high school students who are accepted to the program. The program is for rising 11th and 12th grade high school students. The workshop is designed to improve students’ knowledge through hands-on activities in a variety of STEM areas. http://harrisburg.psu.edu/science-engineering-technology/ STEM/summer-STEM-program
Northeastern University Center for STEM Education, MA Northeastern offers four STEM programs for high school students during the summer. These programs are open only to Massachusetts’s residents as they are non-resident programs. 1) Young Scholar’s Program (YSP) is for rising 12th graders and is a six weeks in duration; 2) Summer STEM Program (NUSS) is for rising 6th, 7th and 8th graders and is 10 days in duration; 3) Imagining the Future of Transportation Program (IFTP) is for rising 9th and 10th graders and is 2 weeks in duration; 4) GE Girls is for rising 7th ad 8th grade girls and is one week in duration. Additionally there is a Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program for rising sophomore, junior, and senior college undergraduates that is 10 weeks in duration. https://stem.neu.edu/summer/ The George Washington University Summer STEM Programs – D.C. GW’s state-of-the-art Science and Engineering Hall (SEH), coupled with GW’s distinguished faculty, provide a unique opportunity to study STEM courses in the nation’s capital. The new engineering building includes high-tech laboratory space and facilities, such as a biomedical-imaging lab. In addition, students interact with Washington, D.C.’s active science and engineering community to work on projects. There are credit and non-credit programs in a number of STEM fields. The non-credit programs are for rising high school sophomores, juniors and seniors. Participants enroll in 1 or 2-week programs that integrate lectures with guest speakers, experiential and applied activities. The program offers 4 different sessions. The credit programs are for rising college juniors and seniors. https://summer.gwu.edu/stem Rice University R-STEM Summer Program – TX R-STEM offers a variety of summer enrichment programs for elementary, middle, and high school students in topics such as computer science, computeraided design, 3D printing, and high school physics. Student programs vary by year and can include engineering, solar and energy exploration, or shadowing graduate and postdoc students in their research. https://www.rstem.rice.edu/programs
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STEM
CAREER AND LIFE
Are You Well Suited FOR A CAREER IN STEM?
by Jim Paterson
I
t isn’t hard to find upbeat advice for young people about the value of a STEM degree and career. The job market it broad and deep – and experts say it will continue to thrive in future. But even with all that enthusiasm, students nonetheless need to understand that a wide expanse of careers are included in that acronym – science, technology, engineering and math. Some young people may be better suited for certain fields over others. And a few students may find that STEM is probably just not for them. “For good reason, there is a lot of interest in STEM careers, however, students should understand that many different types of careers fall into those fields, so they need to get to know what they entail,” says Gina Gerrato-Greenhaus, director of Greenhaus College Consulting in San Diego, who has had a wide range of experience as a counselor and coach for high school students and in college admissions. “And they really need to take some time to consider their interests and aptitude.” Paul Rivas, director of the academic coaching firm Smith Rivas in Washington, D.C.
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and author of new book (http://smithrivas.com/ book/) on Study Skills for college, agrees with those two recommendations. He argues that initially a student should show an interest in STEM careers – which becomes enthusiasm to explore and work in one of these fields. “The most common trait among students who are successful in STEM is curiosity, and they should be curious as they explore the STEM fields. They should go to every science or tech event near them, for example, try all the activities, ask lots of questions and, after the event, they should make a list of the things they want to know more about and go learn as much as they can about them,” he says. “The leading STEM students spend 10-20 hours per week learning things on their own, outside of school.” And Jonathan Hoster, undergraduate recruitment specialist for the College of Engineering and Computer Science at Syracuse University, says educators are finding they are not doing enough to thoroughly expose high school students and even middle school or elementary school students to college and career options. This is particularly true in STEM careers, where the need is high. “Studies repeatedly show we are not graduating
STEM Magazine • Winter 2019 • www.nextstepu.com
enough STEM professionals to fill the demand. In order to inspire more young people to enter STEM careers, we need to think about how we describe them,” he says.
PATHWAYS FOR EXPLORATION Ben Martin, director of business development and client success at STEM Premier https:// www.stempremier.com/, an online platform connecting STEM students, colleges and employers, says there are a number of ways (https://bit.ly/2FInLtS) students at any age can find the full range of STEM careers, including the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook (https://www.bls.gov/). It is a good starting point, he says, so they can see that these positions can range from a large animal veterinarian working on a farm to a programmer working with sophisticated AI in Silicon Valley. Winnowing a student’s interest is also very important. “It’s just as big of a win, when the student determines that a specific career is not of interest. The greater exposure students have to career options the better, and the exposure can’t start their junior year of high school,” says Martin, who is a member of a special task force
on STEM for the National Association of College Admissions Counseling. A site called www.STEMjobs.com has thorough information on STEM careers along with a quiz students can take to find their STEM type (http://candidit.com/stemquiz). There are several online activities where younger students can begin to see the options https:// bit.ly/2RLVIjt, and a parent or counselor can start to explain which ones are STEM-related. Like Rivas, Martin says they should initially have an interest – and pursue it in a variety of ways, including in shows they watch on television, the organizations they join and the courses they take, all of which show an interest and can give them more understanding of a field and help them explore their own genuine interest. Project Lead The Way (https://bit.ly/2C55ikE) also offers a full set of tech courses in many schools and most have some STEM offerings. He notes that colleges that offer STEM programs, including community colleges, often have summer courses for interested students. (Directories listing some are available at Try Engineering Institute https://bit.ly/2RFtsiy and Science Buddies https://bit.ly/2FWG9yz). Programs such as FIRST firstinspires.org,
Science Olympiad sonic.org, Technology Student Association tsaweb.org, and DECA deca.org are designed for high school students but often have programs for students as young as elementary age.
CHOOSING COURSES Gerrato-Greenhaus recommends summer camps or classes – in fact she believes they are probably expected for college entry in some of these fields. She says interested students should also talk to people in STEM careers when they have an opportunity and, ideally, shadow someone for a day or get an internship. Or even just volunteer for an organization where they will get some experience. She says during college visits students can learn about what students study in a particular field if they express an interest. Specific visits with professors are difficult, but touring specific facilities or sitting in on a class is possible. She also says they can learn more about STEM and their aptitude by taking challenging courses in the sciences and math in high school. Advanced courses will also be required by colleges in certain STEM fields, she notes, so students should get on an aggressive math or
science track early. “I tell them if you want to leave your options open in areas like computer science and engineering you really do have to do calculus. I’d recommend AP calculus in your junior year. You have to understand what is required to be on that advanced math track and follow it.” She also suggests that students examine their interest and aptitude with tools such as the Strong Interest Inventory (https://bit. ly/2Mrwtgv). The U.S. Department of Labor offers the O-Net Interest Profiler (https:// bit.ly/1Fr9Tg4) that helps students find their interests and a career that might suit them, and the related My Next Move mynextmove. org site has other ways for students to explore careers. The What Color is Your Parachute (jobhuntersbible.com) site and Gallup (https:// bit.ly/2shd0GA) offer strength assessments, but both for a charge. Hoster says it is most important to find and build the interest that some students have and create it in others – with interesting course work, outside activities and opportunities to see what STEM careers are like. And, he says, it is important to get students excited about these fields.
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STEM
CAREER AND LIFE
HOT CAREERS
IN SCIENCE
1
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENTIST
This field looks to identify the sources of pollutants and ameliorate their impacts. Environmental scientists test whether chemicals cause disease and what levels are safe for human exposure. They may consult with companies, communities and governments to prevent chemical spills or develop plans to clean up contaminated sites. Other scientists try to understand the environment’s impact on the humans and how to support the health of a local ecosystems. Median salary according to indeed.com: $60,366 per year https://indeedhi.re/2U7PYxb
2 DATA SCIENTIST This fast-growing field focus on how to analyze and manipulate large quantities of information. Data scientists, typically with a strong background in programming and statistics, collect and analyze very large data sets. As such, they can work in almost any field, industry or organization to help firms find solutions to whatever problems they are facing. Is a company losing customers? Data scientists can analyze every account and look for patterns on why people might close them. Is a university looking to increase student success? They can look for patterns that predict which students are in danger of leaving school. Median salary according to indeed.com: $128,081 per year https://indeedhi.re/2DOKShT
3 GENETICIST With the explosion of services like 23andme, the public is increasingly focused on its genetic heritage. Geneticists work with patients to understand inherited conditions and suggest potential treatments. They also research family risk factors for disease, for example working with future parents to understand the chance they will pass on a particular genetic mutation. Cutting edge research looks to develop custom gene therapies based on your genome that will be more effective in treating various diseases. Median salary according to payscale.com: $77,599 per year https://bit.ly/2CNmi1B
4 FOOD SCIENTIST This field covers the entire food supply for the country. While some food scientists research how to increase the shelf life of cookies at the store, others measure the nutritional content of different fresh fruits or tinker with chemistry to improve the flavor of your ice cream. While some food researchers are collecting samples of rare foods around the world, others tinker with new compounds in the lab. Food scientists may work in industry or just as easily in government to ensure the safety of the nation’s food supply. Median salary according to ziprecruiter.com: $81,392 per year https://bit.ly/2DsD6Mw
5 GEOSCIENTIST
6 NEUROSCIENTIST This field specializes in the brain and the nervous system. Exploring the most complex organ of the body, neuroscientists try to understand everything from human emotion to the impact of degenerative diseases like Alzheimers, Lou Gherig’s disease or Parkinsons. Some neuroscientists work to find ways to help patients overcome severe brain trauma while others work to understand autism. Median salary according to ziprecruiter.com: $115,833 per year https://bit.ly/2S34Srh
7 HYDROLOGIST One specific earth science, hydrology focuses on the study water and water-related problems. As the world’s population swells toward 8 billion, water scarcity will be a defining issue of the 21st century. Much of the world is concerned with the sustainability of their water, both the quantity and the quality/safety of their water supplies. Some hydrologists may focus on surface water supplies, while others research underground water sources and maintaining the health of local aquifers. Median salary according to glassdoor.com: $66,265 per year https://bit.ly/2RIZ9Y7
8 METEOROLOGIST While meteorologists can be seen closing out every local news show and 24 hours on cable TV, the field is more than just predicting tomorrow’s chance for rain. Meteorologists are at the forefront of researching climate change and how global warming can lead to increasing drought in some areas and more devastating hurricanes on the other side of the country. Professional forecasters work with farmers to optimize harvests, investment analysts to predict the orange harvest, and Walmart and UPS to anticipate disruptions to their supply chain and help stock up your local store for the next storm. Median salary according to indeed.com: $78,265 per year https://indeedhi.re/2AWPLpm
9 NATURAL SCIENCES MANAGER Sometimes a career in science is really focused on leadership and managing other researchers. Science today is a complex endeavor and the typical research project can involve dozens of researchers. Larger projects can have hundreds of staff and managers often coordinate work between labs located in completely different parts of the country. Natural sciences managers organize these crucial projects. They have one foot in the technical world, able to communicate with scientists. At the same time, their other foot is in a management space as they must understand the complexities of the budget cycle, recruit and retain talented staff, and interface across their companies and work with government regulators. Median salary according to BLS.gov: $118,970 per year https://bit.ly/2hjKmSJ
10 PHARMACOLOGIST
This is the science of the earth and its processes. It includes geology, but extends into fields such as oceanography and volcanology. Some scientists might study the changing chemistry of the atmosphere and oceans, while others seek to understand earthquakes or the geology of other planets. Many geoscientists work in the field and find it very exciting to be collecting data from around the planet, while others take that data and develop models in the lab on supercomputers to predict everything from earthquakes to changes in ocean currents.
This field tests the safety and efficacy of pharmaceutical compounds (drugs) on people and animals. Researchers work in the private sector, universities or other research institutes, often testing to find out the side effects of new drugs. Will that new heart medicine negatively impact a patient’s liver? Or can we develop a new generation of antibiotics to treat patients suffering from drug resistant bacteria? Still other pharmacologists work at regulators such as the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Median salary according to glassdoor.com: $113,161 per year https://bit.ly/2sHcWQk
Median salary according to payscale.com: $98,243 per year https://bit.ly/2U7ReAp
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STEM Magazine • Winter 2019 • www.nextstepu.com
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Which Skills Engineers Need To Brush Up On To Soar In Their Career In 2019 “As engineers, we were going to be in a position to change the world – not just study it.” ------
T
HENRY PETROSKI, AN AMERICAN ENGINEER AND AUTHOR SPECIALIZING IN FAILURE ANALYSIS ------
his statement is evidence of the magical potential engineers possess to transform the entire world. But the domain of engineering and technology has evolved immensely over the past few years. This evolution can be seen in the increasing dominance of emerging advanced technologies like Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), advanced automation and robotics, and the Internet Of Things (IoT). The shifting landscape has also impacted the kind of professionals who fit in the criteria for getting a well-paid engineering job. Nowadays, organizations are looking for engineering minds with a passion for learning and acquiring new skills throughout their career. To confirm this fact, let’s look at the exclusive research done by Nick Van Dam (https://at.virginia.edu/2hoZle2) who is the global chief learning officer at McKinsey & Co. As per the study, seven million engineering jobs in the US are expected to be replaced with these advanced technologies in the next decade. This is why there will be a huge demand for highly qualified professionals applying for jobs (https://bit.ly/2RUi9Cw) who are expert in leveraging these new technologies for building high-end solutions. Human-technology integration specialist, augmented reality developer, and technology advocate are a few of the possible careers in the future for engineers. Considering the same scenario, let’s explore the four major skills engineers need to enhance in order to climb the professional ladder and keep themselves employable in this highly dynamic environment.
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STEM Magazine • Winter 2019 • www.nextstepu.com
CREATIVITY AND PASSION FOR INVENTING INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS A majority of the tasks engineers deal with on a daily basis require them to revolve around numbers and facts. But this is not something which is required in many current and future scenarios. The future demands engineers to be creative enough so that to come up with something totally new. They shouldn’t be stuck in copying something that already exists. They need to invent new ways to fix problems in a cheap, fast, and more efficient manner. This knack is equally valued by employers because such professionals have mastery over identifying untapped opportunities as well as being driven by a passion to acquire advanced skills needed to exploit such prospects in new and thrilling ways. This is why engineers have to maintain a balance between their core technical expertise and willingness to create something out of the box. They must have the skill of putting themselves in the shoes of their clients and developing solutions accordingly. Also, they must be capable of taking initiative and move ahead with a curious open mindset.
WHY CREATIVITY HAS BECOME A MANDATORY SKILL FOR FUTURE ENGINEERS? Technologies such as AI and ML have made it extremely easy to perform many tedious and mundane tasks with the help of smart machines and tools. But what these machines still lack is the capacity to imagine and think creatively as a human being. This is making it essential for engineers to have a creative mindset which will allow them to be flexible enough to adapt easily to every change in the marketplace.
2
ABILITY TO FIX COMPLEX ISSUES BY LEVERAGING ANALYTICAL THINKING The major role of an engineer is to identify potential problems and apply their existing knowledge to build solutions that fix them. This particular skill can be mastered by gaining relevant education and experience. Let’s explore a few of the main ways in which engineers approach and fix complex issues: I. Engineers put every possible effort to make solutions that are efficient and exceptional in quality. They have to deeply understand the entire system when designing a solution because for every modification they make there will be a consequence. But they have to move ahead with an ultimate goal to think logically and create efficient products. II. These professionals must have a great command when working on something which is broken. They should be able to identify the reason behind the failure quickly and come up with solutions to fix it in order to avoid any future complications. III. Engineers are responsible for building comprehensive solutions for targeted users. But these solutions deal with users’ confidential data and so they have to be completely secure. For this purpose, engineers have to analyze the past threats and investigate new ones to minimize future risks.
COMPLEX PROBLEM SOLVING: IS IT AN ESSENTIAL TRAIT FOR ENGINEERS TO STAY PRODUCTIVE IN THE FUTURE? It’s true that modern tools can perform several tasks which were under human control in the past. But still, humans need to help machines in determining specific goals, interpreting outcomes, and testing products.
3
POWER TO MANAGE PEOPLE BY BEING EMOTIONALLY SMART The majority of the people have a biased opinion that engineers operate alone and don’t have to work in collaboration with others. But this is not true as these professionals must be capable of working in a team and coordinating with others to achieve key deliverables. In addition, apart from working harmoniously with the internal team, it’s equally important for engineers to have the skill of efficiently dealing with both non-technical and technical professionals from other organizations. Strong leadership and people management skills make engineers able to grab higher level positions that allow them to monitor an entire project on their own.
4
STRONG CRITICAL THINKING ABILITY The future landscape demands engineers to be extremely good in analyzing concepts and coming up with logical conclusions. No doubt it’s difficult to be skilled and disciplined enough to make decisions critically and not based on one’s own preferences and interests. Engineers are the professionals who have to critically think in each and every situation, from collecting relevant information to evaluating data and gathering feedback to generating possible solutions.
WHY THE FUTURE DEMANDS ENGINEERS TO BE CAPABLE AT THINKING CRITICALLY? In future engineers have to solve a plethora of problems which were even not there in the past. This is because there will be new technologies responsible for creating solutions no one has ever expected. Such situations will be fixed by engineers blessed with critical thinking abilities who can identify hidden problems and build solutions with minimal supervision and training. In fact, employers look for this important skill when reviewing engineering resumes. (https://bit.ly/2TAsPnr) These four soft skills are extremely beneficial in preparing engineers for the new economy and preventing them from being replaced by robots. Also, by mastering these skills, engineers can stay employable in the future where they have to face a highly dynamic and volatile marketplace.
WHY THERE’S A NEVER ENDING URGE FOR IMPLEMENTING HUMAN TOUCH IN LEADERSHIP ROLES? Machines will be performing a maximum of engineering tasks in the future. But they can’t motivate team members like real leaders and encourage them to execute nearly impossible jobs. Managers will always be responsible for facilitating teamwork, building community, thinking critically, and solving conflicts so that teams can accomplish a particular project successfully. AUTHOR BIO: Anubhuti Shrivastava is a content crafter at Arkenea, a custom software and IOS App development company (https://bit.ly/2RKoT1t) helping entrepreneurs and businesses build successful web and mobile apps. She is passionate about writing articles on topics related to design and the software development industry. STEM Magazine • Winter 2019 • www.nextstepu.com
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STEM
RESOURCES
Inspire, Learn, Create: INSPIRING LETTERS FROM STEM STUDENTS Gabrielle D. in Salem, MA Grade: 12
INTENDED MAJOR: ENGINEERING Since I was young, I have always been interested in the possibility of design and creation. Entering high school, I knew that I wanted to go into a STEM field, but was unsure of what I specifically wanted to do. I enrolled in an Engineering course at school and fell in love with every aspect of the field. Engineering makes me feel as though I can create whatever I want to, despite being legally blind. My visual impairment has added limitations to my schoolwork, especially in English and History classes where teachers assign seemingly endless reading assignments. However with engineering I can feel and design what I am learning, right in front of me. I am able to see my imagination grow into something real. I think about the infinite possibilities that engineering can bring into my life. In college, I want to study Robotics Engineering (I am on the Robotics Team at school) and hopefully design robots for everyday use, such as the iRobot. By: Collin M. in Albany, NY Grade: 12
INTENDED MAJOR: BIOLOGY/GENETICS My great-grandfather hobbled into the living room. He walked over to a shelf of framed pictures and stared at one for a while. “I remember your grandmother used to take care of this little boy. He was so bright,” he said smiling. Shuffling over, he held out the picture for me to see. He seemed so proud I didn’t have it in me to tell him that I’d seen the picture before. I didn’t have it in me to tell him that the photo was of me. One in ten people over the age of sixty-five will develop Alzheimer’s disease. The biological breakdown of the body, which we call aging, is what drives the health complications we see in many of our loved ones. My interest in science intensified when I discovered a YouTube video about Liz Parrish, the founder and CEO of BioViva. BioViva’s anti-aging research focuses on lengthening the telomeres on a chromosome and it shows lots of promise. I want diseases like the Alzheimers that my great-grandfather faces to be a thing of the past. I plan to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Cellular/Molecular Biology and, eventually, an MS or PhD. My goal is to join a biotech company to research more about aging and slowing the degenerative process. I can’t wait to see breakthroughs which will positively impact every person on this planet. By: Caroline E. in Strathmore, CA Grade: 12
INTENDED MAJOR: EDUCATION/MATH TEACHER Growing up I’ve always wanted to be a math teacher but never thought I’d be able to become one. I was able to help tutor for a high school level math class during summer. I was hoping to learn if I was cut out to be a teacher, but what I got from this experience was more than I could even process at the time. All the doubts about being an educator faded away and I fell in love with teaching my favorite subject. Now it is my goal to be a math teacher. Currently I’m a teacher’s assistant for a freshman math class along with tutoring on Saturdays and twice a week after school. Each day I look forward to working with my students. One of the greatest feelings is being able to see a student’s face light up when some concept finally clicks. You can put the same problem in front of a student over and over again, but it isn’t until they unravel it in their mind that they finally solve a problem that they were struggling on. I even get excited to grade papers when I see the progress my students are making. It’s encouraging to know that I’ve made a difference in a students’ academic careers.
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STEM Magazine • Winter 2019 • www.nextstepu.com
Mathew L. in Buda, TX, Grade: 10
INTENDED MAJOR: COMPUTER SCIENCE As the child of a software engineer, I have always been interested in computers. I grew up learning to program, starting off with block-based coding and then moving on to more complicated languages such as Python and Java. Now, I dedicate much of my free time to fun projects involving coding and take classes to help me learn more. I also work on projects to help others. For example, my most recent project is for my sister, who is legally blind. She has to take her cane everywhere she goes, which is a nuisance. To help her navigate even complex environments, I designed a device that attaches to her wrist using ultrasonic sensors, servo motors, and a microcontroller. This device is very compact and portable, making it much easier to carry than a cane. I even designed and 3-D printed the case myself, using Autodesk Inventor. With the knowledge I have obtained through my various projects and classes and the knowledge I will gain from college, I hope to one day become a software engineer, just like my father. By: Elizabeth E. in Broomfield, CO Grade: 12
INTENDED MAJOR: COMPUTER SCIENCE/CYBERSECURITY Technology is lauded for its benefits to humanity, ranging from increased productivity to encouraging innovation and collaboration. However, such advances have led to challenges such as privacy concerns and hacking threats. By pursuing a Computer Science major, I believe that I will develop the necessary skills to positively contribute to the cybersecurity field. I developed an interest in cybersecurity tutoring for SilverTek, a program that equips senior citizens with computer skills, during my junior and senior year. My students struggled with the “invisibility” of the digital world. For example, understanding the differences between storing documents in a password protected account on the cloud instead of a locked filing cabinet. This lack of tangibility impacted how they viewed online safety practices since there was not a physical criminal for them to fear. As a result, they were prime targets for cyber attacks. This awareness of technology’s impact on vulnerable groups inspired me to want to pursue a career in cybersecurity. By: Robert W. in Rancho Palos Verdes, CA Grade: 12
INTENDED MAJOR: COMPUTER ENGINEERING The constant need to explore, to understand, to take things apart, has always been a part of who I am. Growing up, I was always fascinated by all the things around my house, disassembling and putting them back together anything I could get my hands on. So naturally I became involved in STEM programs and activities throughout my middle and high school years. I started out trying everything, dabbling in robotics, trying out a semester of computer aided design, taking a computer science class. But what really drew me into STEM was when I joined CyberPatriot my freshman year of high school. What started out as just another activity some of my friends did soon turned into a passion that I still hold today. This competition was the first to really expose me to the field of cybersecurity. My love for working with computers coupled with the vast world of cybersecurity instantly captivated me. I continued in the competition throughout my years in high school, forming my own team my sophomore year and leading them for the next three years. What started out as just an average team soon became one of the top teams in the nation. But, my passion for cybersecurity doesn’t end with my final season of CyberPatriot. I intend to pursue this field throughout college and beyond.
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