ISA cites Girl Day STEM education initiative

The International Society of Automation and the Automation Federation are calling attention to Girl Day, an annual celebration of girls’ interests in and aptitude for STEM education and potential careers in STEM-related fields. Girl Day—which this year will be recognized on Thursday, February 26—is designed to spur national awareness around the importance of attracting more females to engineering and automation and inspire more personal and community-based involvement in introducing girls to STEM learning.

The ISA points out that since 1982, women have earned almost 10 million more college degrees than men. Yet, today, only 11% of practicing engineers are women.

“Girl Day is an opportunity for ISA and Automation Federation members, as well as other engineers and automation professionals, to make a difference in a girl’s life by showing her the road to a rewarding and engaging career,” said Peggie W. Koon, Ph.D., the 2014 ISA president and 2015 chair of the Automation Federation, who has more than 25 years of experience as an automation professional and executive. “As professionals in the field, we can share our own personal stories of exploration, discovery and accomplishment.”

Koon encourages engineers and automation professionals to provide support and mentoring; work to counteract stereotypes and misconceptions; and become more active in your local schools and community.

“I grew up in a household of engineers and automation professionals,” she said. “Two of my brothers majored in electrical, chemical, and mechanical engineering and the other brother is a physicist. My sister and I watched our brothers pursue exciting STEM careers and followed in their footsteps. They encouraged us to major in STEM fields and to pursue jobs in engineering and automation. They mentored us throughout the entire process. It was important for my sister and me to have this encouraging support system because at the time most of the women we knew, including our older sisters, were pursuing professional careers in the liberal arts.”

Girls and young women, she emphasized, need and deserve this same level of encouragement and mentoring today, whether it comes from family, friends or advisors.

“The power of example is evident in my family now,” Koon said. “I have a seven-year-old granddaughter who sports her red Goldie Blox hoodie jacket and who owns several of the Goldie Blox engineering building sets, books, and the Goldie Blox action figure. If you ask her, she will tell you her favorite subject in school is math and that she is going to be a director of engineering when she grows up!”

It’s important to counteract stereotypes and misconceptions, she said, adding, “While president of ISA, I would often receive emails from girls and women who were interested in STEM careers,. Many of them, although they were ‘A’ students, lacked the confidence to pursue a college degree. They also often had little confidence in a workplace that they felt preferred to fill open engineering positions with their male counterparts.

“In every case, I would encourage these women to follow their dreams. Yes, I do believe there are some stereotypes and misconceptions on both sides of the gender equation. And for years, images and messages through the media commonly portrayed engineering and automation as male-dominated fields. I am encouraged, though, that some of the latest promotional spots on television and on the Web feature young women talking about their excitement and the importance of becoming an engineer.

“Regardless, girls and young women need to clearly recognize that they can excel in STEM-related careers and there are equal opportunity positions in STEM fields. Because women address and think about problems differently, we often add a different perspective that can lead to innovative results and greater organizational value.”

She recommended becoming more active in your local schools and community. “To make an impression on young people, we need to go to where they learn and gather,” she asserted. “We must engage with them, most notably, at their schools, but also at community gatherings and events. Contact school administrators and educators about how to start a program or educational event that communicates the value of engineering or automation.”

Make every effort, she said, to utilize interactive technology—such as video games, mobile apps, and social media sites—to capture and maintain interest, and to promote the fun and excitement of STEM learning.

“It’s particularly important to tap into young people’s imagination,” she said. “Begin by introducing them to websites, such as Engineer Girl, Girl Day, and Goldie Blox. They make it clear that engineering can be fun, exciting and rewarding.”

The Girl Day website has recommendations on how to become involved:

• Invite a girl to shadow you at work.
• Mentor a group of middle or high school girls.
• Host a Girl Day event.
• Make a presentation about engineering at a middle or high school career day.
• Host a lunch or dinner for a group of girls.
• Volunteer as a judge for a science and engineering fair.
• Conduct hands-on engineering demonstrations with a group of girls.

And you can share the message on social media using the hashtag #girlday2015. For more information about the Automation Federation, visit www.automationfederation.org.–Rick Nelson