Voices: “How can the industry help foster an interest in engineering among children?”

OE Staff Sep 1, 2013

Next Generation. Faced with global staffing shortages, OE asked: “How can the industry help foster an interest in engineering among children?”

Math and science are a requirement for filling the pipeline of future engineers. These subjects can be viewed as difficult and static, bearing little resemblance to the interesting and dynamic careers they encompass. Industry must engage students in unexpected ways – through hands-on exploration, education, mentoring and internships – to show them the real-life relevance of their subject choices.

Larraine Boorman, Managing Director of Skills, OPITO

The industry needs to help children understand how you get from pre-college education to someone who is a successful engineer, and how this can become affordable. Yes, you have to take out college loans, but the opportunities at the end pay for themselves. The industry should also help our minority, female, under-represented groups, and students with disabilities. We’ve already damaged the field by allowing these students to think they can’t achieve. That’s one area I’ve been looking at in STEM outreach. 80% of all learning disabilities are students with dyslexia; dyslexia is highly correlated with giftedness. Children need to see that whatever appears to hold them back, someone has already pushed through and has made it in engineering.

Barbara Moskal, Director of the Center for Assessment of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics; Director of the Trefny Institute for Educational Innovation; Professor of Applied Mathematics and Statistics, Colorado School of Mines

I would suggest we talk about the energy mix and the science involved, of which oil and gas is a huge part. Also, we should support teachers with volunteers from our organizations to work with schools on curriculum- focused initiatives. The SPE has developed www.energy4me.org and works with organizations like www.need.org, Satrosphere Science Center, Aberdeen, or Wiess Energy Hall, Houston, to educate and inspire teachers. We also need to work harder to create opportunities for young people to enter our industry as engineers, technicians or trainees so that children can see from their peers the potential there is.

Colin Black, Vice President, Optima Solutions UK, and SPE Europe board member

First and foremost, children need to see the fun and practicality associated with engineering. We, as a profession, need to be more visible with our work. Promoting real-world examples of challenges that engineering disciplines resolve should help with this translation. Additionally, engineering, unlike other professions like medicine or law, is not easily personified.

John Bolton, Director of Marketing, Tensar International

The Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) recognizes the need to engage Hispanics early on to foster interest in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields. This is why, through our corporate sponsors, we host Noches de Ciencias (Science Nights) across the nation to introduce students and their parents to STEM through hands-on activities and educational workshops. We also work with our chapters to mentor younger students and offer events such as pre-college symposia, introducing students to engineering prior to college. We encourage the industry to examine successful programs such as SHPE’s and continue to support them as much as possible.

Pilar Montoya, CEO Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers

The Society for Petroleum Engineers’ Energy4me global energy education outreach program offers a wealth of unbiased, factual information that helps educate, inspire and motivate students to choose petroleum engineering or related field as a career. Developed for grades K-12, the program uses the energy4me.org website, teacher workshops and speaker programs to share the message about how important energy is to everyday life and what the industry is doing to improve the quality of life across the globe. We must proactively tell our story by communicating our commitment to take complex, challenging issues and find safe, responsible solutions.