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  • How the Motion Picture Hidden Figures is Inspiring Women to Consider STEM

    How the Motion Picture Hidden Figures is Inspiring Women to Consider STEM

    Hidden Figures is based on three incredible female trailblazers in the world of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics or STEM during the Space Race against Russia led by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in the early 1960s.

    This film was a breath of fresh air for moviegoers. For one, it brought into the spotlight three strong female characters namely Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, and Mary Jackson, all of whom did not get the recognition they deserved for helping John Glenn become the first astronaut in history to orbit the earth three times. The trio was wonderfully brought to life by talented actresses Taraji P. Henson, Octavia Spencer, and Janelle Monae, and while the film was a lighthearted take on their real-life challenges, it nevertheless made people aware of the disparity of males and females in the STEM industry and how we can do something to change that. Pundits are hopeful the film has taken the right step in inspiring women of today to join STEM.

    Surprising ratio

    There is a poignant scene in the movie when NASA mission specialist Karl Zielinski poses the question “If you were a white man, would you wish to be an engineer?” to Mary Jackson. The latter answers in a matter-of-fact manner, “I wouldn’t have to. I’d already be one.”

    Of course, the hurdles Jackson had to overcome to be an engineer were one of the film’s focal points—and to see her triumph was one of the film’s most heartwarming moments. She aspired to be an engineer and had to fight tooth and nail to gain admission to an all-male educational institution that offers graduate-level courses in math and physics to be qualified for the job, filing a petition with the City of Hampton.

    While there are a sufficient number of colleges and universities that offers STEM curriculum for both males and females, there remains to be an imbalance because of the stigma that this area is only for men.

    According to ITWorldCanada.com, Statistics Canada reported that at the end of 2015, there was a low percentage of female university graduates aged 24 to 35 with a STEM degree (only 39 per cent), and after graduation, these women are less likely to have a career in the STEM fields than their male counterparts. Men with STEM degrees have lower unemployment rates and enjoy higher wages.

    The global figures are not any different. According to a November 2015 report published by the United Nations’ Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) Institute of Statistics, women only account for less than a third of the total number of employees in scientific research and development, pegged at 28.4 per cent.

    What is keeping them away?

    In Canada, there is certainly no shortage of well-established schools that offer outstanding STEM degrees to both males and females. In fact, in 2015, the University of Toronto had a record number of 30.6 per cent of female first-year students enrolled in the engineering programs. There are even all-girls’ high schools with a STEM focus such as St. Margaret’s School in Victoria, British Columbia and Queen Margaret’s School in Duncan, British Columbia.

    However, while there is a substantial rate of students completing STEM degrees, only a few of them will actually go for a STEM career after graduation, and those who do join are likely to leave because of feelings of isolation and difficulty in adopting to a male-dominated environment.

    Time for a change

    While there are adequate resources for young Canadian women who aspire to have STEM careers, Canada’s Minister of Science Kirsty Duncan deduces that the low number of females who actually establish careers in the STEM field is largely due to the fact that there are rarely any champions to lead the way. By champions she means not enough women in senior leadership positions.

    Duncan says that for a recent round of nominations from Canadian universities for the Canada Research Chairs, men gained twice the number of nominations over women.

    Duncan is hopeful things will change as she believes “Science opens up a wonderful world.” And as the three amazing “hidden figures” have proven, that wonderful world is within reach, we all just have to work together to achieve it.

    SOURCES:

    http://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/government-of-canada-supports-young-scientists-and-engineers-through-promoscience-at-science-odyssey-launch-622088113.html

    http://www.itworldcanada.com/article/lets-talk-about-women-in-stem/391215

    http://www.macleans.ca/society/canadas-science-minister-speaks-out-on-women-in-stem/

    https://www.brookings.edu/blog/techtank/2017/02/08/hidden-figures-highlights-the-ongoing-legacy-of-women-and-minorities-in-stem/

    https://techcrunch.com/2017/01/13/hidden-figures-inspiring-stem-heroes-for-girls/

    https://www.forbes.com/sites/noodleeducation/2017/02/24/encouraging-todays-hidden-figures-in-stem/#64b6ddae4c39

    http://www.livescience.com/43296-what-is-stem-education.html

    http://www.npr.org/2016/12/16/505569187/hidden-figures-no-more-meet-the-black-women-who-helped-send-america-to-space

    http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/75-006-x/2013001/article/11874-eng.htm

  • Career Profile: Statistician

    Career Profile: Statistician

    For some people, looking at a page of numbers and graphs causes their eyes to glaze over and a yawn to start. For others, however, the idea of working with numbers and how they relate to everyday life is exciting. Are you in the second group of people? If so, becoming a statistician might be the right career for you.

    Working in statistics is all about numbers. Have your parents ever talked about answering surveys or have you ever answered questions about something that you like to do or eat? Many businesses take surveys to find out about the kinds of things their customers might want. Then a statistician takes the information and turns it into something that the business can use for planning. The same thing happens with the government and other organizations. They find out how many people are in certain age groups or in particular jobs. That way, they know if universities need more funding or what kinds of jobs to encourage people to pursue.

    Gathering information is only part of the work of a statistician. A list of numbers means very little unless someone can interpret what that means. Statisticians take the numbers that come from surveys and other sources of information and turn that into something that governments or organizations can use. Most statisticians have at least a Master’s degree in mathematics. With this education, they can take a list of numbers and turn it into something that shows trends and changes. If the numbers of university students has increased by fifteen percent while the general population has increased by five percent, for example, they can show that. Being a statistician involves knowing about the relationships between numbers and being able to see patterns that many other people might ignore.

    Statisticians are not normally involved in making decisions about programs and funding for projects. However, their work is very important for the people who choose where to spend money. Statisticians work in all kinds of organizations, including government departments, businesses, and even community organizations. Although a Master’s degree in statistics or mathematics is the basic requirement for most people in this field, continuing on to a higher level of education might open up opportunities for teaching in a university.

    Besides academic qualifications, statisticians need to have the personal qualities for the work. They often work alone and need to be able to concentrate, but they also need to be able to work with people. They need to be able to communicate with people to get the kinds of information they need for their work.

    For people with the right skills, working in statistics can be a rewarding career. When they are good at their jobs and experienced in the field, statisticians can earn a good living, with salaries generally between $43,000 and $80,000 per year. Jobs are not always easy to find, but people who are flexible can also find work in related fields, such as accounting. Do you love numbers? Consider becoming a statistician.

  • Career Profile: Economist

    Career Profile: Economist

    You might sometimes wonder why you have to study mathematics at school. What’s the use of all of those percentages and averages that you have to calculate? These concepts might not be useful in many jobs, but they are essential for economists. Every day, economists use complex mathematical skills to help governments and businesses plan for the future.

    In 2011, Canada had about 15,000 economists working in a variety of places, including government offices, businesses, and other organizations. In some ways, economists do the same kinds of work as accountants often do. They work with budgets, prices, and how to make money. However, economists tend to work on bigger issues than these.

    For economists, the issue that people face is not just how much money to charge for a product or service but also how that fee might affect other aspects of the economy. For example, an economist might analyze how an increase in fuel prices can affect the cost of transporting food from farms to the cities and how that might affect food bank usage and other parts of society.

    Economists work with the trends that influence how people spend money and what affects factors such as prices and resource use. They use statistics to analyze trends in society and to predict what might happen in the future. They also have to know how laws might change various aspects of the economy. Economists might study public transit usage before and after a price increase or analyze how salaries in certain jobs affect house purchases. Economists need to understand numbers, but they also have to be able to see the larger trends.

    Becoming an economist involves knowing a lot about mathematics but also about how people and the economy work together. Most economists have at least a bachelor’s degree in their field, but most have a master’s or Ph.D. Even after they graduate, economists have to keep on learning. They read magazines and other publications related to their work and they find out what other economist think. Reading statistics on how Canadians live is an important part of their work, since that gives them the information they need to make accurate predictions about the future. This can sometimes be a challenge, especially when the information is difficult to find or is unavailable.

    Many economists work for the government, but they also work for large businesses to help the owners plan for the future. The average salary for an economist in Canada is $80,000 to $100,000, but most jobs start at a lower level and some can rise to a higher level. Experience is very important in this field, since it can be very important to learn about how different factors work together. Job prospects in this profession are limited, but there will likely be some openings in the next few years.

    If you love numbers but you also enjoy seeing how everything works together, you might want to consider becoming an economist. Your work might affect Canadians for years to come.

  • Why Canada Needs More STEM Students

    Why Canada Needs More STEM Students

    As a wealthy, diverse and constantly growing nation, Canada needs students and workers going into the valuable fields of engineering, technology, science and mathematics. While these can be some of the most challenging career paths, they can also be some of the most rewarding. The acronym STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

    There are many other subcategories within the STEM fields like biology, geology, psychology, robotic engineering, aerospace engineering, industrial engineering, software design, computer hardware design, anthropology, sociology and a whole lot more! STEM fields are the backbone of society and new students are always needed to design, improve, innovate and create.

    Graduates of STEM programs are extremely valuable to Canada and make great contributions to the Canadian economy and culture. The achievements of Canadians in STEM fields are known worldwide and it’s up to the next generation of students to continue that legacy of greatness. Engineers are responsible for buildings and structures and are required for just about any major project, from bridges to houses to high rise condominiums. Scientists and mathematicians are needed for a huge variety of jobs, from biologists and chemists to the robotics experts that created the world famous Canadarm or some of our leading bio medical doctors and researchers.

    STEM graduates are needed in almost every field, be it politics, conservation, law enforcement, architecture or military. Former STEM graduates create and plan the roads we drive on, the planes in the sky, the computer programs we use, and they even helped to design your home or school. This wide variety of STEM-based careers is integral to the functioning of society. Simply put, if there were no more STEM students the world would be a much more chaotic place to live!

    Not only do STEM graduates benefit their country, they also benefit themselves. They can open the doors to a wide variety of jobs and careers that put your intellect and creativity to the test as well as paying out steady incomes. Unfortunately, Canada currently isn’t producing as many STEM students as it once did, according to data from the Conference Board of Canada’s website.

    Now more than ever, Canada needs students to step up and study STEM programs and career paths. Take a look at STEM today!

  • Jobs of the Future: What to Expect When You Graduate

    Jobs of the Future: What to Expect When You Graduate

    Graduation is a major event for students; it’s a milestone in your life and an accomplishment that can’t be taken away. After you graduate you’ll be thrown into the adult world of jobs and careers.

    This is a major time of change and can be scary. That’s why it’s important to have a plan for what you want to do and what sort of education you need to do it. The path to personal success is a rough and bumpy ride, sometimes with many twists and turns.

    Don’t have any what you want to do? Don’t freak out. People change college and university programs multiple times. Most people will cycle through several jobs and careers in their lifetime. Education can help you discover what fits with your personality and what career path suits you the most. Working a job you don’t like, especially for many years, is not a fun experience and it’s important to find a comfortable balance between your working time and recreational time. Nobody likes to be stressed out all the time!

    We live in an exciting and rapidly changing world, and the job market reflects this. Many traditional careers are being changed or ended due to constantly evolving technology. This is why its important to research what sort of career path you want to take and keep up with new developments and changes in your chosen field. Statistics on the employability of certain graduates and the availability of jobs can be found in many online resources. In other words, keep informed!

    STEM, or science, technology, engineering and mathematics jobs, are very important. As technology improves so does the need for dedicated workers in these fields. There are a massive variety of STEM jobs, each field containing a huge variety of careers. A few examples include:

    Science: energy conservationist, agricultural worker, and industrial biotechnologist.

    Technology: construction, automotive manufacturing and economics.

    Engineering: civil engineers, structural engineers, and mechanical engineers.

    Mathematics: architect, high school mathematics teacher, and physicist.

    As you can see, STEM jobs are incredibly diverse and it’s up to you to find what suits you best. STEM jobs can be some of the toughest but also some of the most rewarding, both financially and personally. So keep an open mind and stay up to date on the evolving fields. Getting a STEM job isn’t for everyone, but they can be some of the most exciting and important jobs.

  • How to Prepare for a STEM Career

    How to Prepare for a STEM Career

    Ever wonder how Albert Einstein got started? How about Isaac Newton or even Steve Jobs? If you’re interested in learning about the world around you and how it works, STEM careers might be a good fit for you. Made up of the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, STEM careers are personally rewarding and a great outlet to explore your interests. You may not be at the stage where you have to set yourself on a career path (or you may have already decided to go down the STEM road), but there are things you can do to ensure you’re on the track to success in the field you choose.

    Almost every college and university out there offers a multitude of STEM programs for potential applicants. These programs often have rigorous requirements for admission (for example, in fields like Life Sciences), and the competition can be tough. To properly prepare for post-secondary education in STEM, make sure you take all the necessary prerequisites for the program you’re looking at—and make sure you study hard to meet the mark cut-offs.

    There are so many opportunities out there to get involved with STEM, even apart from post-secondary education. If you’re looking for some great job experience, you can investigate the opportunity for a STEM internship or apprenticeship, which could be a great way to put your practical skills to use. Volunteer positions with certain organizations can be very valuable as well, especially if they’re directly linked to your field of study (to continue the Life Sciences example, look into volunteering at a local hospital). Not only are these sorts of experiences good for your own personal fulfillment, but they look great on a resume, which can really set you apart.

    If you aren’t quite committed to a STEM field but want to learn more, a school club or organization is a fantastic place to start. This gives you the added bonus of being able to meet equally motivated students that share your interests without the serious responsibility of any of the above opportunities. STEM extra-curriculars also look good on post-secondary applications but, more importantly, they give you the chance to explore your options. You are considering pursuing a career that focuses on discovery, after all—why not take the opportunity to discover some of your own STEM-based interests?

    Though it may be a little early to start job-hunting, preparing for a STEM career can mean working on your academics, finding a volunteer or internship position, or even just joining a club. You may be surprised to see how truly valued these types of experiences turn out to be in the workforce. Good luck on your STEM path, whatever you decide it to be. Maybe you’ll be the one making all the discoveries one day!

  • “Sine” Me Up: Why Math is Your Friend

    “Sine” Me Up: Why Math is Your Friend

    Mathematics is the pariah of school subjects—dismissed as mind-numbing, tedious and often impossible to grasp, it is frequently looked down upon in schools, in pop culture and among the general public. It’s unfortunate that math has such a miserable reputation, because it may actually end up being one of the most useful things you are ever going to learn. Math has a multitude of practical applications, whether you’re looking to make your day-to-day life a little easier or are considering it for a future career. So if you’re stuck on permutations or about to lose your marbles over that logarithmic function, don’t give up hope just yet. Math might be the thing that saves you.

    A lot of the negative hype behind math is due to the sheer amount of material—the formulae and variables and properties—and it’s increasing difficulty is enough to give anyone a migraine if not taken in stride. Math is one of those things that you just can’t get the hang of without practice. And while it may take a bit of grunt work at first, there is a certain satisfaction in finally getting the right answer. This sense of accomplishment may come as a pleasant surprise. Not only is it rewarding to see the progress of your hard work, but you can actually start to have fun with it once you get into the swing of things.

    If you’re good at math, there are many career paths that may suit your fancy. Aside from strictly “mathematics” jobs (teaching positions, research, etc.), other fascinating fields like medicine, architecture, business and engineering are excellent ways to put your skills to good use. Careers in math-related fields are great for developing problem solving and logical reasoning skills, not to mention they are often both professionally and financially rewarding. If you’re committed to your talents and willing to work, a mathematics career is definitely a valuable option to consider.

    Of course, not everyone is going to be skilled at math and that is perfectly alright. However, just because you don’t work in a math-related field doesn’t mean it isn’t a useful (and necessary) tool to have under your belt. Restaurant bills, mortgage payments, student loans, the lottery—the power of math is woven through everyday life. Oftentimes, it is the glue that holds our society together. No matter what you end up doing in the future, somewhere along the way you’ll undoubtedly need math to get you out of a jam. That’s why it is so important to keep working on your math skills: you never know when they’ll come in handy.

    From multiplication to measures of central tendency, mathematics and its multitude of concepts are true treasures to possess. You may be surprised at the many doors it opens for you in today’s world. In summation, math will contribute to your progress. Keep working on developing those skills—and embrace mathematics as a crucial tool in the smooth functioning of your everyday life.

  • STEM Jobs of the Future

    STEM Jobs of the Future

    Most of you probably know who Albert Einstein and Thomas Edison were, but you might not have heard of the famous mathematicians, John Nash or the ancient Greek scholar, Archimedes. Do you know what these people have in common? They were all part of a field of work often known as STEM, which includes science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. Work in these fields has always been important, and they are a good choice for anyone with a creative but disciplined mind and the ability to see how far their work can go.

    People like Albert Einstein and Thomas Edison are famous for a very good reason. They knew a lot of theory, but they also helped to change people’s everyday lives. Long winter evenings would be very different without Edison’s light bulb, for example. The value of work that mathematicians do is less obvious, but their discoveries make all kinds of other work possible. Without mathematics, for example, engineering would be impossible. Without engineers, we would have no bridges or tall buildings. Their calculations make it possible to build many of the towers and other structures we now have.

    Training for work in STEM jobs normally involves a high level of education. A minimum of a bachelor’s degree is normally necessary for work in these fields, and usually a master’s degree or PhD is required. The most specialized training is in engineering, where students learn to apply their education to building bridges and other structures. Other STEM fields of study lead to work in areas such as computer sciences, statistics, and agriculture. For many people, this involves further studies beyond a basic bachelor’s degree. With this training, they can become qualified to work in many different areas of society.

    Workplaces for people in STEM jobs can be in offices, universities, and laboratories. They might work with test tubes inside a building or travel around the country, collecting samples of soil or testing the water for anything that might harm the environment. Many people with training in STEM fields also become teachers or university professors, where they pass on their knowledge to others.

    STEM training can help in many areas of life. In biology and biomedical sciences, for example, research results can affect how doctors treat illnesses. Studies in mathematics can lead to work in gathering and analyzing statistical information, which can help people in government and many other fields to plan for the future. With so much variety in workplaces, salaries also vary. Low-level STEM jobs start at about $36,000 per year, but high-paid jobs can reach over $120,000 per year.

    What kinds of people work in STEM jobs? In the past, men tended to take most of the jobs in this field, and that can still often be the case. However, women are starting to become more involved in the work, and many of them are becoming well known in their fields.  Do these kinds of jobs appeal to you? Working towards a career in STEM fields can be a good choice for the future.