Farm News, IA
10-05-07
Taking the road less traveled
By Renae Vander Schaaf, Farm News staff writer
Traditionally the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math or STEM
as they are often referred to have not been of interest to girls as they have
chosen their careers. It could stem from many reasons. One might be that girls
don’t realize what careers fall into these categories. Another might be a lack of
math and science courses taken in high school that would have prepared them
for these subjects once they reach college.
For whatever excuses could be used, the WISE—Women in Science and
Engineering has for the past 19 years hosted conferences that introduces the
STEM fields to high school girls. There are three separate one day conferences.
The first conference is Oct. 11 and focuses on girls in the 9th to 12th grades. The
second, Oct. 18th, and third, Oct. 25, conferences are geared more to girls in the
6th through the 9th grades.
“It is estimated that 41,000 students have attended at least one conference,”î
says Carol Heaverlo, K-12 Outreach Coordinator for ISU. “With a maximum of
3,000 students allowed at a conference, the Taking the Road Less Traveled
conferences will fill up fast.”
Heaverlo suggests contacting the local extension office. Deadlines for entry is
two weeks before the conference.
The presenters are all women. The pool of 500 include ISU faculty and staff as
well as those involved in businesses that are highlighted in the career sessions.
These women provided positive role models of women that are successful in
their careers. In addition to those already active, undergraduate students will
come and visit about the courses they are taking to prepare for their field of
study.
The sessions differ. “Scientific Sleuthing” has become popular due to the t.v.
program CSI,î explained Heaverlo. “The Infectious Disease Outbreak Sleuthing”
session depicts how veterinarians have played an important role in the
investigation of disease outbreaks such as West Nile Virus.î “Scientific Sleuthing”
also falls under the mystery category. This session will give examples of
analyses done in several laboratory sections and shows how this work can be
used to solve crimes.
Susan Eilex is a Mechanical Engineer for John Deere. Her presentation will
included a video showing some of the activities of engineers at the John Deere
Product Engineering Center. As many of the presenters will do, Eilex will talk
about her education and preparation for this career.
If a student is interested in the medical field, many sessions will highlight the
different avenues she can take. It can be pharmaceutical, chiropractic, nutritional,
and traditional aspects of medicine and biology.
Careers in economics, operating and owning a business, meteorology,
conservation and agriculture will all be explored. Each career is complex and has
many different avenues a student can follow. The career of agriculture could
involve a degree in biology and then use it in the field of invasive species.
“This program broadens their perspectives of the fields they are interested in,”î
said Heaverlo. “It encourages them to explore what is out there and available.”î
Students attending these conferences will have a much better grasp on where a
particular career interest all involves and what it could turn into. It will also aid
them in setting up their high school course schedule to meet their goals.
The conferences are held twice each year at the Iowa State of University in
Ames.
Contact Carol Heaverlo, M.S. at 515-294-5883 or www.pwse.iastate.edu or your
local extension office for more information on the Oct. Conference and the spring
conference that will take place in April.
Renae B. Vander Schaaf can be reached at renaefarmnews@gmail.com