Robyn Hartz earned her graduate degree in Transportation Engineering from Georgia Tech and her undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. Robyn also serves as President of her local Women’s Transportation Seminar, which includes a mentoring program for young girls. Below she shares a little about her career and the inspiration behind it. What is your specific area of STEM? Civil Engineering. Specifically, I’m a Transportation Engineer and am currently focused on noise and air quality. How would you explain your STEM field to young girls? When all those cars, trucks and buses go whizzing down the road, I figure out what kind of impact all that noise has on the local community. We can then determine if a noise barrier is needed (like the walls you sometimes see along the interstate that separate the road from the houses nearby). I also figure out how the traffic and transportation projects will affect the air you breath. What traits might a child possess that may indicate an interest or aptitude for your STEM field? An interest in the environment. What did you know about your STEM field when you were a child? I didn't know my specific field existed until I started in it. Its a unique niche field and people get there from all sorts of paths. Why did you choose your STEM field? Were you inspired by someone? While studying in Atlanta, many of my professors were very involved with air quality research. It really sparked my interest in the area. I started on my path initially because I had dreams of becoming a fighter pilot and thought I would design airports after my flying career was over. What are some really cool things that people in your profession work on?
What inspirational message would you give young girls to inspire them to pursue STEM? Don't ever let anyone tell you that you can't do something! You need to try, and believe in yourself. Thank you for contributing, Robyn!
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Katie Benner earned her civil engineering degree from Rose Hulman Institute of Technology. Here she shares a little about her career and the inspiration behind it. What is your specific area of STEM? Civil Engineering How would you explain your STEM field to young girls? I get to solve puzzles every day. What traits might a child possess that may indicate an interest or aptitude for your STEM field? I enjoyed all building toys like Legos, Lincoln Logs, K'nex, but I also liked dolls. I preferred building houses and things for my dolls rather than use actual doll houses. Puzzles and games have always been a joy as well. Anything with problem solving (even video games) may show an aptitude for STEM. What did you know about your STEM field when you were a child? I didn't think about becoming an engineer until high school. For ages I thought I'd be an architect. My parents provided me building toys as a child. I had a natural aptitude for math, so my teachers put me in higher math classes since elementary school. And my parents heard about Excel, which was a one day per week accelerated learning class that I attended when I was in 5th and 6th grade. In 5th grade we focused a lot on building structures out of newspaper and bridges that had to carry load from Popsicle sticks. Why did you choose your STEM field? Were you inspired by someone? I've always been interested in architecture, but as much as I love art, I'm not a great artist. I figured the math side of architecture - structural engineering - would be a better fit. What are some really cool things that people in your profession work on? Engineers are needed throughout the world. I'm currently living in New Zealand because of my career. You can design Legos or become an Imagineer for Disney or develop games or send someone to Mars. You can construct something with your own hands or design something and watch it get created. What inspirational message would you give young girls to inspire them to pursue STEM? When you're in the STEM field you are only limited by your imagination. If something doesn't exist - you can create it. STEM jobs can take you anywhere in the world and even out into space. There are still so many thing that haven't yet been discovered or explained or utilized. With STEM you can build the world you want to live in. Thank you for contributing, Katie! What is your specific area of STEM?
Civil Engineering How would you explain your STEM field to young girls? I design and inspect bridges and culverts. What traits might a child possess that may indicate an interest or aptitude for your STEM field? Interest in building things and/or how things work and "fit" together. I had a big interest in Legos when I was little. Not just building sets from plans, but also coming up with my own ideas / ways of constructing other items. What did you know about your STEM field when you were a child? I knew very little about STEM fields until high school. My father noticed engineering traits in me and encouraged me to learn more about civil engineering. He helped me find an opportunity to job shadow our town's civil engineer. Why did you choose your STEM field? Were you inspired by someone? I always enjoyed building things. I think creating something useful is very fulfilling for me. After a couple engineering internships, I realized that I really enjoyed the design aspect as well. What are some really cool things that people in your profession work on? Personally, I have worked both in construction management and design. I've helped estimate, schedule, manage budgets, materials and crews for bridge and roadway projects. This includes trouble shooting design or construction flaws in order to keep projects moving. I've worked projects that were completely new - going through woods, empty fields and demolishing houses to put in new interstate and a new airport. As well as widening interstate and demolishing and reconstructing bridges and roads in a city. Some civil engineers help design and build skyscrapers and sports stadiums. Others might work utilities, water or roadways. What inspirational message would you give young girls to inspire them to pursue STEM? Engineering is an exciting and fulfilling career. If you are interested, you should look for more opportunities to experience it - ask other women to shadow them at work and about their careers. Engineers love to share what they do! Thank you for contributing, Erin! Karen Aspelin earned her undergraduate civil engineering degree from the University of Virginia and her Master’s from Texas A&M University. Here she shares a little about her career and the inspiration behind it. What is your specific area of STEM? Civil Engineering, Transportation and Traffic How would you explain your STEM field to young girls? I help to plan and design the roadway system that you drive, ride your bike, and walk along every day. What traits might a child possess that may indicate an interest or aptitude for your STEM field? Playing with Legos, cars, especially cars on roads. Also enjoying mazes and other puzzles. What did you know about your STEM field when you were a child? I didn't know anything about the field I ended up in. It wasn't until I was in college that I learned about my career field, and that was through a required engineering class. Why did you choose your STEM field? Were you inspired by someone? When I got out of college I was working in a different STEM field (environmental engineering) but wasn't happy in my job. A friend I had gone to college with told me he was in a master's program that focused on transportation engineering. Once I started that program I knew it was the field for me. What are some really cool things that people in your profession work on? Sometimes when I drive on a road or ride my bike on a trail, I am able to say, "I designed this!" It's so cool to have a product from your work that is used by so many people. What inspirational message would you give young girls to inspire them to pursue STEM? My career in the STEM field allows me make a great salary, work flexibly, and be a mom. Thank you for contributing, Karen! Danni Jorgenson earned her civil engineering degree from the University of Florida. Here she shares a little about her career and the inspiration behind it. What is your specific area of STEM? Civil engineering, transportation and traffic How would you explain your STEM field to young girls? I plan and analyze how people travel. What traits might a child possess that may indicate an interest or aptitude for your STEM field? Attention to detail, problem solving skills, and creativity. What did you know about your STEM field when you were a child? Nothing! I didn't know anything about civil engineering until high school, and that's when I learned from a former babysitter who was majoring in civil engineering. It sounded really interesting and I decided to go to college for civil engineering. What are some really cool things that people in your profession work on? Automated vehicles - cars that drive themselves! What inspirational message would you give young girls to inspire them to pursue STEM? You can help to shape our future through technology. Thank you for contributing, Danni! |
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