Women in STEM: Kathy Silver, Materials Science and Engineering

Kathy Silver earned her engineering degree from Georgia Tech. Here she shares a little about her career and the inspiration behind it.

What is your specific area of STEM?
Materials Science and Engineering

How would you explain your STEM field to young girls? 
A materials engineer is someone who creates new materials or discovers new uses for old material.

What traits might a child possess that may indicate an interest or aptitude for your STEM field? 
Any child is capable of an aptitude for math/science and we should assume all young children (particularly girls) have the ability to go into STEM fields.  The bigger challenge (in my opinion) is convincing children of non-STEM parents that they are capable. 

Where I work, I am one of only a half dozen engineers who does not have at least one parent in a STEM career and I'm the only employee whose parents do not have college degrees.

What did you know about your STEM field when you were a child? 
I didn't know much, though I recall a female ceramics engineer who came to talk on a career day that left an impact.
 
Why did you choose your STEM field? Were you inspired by someone?
As mentioned above, I remember the ceramics engineer and decided to follow "what I know".

What are some really cool things that people in your profession work on? 

• Microscopy:  Looking at the intricate wings of a butterfly or the many eyes of bumblebee as well as looking at molecular structures. 
• Film Deposition:  Layering material on a background one atomic layer at a time.
• Forensics:  What is the material, what is it used for, how was it made.  A variety of equipment helps us with material forensics.

What inspirational message would you give young girls to inspire them to pursue STEM? 
Read, do well at school and attend STEM camps.
 

Thank you for contributing, Kathy!