Volunteers and Educators Working Together in STEM
This 2012 Engineers Week Thought Leadership Forum builds on the inaugural forum presented for Engineers Week 2011. Then leaders in engineering and innovation pointed to the need for teacher preparedness and support in creating the next generations of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) thinkers and doers. This year you will find leaders’ reflections celebrating educators and volunteers and, most importantly, how together they can inspire and prepare the generations facing a world population exceeding seven billion. Our future leaders will successfully tackle enormous challenges as well as opportunities. How can educators and engineers work together to support these leaders of the future?
Question 1. Tell us about a K-12 teacher who inspired you and how his/her influence is relevant to you today.
There are two junior high school teachers who… as male teachers at the junior high school level in the segregated South, … represented a very rare breed. More
Charles F. Bolden, Jr., NASA Administrator
My father was a mechanical engineer who always wanted to know "how things work.” More
-- Keith Bentley, Chief Technology Officer and Executive Vice President, Bentley Systems, Inc.
My teacher challenged me to prove… that the University of Nebraska Huskers football team could beat Johnny Unitas and the Colts. More
Lee McIntire, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, CH2M HILL
Question 2. Tell us how you have inspired someone to become an engineer or, more generally how mentoring helps expand a student’s potential and continuing interest in engineering and related STEM career opportunities.
… I really think it is critical that females are given the information they need to understand that an engineering degree is a real option for them, and the potential career paths it can lead to. More
Bill Dudley, President and Chief Operating Officer, Bechtel
I have endeavored to serve as a mentor to students from elementary through college, offering my personal life experience of growing up in the segregated schools of South Carolina …More
Charles F. Bolden, Jr., NASA Administrator
Question 3. The new world population means 7 billion dreams need doing – dreams engineers and educators can help make happen. When it comes to education, what are the greatest contributions the engineer volunteer community can make?
If we spark the interest of even one student each visit, I consider that a great outcome. More
Lee McIntire, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, CH2M HILL
One thing I have been consistently impressed by is how passionate engineers are to give of themselves through mentoring, volunteering and educational activities.More
William H. Swanson, Raytheon Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
The best way to showcase the benefits of STEM is for current practitioners of the engineering profession to willingly share their time and experiences with young people. More
Marvin Odum, Country Chair, Shell Americas
Engineers Without Borders is a great humanitarian organization and deserves the support of everyone in our profession. More
--Barry Bentley, Executive Vice President, Bentley Systems, Inc.
Most important, they can tell stories that inspire our new population to dream big… by showing examples of engineers solving problems and shaping the future that helps makes those 7 billion dreams happen. More
Ellen Kullman, Chair of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, DuPont
Review 2011 Thought Leader Forum