AV Summer Gateway Academies Engage Middle School Students in STEM

Two Project Lead the Way Summer Gateway Academy sessions were sponsored by the AVUHSD for middle school students during June and July 2013.  Over thirty students took part in events such as rocket-building and launching, creating solar cell phone covers, learning how to use design software, and programming Boe-bots to go through a maze, among others.  The session held at Lancaster High School was also visited by Lockheed Martin's school outreach team.

Eagle Robotics team member assists students to learn design software at
Lancaster HS Summer Gateway Academy

Middle school students launch solar balloon

Students at KHS Summer Gateway Academy create solar cell phone covers/chargers

 

STEM Jobs Expanding

In a report issued by the US Commerce Department today, data tends to show that STEM careers pay an average of 26% more than those in other fields, and grew three times faster in the last decade.  http://www.usatoday.com/MONEY/usaedition/2011-07-14-Tech-jobs_ST_U.htm

Similarly, "green jobs" enjoy median wages 20% higher and clean tech jobs outpace those in the oil industry.  http://www.usatoday.com/MONEY/usaedition/2011-07-13-Green-jobs--_ST_U.htm  The Los Angeles Times reports that California continues to lead the nation in the number of green jobs held, according to the Brookings Institution.  http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-green-jobs-20110713,0,1142707.story

Women Engineers Likely to be Drawn to CleanTech Jobs

Sonitah Lontoh, women's issues columnist for Forbes Magazine, believes that cleantech jobs may be appealing for women engineers, unlike other disciplines.  While still a male-dominated field with leaders coming from the oil and gas industry, Lontoh opines that women will be drawn to the effective social issue represented by cleantech; this view is substantiated by NSF research reports on women in engineering.  In order to boost this trend, young women need to be encouraged to excel in math and science, and see female role models within the field.  http://blogs.forbes.com/85broads/2011/05/26/green-tech-finally-a-female-friendly-engineering-tech-energy-field/?partner=yahootix