STEM Current Event: Engineering Diversity

For this topic, I chose to research the current diversity, or lack there of, in the STEM related field. The article I chose first began by acknowledging the current situation the STEM occupations are facing. Within the current situation, there is a rise in the last decade of overall science and engineering majors within the Hispanic/Latino, American Indian/Alaska Native, and African American communities. However, “concerns remain about persistent academic achievement gaps between various demographic groups” (Malik). Overall, the research they perform surveys social media data, Twitter, through different campaigns that assist in spreading STEM diversity. They concluded that Twitter indeed allowed for better representation through individuals or corporations to voice their opinions on the current climate regarding STEM diversity (Malik). In terms of bias and limitations, there is not a whole lot within the research provided. This article is very research based, and simply informs the public the power social media posses when used to begin different social movements. This research is incredibly important though as it allows for further data to be collected when looking into the diversity of STEM majors. It may appear that the rate is on the rise, but the representation is still lacking. Through these different medias, communities can unite and spread their voice and allow for better representation and acknowledgement. This article directly affects social media users as they can stand behind these movements, and it also affects those in the communities under presented in today’s current STEM environment. These people directly benefit from the power of these movements, and gain representation through a platform that is constantly encompassing more participants. Personally, I do see the current under representation of diversity in the current educational and STEM related fields. I believe that any means of bettering this representation is for the best as it provides to the STEM field in multiple aspects. Through this increase in diversity, those who are in the under represented minority are given a voice to help spread their influence. It gives key role models for other aspiring STEM majors to look up to, and pursue a life that they see first hand is possible. It also provides for a globally sound science field as all groups have equal say in their current research. All in all, it is a pressing matter that should be expanded on in order to attain a culturally sound science world.

 

 

 

Cited:

Malik, Aqdas & Johri, Aditya & Handa, Rajat & Karbasian, Habib & Purohit, Hemant. (2018). #ILookLikeAnEngineer: Using Social Media Based Hashtag Activism Campaigns as a Lens to Better Understand Engineering Diversity Issues.

Year in a Review

This year has changed my life for the better. I have accomplished so much, and I feel as though my future is bright with all the opportunities I have ahead of me. To start it off, within the first couple of weeks, I found service opportunities, made lifelong friends, and established what I wish to become with my time here. As my community service goes, I was involved with the WOW organization within STEM scholars, where I would visit Columbus area schools and educate the students there on different science topics. It was an incredibly inspiring experience as  was able to see the love for science develop within these children in just a mere hour each session. I found incredible friends who are just like me by simply talking to people. Currently, I am not housed at Houston house, so I thought it would be hard to get involved with other STEM scholar majors as I would not be living with them. This was totally incorrect as I met an incredible bunch of them through the STEM seminar class, and the different meetings throughout the year. I had very minimal expectations coming into the year as I had no idea what to expect, but what I thought would occur was completely different and better than what I had expected. I was able to get involved right away, and I felt very at home within just a couple of weeks here. Personally, I have gained independence as a college student. A task I thought I would need at least a year to accomplish, I found I gained this independence within just a couple of days. In high school, I had taken some AP courses thinking I would have the same experience in college classes as I did in those high school classes. I was very much mistaken. I found that college classes, especially STEM, are incredibly rigorous and require immense amounts of time and effort. It was hard to balance out the time for studying with my extra circulars, and this balance took a toll on my grades in the first semester. Focusing more on my grades second semester, I believe I have worked it out, and found what I must do in order to succeed. This new transition taught me just how hard I must work in order to become the person I want to be, and I am up for that task. All in all, many great things happened this semester. From making connections with professors, to making lifelong friends, this year has truly changed me for the better, and I cannot wait to see what next year holds.

Artifact 3: Community Meetings

Throughout the entirety of this semester, I have gone to multiple STEM scholars community meetings that have been the backbone for my planning in multiple subjects. They have informed me about what lies ahead for me in my time as a STEM major, and how I can achieve those things now. One in particular informed STEM majors how to formulate their own resume. Now, I had no trouble formulating a resume with the experience I had in high school, but what really caught my eye at this event were the sample resumes submitted by previous STEM majors. Each one was incredibly packed with organizations and projects that they had experienced through the STEM scholars program. This informed me on just how much I am getting out of this organization, and it was incredibly inspiring to me as I thought of all that I am accomplishing currently. Each sample resume was just so packed with these feats that the students had accomplished in just two years of involvement within the organization, and this helped me realize just what I am doing here. I am beginning a capstone project, I am involved in service organisations, and I am creating a name for myself just within the first couple of years at OSU. These meetings also took my leadership skills to the next level as all the attendants at the meeting would break up into discussion groups. Within these groups, I felts as though I was having a significant while conducting our discussions, and this helped me feel as though I am making an impact here just in the community meetings. I have gained so much from these meetings, and I feel as though they have truly made something out of myself with such little time here.

Personal Development

Throughout my first semester of college here at OSU I have learned so much more about myself that I did not know was there. However, for this post I am solely going to focus on one of these aspects. Within this first semester I have developed even more as an independent person. I thought I was responsible enough for myself because I was in college level courses in high school and that was all it took. However, I was quickly proven wrong within just the first couple of days here. I was on my own. I had to do laundry, get my own food, and most importantly, create a future for myself. I thought it would be impossible because I had no idea how to go about this. Through STEM however, I was given the tools I need to continue on my career path. I was able to get involved within the community just a week after the start of the semester, I found incredible friends that had plenty in common with me, and I made connections with professors and peers with the help of this organization. On just the first day I was able to find STEM scholars that had plenty in common with me, and I felt much more independent. I was even given the pleasure to interview on of the top research professors here. These events and service taught me that I am truly an independent person now and it all happened so quickly when I thought it would take months. All in all, I have become more independent thanks to my first semester here at OSU.

Artifact 2: Professor Interview

Recently, I had the pleasure to interview a physics professor, Dr. Durkin, for an in class assignment regarding his physics research. Now, when most think of a task for an assignment, they just hope to get it over with in order to get the grade. Even I am guilty of this mindset until the start of the interview. Once I was there, Dr. Durkin did not just explain his research to me; he took me into the research lab and showed me the entirety of the tools he used to conduct his cutting edge research. I did not expect this simple interview to go the way it did, and it helped further inspire me to pursue physics for myself. Once the research explanations had finished, Dr. Durkin leveled with me. He simply asked what made me wish to pursue such a tedious major. I answered that I want to make a change and physics seemed like the perfect medium to formulate this change. From there, he gave me incredible advice regarding where I take my career path. It felt almost like he was a mentor to me even though I had just met him twenty five minutes prior. I don’t know what inspired him to take such a affinity to me, but I like to think it was my personality and drive. This interview not only brought top notch advice, but it also boosted my confidence as I truly felt as though I have what it takes to make it because of how Dr. Durkin treated me, and the incredible opportunities at OSU basically ensure this for me.

Artifact 1: WOW Volunteering

Recently, I volunteered for the WOW organization through STEM, and it was an incredible and life changing experience. The organization takes OSU students out to Columbus public schools in order to educate these children about science through various fun experiments. I was fortunate enough to teach both a third and fifth grad class about density and how a boat acts in water through my experiment. This task was incredibly enjoyable, not only because the experiment was interesting, but because I got to witness the true force that science can provide to a developing student. Science has always fascinated me since I was young, and I got to see this spark of interest ignite within these young students as it once did for me. This helped with my development because I truly understand what science and those who pursue it strive for from an early age. They wish to make change and help. It was truly life changing to see these children interact with one another to attack the problem at hand and attempt to solve it together. I’m particular, I have always found it simple to interact with children, and this event was no exception. The children took a quick liking to me, and that made me all the more inspired to teach their young minds about science. It is easy to tell people what to do and watch them do it, but it is a different story when you give someone general guidance and watch them form their own hypothesis and test it through failure and success. I am a very extroverted person with a leading quality, and this event helped these attributes shine through as I was able to be a “teacher” for a minute and lead these children the joys of science. I believe that this experience will help me push myself further in the future because it reminded me where I was at when I was a child and just discovering my love for science, and how much I wanted to pursue it and change the world then.

Year in Review

[ “Year in Review”  is where you should reflect on the past year and show how you have evolved as a person and as a student.  You may want to focus on your growth in a particular area (as a leader, scholar, researcher, etc.) or you may want to talk about your overall experience over the past year.  For more guidance on using your ePortfolio, including questions and prompts that will help you get started, please visit the Honors & Scholars ePortfolio course in Carmen. To get answers to specific questions, please email eportfolio@osu.edu. Delete these instructions and add your own post.]

G.O.A.L.S.

[ “G.O.A.L.S.” is a place where students write about how their planned, current, and future activities may fit into the Honors & Scholars G.O.A.L.S.: Global Awareness, Original Inquiry, Academic Enrichment, Leadership Development, and Service Engagement. For more guidance on using your ePortfolio, including questions and prompts that will help you get started, please visit the Honors & Scholars ePortfolio course in Carmen. To get answers to specific questions, please email eportfolio@osu.edu. Delete these instructions and add your own post.

  • Global Awareness: Students cultivate and develop their appreciation for diversity and each individual’s unique differences. For example, consider course work, study abroad, involvement in cultural organizations or activities, etc.
  • Original Inquiry: Honors & Scholars students understand the research process by engaging in experiences ranging from in-class scholarly endeavors to creative inquiry projects to independent experiences with top researchers across campus and in the global community. For example, consider research, creative productions or performances, advanced course work, etc.
  • Academic Enrichment: Honors & Scholars students pursue academic excellence through rigorous curricular experiences beyond the university norm both in and out of the classroom.
  • Leadership Development: Honors & Scholars students develop leadership skills that can be demonstrated in the classroom, in the community, in their co-curricular activities, and in their future roles in society.
  • Service Engagement: Honors & Scholars students commit to service to the community.]