Black Enterprise and a team of educators and business leaders in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields held a STEM Forum hosted by ExxonMobil at Georgia Tech Research Institute Conference Center in Atlanta on May 19, 2010. The forum, moderated by Derek T. Dingle, editor-in-chief of Black Enterprise Magazine, focused on the long-term and the short-term workforce preparedness in the fields of science and technology, with an emphasis on education (college and K-12) and workforce retraining. Panelists included Donna Ennis, project director of the Georgia Minority Business Enterprise Center; Thomas D. Boston, Ph.D., a member of the faculty of Georgia Tech and of the Black Enterprise Board of Economists; Sylvia T. Bozeman, director of the Center for the Scientific Applications of Mathematics at Spelman College; Dr. Bernard A. Harris Jr., a NASA astronaut, physician and president of The Harris Foundation; and Kevin M. Warren, chairman, president and CEO of Xerox Canada. (All Photos by Lonnie C. Major)
Black Enterprise and a team of educators and business leaders in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields held a STEM Forum hosted by ExxonMobil at Georgia Tech Research Institute Conference Center in Atlanta on May 19, 2010. The forum, moderated by Derek T. Dingle, editor-in-chief of Black Enterprise Magazine, focused on the long-term and the short-term workforce preparedness in the fields of science and technology, with an emphasis on education (college and K-12) and workforce retraining. Panelists included Donna Ennis, project director of the Georgia Minority Business Enterprise Center; Thomas D. Boston, Ph.D., a member of the faculty of Georgia Tech and of the Black Enterprise Board of Economists; Sylvia T. Bozeman, director of the Center for the Scientific Applications of Mathematics at Spelman College; Dr. Bernard A. Harris Jr., a NASA astronaut, physician and president of The Harris Foundation; and Kevin M. Warren, chairman, president and CEO of Xerox Canada. (All Photos by Lonnie C. Major)more
Black Enterprise President and CEO Earl "Butch" Graves Jr. greets STEM Forum attendees and participants. In his Executive Memo column in the May 2010 issue of Black Enterprise, Graves shares that, according to the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME), only 4% of minority high school graduates are “engineering eligible.†more
Chisa K. Brookes, Ph.D., a senior research engineer at ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, address forum attendees on the need to increase the ranks of women and minorities in STEM professions. Brookes is a chemical engineer with a B.S. degree from North Carolina State University in Raleigh and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Michigan State University.more
Georgia Minority Business Enterprise Center Director Donna Ennis, named one of Atlanta's Top 100 Black Women of Influence by the Atlanta Business League, greets forum attendees on behalf of the Georgia Tech. more
In discussing the need to expose students, especially minority students, to STEM at an early age, Harris flagged the fact that there are too few educators who are adequately trained in math and science. The Harris Foundation targets middle school aged students, identifies relatable role models and makes lessons interactive.more
Harris (center) says too few educators are helping students to see the potential, including future earning power, of STEM studies. “We bring in young engineers and have them tell their story and talk about how much they make. Just to give you an idea, the average salary for an engineer is around $50,000 and within five to six years it’s around $100,000-$120,000,†said Harris. “The kids go whoa! That’s what I mean by connecting the dots."more
Black Enterprise Magazine Editor-in-Chief and STEM Forum Moderator Derek T. Dingle poses a question to the panel.
Black Enterprise STEM Forum Moderator Derek T. Dingle poses a question about increasing the ranks of young black professionals, such as those featured in the Black Enterprise May 2010 issue cover story "The Transformers", in the pipeline of STEM industries.more
Black Enterprise STEM forum panelists Sylvia Bozeman, Thomas D. Boston and Kenneth M. Warren.
The forum panelists agreed that in order to encourage more African Americans to study STEM, complete degrees and go into careers in those STEM related professions it will take the effort of parents, educators and students. Corporations must also play a vital role in encouraging students to embrace STEM related areas that will make them competitive in the global economy. “Most smart corporations will understand that they have to play a vital role. It’s not an altruistic responsibility,†said Warren. “Corporations can cultivate innovation and talent. It is good for business.â€more
Exposing students to STEM education at a younger age is half the battle. For those students who do make it to the collegiate level and chose to major in STEM areas, attrition rates are often high. “For example, so many students major in computer science, but then say they're going into another field because they don’t understand the possibilities and how you can maximize those possibilities by pursuing one of the STEM areas,†notes Boston. “They gravitate towards what they know.â€more
Ennis says we must show students how STEM career opportunities can be found in the entertainment industry and can be geared towards entrepreneurship. “Years ago if you wanted to be in the film industry you wanted to be an actress or the next Denzel. Our kids didn’t know they could write, edit, direct and produce, but now when you look at the credits after an animated movie you will see 200 names,†explained Ennis. “Those are the kinds of things that we need to show students. There’s a lucrative career; you can have fun and you can do a lot of things."more
Sylvia Bozeman echoes the sentiment of the entire panel as she point out the need for greater commitment, leadership and resources at every level of education in order to boost American representation and competitiveness in STEM related industries.more
Black Enterprise and a team of educators and business leaders in the science, technology, engineering and mathematics fields held a STEM Forum hosted by ExxonMobil at Georgia Tech Research Institute Conference Center in Atlanta on May 19, 2010. The forum, moderated by Derek T. Dingle, editor-in-chief of Black Enterprise Magazine, focused on the long-term and the short-term workforce preparedness in the fields of science and technology, with an emphasis on education (college and K-12) and workforce retraining. Panelists included Donna Ennis, project director of the Georgia Minority Business Enterprise Center; Thomas D. Boston, Ph.D., a member of the faculty of Georgia Tech and of the Black Enterprise Board of Economists; Sylvia T. Bozeman, director of the Center for the Scientific Applications of Mathematics at Spelman College; Dr. Bernard A. Harris Jr., a NASA astronaut, physician and president of The Harris Foundation; and Kevin M. Warren, chairman, president and CEO of Xerox Canada. (All Photos by Lonnie C. Major)more
Black Enterprise President and CEO Earl "Butch" Graves Jr. greets STEM Forum attendees and participants. In his Executive Memo column in the May 2010 issue of Black Enterprise, Graves shares that, according to the National Action Council for Minorities in Engineering (NACME), only 4% of minority high school graduates are “engineering eligible.†more
Chisa K. Brookes, Ph.D., a senior research engineer at ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company, address forum attendees on the need to increase the ranks of women and minorities in STEM professions. Brookes is a chemical engineer with a B.S. degree from North Carolina State University in Raleigh and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Michigan State University.more
Georgia Minority Business Enterprise Center Director Donna Ennis, named one of Atlanta's Top 100 Black Women of Influence by the Atlanta Business League, greets forum attendees on behalf of the Georgia Tech. more
In discussing the need to expose students, especially minority students, to STEM at an early age, Harris flagged the fact that there are too few educators who are adequately trained in math and science. The Harris Foundation targets middle school aged students, identifies relatable role models and makes lessons interactive.more
Harris (center) says too few educators are helping students to see the potential, including future earning power, of STEM studies. “We bring in young engineers and have them tell their story and talk about how much they make. Just to give you an idea, the average salary for an engineer is around $50,000 and within five to six years it’s around $100,000-$120,000,†said Harris. “The kids go whoa! That’s what I mean by connecting the dots."more
Black Enterprise Magazine Editor-in-Chief and STEM Forum Moderator Derek T. Dingle poses a question to the panel.
Black Enterprise STEM Forum Moderator Derek T. Dingle poses a question about increasing the ranks of young black professionals, such as those featured in the Black Enterprise May 2010 issue cover story "The Transformers", in the pipeline of STEM industries.more
Black Enterprise STEM forum panelists Sylvia Bozeman, Thomas D. Boston and Kenneth M. Warren.
The forum panelists agreed that in order to encourage more African Americans to study STEM, complete degrees and go into careers in those STEM related professions it will take the effort of parents, educators and students. Corporations must also play a vital role in encouraging students to embrace STEM related areas that will make them competitive in the global economy. “Most smart corporations will understand that they have to play a vital role. It’s not an altruistic responsibility,†said Warren. “Corporations can cultivate innovation and talent. It is good for business.â€more
Exposing students to STEM education at a younger age is half the battle. For those students who do make it to the collegiate level and chose to major in STEM areas, attrition rates are often high. “For example, so many students major in computer science, but then say they're going into another field because they don’t understand the possibilities and how you can maximize those possibilities by pursuing one of the STEM areas,†notes Boston. “They gravitate towards what they know.â€more
Ennis says we must show students how STEM career opportunities can be found in the entertainment industry and can be geared towards entrepreneurship. “Years ago if you wanted to be in the film industry you wanted to be an actress or the next Denzel. Our kids didn’t know they could write, edit, direct and produce, but now when you look at the credits after an animated movie you will see 200 names,†explained Ennis. “Those are the kinds of things that we need to show students. There’s a lucrative career; you can have fun and you can do a lot of things."more
Sylvia Bozeman echoes the sentiment of the entire panel as she point out the need for greater commitment, leadership and resources at every level of education in order to boost American representation and competitiveness in STEM related industries.more