Women Make Their Mark in STEM
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Dr. Cylita Guy, Alba Colón, and Sonya Carey are each doing exciting things in STEM jobs. Credit: left to right: Zachary Guy; Collinswood Images/iStock/Getty Images Plus; Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images; Grindstone Media Group/Shutterstock; courtesy of Sonya Carey; MarbellaStudio/Shutterstock
Bats, race cars, and cartoons: what do these have in common? Cylita Guy, Alba Colón, and Sonya Carey would say they're all part of the world of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math). These women have very different jobs in STEM. But each is doing important things and helping the STEM leaders of tomorrow.
Cylita Guy: The Bat Collector
How do you warm up a bunch of bats so they can take flight on a cold night? Dr. Cylita Guy has one answer. She sticks them in a bag and places the bag under her armpit. That might sound…batty. But for Dr. Guy, it's just part of being an urban ecologist.
Guy grew up in Toronto, Canada. She loved exploring nature. She noticed that cities are pretty wild—with wildlife! In college, she became a big fan of bats. The furry fliers are important to cities because they eat bugs and help plants grow.
Today, Dr. Guy encourages people in cities to explore nature near them.
Key Advice: Be yourself. "I haven't limited myself to doing things the way that other people felt I should," Dr. Guy said.
Alba Colón: Speed Support
How do you build a race car nimble enough to zoom down the track, but tough enough to go the distance? That's what NASCAR engineer Alba Colón asks herself every day. She collects and studies data. And she tests new engineering ideas to improve the cars' speed. That helps lead teams to victory.
But winning races wasn't always her goal. Colón grew up in Puerto Rico. She dreamed of becoming the first woman from Puerto Rico in space. In college, she entered a competition to build a race car. That's when she felt the need for speed! Colón changed course. She went after a career in NASCAR sports.
Most NASCAR engineers are men. So Colón wants to make sure that other women have a place on the track, too. She believes the most successful teams have many different kinds of people.
Key Advice: Be patient. "Hard work and study got me to have a fun job today," Colón said.
Sonya Carey: Toon-ing Into Tech
How do you turn a bullfrog into a princess? For Sonya Carey, it's all about blending art with technology. She's an animator. She worked on the Disney movie The Princess and the Frog.
Animators bring characters to life. They can make them talk, sing, dance, or even fly. Many, like Carey, use computer software. Carey has worked with technology since she was a teen. Today, she runs her own animation studio. She also coaches young animators.
Key Advice: Make use of technology and learn from mistakes. "Do not be afraid to fail," Carey said. "Be confident."
From bats to race cars to cartoons, there are many ways you can work in STEM. So go out and explore!
Think about and discuss these questions:
Look at where questions appear in the article. Why do you think the author uses these questions?
What part of the article did you find most interesting or surprising? Why?
TO-DONOTESVOCABULARY
QUESTION 8
QUESTION 8 OF 8
8 / 8
Suppose Zainab wants to read more about jobs in auto racing. Zainab would find most of the information __________.
A.
in a list of upcoming NASCAR events
B.
on a website about careers in engineering
C.
on a poster with a diagram of a race car
D.
in a book about automobile repair