Bats, race cars, and cartoons might seem to have little in common. Yet Cylita Guy, Alba Colón, and Sonya Carey would say they're all within the realm of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) careers. Though these women work in vastly different fields, each is making her mark while boosting the next generation of STEM leaders.
Cylita Guy: The Bat Collector
How do you warm up a bunch of bats so they can take flight on a cold winter night? For Dr. Cylita Guy, the answer is to stick them in a bag and place the bag under her armpit. That might sound…batty. But for her, getting up close and personal with wriggling critters is just part of the job.
What led her to a career chasing bats? Simple curiosity. Growing up in the city of Toronto in Ontario, Canada, Guy spent many hours exploring urban green spaces. She noticed that cities are pretty wild—with wildlife! While pursuing a degree in urban ecology, Guy became a big fan of bats. "The world of bats is incredible and wonderful," she recently asserted. The flying furry mammals are important to cities because they eat bugs and pollinate plants.
Today, Dr. Guy is on a mission to encourage city dwellers 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. "That's something I've really benefited from."
Alba Colón: Speed Support
How do you build a race car nimble enough to sprint down the track, but tough enough to go the distance? That's what NASCAR engineer Alba Colón asks herself daily. By collecting and studying data, she helps lead teams to victory. She tests out new engineering ideas to improve the cars' performance.
From 2001 to 2017, Colón racked up nearly 300 race wins. But chasing that checkered flag wasn't always the objective. Growing up in Puerto Rico, Colón dreamed of becoming the first female Puerto Rican astronaut in space. Then, while studying mechanical engineering in college, she shifted gears. She entered a competition to design and build a race car. Fueled by the rush of being on a racing team, Colón embarked on a career in NASCAR sports.
Most NASCAR engineers are men, so Colón is committed to ensuring that other women have a place on the track, too. She said, "I think the teams that succeed…are the teams that are completely diverse."
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 transform a bullfrog into a princess? For animator Sonya Carey, who led the digital animation team on the groundbreaking Disney film The Princess and the Frog, it's all about integrating art with technology.
Growing up, Carey learned about sound, lighting, and filmmaking technology in school clubs. After college, she dabbled in computer graphics, eventually landing a job as an animator.
Animators bring characters to life, making them talk, sing, dance, or even fly. In the past few decades, many have done so using advanced computer software. Carey familiarized herself with this sophisticated tech, understanding that "using problem-solving, including numbers and statistics," was vital to her art. Today, she runs her own animation studio. She also coaches young artists getting started in animation.
Key Advice: Embrace technology and learn from mistakes. "Do not be afraid to fail, take risks, and be confident," Carey said.
From bats to race cars to cartoons, there's a world of opportunities waiting for you 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?
QUESTION 5
5 / 8
Which sentence from the article best supports the idea that these professionals are assisting the next generation of STEM leaders?
[Carey] also coaches young artists getting started in animation.
Fueled by the rush of being on a racing team, Colón embarked on a career in NASCAR sports.
[Colón] tests out new engineering ideas to improve the cars' performance.
Growing up, Carey learned about sound, lighting, and filmmaking technology in school clubs.