|
Posted by NMSI Communications director Rena Pederson:
NMSI board member Sally Ride continues to be one of the most visible and article champions of STEM education, particularly for young girls. Here is an article about her talk this week at the University of Texas at Arlington.
FORT WORTH BUSINESS PRESS
First U.S. female astronaut into space urges children to study science, technology
BY ELIZABETH BASSETT
February 16, 2010
Sally Ride, perhaps best known for being the first American female astronaut into space, addressed the need to keep children interested in science, technology and engineering Monday night at the University of Texas at Arlington.
Sally Ride, perhaps best known for being the first American female astronaut into space, addressed the need to keep children interested in science, technology and engineering Monday night at the University of Texas at Arlington.
Ride was at the university as part of the Maverick Speaker Series, and she said teachers, parents and the general public needs to support young students — and especially girls — who like the sciences and could become the high-tech workforce of the future.
There have been significant increases in the number of women and girls in various fields, from being medical and law school students to being engineers or even playing sports in high school, Ride said.
UT-Arlington President James Spaniolo introduced Ride at the event and mentioned her strong interest in tennis when she was in school. At one point, she was one of the increasing number of girls playing sports and she wanted to become a tennis pro.
“But science won out, and we’re glad that it did,” he said.
Ride said her parents encouraged her through her academics, as did teachers and professors. She finished dual undergraduate degrees in English and physics, as well as a master’s and doctorate in physics, before she joined NASA. In 1983, she became the youngest American to ever go into space. She was 32.
NASA and its various space and science programs can act as a driver, inspiring children to consider pursuing the sciences through their education and careers, Ride said, and she recalled how the launch of the Russian satellite Sputnik inspired the United States’ general public to focus on science and engineering. NASA was a part of that push to excel in the new frontier.
“It was cool then to be a scientist or engineer,” Ride said. “We need to make it cool again.”
http://www.fwbusinesspress.com/display.php?id=11978
 |
Subscribe to this comment's feed