Former astronaut encourages young science and tech students
Former NASA astronaut Sally Ride flew into Motorola's Schaumburg campus on Tuesday in time to headline the company's 2010 Innovation Generation Network Conference.
In doing so, she practiced what she preaches: to put a face to the wide variety of scientists and engineers working in innovative fields, who come from different backgrounds, and are of different ages and ethnicities.
Ride earned her undergraduate degree in physics and docturate in astrophysics, both at Stanford University. She was the first American woman to fly in space, and represents the 60 percent of scientists and engineers still in NASA's astronaut corps.
"Counter stereotypes early, and introduce (these scientists and engineers) as real people," Ride told an audience of nearly 300 people, many of whom are educators and Motorola grant recipients, "so students can humanize these careers."
Ride was a guest of officials from the Motorola Foundation, which announced this week it has given out more than $7.5 million to promote STEM education programs (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) across the country.
"We feel we're in a national crisis," said Eileen Sweeney, Motorola Foundation director. "We do not have enough American engineers we can hire. We appear not to be growing that generation."
Foundation officials said they look to grant programs that give special attention to hands-on programs, which focus on girls and minorities, and are innovative in their content.
One of those to receive a $10,000 grant this year was Harper College's Center for Innovative Instruction, which offers STEM courses either entirely online or with occasional campus visits.
"Overall, our online courses are growing 12-15 percent every year," said Sarah Stark, department head, "but we're seeing our biggest growth in the area of math, and a strong interest in technology."
Other local grant recipients include Palatine Township Elementary District 15's FIRST LEGO League robotics team; Schaumburg Township Elementary District 54's GEMS (Girls in Engineering, Mathematics and Science) program; the Illinois Math & science Academy's Fund for Advancement of Education; the DuPage Children's Museum's Exploring Forces and Motion project, in Naperville; NIU's Enhancing Engineering Pathways program; the Workforce Board of Northern Cook County math & science scholarship program in Park Ridge and the YWCA of Lake County's TechTEENS robotics program for young women, in Waukegan.
U.S. Rep. Bobby Rush also spoke, and told the educators and grant recipients they are the frontlines in the national effort to engage youngsters in science, technology and mathematics.
Too many young people in underserved communities are disconnected from access to advances in technology, he said, but pledged to do his part in Congress to support innovative educational programs.
"Don't believe for one minute that the oppressive budget deficit we find ourselves in should prevent us from supporting innovative programs in science, technology and math," Rush said. "We have to find ways to educate our next generation of scientists."
Ride told the story of sitting in the Stanford cafeteria, reading the campus daily newspaper, when she saw a NASA ad for astronaut applicants.
"I was lucky to see that ad, but I was prepared to take advantage of that opportunity," Ride said. "We need to encourage and support our students, so that they have access to higher quality educational programs in math and science.
"When I was a little girl, I dreamed of flying in space," Ride added. "Let's help all our young people to reach for the stars and achieve their dreams too."