Page 4 - Aerotech News and Review, April 15, 2022

STEMPOSIUM panelists detail career ed progress
by Larry Grooms
special to Aerotech News
AEROSPACE VALLEY, Calif.—High school and elementary age students in the High Desert and mountain region where American leadership in air and space technology was creat- ed, are being challenged and helped to overcome self-doubts about becoming part of the next big things in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
Encouragement and helpful advice were deliv- ered by men and women who, having accepted their own challenges to reach true human poten- tial, are dedicated to helping generations to come.
Offering insights on their individual pathways, experiences, challenges, doubts and decisions were:
Dr. Eileen Bjorkman, Flight Test Center Exec- utive Director, is a former U.S. Air Force officer who retired after a 30-year career, and a flight test engineer and pilot with 700 flight hours logged;
Lt. Col. Carlos Pinedo, is a B-1 test pilot who flew F-4 Phantoms and is Above & Beyond di- rector. Born in Mexico, Pinedo immigrated with his parents at age 2, and raised in the Antelope Valley, becoming a naturalized U.S. Citizen at age 16. He graduated from Highland High School, where he marched in the band and was in the Air Force Junior ROTC.
Program Moderator Lisa Brown, Director of Education and Community Relations for the non- profit Edwards AFB Flight Test Museum Histori- cal Foundation, introduced presenters in the AV / East Kern STEM Network 2021-22 STEMPO- SIUM, and guided discussions.
Between individual presentations, brief break- out group sessions, on-line Q&A segments guid-
ed by emcee Kriss Vanderhyde, subjects ranged across a wide spectrum of knowledge and ex- perience.
As one participant commented, Career Techni- cal Education studies are increasingly driven by the need to prepare for jobs not even yet invent- ed. Coding, chemistry, data science and analysis, metallurgy, ceramics, electronics, robotics were mentioned.
But it was leadoff keynoter Bjorkman who launched the essential skills for technology not typically offered in a laboratory or a manufactur- ing plant – Speaking and writing to effectively communicate technical and scientific informa- tion to non-technical people who need to know: Congressional budget committees, customers, in- vestors and media people, to name a few. Bjork- man said that while being technically solid in the science and physics in required, “learning to explain it to somebody else — to people without the technical background — is essential.”
And along with communications skills, Bjork- man brought up the “A” word sometimes inserted into STEM, merging the Art with the Science.
Others grabbed the concept and carried it far- ther, pointing out the advantages of knowing ele- ments of artistic style when visualizing technical design. Historical examples mentioned in discus- sion began with the visionary spacecraft configu- rations seen in illustrations of Sci/Fi novels by H.G. Wells, to the wristwatch phone worn by fu- turistic cartoon cop Dick Tracy. The conclusion there was that we now have the phone, but not on the wrist, and it is far more than a telephone. It’s the 21st century equivalent of a Swiss Army Knife on steroids.
But Bjorkman wasn’t quite finished exploring skills for tomorrow’s Care Tech Education. It is
important, she said, for people on the tech ed track to know some things about how to create and use technology in the best ways, or at least not in the worst ways. Her advice calls for sea- soning the work with spices of history and eth- ics, remembering when everything that could go wrong, did go wrong, and considering the ethical question, Just because it can be done, doesn’t mean it should be done.
Although topics for the afternoon were heav- ily weighted on the regionally dominant aero- space and mechanical engineering career side, the greater world of STEM thrives also in high schools, where the academically endorsed Project Lead the Way Curriculum is dominant.
In addition to aerospace industry academies, the Antelope Valley Union High School District schools offer academies focused in career prepa- ration classes and internships in bio-medicine, health care, medicine and public service.
Words of advice for students already involved or considering a STEM or STEAM course of study came throughout the afternoon, from edu- cators, technical career professionals and past and present STEM students themselves. Here are some hot tips from those who know:
“Go to career fairs, and student network meet- ings and events.”
“Ask a lot of questions. Everyone’s always learning, Ask around,”
“Don’t be intimidated.”
“Don’t be afraid of following your passion. Women engineers can work on the (traditionally male) manufacturing side.”
“Field trips are great. I fell in love with space in the 6th grade on a JPL field trip.”
“I volunteered at the Blackbird Airpark in Palmdale. Now I’m working at Virgin. I like be-
ing a part of something bigger than myself.” “I’d take every class on data science and
analysis.”
“Don’t underestimate yourself. Don’t sell
yourself short. Ask for help if you hit a wall.” “STEM opens doors.”
Courtesy photograph
Dr. Eileen Bjorkman, Flight Test Center Executive Director
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