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In today's rapidly changing digital age, there is an increasing demand for children to be well-versed in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). With a growing demand for technological skills in almost every field, a strong STEM and coding foundation is critical for the future workforce. Moreover, even though coding is essential for all children to learn, the gender gap in STEM remains a persistent issue. Therefore, promoting and fostering STEM education and careers is crucial for both boys and girls, particularly encouraging girls to pursue these fields, from computer programmers, web developers and engineers, data scientists, and more. , it might surprise you that women are often behind the creation of the very cool gadgets, devices, apps, and services you use every day. Regarding technology While women frequently take a back seat in the annals of tech history, the truth is that they have been vital players just as long as men have. Today, estimates show that women comprise 26.7 percent (or less) of the industry. As we celebrate Women's History Month, it's essential to recognize the significance of women in STEM fields. This article will examine the influence of encouraging STEM education, especially coding, at an early age for girls. It will highlight the importance of this approach for all girls and its potential impact on their future to get more opportunities for well-paying jobs in tech. History of Women in STEM Women have made significant contributions to STEM fields. Ada Lovelace was a groundbreaking mathematician and writer best known for her contributions to Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine. Her most significant contribution to computing was the development of an algorithm for the Analytical Engine, widely regarded as the first computer program ever written. This achievement was all the more impressive given that Lovelace was a woman living in a time when women were discouraged from pursuing careers in science or mathematics. Her work helped to lay the groundwork for modern computing and continues to inspire future generations of women in STEM. An African-American mathematician, Katherine Johnson was a brilliant mathematician and physicist who contributed significantly to NASA's space program. She was part of a group of African-American women known as "human computers" who calculated the complex mathematical formulas required for space travel. Johnson's work on the trajectory for the first human-crewed spaceflight was critical to the mission's success. She went on to work on numerous other projects at NASA throughout her career. Despite facing discrimination and prejudice as a woman of color working in a male-dominated field, Johnson remained dedicated to her work and inspired generations of women and people of color to pursue STEM careers. Despite these and other accomplishments, women have historically been underrepresented in STEM fields, with men outnumbering women in almost every STEM field. Outside of this commemorative month, it is critical to recognize women's achievements in this and many other areas to inspire the next generation of women in STEM. STEM Initiatives for Women According to the , women constitute only 28% of the STEM workforce. As they progress through school, girls tend to lose interest in STEM subjects, with only 0.4% of high school girls interested in computer science degrees. National Girls Collaborative Project This disparity limits women's career opportunities and hinders the potential for innovation and progress in the field. In addition to being a matter of gender equality, the underrepresentation of women in STEM areas has adverse economic effects. , increasing gender diversity in the workforce could boost the world economy by $12 trillion by 2025. According to McKinsey & Company research In addition, a also discovered that businesses with more diverse workforces frequently experience higher financial returns and are more creative. National Science Foundation study Despite these challenges, many organizations and initiatives are working to promote girls' participation in STEM education and careers. Tynker mission is to provide every child with a solid foundation in computer science, programming, and critical thinking skills to prepare them to become better architects of their future world. Tynker's Their is used in more than 100,000 schools worldwide to ensure that, by 2033, every high school graduate has been exposed to some formal coding education. award-winning curriculum Tynker coding courses for kids are intentionally designed to be engaging and accessible for all children, regardless of gender. Tynker offers a variety of classes and projects that cater to a range of interests, including music, art, games, and storytelling. Additionally, Tynker actively promotes diversity and inclusion in its courses, showcasing female role models in technology and highlighting the contributions of women in the field. Tynker also offers courses and projects specifically geared towards girls, such as the course and the "Women in Computing" project. These courses focus on empowering girls to pursue careers in technology and showcase female leaders in the industry. "Ada's Adventure" Girls Who Code is a nonprofit organization founded in 2012 by Reshma Saujani to close the gender gap in technology by providing young girls with computer science education. Girls Who Code The organization offers free coding education to girls in grades 3-12 through summer immersion programs, after-school clubs, and other initiatives. Since its founding, Girls Who Code has reached more than 500 million girls across the United States and expanded its reach to other countries worldwide. The impact of Girls Who Code on women in STEM is significant. According to their website, 90% of Girls Who Code alumni say that they have been inspired to pursue a career in technology due to their participation in the program. In addition, to pursue computer science in college than the national average. Girls Who Code alums are also 15 times more likely Code.org Another initiative, , is a nonprofit organization that offers free coding education to students of all ages, focusing on promoting girls' participation in coding. Code.org The organization's programs include curriculum and training for K-12 teachers, online courses and resources for students, and community outreach initiatives. Code.org's impact on promoting girls' participation in coding is significant. , in 2019, 45% of their students were girls. According to their website program has also reached over 100 million girls worldwide, exposing them to computer science and coding basics. More than half of Code.org's college-level computer science students are women, compared to a national average of just 20%. Code.org's Hour of Code Impacts of Women in STEM Beyond the success of the women themselves on a personal and professional level, there are numerous advantages for women in STEM areas. Society will gain when more women are inspired to seek STEM degrees and careers. Technology, healthcare, energy, and environmental sustainability depend on advancing the STEM disciplines. Women can bring a variety of viewpoints to the area, resulting in more creative solutions to challenging issues. Additionally, promoting female participation in STEM disciplines can aid in reducing the gender wage gap, a problem that has persisted in the workplace. The reported that in 2020, women in the United States made just 82 cents for every dollar males earn. National Women's Law Center However, women in STEM typically make more money compared to other occupations. According to a National Science Foundation study, women in STEM make 33% more money than women in non-STEM professions. The gender wage gap can be narrowed by increasing the proportion of women working in STEM areas. A lack of diversity in STEM disciplines can also result in a narrow focus on the problems and difficulties that particular groups of people face. For instance, a lack of female researchers in the medical field can lead to a lack of knowledge about women's health problems. Increasing the number of women in STEM can contribute to the field's diversity of views and experiences, resulting in more inclusive research and innovation. What Parents Can Do Women's History Month is an excellent opportunity to consider women's contributions to STEM fields and draw attention to the need for more diversity and inclusion. Parents and teachers can use various tools to promote girls' involvement in STEM education and careers and introduce them to female role models working in the area. By giving their daughters access to STEM-related activities and tools, such as attending talks, workshops, and networking events that highlight the achievements of women in STEM, parents can also inspire their daughters to pursue their interests in these fields. Many schools and libraries provide STEM resources and activities for kids and teenagers, sometimes free or at a reduced cost to families. Parents can play a vital role in encouraging their daughters to pursue STEM by embracing their hobbies, regardless of gender norms. For instance, if a daughter shows interest in coding or engineering, parents can provide access to resources like the ones above that allow girls to create digital games, animations, and more. Children can work through these resources independently without requiring much assistance from parents with little STEM or coding experience. Parents can create a nurturing environment at home that promotes their daughters' interests in STEM by reinforcement of gender equality and inclusivity. This approach can help girls feel confident and empowered to pursue STEM fields without limitations. Equal Access to the Top Coding and STEM education are critical skills for children in the modern digital age, so encouraging girls to pursue STEM education and careers is vital. By increasing girls' access to STEM education and resources and highlighting women's contributions to STEM disciplines, we can work to close the gender gap in STEM and create a more diverse and inclusive workforce. We look forward to the day when women and men are equally represented working in tech with equal access to a viable, successful career path to the top. About the Author is the Chief Growth Officer of Tynker, with 20 years of experience helping startups grow into successful businesses. Lomit Patel Lomit has previously played a critical role in scaling growth at startups, including Roku (IPO), TrustedID (acquired by Equifax), Texture (acquired. by Apple), and IMVU (#2 top-grossing gaming app). Lomit is a public speaker, author, and advisor with numerous accolades and awards throughout his career, including being recognized as a Mobile Hero by Liftoff. Lomit's book is part of Eric Ries' best-selling "The Lean Startup" series. Lean AI

Celebrating Women in STEM and Encouraging the Next Generation

Celebrando a las mujeres en STEM y alentando a la próxima generación

Célébrer les femmes dans les STEM et encourager la prochaine génération

एसटीईएम में महिलाओं का जश्न मनाना और अगली पीढ़ी को प्रोत्साहित करना

STEM 分野の女性を称賛し、次世代を奨励する

Celebrando as mulheres em STEM e incentivando a próxima geração

Tôn vinh phụ nữ trong lĩnh vực STEM và khuyến khích thế hệ tiếp theo

庆祝 STEM 领域的女性并鼓励下一代

For many students, STEM careers may feel like they’re reserved for overachievers and math aficionados. However, for those who have actually pursued careers in STEM, it quickly becomes clear that the field is broad and filled with a wide variety of jobs to pursue. While there’s no doubt that there are countless exciting STEM careers out there, it can be tricky to get young students excited about them. Thankfully, there are ways to combat this challenge and get students enthusiastic about pursuing a career in STEM. Here is how we can get young students interested in STEM careers. Highlighting the Lucrative Salaries in STEM While it’s hard for some younger students to fully comprehend how much their salaries will affect their lives in the future, painting a vivid picture can help get them excited. Whether they dream about having a gaming room with a large TV or the newest sports cars, there are many careers in STEM that can provide them with the resources to make these aspirations into a reality. For most young students, paying for bills, mortgages, insurance, and other luxuries may still be an abstract concept. To really pique their interest, it can be helpful to illustrate just how expensive it can be to live a normal life — without even having the extra money to spend on things like vacations. To start, it can be helpful to ask young students about the lives they intend to live as working professionals. Ask them what types of homes they want to live in, what kinds of cars they want to drive, what kinds of vacations they want to go on, and when they want to retire. Before long, it’ll become wholly apparent to them that they’ll have to pursue a career that can support their ideal lifestyle and allow them to live a life that they see fit. At this point, having a list of careers and the median incomes associated with them can really get students excited. Here’s a list of some of the highest-paying STEM careers: ● : These professionals are tasked with the job of creating and maintaining crafts that leave the ground such as aircrafts and satellites. This is a perfect career for any student interested in flying, space, and groundbreaking technology. According to the BLS, the median annual salary for these professionals in 2021 was a whopping $122,270, making it an impressive career to pursue for any young student. Aerospace engineer ● : These professionals utilize their specialized knowledge of physics to study a wide variety of phenomena that center around matter and energy. According to the BLS, these professionals made a laudable median salary of $147,450 in 2021. To become a professional physicist or astronomer, one will need a doctorate in the field, highlighting that these career paths are perfect for students intent on immersing themselves in the study of physics or astronomy. Physicist and astronomer ● : These professionals work to craft and maintain security systems for the computer networks of various companies. To become an information security analyst, one needs only a bachelor’s degree along and possibly some additional certifications. The average median salary in 2021 was $102,600, far above the national average. In addition, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the job role is estimated to grow at an impressive rate of 35% over the next decade, making it a secure field to pursue an education in. Information security analyst Highlighting Cool, Fun, and Interesting Careers In STEM For many students, the term “STEM,” conjures images of technical math equations and science labs. While there is no shortage of these types of careers in the STEM space, these are far from the only types of careers that STEM has to offer. In fact, students interested in video games may be interested to know that video game engineers are actually in the STEM field. In addition, computer engineers, such as those who create gaming systems, are also part of the broad and varying world of STEM. For students interested in biology and the natural world, it can be helpful to point them in the direction of , which would allow them to convert data into insights that can make a significant impact on the world. biostatistics careers By highlighting interesting careers that mirror young students’ interests, getting them excited about STEM careers becomes far easier and more approachable. To start, it can be helpful to ask students about their interests and hobbies outside of school. After, you can present them with career options that mirror their interests. In addition, it can be helpful to highlight the growing focus on inclusivity in STEM, with resources such as becoming more and more common. coding scholarships for women Many students will likely be surprised to discover that there are actually STEM careers out there that would allow them to pursue a career in a world that they find stimulating and enjoyable. Once you spark this interest, it is more than likely that students will continue to do research on their own and explore their options in the STEM field. Highlighting the Work/Life Balance That STEM Careers Can Offer As opposed to previous generations, the youth of today place much more value on work/life balance. This means that careers that offer them more free time and flexible work options will appeal to them more than traditional in-office 40-hour work weeks. In the world of STEM, there are many careers that are conducive to both remote and freelance employment. As such, it’s important to highlight these facts to young students so that they are aware that many careers in the STEM space will allow them to experience a greater degree of work/life balance and allow them to live a better life in many respects. To really drive home the fact that good work/life balance can drastically improve one’s life, it can be helpful to have examples of professionals who are actually doing this themselves. Whether these are local professionals or people one has networked with remotely, being able to show young students examples of people with work/life balance can compel them to explore STEM careers and seek that work/life balance out in their own professional careers. Highlighting the Broad Nature of STEM As has been noted, many young students have a skewed understanding of STEM and the types of careers in the field. By exposing young students to the broad nature of STEM and the many various fields within it, you’ll be more likely to convince them that there may be a place for them in the space. To really make a point, it can be helpful to have a list of successful public figures that have careers in the STEM space. By highlighting celebrities that students are already aware of and look up to, it will be easier to inspire students to chart their own courses in STEM and search for a similar career that suits them. The more disparate fields, careers, and specialties that you are able to expose young students to, the greater the chance that they’ll find one that excites them. This being the case, having a thorough understanding of the wide world of STEM and notable figures who have found success in various STEM fields can help make it easier to excite students and convince them to pursue a career in STEM. Every Student Can Find a Professional Path in STEM Given the broad nature of STEM, almost anyone can find a role that they find interesting and fulfilling in the field. While a STEM career may not be the first thing on most young students’ minds, highlighting key aspects of professional STEM careers can get them excited about pursuing a role in the field. As the world and job preferences continue to evolve, there is no doubt that STEM careers will become more sought out by young students across the globe in the near future.

How We Can Get Young Students Interested in STEM Careers

STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. These four areas of study have become crucial for students who want to be part of an innovative, rapidly growing industry with excellent career prospects. Fortunately, many amazing ways to get your kids involved in STEM! The are worth understanding. However, it’s not just about becoming the next tech baron or getting your stock options. It’s about developing our human potential. In short, STEM helps us tackle significant global challenges. occupational trends The states that: U.S. Department of Education If we want a nation where our future leaders, neighbors, and workers can understand and solve some of the complex challenges of today and tomorrow and meet the demands of the dynamic and evolving workforce, building students’ skills, content knowledge, and literacy in STEM fields is essential. What Are the Benefits of Learning STEM at a Young Age? Short-term benefits: Improved grades and academic performance Great Foundation for college-level coursework Essential skills: problem-solving, critical thinking, creativity Long-term benefits: Entrepreneurial mindset Choice of innovative, well-paid careers Becoming a creator, not just a consumer Tools to navigate a world run by technology and science What Are the Trademarks of a Successful STEM Education Program? The integration of topics — no field is considered in isolation but explored in how they relate to one another, with an emphasis on real-world applications Project-based-learning and inquiry-based learning approaches encourage student curiosity Creativity, trial-and-error, and even grit are shown as part of the scientific process The addition of computer science to the K12 curriculum is a big change, one that business leaders, teachers, parents, and state governors agree is worth pursuing. Read more about the . CEOs for Computer Science initiative here How Parents Can Augment Their Child’s STEM Learning When it comes to your child’s STEM education, it’s imperative to pursue available resources. Clubs Ask around your school or neighborhood for existing clubs or activities. — Provides STEM/STEAM programs featuring tecLEGO® bricks and K’Nex® Snapology — Explore the mysteries of outer space science with fun projects NASA STEM Club — Offers both virtual and in-person after-school clubs Science Explorers 2. Books Many libraries provide digital access to thousands of free technology ebooks (via or similar services) in addition to kid-friendly STEM books in their regular library. oreilly.com — This book inspires girls to see themselves in engineering and STEM. Part of the Questioneer series. Ages 3-6. Rosie Revere, Engineer — Tynker has a great series of books detailing inspirational block-coding projects. Ages 8-12+. Tynker Activity Books — Hands-on activities that you can do with household objects, part of a series from DK Publishing. Ages 8-12+. Maker Lab 3. Museums Local museums can also be a fantastic way to supplement STEM learning. San Francisco’s is a public learning laboratory exploring the world through science, art, and human perception. Exploratorium The mission of Philadelphia’s is to inspire a passion for learning about science and technology. Franklin Institute Chicago’s has a Dozin’ with the Dinos program where kids can spend the night at the museum, enjoying activities like dissecting owl pellets and learning the steps of Egyptian mummification. Field Museum 4. Zoos, Nature Centers, Aquariums, and Universities in New York has a STEM Gone Wild program for k-5 students with activities that include science experiments, data collection, hands-on activities, animal observations, and more. Prospect Park Zoo in Connecticut has a STEM Accelerator Program that includes activities in building boats, programming and coding, constructing towers, launching toy cars, solving math puzzles, and more. The Mystic Aquarium 5. Diversity in STEM Many new resources have been developed to get the most diverse range of voices in STEM, though women in general only represent about according to . 26% of technologists Women Who Code — To close the gender gap in technology, they offer a series of inspirational and educational books! Girls Who Code — An interest group aimed at inspiring young women of color to become coders. Black Girls Code — Read the inspirational stories of women working at NASA. Women@NASA — This Tynker blog series highlights women’s achievements, past and present. Women in STEM — This is the Twitter handle for Alena Analeigh, the Brown STEM Girl founder. @BrownStemGirl STEM: Majors & Degrees Regardless of their major, STEM students usually take courses in fields like biology, chemistry, calculus, statistics, and engineering. Popular STEM Majors: Mechanical Engineering Biology Software Engineering Biotechnology Computer Science Information Technology Popular STEM Degrees: Bachelor of Science Bachelor of Applied science Bachelor of Engineering Some educators have begun adding Arts to the STEM acronym to form STEAM, which emphasizes connections to visual arts, music, and creativity. For some learners, it can help inspire them to pursue technical fields — and see the beauty of mathematics. Currently, there are roughly 700,000 open computing jobs but only 80,000 computer science graduates every year. According to a recent article in , engineering is the most in-demand major in 2022. Citing the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual salary for was $119,560 in 2020 and $92,620 for . it’s estimated that Best Colleges computer hardware engineers biomedical engineers A statement from the National Science and Technology Council: Americans with a strong foundation in STEM have electrified the Nation, harnessed the power of the atom, put men on the Moon and rovers on Mars, developed the internet, designed computers that fit in your pocket, created imaging machines that reveal the inner workings of the body, and decoded the human genome. These stunning achievements have transformed the human experience, inspired generations, and fostered the strong public support for STEM education and research. In the last thirty years, we’ve seen remarkable advancements in technology, which are profoundly impacting how we live and ultimately how we educate our children. Teaching science in high school, of course, is nothing new. So what’s changed? The T in STEM, Technology, holds the clue. Computation and computer science have touched nearly every aspect of scientific innovation, including agriculture, biochemistry, astrophysics, medicine, and ecology. When students learn to understand how and why scientific or mathematical ideas apply to a situation, they’re more likely to acquire a deeper understanding of the material. That’s why, whenever possible, today’s teachers try to link scientific discoveries and innovations to their students’ everyday lives. Check out and learn more about inspiring the next generation to change the world through code. Tynker Also published here. About the Author is the Chief Growth Officer of , with 20 years of experience helping startups grow into successful businesses. Lomit has previously played a critical role in scaling growth at startups, including Roku (IPO), TrustedID (acquired by Equifax), Texture (acquired. by Apple), and IMVU (#2 top-grossing gaming app). Lomit is a public speaker, author, and advisor, with numerous accolades and awards throughout his career, including being recognized as a Mobile Hero by Liftoff. Lomit's book is part of Eric Ries' best-selling "The Lean Startup" series. Lomit Patel Tynker Lean AI

5 Ways to Get Kids Interested in Stem

As the resident scientist (fun fact, my Bachelor’s is in Chemistry) in my workplace, I was recently asked to write something for Women's Science Day. As I reflected, I realized how big of a piece science still plays in my life, albeit indirectly, and how it reflects in my day-to-day job and my relationship with SQream (my place of employment). Science isn’t just about calculations or mixing substances in a lab, it’s not just developing a drug or discovering a new type of fish that no one has ever seen before, science is a way of thinking. It is the desire to analyze and explore the world around us, each in its own way. It’s the ability to look at our core assumptions every day and to stop for a moment to examine them, where they come from, where we learned them and how they improve us, or more critically, harm us. One of these assumptions, by the way, is the assumption that girls aren’t as good at STEM or suitable for that world as boys. Thinking further on this,  I found another way this line of thought connects to feminism, which is very close to my heart. What are my core assumptions that have evolved due to decades and centuries in which it was illegal for women to engage in science? Obviously, they will think they can't, we didn't let them do it so there's not a vast enough history and well-known names in the field. Everyone knows about Einstein or Newton, we all know that the test of whether a computer is human-like is called the Turing Test (after Alan Turing who is considered the father of modern computers), but how many of us know who or are? Hedy Lamarr Ada Lovelace Our entire lives today are based on computing and programming and broadcasting far and wide, and they were pioneers in their fields. in the case of Lamarr, while also being a successful actress. Scientific spaces belong to us just as they belong to everyone else, regardless of gender. This can also be seen in the world of high-tech, we see fewer women in key positions because we have our assumption that they are less suitable, although there are dozens of studies in the field that show the integration of women into teams and management raises productivity. There's also another reason why we think women are less suited to an intense life of management or science. The frequent expectation is that women would give up their career aspirations away in favor of raising children. To this day there is not necessarily such an expectation from fathers. The thought of one day raising a family is connected to one of my biggest anxieties: Climate anxiety. My scientific side really likes to delve into the subject, read the UN reports in the field, be interested in who and what is causing the very harsh changes that await us not so far down the line. I can't see myself condemning a new person to a world that's going to fall apart, and my only way to prevent that is to spread awareness of research on the subject and actively promote alternatives. Recycling another bottle doesn't matter when there are dozens of big companies that produce a lot more plastic than I do. Working for a company that promotes an alternative causing less of an energy overload might do something. The desire to do what I can to leave behind the world better and more livable than the one I was given is one of the reasons I work where I work.  Even if I no longer think it will be by developing an important cure or chemical substance like I once thought, here I have the place to minimize the damage a little bit. We all live in this world, with all its consequences and assumptions and expectations, and we have nowhere else to go. We don't have enough time to let another false premise stop us from doing what we can to leave behind a better world, both for ourselves and for what comes after us, no matter how much we were not given this opportunity in the past. So, happy Women's Science Day to us all, may it be a day of the revolution, a day of light and hope for a better future, a day when we will not let anything stop us from moving forward.

Yes, Women Also Belong in STEM

Stereotypes should be debunked, not categorically denied I’m sure by now you’ve all read by James Damore. But I’m not here to talk about the memo — I’m here to talk about Google’s response. that memo Clearly panicked about what the leak of this document would do to its efforts to recruit and retain women, executives at Google quickly released multiple statements. Here are their responses to the memo’s contents: Google Vice President of Diversity, Integrity, and Governance, Danielle Brown: “I found that it advanced incorrect assumptions about gender” Google CEO, Sundar Pichai: “First, let me say that we strongly support the right of Googlers to express themselves, and much of what was in that memo is fair to debate, regardless of whether a vast majority of Googlers disagree with it. However, portions of the memo violate our Code of Conduct and cross the line by advancing harmful gender stereotypes in our workplace. Our job is to build great products for users that make a difference in their lives. To suggest a group of our colleagues have traits that make them less biologically suited to that work is offensive and not OK.” YouTube CEO, Susan Wojcicki: “No, it’s not true.” In addition, James Damore was fired for . “perpetuating gender stereotypes” After reading these responses, it was clear to me that Google believed that the arguments in the memo were “incorrect,” “assumptions,” “stereotypes,” “not OK,” and “not true.” I suppose as a woman, I should have felt relieved. But I didn’t. Because I’m not just a woman, Google, . I chose this field because I like facts and I have profound respect for scientific discourse. When I argue that a hypothesis, a belief, or a statement is wrong, I’m expected to provide supporting evidence that refutes the argument. I’m sure that your employees are expected to do so as well. So why didn’t you hold yourself to the same standard? If James Damore is so wrong, then countering his arguments based on the merits should have been easy. I’m a woman who works in STEM And beyond that, my job as a data scientist basically consists of looking at data and making generalizations about populations, so the reason you gave for firing James Damore concerns me quite a bit. Are you saying that all generalizations about gender are unacceptable? Only the ones not supported by data? Only the ones that are harmful? Only the ones that are seen as stereotypes? Only the ones that are not politically correct? Only the ones that are inconvenient when you are being sued? As someone who works in STEM, I have been trained to look at studies and tear them apart for the smallest inconsistencies in logic. Did you really think you could say that “much of what was in that memo is fair to debate” and “portions of the memo violate our Code of Conduct and cross the line by advancing harmful gender stereotypes in our workplace” without me asking you to clarify which sections you found fair for debate and which portions violated which specific portions of your Code of Conduct? To be absolutely clear — I find James Damore’s memo poorly written, his arguments fundamentally lacking, and his conclusion flawed. But this post is about you, Google. Your response could have been clear, precise, and well-cited, showing your commitment to both women and the values that underpin STEM. But instead, Google, you’ve done the most sexist thing of all. You’ve shown that when you need to appeal to me, you primarily see me as a woman, not as someone who works in STEM.

Dear Google, in defending me as a woman, you’ve insulted me as someone who works in STEM

In classrooms across the nation, young individuals are told on a daily basis they can be whatever they want to be in this world. These young minds are full of hopes and dreams and are determined to become the astronauts and doctors they pretend to be on the playground every day. However, for some of these young students in rural and underfunded parts of our nation, these hopes and dreams are all too often lost in the mix as they focus on a curriculum that is otherwise useless to them or outdated in the long run. Despite this bleak reality, there are many who stand for the higher education of our youth and the implementation of STEM programs, which will enable them to learn more in-depth about the positions and knowledge necessary to achieve these dreams and garner credibility from an early age in the job fields that excite them and motivate them on a daily basis. Although these programs are still not provided to various regions in our nation,they continue to prove their importance and crucial part with which they plays in the future of our society, our economy, and our job market each and every step of the way. In fact, according to U.S. News, . STEM education is the key to the U.S.’s economic failure Despite this, many people still question whether or not these programs are vital and what part they play in not only the improvement of education within our nation, but also the future of our economy. Therefore, it is important that we answer these questions in order to help the vast majority of Americans in . By doing this, we can push forward and create a nationwide STEM program that is fully-functional and efficient so as to formulate a more educated future generation and stimulate the areas of our job market which are in serious need of new promising prospects. understanding the need for STEM education in the United States Why Is a Nationwide STEM Program So Vital? As the statistics continue to prove, STEM programs enable students to learn not only about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, but also about the future of our society and economy — as well as the drastic skills gap this program hopes to tackle head-on. In fact, according to , 70 percent of organizations cite “capability gaps” as one of their top five challenges. Similarly, according to , there are currently 607,708 open computing jobs alone nationwide. On top of this, although , there are 4 million jobs currently unfilled — most of which are in the STEM field. Forbes Magazine Fortune magazine 11 million US workers are unemployed With a clear and unsettling skills gap in our job market, the economy is the main part of our society which is taking a huge hit from this lack of experience and training. However, it can be hard to blame the job market and the economy when the education system currently in place in many rural cities and underfunded school districts simply does not fully equip their students with the education necessary to tackle these positions. However, the STEM education system which includes programming courses, various science courses, and physics courses functions as a proverbial “helping hand” for educators who find themselves struggling to provide their students with the means necessary to succeed in today’s jobforce. By creating programs and classes that allow students to learn about the fields that are currently the most fruitful, you are not only creating a more informed and educated generation, but also a generation that is guaranteed to succeed in this modern era where technology, mathematics, and science reign supreme. Since the creation of STEM programs, have shown improved test scores, improved grades, and more engagement in the schoolplace from students receiving a STEM-based education. On top of this, combined with after-school activities, it has been proven that these in students. multiple studies after-school programs actually further improve STEM knowledge Furthermore, for students that are located in underfunded districts or districts that are poverty-stricken, this allows these students an opportunity to take themselves out of these bad circumstances and provide for not only themselves but for their families as well. In fact, the average is $37.44 which, compared to the median for all other types of jobs in America ($18.68), proves to be highly generous in nature. median hourly wage for STEM jobs However, in order to succeed in the STEM program initiative, we must first recognize the importance of early-age STEM programs and increase the reach of STEM education in our nation so as to include underfunded districts and rural areas as well. The Future of STEM Programs: A Younger Start and a Broader Reach The two main issues STEM programs currently face come in the form of the age these programs begin to be taught and the reach these programs currently have. Although many individuals believe that elementary school may be too early to begin STEM education, this is simply not accurate. In fact, according to , it has been shown that, through the implementation of STEM education in elementary schools, “Teachers can foster critical thinking through problem solving and provide students with an academic edge over the competition.” a recent study However, some individuals even feel that science can be taught to preschool students and can help them to improve their critical thinking skills and expand their minds before ever reaching elementary school. For Meg Davis, manager of curriculum and content development for KinderCare Education, when asked whether or not she believed was possible, she stated, “Absolutely,” and went on to say, “Children are young scientists. They learn about the world around them through their senses. The key is to provide children with plenty of hands-on opportunities to explore science in a playful way.” science for three-year-olds When it comes to low-income school districts that are all too often underfunded, STEM provides an . The unfortunate truth is that low-income school districts in poverty-stricken neighborhoods face continual downgrades in education capabilities, leading to low graduation rates and students that simply aren’t engaged in their daily classes. However, the STEM program hopes to tackle this by not only giving these students the opportunity to have a fruitful future in our society, but also through engaging and fun classes that learners are excited to come to each and every day. opportunity to escape the cycle of poverty Despite this, it can often be difficult for these schools to find the appropriate funding in order to pursue STEM programs, yet many different organizations are currently tackling this concern and providing , as well as computers, including Raspberry Pis, and various other forms of technology in order to help them succeed in their everyday life. programming and code for low-income students Lastly, the final barrier the STEM initiative currently faces is the rural education system, which is not only underfunded, but all too often rejects scientific education. In fact, nearly reside in rural areas in America, and, within these areas, it is often found that there is a lack of funding, a lack of qualified teachers, and a lack of future-centric education programs. Although STEM continues to battle this factor, are immense. 60 million people the challenges of teaching science in rural America However, according to The Atlantic, there is one program that is making a difference in STEM education in rural America. They recently stated, “The Benedum Foundation works alongside educators, parents, and private-sector stakeholders like Chevron in the rural heart of the new energy economy that sits above the Marcellus shale formation. The foundation, which is based in Pittsburgh, collaborates with area schools, and employers to boost STEM’s role in the curriculum and students’ technical skills.” universities Although the Benedum Foundation is only one of the myriads of programs hoping to increase the reach of STEM education in America, these programs continue to prove that the skills gap will soon be merely a thing of the past, and the education system hoping to tackle it is only beginning to gain traction. In the end, the lives of many young individuals will be changed forever and, perhaps, we will not only create a better future for our youth, but also a better education system — one that prides itself on teaching what is important rather than what is in the standard curriculum.

STEM Education: Where It Stands and Why It Is Crucial to the Future of America

Tell us about yourself! I am the CEO and founder of the award-winning – the world’s first AI-powered smart companion to teach children languages and STEM skills. ROYBI has been named one of TIME Magazine’s Best Inventions in Education. I am also a Board Member at the Consumer Technology Association, Small Business Council, and a member of Forbes Technology Council.** ROYBI Robot Growing up as a woman in Iran, I witnessed limited opportunities, leading me on my journey in the U.S. to become an entrepreneur and create a technology that would empower children by providing universal access to personalized learning and an education that prepares them for a better future. Before starting ROYBI, I co-founded and led a consumer electronics/IoT company, iBaby, serving as the company's President. Why did you choose this field in the first place? From early childhood, I was introduced to computers and technology. When I was only 5 years old, I started working on computer programs. When I became a teenager, my most exciting adventure was to program websites and even assemble computers. I remember when my dad bought me a very early computer, there were less than 10 computers in the country. I was so lucky to have access to technology at such a young age. That led to having a big passion for education and looking to utilize technology to make a difference in children’s lives. During a discussion I had with my co-founder, Ron Cheng, I learned about his shared interests as an engineer and a parent for a smart toy that can help his children with self-guided learning with fun stories and engaging lessons. Together, we decided to work on an education toy robot that can address this need for parents. With ROYBI Robot, we chose to utilize AI early on in our planning stage to ensure that teaching with the robot is interactive rather than passive. We want the experience of learning and interacting with ROYBI Robot to interest children more in STEM topics and be curious about innovations. What tech are you most excited/passionate about right now and why? I am very excited about the web 3.0 technology and metaverse. I strongly believe that is the future of technology, education, work, and so much more. I am an active investor and enthusiast in this space and looking forward to learning more about the new projects in the space. Why do people mistrust AI systems? People do not trust AI systems because they feel that their data and information might be misused. There is also this fear of AI taking over humanity because people think, the smarter AI systems get the faster they can control humans’ lives. However, this is a misconception because every AI system no matter how smart it is still needs some human control and management. What are your hobbies and interests outside of tech? Flying airplanes, music, reading Let's talk about breaking the glass ceiling. What were the biggest challenges you faced as a woman in tech, and how did you deal with them? I think the biggest challenge has been fundraising. I am not sure if it actually has much to do with me being a female CEO, but I’ve seen many companies with way less traction than my company secure funding faster. I also feel women are asked different types of questions than men during investor meetings. I remember at some point the investors were asking me strange questions like how much debt the company has, or how do I ensure the company doesn’t fail. They didn’t ask me about my vision, tractions, etc. So, I really got frustrated about this and decided to always bring a male colleague to my meetings. As I expected, the type of questions started changing. They asked about long-term vision, sales, product roadmap, etc. I am not saying this is necessarily related to being a female CEO, but I strongly believe women are treated differently during investment meetings. For me, these challenges actually make me stronger. I know I am a strong woman and can achieve anything I set my mind to. I also want to make my dreams come true so I can pave the way for other women who get into tech. I want to be one of the people that shows the world that women are incredibly talented and smart to build unicorn companies. Therefore, I keep moving forward knowing that I will eventually make an impact. What was the biggest setback/failure that you faced, and how did you manage it? I feel in every stage of the business, there are a lot of ups and downs. For example, when I was fundraising for our seed round, the problems we faced were we didn’t have working prototypes, or we didn’t have enough data to prove the market demand. After months of hard work, we finally resolved those problems and raised our seed round successfully. After that, the focus is on ensuring the product works as expected, the technology is developed without bugs and problems, then the focus goes primarily to user acquisition and sales. Then you need to focus on maintaining the growth, more fundraising, growing the team, and so much more. I always say the bigger the company gets, the more ups and downs you will experience because the team is bigger, and you have more customers, partners, and investors with much higher expectations. Regardless of the challenges, I feel being an entrepreneur is the most rewarding job. What's your biggest achievement that you're really proud of? When I was raising funds for our seed round, I heard so many rejections that often, I thought to myself if what I am doing is right. There were plenty of people who told me I should just stop trying or try other future ideas. Some said that it is not worth losing all my money over this idea and just find a 9-5 job and then work on something else in the future. All these comments were quite discouraging. However, I firmly believed in ROYBI and the idea of using artificial intelligence to change the way children learn. Fast forward, I was able to eventually raise $4.2M financing in our seed round in 2019 without even a fully functioning prototype. And finally, the bright days came. ROYBI Robot was featured two times on TIME Magazine’s cover as one of the best inventions in education, CNBC named ROYBI as one of the most promising startups to watch, and Forbes called us the game-changers for children. In your opinion, why do we see this huge gender gap in the tech industry, and how can we reduce it? I’d say not pay too much attention to the differences. Know your business, numbers, and plans, and communicate this clearly with others around you. Focus primarily on execution and performance because, in the end, that’s what matters. When your company performs and its leader knows the ins and outs of the industry, people will respect you for your work, not your gender. Be brave to accept the challenge and work hard towards making a difference. Who is your tech idol? Why? Elon Musk. He makes the impossible possible. Do you have any advice for aspiring girls who want to join the field? My advice is to be resilient and believe in yourself because these are the most critical factors to succeed. I sometimes see many people who do not reach their full potential or goals because they give up too soon. We need to remember that success does not come easy. Success is a product of hard work, resilience, setting goals, and believing in yourself.

Interview with Elnaz Sarraf, Woman in Tech and STEM

In mid-January 2022, the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) announced the outage of their central bank digital currency (CBDC), also known as Dcash. American-based Bitt helped the ECCB launch Dcash in , following up with a launch in of Nigeria's e-Naira. March 2021 October 2021 Since that time, Bitt has also launched a pilot electronic hryvnia test with Ukraine's TASCOMBANK in , while also unveiling NBB Pay, a stablecoin and digital payments infrastructure, for the National Bank of Belize in . December 2021 December 2021 While Bitt's success has helped to bring decentralized finance (DeFi) to many individuals in these nations, its recent Dcash outage is particularly concerning given the critically important nature of a CBDC. Without the ability to complete transactions, users on the Dcash platform are left in significant limbo, with this situation raising unique questions for legislators. It is essential for CBDCs to preserve the defining features of physical money, which includes the need to be constantly available in an offline format and to ensure consumer data privacy. With this in mind, what are some of the policy implications that government officials and central bankers can focus on to mitigate concerns over similar outages throughout CBDC networks? Cybersecurity concerns The stability of a CBDC must be one of the highest priorities for regulators. In this respect, protecting a CBDC's infrastructure from both internal and external threats should be top-of-mind for regulators. Cybersecurity risks and concerns must be integrated into contingencies associated with protecting CBDCs, with these values being validated in pilot-test CBDC frameworks. This type of advance testing will help ensure maximum flexibility in the event of any outage, such as Dcash's current failure, particularly in the case of a cybersecurity event. The implications of a cyberattack by a threat actor on a CBDC would be extremely damaging for any economy regardless of scale, particularly as payment continuity is simply a necessity for any national-level CBDC. If taken offline for even a brief period, a CBDC outage similar to the current Dcash situation might invoke a currency collapse because of it being a single point of failure, with significant implications during and after such an event. Additionally, a CBDC outage would also undoubtedly decrease consumer confidence in that specific medium of exchange, thereby reducing the influence and credibility of that central bank in this instance. Risk management operations The current Dcash outage also raises concerns over establishing contingency operations in the event of a specific CBDC outage. While there is currently no particular standard for establishing risk management operations for CBDCs, , including ISO/IEC 27005:2008, BB 7799-3:2006, and NIST SP 800-39 could be particularly applicable in establishing contingencies in the event of such an outage. general information technology standards Properly identifying, estimating, and evaluating risks must be integrated into CBDC development. Having proper governance response procedures to help manage such risks in the future will be essential for central banks to implement if moving forward with CBDC platforms. Industry standardization and development The high number of existing CBDC technologies presents a wide variety of different vendors for CBDCs, with some examples including Bitt's usage of for the ECCB, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority picking for Project Inthanon-LionRock, and Bhutan selecting for its CBDC project. IBM's Hyperledger Fabric ConsenSys Ripple Ensuring interoperability between different CBDCs is a specific policy issue that must be addressed given the growing CBDC development market. Additionally, reserve currencies must be considered for use in the event of a CBDC outage, thus potentially creating conflicts between primary and alternate CBDC platforms. Launching a CBDC would also transfer a high amount of critical technology risks to the government, and eventually, taxpayers. With this in mind, the ever-developing nature of blockchain and other emergent technologies present challenges for governments to test, regulate, and implement. It will be interesting to see how the public and private sectors interact in regards to supporting these types of technologies, particularly with these technologies having critical national security implications. In this case, protecting the public prominence of money is a must for governments and regulators, something that might present a significant challenge due to technology's pace of innovation. Conclusion All in all, the ECCB's Dcash outage provides central bankers, governments, and technology providers with the opportunity to reflect on the challenges emerging from system outages and failures. Addressing cybersecurity concerns, implementing risk management operations, and ensuring continued pace with developments in emerging technologies is important for regulators to incorporate into their CBDC pilot-tests and eventual programs. Ensuring proper governance over CBDCs and establishing legislation for specific issues like data privacy will also be necessary for regulators as CBDCs become increasingly prominent in the age of Web 3.0.

Policy Implications Stemming from the ECCB's CBDC outage

the , a portable speaker to remix, customize tracks and isolate stems from audio. Initially, the speaker was designed as a creative way to interact with Kanye’s new album, but it turns out that it’s a creators tool on its own. The idea is to mix and match different songs and parts from the new Kanye’s album and listen to new tracks each time you press play. Kanye West has recently dropped Donda Stem Player You can also upload your own tracks to the Stem Player. As a creator tool, Donda Stem Player allows for remixing any recording, which makes it a game-changer in the music industry. Stem Splitting Is A Game-Changer In Music Industry The whole idea behind Donda Stem Player is not entirely new. Stem splitting tools such as , , , and others took the music consumption and creation to the next level allowing to split songs into two, three, five or even to make the music experience flexible. LAL AL.AI Audioshake Spleeter Audionamix seven stems With such technology, everyone is not just a consumer who is able only to behold but a creator too: even a couple of clicks or a finger swipe is enough to create your own loop or a mashup and change the music consumption experience to the one that suits them best at the very moment. opens new creative horizons not just for those who used to be consumers but for world-renowned artists as well. Kanye West showed this right: he didn't just record an album and called it a day; he made it something more profound than that allowing his fans to enjoy it whatever they like. Stem splitting Everyone Is A Creator With stem splitting technology available to everyone, music production is no longer a privilege of pros. Now, every teenager making TikTok videos, YouTuber or Instagram influencer can produce their own sounds and even monetize them. For Gen Z, especially, music is no longer a consumption but expression and participation. This new generation of listeners and creators will definitely reshape the meaning of music and its consumption. And the demand for such technology shows that consumers want to be creators, too. It’s no longer surprising that users love creating photo content using multiple photo-editing tools or shoot videos. Otherwise, TikTok, Instagram, YouTube and all other social platforms wouldn’t be so full of versatile content. Photo and video are old news. Now audio has its turn. AI-based stem splitting technology pushes boundaries of content creation and makes the music flexible and dynamic. Just as streaming services and MP3s once did. LALAL.AI - The Next-Gen Stem Splitting Technology And though Kanye’s mixing and stem-splitting device is truly unprecedented portable technology, the stem splitting solutions are numerous. Not all of them can be versatile enough, though. One of, or rather the first-in-the-world tool splitting audio and videos into seven stems, is LALAL.AI. LALAL.AI is powered by the enabling high-quality stem separation by tracking the input and output signal phase components. This AI network was trained, among other audio separation solutions. artificial intelligence algorithm Cassiopeia tested and proven to be superior With LALAL.AI, creators and music lovers can isolate not only vocals, backtracks, bass, and drums, but piano, acoustic and electric guitar alike! And it’s available for creators all over the world. To split any music source, you only have to visit the LALAL.AI website, upload any song or video you want, choose the stem splitting option ( , acoustic or electric guitar) and select the : Mild, Normal or Aggressive. vocals, instrumental, bass, piano, drums audio processing level LALAL.AI supports all popular audio formats, such as MP3, OGG, WAV, FLAC, AIFF, AAC and some , including AVI, MP4, MKV, and MOV. video formats Thus, LALAL.AI is a hassle-free yet powerful tool for precise source stem separation used by professional musicians and novice creators alike.

Kanye West Donda Stem Player? How About LALAL.AI Instead

Veneers have become one of the biggest crazes in cosmetic dentistry, with celebrity adopters inspiring many to take the procedure in the pursuit of the perfect smile. While there are plenty of approaches available for those looking to embrace veneers, including composites that require very little dental preparation, the installation of the much more robust, brighter, and longer-lasting porcelain veneers is not only an irreversible procedure due to the , but the costs associated with the procedure can range into the thousands of pounds per tooth. filing away of existing tooth enamel layers (Image: Raconteur ) The rise in popularity of veneers is expected to aid the cosmetic dentistry industry in achieving a global market value of £30 billion in the coming years. But for all among consumers looking to improve the appearance of their teeth, is it worth embracing the treatment knowing that there’s no going back? the excitement veneers are attracting mean that the future’s bright for cosmetic dentistry and its practices, and given that the global market is set to double in size over a 10 year period, there will be plenty of reasons to be excited about how we can treat our teeth in the coming years. Let’s take a look at some of the hottest anticipated developments to look out for in the future of dentistry: Emerging technologies Computer Aided Design Dentistry One of the more exciting developments in dentistry is being driven by technology that can’t be considered new at all, in fact it’s been around since the 1980s. Computer Aided Design and Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) has very few links to the world of dentistry but as 3D printing has become more advanced, there are some clear opportunities when it comes to dental restoration practices - including crowns, dental implants and more adaptive veneers. In , restorations are designed on a computer screen by mapping out a patient’s mouth with an optical scanner. Today, machinery like the CEREC Omnicam 4.2 is capable of creating an exact digital replica of a mouth, all with natural colors accurately rendered without the need of foul-tasting coating that was formerly used to capture details of individual teeth. CAD/CAM dentistry Digital impressions alleviate the need for impression materials to be placed in a patient’s mouth for longer passages of time. CAD software then and the use of means that perfect fitting treatments can take place all within one session. As 3D printing technology continues to advance, the quality and durability of more composite and snap-on veneers will mean that more cost-effective and filing-free options will become more viable for users looking to improve the cosmetics of their smile. creates accurate restorations 3D printers Likewise, the capabilities for treating chipped, cracked and stained teeth will become more comprehensive with these advancements. Dental Regeneration One very exciting and hotly anticipated area of development can be found in dental regeneration. Here, bioactive replacements for dental ailments have the potential to alter the way dentists approach issues with and various other treatments as a whole. tooth decay (Image: MarketsandMarkets ) There’s little doubting that stem cells have a huge role to play in the , and with the stem cell therapy market growth illustrating the huge investments that are occurring in the technology, it’s reasonable to expect more developments in the field as the decade progresses. future of healthcare Stem cells will form the cornerstone of regenerative medicine practices. The notion that we’ll soon be growing brand new teeth to replace damaged or decaying ones seems fanciful, but on-going research that aims to find a source of that can maintain tooth-forming ability is taking place. mesenchymal stem cells Elsewhere, scientists from Harvard and the University of Nottingham that enable teeth to heal of their own accord. In the report, the filling works by stimulating stem cells to encourage the production of dentin, which is the bony material that makes up the majority of the tooth. If the technology to enable this can be adapted to more widespread usage, users could effectively repair damaged teeth. It could even spell the end of root canals. reportedly developed dental fillings Dental regeneration may seem like a pipe dream, but developments in stem cell research mean that it could become a reality in the not-too-distant future. Possessing the ability to heal and grow healthy teeth could help to solve a series of existing dental problems, and may change the cosmetic dentistry landscape forever. More Powerful Budget Alternatives Of course, it’s worth noting that as , so too does the power of less-invasive approaches to teeth whitening and treatments. technology advances Introduction of alternative products, like whitening strips, clear aligners and gels, represent the latest developments in a long line of advancing that will only continue to build in power and quality. budget home-based technology (Image showing most used tooth whiteners in the USA. Source: Statista ) Elsewhere, braces to fix crooked teeth are becoming increasingly discreet and clearer for users. It’s reasonable to expect existing products to become more efficient in doing the jobs that veneers do in a less invasive manner as whitening and the treatments to help damaged teeth become more efficient. solutions become stronger The most important thing for all patients when looking into dental procedures is to form a realistic understanding of how a treatment will play out, and what the expected results will be. Expensive cosmetic procedures can significantly brighten the look of your smile and successfully cover damaged or crooked teeth. But if you wanted different shades of color or a more comprehensive level of treatment, you could feel swindled by the fact that veneers only hide imperfections. Fundamentally, veneers can still offer great cosmetic improvements to your teeth, and they’ve represented a rewarding investment for many. However, it’s worth having a conversation with your dentist to explore your options and discuss which approach is better than you. Losing layers of protective tooth enamel in an irreversible procedure that could be more efficiently undertaken in five years’ time may seem too costly to some, but for others, it’s a price worth paying.

Stem Cells and Wafer Thin 3D Printing: How Cosmetic Dentistry Will Rid Itself of Invasive Procedure 

Stem cells are a unique type of multicell found in the body. They are undifferentiated and capable of developing into different types of cells. This means that they have the potential to regenerate, repair, and replenish other cells in the body. Stem cell research is focused on the use of stem cells for the treatment of illness and injury. While still in its infancy, there is tremendous potential for stem cell technology to improve the quality of life for many. Already, breakthroughs in stem cell research span the gamut. The most successful and established stem cell therapies have been done with bone marrow transplants, first performed over 40 years ago. Since then, further developments have been made. There are now many stem cell therapies available or under development around the world, such as immune system therapies, CHO cell and hybridomas, neural stem cell therapies, mammary epithelial cell therapies, prostate epithelial cell therapies, pulmonary stem cell research, intestinal stem cell research, and more. Challenges Parallel Those of Early Cancer Research Despite the strides that have been made in our knowledge of stem cells and their application for human welfare, there remains two issues 1) a pressing need for further research and development across a vast array of medical conditions that impact millions of people around the world. 2) There is also an issue with linking patients in need of stem cell treatments with the doctors who have the best knowledge relating to their needs. The difficulties in stem cell research are similar to those that plagued cancer research a few decades ago. There isn’t an adequate infrastructure for sharing information about research to ensure patients always receive the best treatment for their situation. A similar lack of infrastructure for maximizing collective knowledge characterizes global stem cell research. A Blockchain Solution One of the most significant applications for blockchain technology is in making collective knowledge accessible. This quality makes it well-suited for use in medical and health research contexts. Stem Cell Innovations (SCI) is working to create a unique platform that brings together stem cell knowledge and blockchain technology. SCI has existed since 2013 as a network of researchers, expert medical professionals, investors, and engineers hoping to expand access to stem cell research and treatment knowledge around the world. Now it is taking advantage of blockchain technology to further this goal. There are three significant aspects of SCI’s plan. First, it will use blockchain to create a collaborative network for players in the stem cell industry to facilitate the transmission of research and development around the world. The system will be able to continuously maintain and refine this collective knowledge based on clinical results and the latest research. In this sense, SCI hopes to achieve with stem cell treatment what has been achieved in regards to cancer research. However, SCI has plans to go beyond this as well. The second significant aspect of its blockchain network is it will also function as a patient health information storage ledger. Data will be stored on the SCI blockchain and users can control which information doctors and medical organizations can access. This means patients can be connected to doctors around the world and share with them the relevant aspects of their health information. This service would everyone in the world benefit from the latest stem cell research. The third significant aspect is SCI project is cord blood banking. The best stem cells are found in “cord blood”. This is blood found in the umbilical cord immediately after birth. Cord blood banking (also known as stem cell banking) is the process of collecting cord blood and cryogenically freezing its stem cells. Being able to collect and store that blood for future use is a growing trend in medicine. Stem cell banking allows parents to safeguard their children against possible medical issues in the future by ensuring they have access to their pure stem cells if needed. However, the complexity and cost of current stem cell banking options present many barriers to almost all parents who would want to take advantage of this medical technology. SCI plans to offer stem cell banking through an application ecosystem. Using its app parents will be able to sign up for stem cell storage, order a collection kit, and schedule courier pickup through one secure platform. SCI plans to run on dual blockchain platforms. The first will be built on an Ethereum base powered by the ERC20 platform. The second blockchain will be custom built by SCI engineers specifically for storing and processing patient stem cell records. This customized blockchain will be known as SCIChain and will use the Hyperledger Fabric network. It will be designed to use smart contracts to protect user data and ensure only authorized individuals have access to it. Conclusion The potential of stem cell treatment is enormous, but like the early days of cancer researcher, the science is being held back by a lack of sufficient knowledge sharing. SCI plans to provide the technological infrastructure to change that. However, more than this it will take advantage of the security and transparency of blockchain data storage to allow patients to connect with doctors and share knowledge relevant to their condition, but they can also control when and how much of their personal health information to share. From my perspective, the cord blood banking services is just an add on to these more fundamental services_._ Subscribe to my Medium and Twitter channels if you want to learn about blockchain and cryptocurrency projects. If you have any questions about this article, please comment in the section below. Thank you!

How Blockchain Technology Can Accelerate Stem Cell Research

This article is presented to you by the Immortality Foundation. Functional loss of stem cells plays a vital role in the aging process. Characterized by dysfunction of multiple tissues and organs, aging results from the reduced function of effective stem cell populations. Reversing age-related stem cell decline has long been a topic of considerable interest in longevity science. Recent advances in anti-aging research have uncovered the tremendous potential of stem cell therapy, as a way to achieve organismic rejuvenation [1]. Stem cells are undifferentiated cells of a multicellular organism which are capable of giving rise to indefinitely more cells of the same type, and from which certain other kinds of cell arise by differentiation. In humans, there are two broad types of stem cells: embryonic stem cells and adult stem cells. In adult organisms, stem cells act as a repair system for the body, replenishing adult tissues. In a developing embryo, stem cells can differentiate into various specialized cells, while maintaining the normal turnover of regenerative organs [2]. Over the past years, researchers have identified three accessible sources of adult stem cells: Bone marrow — complex procedure which requires extraction by drilling into bone (typically the femur or iliac crest) Adipose tissue (lipid cells) — which implies extraction by liposuction Blood — which requires extraction through apheresis, a procedure where blood is drawn from the donor and passed through a machine that extracts stem cells only and returns other portions of the blood to the donor [2]. Another possibility, less practiced, is extracting stem cells from umbilical cord blood just after birth. Of all procedures, autologous harvesting involves the least risk for immune rejection. Autologous cells are obtained from one’s own body, thus preventing the risk of unfavorable immune reactions. A new area of research, are induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) — adult stem cells that have been genetically reprogrammed to go back to an embryonic stem cell — like state. The reprogrammed cells function similarly to embryonic stem cells, with the ability to differentiate into any cell of the body and to create an unlimited source of cells. Pioneered by Japanese researchers in 2006, iPSC technology has significant implications for anti-aging research. The field of stem cell research has been characterized by remarkable developments in recent years. Stem cells are nowadays used for the modeling of diseases as well as for rejuvenating purposes. One aspect that has limited to some extent this therapy, was the uncertainty that after collection, injected stem cells maintain their rejuvenating function once they reach the blood stream or targeted organs. In order to preserve stem cells in their natural state, Penn University researchers developed a system to collect and store them without manipulating them, thus making stem cells available for administration via injections. They found that stem cells collected directly from human fat — called adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) — can make more proteins than originally thought. This gives them the ability to replicate and maintain their stability, a finding that can potentially open the door to new therapies for the prevention and treatment of aging-related diseases [3]. One form of stem cell therapy that has been widely practiced for over 30 years is bone marrow transplantation, and has been used to treat cancer patients with conditions such as leukemia and lymphoma. Another stem-cell therapy called Prochymal, was approved in Canada in 2012 for the treatment of acute graft-vs-host disease in children unresponsive to steroids [4]. Moreover, FDA has already approved five hematopoietic stem-cell products derived from umbilical cord blood, for the treatment of blood and immunological diseases. The number of clinical trials increases exponentially, as researchers try to tap into the potential of this revolutionary technique [5]. According to a study, conducted by the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute, stem cells taken from younger hearts can be used to reverse the aging process, thus giving “old hearts” the chance to rejuvenate. All treated mice had improved heart functionality, were able to exercise 20 percent longer, regrew hair at a faster rate, and had longer heart cell telomeres (telomeres are compounds found at the ends of chromosomes whose shortening is directly correlated to the aging process) [6]. Moreover, scientists recently proved that stem cell brain injections could reverse aging. Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine gave old mice a new lease on life by transplanting stem cells straight into hormone-producing regions of their brains. This study could open a new perspective in the quest for immortality. While stem cells have long held promise for regenerating specific tissues, the new findings suggest they could be used to override the entire aging process. Research leader Dongsheng Cai explains that the discovery that lays the ground for this work is that the hypothalamus — a section of the brain which secretes key hormones — controls the speed of aging throughout the body. This function is mainly attributed to a tiny group of adult stem cells, which restock the brain with neurons. Studies in animals showed that by replenishing those stem cells it’s possible to slow and even reverse various aspects of aging throughout the body [7]. Another study, conducted at the University of Rochester, found that the loss of stem cells in muscles leads to muscular decline in older mice, something that also happens to humans as they grow old. Therefore, stem cells might hold the key to people maintaining strength despite their muscles’ decline that starts in their 30s. The scientists are now focusing to build upon their research and discover a drug which could help individuals maintain the stem cell pools within their muscles [8]. Injections of stem cells derived from human embryos have been successfully used to treat multiple sclerosis in mice. The study revealed that stem cell-treated mice were able to walk and run around normally while untreated animals continued to be paralyzed. The researchers believe the findings are promising enough to move to clinical trials on patients in the hope of developing effective treatments for this degenerative disease [9]. In the cosmetic industry, stem cell injections are referred to as the ultimate anti-aging treatment. Studies showed that stem cells can replace, regrow, rejuvenate and repair the skin at a cellular level. Moreover, participants who have undergone stem cell infusion to slow down aging report other beneficial effects, such as: relief from aches and pains, dramatic boost in energy level, weight loss to normal level, increase in ability to do physical exercise, etc [10]. The numerous stem cell studies in progress across the globe are only a first step on the long road towards curing degenerative and age-related diseases. Because of their unlimited ability to self-renew and to differentiate, embryonic stem cells remain of great significance for regenerative medicine. There are still challenges to overcome before stem cells can be safely, effectively, and routinely used in the clinical setting. However, their potential benefits hold tremendous promise for an array of new anti-aging therapies and treatments. This article was presented to you by Immortality Foundation. References: Honoki, K. (2017). Preventing aging with stem cell rejuvenation: Feasible or infeasible? World J Stem Cells, 9(1), 1–8. Stem cells. (accessed on 30.10.2017). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stem_cell Stem Cell Therapy is Future of Anti-Ageing. (accessed on 30.10.2017). http://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/others/sci-tech/stem-cell-therapy-is-future-of-anti-ageing/articleshow/57237567.cms A Stem-Cell-Based Drug Gets Approval in Canada. (accessed on 30.10.2017). http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/18/health/a-stem-cell-based-drug-gets-approval-in-canada.html Reisman, M., & Adams, K. T. (2014). Stem cell therapy: A look at current research, regulations, and remaining hurdles. P & T?: A Peer-Reviewed Journal for Formulary Management, 39(12), 846–57. New Study Reveals Stem Cells from Young Hearts May Help Reverse the Aging Process. (accessed on 30.10.2017). https://futurism.com/new-study-reveals-stem-cells-from-young-hearts-may-help-reverse-the-aging-process Injection of stem cells could reverse ageing: New York scientists. (accessed on 30.10.2017). http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/health-science/injection-of-stem-cells-could-reverse-ageing-new-york-scientists/news-story/9a3daaa9b47caa9bc0c7ec8daf24dfb9 Study on Mice Shows Stem Cells Key to Maintaining Strength in Old Age. (accessed on 30.10.2017). https://www.stemaid.com/news/study-on-mice-shows-stem-cells-key-to-maintaining-strength-in-old-age.html Human stem cells successfully treat multiple sclerosis in mice. (accessed on 30.10.2017). http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/human-stem-cells-successfully-treat-multiple-sclerosis-in-mice-9496400.html Stem Cell Therapy for Your Skin. (accessed on 30.10.2017). https://www.neomatrixmedical.com/stem-cell-medicine-in-florida/stem-cell-therapy-for-your-skin

Stem Cell Therapy — Triggering Human Body’s Ability to Heal Itself

In a world where the majority of issues stem from collective action problems and incentive misalignments of one sort or another, it constantly amazes me that people continue to miss the point by such wide margins. Of course, there will always exist those who feel there’s nothing new under the Sun. That being said, it’s difficult for me to believe that you’re unaware of both the implausibility of such a bearish future for this emerging class of technologies, and how strongly this article parallels prior bear cases such as Paul Krugman’s embarrassingly incorrect predictions regarding the Internet. Perhaps the novelty and attention such bear cases draw within the exuberant phase of technological evolution is worth the later pie on one’s face in a world that has forgotten how to remember, or to discount the present opinions of those whose past predictions strayed so far from eventual reality as to become unrecognizable comedic fodder with the passage of time. If only there were some kind of technology that allowed for us to easily encode such predictions in a trustworthy and durable manner such that we might begin to hold one another accountable without interference from — or vulnerability to the ideological capture of — centralized organizations…

In a world where the majority of issues stem from collective action problems and incentive…

My team and I were asked to document how we were able to effectively include on projects in rural Liberia — where our female staff are working in non-traditional roles seamlessly alongside their male counterparts. We would like to share this information with our colleagues across the world to use in their endeavors. women In many areas of the world, women’s labor is not recognized for its full value, not viewed as “real work,” and simply taken for granted. For a foreign firm operating in Liberia, it is both an ethical imperative and a practical necessity that women’s labor be deliberately incorporated into operations, and explicitly recognized for its key role in furthering the mission. In our operations, we strive to shape the gender environment through our core principles, key of which being the inclusion of skilled women labor, explicit recognition of women’s contributions, and fostering a deliberate environment of respect for all workers regardless of gender. In our recent to construct a United States Agency for International Aid (USAID)-funded bioenergy plant in the rural village of Kwendin, our woman CEO gave clear guidance to all personnel that women be hired for skilled labor positions whenever practical, leading to an initial construction team where, of fifteen laborers, we employed two woman masons and a woman carpenter, in addition to three women in the more conventional position of cooks. Our expat management team was made up of a woman Chief of Party with an MBA and construction experience, a former military male Deputy, and a former Peace Corps woman Contract Manager (CM), which gave our workers a view of a male expat manager and male Liberian Lead Engineer taking direction from a woman leader. project Our Chief actively worked to show that the women laborers were equal partners in the works. Their input was actively solicited at morning and afternoon meetings, and our masons and carpenter seized the opportunity to state their opinions, concerns, and ideas on site. A key teaching moment was one afternoon where the lead woman mason, Beatriz, raised an objection to how we were back-filling a foundation hole with crushed masonry, arguing it would not settle properly. Our Chief heard out her concerns and courteously rebutted them, but some three hours later it became obvious that the backfill was indeed not stabilizing properly and would have to be replaced with a gravel seat for the foundation. Our Chief called the whole crew to assemble, saying, That moment left a strong impression on our crew, and Beatriz’s confidence in her work increased tremendously. “Beatriz, you were right and I was wrong, the crushed masonry won’t serve, and we need to use the gravel like you advised. I thank you for showing me the correct way.” Sometimes our job required clear correction of poor gender values, which our Chief and Contract Manager (CM) leapt on as each emerged. In one case, a male cement technician came to eat at the lunch circle, took off his muddy boots, and threw them to our woman carpenter, saying, Our CM firmly called him out in front of the crew, telling him that the carpenter was not his mother who should clean up a mess, but a skilled worker whose responsibility is to frame wood for construction. She explained that expecting a woman to do additional work simply based on her gender was disrespectful to her professional skills, and that the young man must either wash his own boots, or politely pay a villager for the work of cleaning them so that everyone’s labor is properly valued. Similarly, after seeing the Lead Engineer only task the women employees for picking up litter and sweeping on the worksite, the CM made it known that cleaning tasks must be evenly divided between crew members regardless of gender. With our cooks, where it was too easy for the crew to take them for granted in a “traditional women’s job,” we ensured that the crew was to thank them each time they were served, and that the head cook would hold her meetings with the CM publicly so the crew could see that a cook team lead must report to the CM to receive her supply funds and submit her receipts in the same way that the masonry and carpentry crews report-in. “go clean these.” Gender change is accomplished over generations, not simply over one project, so while we worked to shift attitudes little-by-little in Kwendin, we were keenly aware of the endemic problems of spousal and child abuse, dangerous domestic working conditions, particularly due to cooking over smoky open fires, lack of woman-focused medical support, and a simple lack of inter-gender empathy and respect. Despite knowing that our efforts could only scratch the surface of the gender issue even within just one village, every step forward is an accomplishment, and we hope that as we leave Kwendin the small lessons we taught, and the examples that our women managers and laborers set, will find a resonance that strengthens the community in its ongoing press towards a more ethical, just, and even effective working environment for women. As leaders in our organizations, it is imperative that we are active in our quest to balance our workforce by providing equal pay for skills shared by women and men; maintaining a no-tolerance policy towards gendered bullying, in and out of the workplace; and educating our staff and communities on the benefits of male-female camaraderie. 2015, Kwendin, Liberia — Mixed gender crew builds next generation power infrastructure

Frontier Female STEM: Gender Integration of an Off-the-Grid Green Energy Project

“We are creating the next, and the next is going to reintegrate science and technology and arts,” Madison Cario, the director of Tech’s Office of the Arts, Georgia Tech. Nowadays, there is a perception that science, technology, and the arts are separate vocations. Particularly, during a cooperation between industrial designers and mechanical engineers, some difficulties can arise as each expert strives to bring unique perspectives into a product design. Nevertheless, as practice illustrates, if both professionals tend to perceive shared vision and common interests, the situation is vice versa. Every industrial designer strives to understand the original idea embedded in a future product while realizing its creative spark. The same goal is shared with a mechanical engineer who aims to deliver the conceived product successfully. This is what makes both professionals collaborate effectively while speaking the same language. From STEM to STEAM Art and Science It is well known that STEM education incorporates Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. The concept of the STEM approach covers the development of students’ essential skills such as research and analysis, critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration. At the same time, experts argue that the STEM method has a lack of elements required for innovation, i.e. design thinking and creativity. Therefore, adding the arts into the STEM approach allows specialists to obtain specific knowledge, including risk-taking capabilities and creative problem solving, which eventually facilitate experts to solve multiple issues in various spheres. Thus, the STEAM approach incorporates the arts and sciences to develop a multi-disciplinary concept to technology development, engineering, product design, and others. As Steve Jobs stated, and that the combination of the arts and technology was the key to Apple’s success. He noted that scientists and technologists must collaborate with artists and designers to enhance changes for the better. “It’s in Apple’s DNA that technology alone is not enough” Job’s statement is supported by , a British artist, who insists that “technology is a fundamental force in art” while “engineering has always been a fundamental aspect of artistic endeavor”. Conrad’s sculpture, Paradigm, an impressive 14 meter-high weathered steel art object installed at the entrance of the Francis Crick Institute in London, is a “beacon for progress and endeavor”. Conrad Shawcross This trend is being supported by scientifically ad technologically focused organizations across the world. The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) is one of the communities that focuses on the exploration of the sub-atomic particles to uncover the fundamental structure of the universe. Arts at CERN is a fundamental approach of the particle physics research center which involves scientists, engineers, and artists to work collaboratively to find new creative solutions. Origami-inspired engineering Today, engineers apply the principles of art origami to create innovative products in various industries. From the designing of active materials to the development of complex, intelligent structures, engineers build creative products and high-quality systems. Japanese Mary Frecker, a mechanical engineering and biomedical engineering professor at the Pennsylvania State University, states that origami engineering can create remarkable products with complex solutions which meet the demand of multiple industries. In order to create on-demand solutions, engineers insert magneto-active elastomers and polymer into the origami-based structure of a product. This combination facilitates them to build complex and exceptional solutions. To make products to the crease, bold, or bend, experts use a magnetic or electric field that is exerted on the material. To achieve an effective functionality of the product, engineers construct most solutions from materials that provide the required strength and stiffness. As origami-inspired products continue to raise popularity in practical use, more and more companies strive to build origami-based products and place them into the commercial market. An origami-based design was selected to produce used in the operating rooms in hospitals by GE Healthcare in cooperation with Brigham Young University. The company improved the design of the existed shroud, which maintained the sterile field during the movements of the extension arm. the extension arm of an X-ray machine Besides medicine, the production of origami-based solutions covers various industries, including the automotive business, different sports, construction, electric power industry, and others. Creative thinking Specialists argue that in order to cultivate the link between engineering and the arts, the latter should be included in the curriculum of educational institutions. Integrating the arts into engineering education facilitates students to develop increased creativity and motor skills, helping them to collaborate and communicate effectively with colleagues. Furthermore, the study of artistic approaches makes it possible for learners to obtain better visual skills as well as enhance the learning experience, which can serve practical functions in their professional spheres. As experts state, it is necessary to incorporate art subjects into STEM programs to reach students' full potential. This approach provides learners with the ability to enhance the capabilities of STEM subjects while making the study of topics more engaging, exciting, and enjoyable. More and more universities across the world continue to implement the arts into their curriculums to develop learners’ creativity and critical thinking. One of the first schools which have integrated the arts with STEM subjects was Rhode Island School of Design (RISD) in the USA. As noted, one of the RISD’s leadership members, the demand for the study of arts was brought about by both students’ and teachers’ interests across the USA. Furthermore, this demand was caused later in Northern Ireland and the UK, where interdisciplinary and project-based learning was the key. Now STEAM groups, formed by the RISD students, network with students from other universities such as Harvard, Yale, and Brown University. As education experts state, the arts help create a new learning environment that enhances innovative and flexible thinking while solving complex issues that can be applied to practice. STEAM Benefits An “A” that means “Arts” in the STEAM approach represents new possibilities in an innovative environment. From the learners’ perspective, the arts subjects engage students in dynamic and relevant conditions facilitating them to become responsible and successful professionals able to apply obtained knowledge into practice. Creative problem-solving The changing world requires rapid responses across all industries. Creative thinking, which breaks rigidly defines rules, allows experts to adapt to changing environments quickly. By imposing alterations and changing different variables, engineers can find the best possible solution for a specific task. Furthermore, while being flexible in their actions in terms of testing their ideas from different angles, engineers hone their skills while becoming aware that there is a possible way to solve any complex problem. Visual imagery Drawings and paintings used in STEAM provide professionals with the ability to quickly and effectively engage and focus on their work and, at the same time, improve their observational skills. Scientists argue that the usage of photography, origami, and sketching develop spatial skills, which are among the essential capabilities of successful experts. “Big picture” mindset The creation of the “real world” on a small-scale project makes it possible for engineers to visualize it in the physical environment. From building a simple website to designing a robot prototype, engineers can analyze and interact with a real-world case on a small scale. Such an approach enables professionals to dive into the physical and social environment and test their ideas while making necessary changes, which will eventually provide benefits to the future designed product. Enhanced experience The incorporation of the art element into the STEM approach facilitates engineers to be more engaged in their work. As pure technology and engineering can be tedious and monotonous, the artistic mediums allow engineers to enjoy the projects they work on. This, in turn, may increase professionals’ engagement and work productivity while enhancing their experience. The positive effects of the STEAM approach on practice were noted in which illustrated that companies that integrated the arts with STEM methods showed than those with only STEM approach. a Nesta report increased sales growth and faster employment Conclusion In common, designers use multiple resources to develop a product idea that should be converted by engineers into a working model. There can be situations when problems in communication and realization of the collaborative work could arise. That is when the implementation of the STEAM approach can help industrial designers and mechanical engineers to communicate effectively and produce valuable products. The point where the arts meet science is represented by the medium where the communication complexity between industrial designers and mechanical engineers may emerge. When adopting the concept of the arts into the work, during which mechanical engineers put their efforts to transform industrial designers’ initial idea into reality, acceptance, respect, and reward are at the forefront of the collaborative partnership.

Incorporating Art into Engineering by Introducing the STEAM Approach

Currently, in order to promote the I have decided to launch an engineering challenge. open innovation license, This challenge shall be dubbed the impossible engineering challenge, and aims to tackle some of humanity's biggest problems in terms of things I'm not tackling right now. The aim is to inspire the next generation of makers and doers. Details are below: Are you an open source trailblazer? Build a project licensed under the OPNL License tackling a complex innovation track. Problem Statement Our organization have been working on exploring a wide variety of technologies, both theoretical and existing. This includes everything from exploring Quantum Origin through a variety of derived theorems to building water harvesting devices for third world countries and working on a decentralized internet. In the vast exploration of STEM, there are certain limitations and constraints in regards to time. In regards to engineering challenges, there are three that we have lesser time to explore that I believe are worth tackling. These three challenges are centered around solving the world's energy crisis, solving the world's resources problem, and reaching new heights in space exploration lesser explored. The three problems we are looking at, which is described by the below three tracks are centered around black hole energy extraction, oceanic colonization, and even extraterrestrial communication. All projects submitted with be under the open innovation license Current Solutions These problems are widely lesser explored complexity problems, but here is some inspiration: A Scientist's Tiny Black Hole Brings the Cosmos Into the Lab After 50 Years, Experiment Finally Shows Energy Could Be Extracted From a Black Hole Ocean Tracking Network 7 Reasons Why We Should Colonize Oceans Instead Of Mars CosmicOS Currently, one of the biggest problems in relation to energy sustainability is harnessing the power of nuclear fusion. However, what would take this even one step further? What engineering challenge if solved, may provide an abundant source of seemingly limitless energy? When looking at the Penrose process, it has theoretically been proven as possible through . experimentation For the past many years myself, I have been wondering what would happen if we could extract energy from black holes, and where we as a civilization could be? If the may be a daunting 1000 light years away, and the closest known super massive blackhole may be 25,000 light years away, , how do we get to where we need to go? The fastest answer to solve this outside of accelerated aeronautical development, is the experimentation of self contained microscopic blackholes. closest black hole Sagittarius A The question is, what type of technology needs to be possible to figure out the right equations? Is it a new algorithm, hardware, etc. and how do we go about conceptualizing such things beyond where ANY PHYSICIST has gone before? This proposes one of the biggest engineering challenges of all time. Stark Drones has some solutions. However, they want to take this a step further. A challenge in regards to the environment and our limited allocation of resources, is how do we make the best of what we have? underwater wireless networking and telemetry The ocean is perhaps one of our more abundant resources in the foreseeable future. Not only is harnessing the full power of our ocean likely important for this civilization, but these same types of technologies may be used when we colonize other planets later on. The question is whether underwater tunnels, smart elevators, artificial land, or submarine cities, what will the solution be? Can it garnish hydroelectric sources, or what external source will power it? How can we make sure it doesn't negatively impact the environment or marine life? What makes said solution worth exploring? Many big questions can be tackled with this challenge. Have you wondered what is going on in outerspace? It seems like a dull question to ask, obviously most people have. Many people have contemplated that we aren't the only intelligent planetary species in this universe. The idea of other terrestrial beings seem more and more likely. With programs such as the which I have been a fan of for many years, or programs like Zooniverse and the , we are exploring lots of uncharted territory. SETI Institute CHIME Experiment Outside of the area of data compression, there are uncovered areas in terms of building full fledgling algorithms, linguistic and communications-wise for translating large radio frequencies and even transcribing possible alien communications. There are organizations like and projects like trying to tackle this problem. How can you translate messages from radiosonic signals to bits and binary then to fully spoken words? How fast can you speed up the process? CETI CosmicOS Going beyond trying to capture one word sentiments like "hello" or "what", if one is able to capture full fledged words and maybe even sentences in real time, this would lead to huge breakthroughs. Excuse my mad scientist fantasy, but what if communicating with aliens is feasible, and how can we design a linguistic, hardware, or transcribing system that puts us a step closer? Purpose There are two purposes in regards to why this challenge was made: 1) To promote innovation in regards to these solution tracks for the spirit of build something amazing. 2) To get more people using the and inspire others with what type of projects can be done in the open innovation space. Open Innovation License We aren't specifically hardware or software focused, and do promote hybrid builds as opposed to many other challenges that focuses primarily on software. We want to see what people can come up with and what type of innovation can be spawned around those three tracks. Possible Tools: This is a list of some tools you might consider using in your project that are entirely optional. (For inspiration): QGIS Public Lab Julia Language Project Jupyter BeagleBone Black Wolfram Language™ Decentralized Internet SDK Bloomberg Quantum Library For details about the challenge, please visit the GitHub to learn about it on an ongoing basis. here If we decide to move the challenge to an open innovation or crowdsourcing website, the GitHub might be updated to reflect that. This being said, let us innovate for the future!

Launching the Impossible Engineering Challenge

If your mental image of a computer programmer is young, male and often bespectacled, you’d be pretty close to the money. Google recently revealed that of its technical workforce are female. only 17% How come the software development space is so often almost completely male and is there more we could be doing to encourage female engineers? Programming Wasn’t Always Completely Male-Dominated Programming and early computing weren’t even nearly as male-dominated as it is today. Ada Lovelace, daughter of poet Lord Byron, was relentlessly encouraged by her mother throughout her youth to reject romantic subjects like poetry and tutored almost exclusively in mathematics and the sciences, in which she excelled. When she was 17 in 1832, Lovelace went to London where she met the inventor and polymath, Charles Babbage and together they wrote up and defined one of the earliest explorations of what would become the modern computer. Her notes were read by the individuals who designed and built the first computers a century later. The programming language, ADA is named in her honor. How did an industry with roots so egalitarian become so completely male just a couple of centuries later? Working in a Male-Dominated Space With many women experiencing stereotypical gender-based in male-dominated workplaces, working in male-dominated spaces is absolutely a challenging element of being a female programmer. Here is a random example, – a software development company with 400 people in staff – employs only 14% female experts (preferably QA, Design and Marketing / Sales departments), while the other 86% are males. expectations and challenges Elinext have also found that by encouraging mentor-ship by women in senior positions, companies can encourage a more female-friendly work-space. However, this isn’t happening as much as it could be for a , and following the Me Too movement, men in senior positions are to mentor junior women. Studies whole-range of reasons less-likely than ever Greater Egalitarianism Equals More Traditional Gender Roles? In countries that rate higher for gender equality, women are actually less likely to pursue a STEM-based degree. This is known by researchers as the “Gender Equality Paradox”. While the imbalance of fewer women in STEM subjects is global, in countries like , women were more likely to be underrepresented in STEM degree course. Norway Sweden and New Zealand Contrastingly,more socially conservative countries like Turkey and Algeria have higher female student percentage in their STEM subjects. This has been explained with the idea that female students who test as equal or better than male students in mathematics and sciences are more likely to have better literacy skills, making them more likely to pursue subjects other than STEM. STEM subjects often are the focus because they’re among the most lucrative degree subjects to pursue, although there is evidence that other subjects catch up in the . first decade of graduate’s careers As well as this, women are more likely to attend the university than men in the UK. UCAS has released figures stating that women are as much as a versus their male counterparts. There are many completely female-dominated industries as well, with women rising up the ranks to command higher salaries and positions. These overwhelmingly tend to be in more . third more likely to attend university humanities, arts and health based industries When it comes to women in software development roles, it quickly becomes apparent that the issue is much more complex than kneejerk “liberal” or “conservative” ideologues would have you think. Women are likely to face gender-based challenges in the male-dominated workplace, but they’re also, when given the option throughout education and societal gender egalitarianism, more likely to reject STEM subjects in favour of arts and humanitarian subjects.

Why are Software Developers Predominantly Male

Celebrate this Intentional Holiday with Girls that Rule the World! According to the UN, both gender equality and science are stated “vital” for the achievement of the internationally agreed development goals, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The United Nations states the last 15 years our global community has made great efforts to inspire and engage females in science. “Yet, women and girls continue to be excluded from participating fully in science. At present, of researchers worldwide are women.” less than 30 percent Source “According to (2014–2016), only around 30 percent of all female students select STEM-related fields in higher education. Globally, female students’ enrollment is particularly low in ICT (3 percent), natural science, mathematics and statistics (5 percent) and in engineering, manufacturing and construction (8 percent).” UNESCO data Source “Long-standing biases and gender stereotypes are steering girls and women away from science related fields. As in the real world, the world on screen reflects similar biases — the 2015 study by the Geena Davis Institute showed that of the onscreen characters with an identifiable STEM job, only 12 per cent were women.” . Gender Bias Without Borders Source Boys, we Chemistry Chicks found a Solution. Okay, well, despite my cool chem jokes, it was the UN that actually announced this solution. hehe. Alas, it pleased many of the Lovely Ladies in STEM. “ ” Source. In order to achieve full and equal access to and participation in science for women and girls, and further achieve gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, the United Nations General Assembly adopted resolution A/RES/70/212 declaring 11 February as the International Day of Women and Girls in Science. Celebrating women and supporting minorities has long been a part of my work, but when The United Nations declared February 11 “ Day”, my “she-nerd” could not be contained. The young girl in me that wanted to be a cool scientist, like my heroes; leap for joy for a day designed to celebrate women of science; past and present. International Day of Women and Girls in Science Enjoy this list of astounding ladies to commemorate Day. International Day of Women and Girls in Science Add your favorite #FemSTEM Leaders in the comments below. Historical Women in STEM is considered to be the founder of scientific computing and the first computer programmer. Her algorithm — which history has come to know as the first one designed for a machine to carry out — was intended to be used for Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine, which Lovelace would sadly not see built during her lifetime. Lovelace passed away in 1852, but her previously little-known work and “poetical” approach to science has broken through to inspire present-day young women interested in computer programming. . Ada Lovelace Source was a British chemist and crystallographer, best known for her research that was essential to elucidating the structure of DNA. During her lifetime, Franklin was not credited for her key role, but years later she is recognized as providing a pivotal piece of the DNA story. Franklin spent the last five years of her life studying the structure of plant viruses and passed away in 1958. . Rosalind Franklin Source transformed history when she became the first American woman to fly into space on June 18, 1983. After her second shuttle flight, Ride decided to retire from NASA and pursue her passion for education by inspiring young people. As a result, she founded , an organization dedicated to supporting students interested in STEM. Ride passed away in 2012, but her work continues to inspire young women across the country. . Sally Ride Sally Ride Science Source was a marine biologist and environmentalist — whose groundbreaking book, , has been credited as the catalyst for the modern environmental movement. Carson passed away in 1964, but her work has been credited with the legacy of “awakening the concern of Americans for the environment.” . Rachel Carson Silent Spring Source was at the forefront of computer and programming language development from the 1930s through the 1980s. One of the crowning achievements of her 44-year career was the development of computer languages written in English, rather than mathematical notation — most notably, the common business computing language known as COBOL, which is still in use today. Hopper’s legacy is still honored by the annual . . Rear Admiral Grace Murray Hopper Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing Conference Source was an American chemist at the turn of the 20th century. At a time when few women attended college, Pennington completed her PhD and went on to work as a bacteriological chemist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Shortly after arriving at the USDA, Pennington became chief of the newly established Food Research Laboratory. During her 40-year career at the USDA, Pennington’s pioneering research on sanitary methods of processing, storing, and shipping food led to achievements such as the first standards for milk safety as well as universally accepted standards for the refrigeration of food products. . Mary Engle Pennington Source ‘INDIVIDUALLY WE ARE ONE DROP, TOGETHER, WE ARE AN OCEAN.’ Teams of Women that Changed the World As part of a secret World War Two project, six young women programmed the first all-electronic programmable computer. When the project was eventually introduced to the public in 1946, the women were never introduced or credited for their hard work — both because computer science was not well understood as an emerging field, and because the public’s focus was on the machine itself. has worked hard to preserve and tell the stories of these six women. . The ENIAC Programmers Since then, the ENIAC Programmers Project Source , were a group of women who participated in training to become astronauts for the country’s first human spaceflight program in the early 1960s. FLATs was never an official NASA program, and was unfortunately eventually discontinued, but the commitment and determination of these women to get into space has been credited with paving the way for such astronauts as Mae Jemison, the first African-American woman in space. . , also sometimes known as the “Members of the First Lady Astronaut Trainees” (FLATs) The Mercury 13 Source . Isolating enriched uranium was one of the most difficult aspects of the Manhattan Project, which produced the first nuclear bombs during World War II. Wartime labor shortages led the Tennessee Eastman Company to recruit young women, who were mostly recent high school graduates, to operate the calutrons that used electromagnetic separation to isolate uranium. Despite being kept in the dark on the specifics of the project, the “Calutron Girls” proved to be highly adept at operating the instruments and optimizing uranium production, achieving better rates for production than the male scientists they worked with. . Calutron Girls Source ‘BE THE KIND OF WOMAN WHO MAKES OTHER WOMEN WANT TO UP THEIR GAME.’ Present Heroes , growing up as a self-described outcast pursued her passion for technology and became a prominent computer scientist. Klawe is now the first female president of Harvey Mudd College and works hard to ignite passion about STEM fields amongst diverse groups. During her tenure at Harvey Mudd College, her work has helped support the Computer Science faculty’s ability to innovate, and has raised the percentage of women majoring in computer science from less than 15 percent to more than 40 percent today. . Maria Klawe Source . She faced many adversities she faced throughout her lifetime — at one point, an advisor told her that women did not belong in chemistry, fortuitously inspiring her to switch her major to biology — but she pursued her passion in spite of opposition. In 1978, Villa-Komaroff made waves with a published paper detailing her most notable discovery — that bacteria could be engineered to produce human insulin. She currently serves as the Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) at Cytonome/ST. . is considered to be a trailblazer in the field of molecular biology Lydia Villa-Komaroff Source was an American chemist known for her research on dairy products and food security issues. Holsinger developed a nutritious and shelf-stable whey and soy drink mixture that is distributed internationally by food donation programs as a substitute for milk. She also created a grain blend that can be mixed with water to provide food for victims of famine, drought, and war. Additionally, her work on the lactase enzyme formed the basis for commercial products to make milk digestible by lactose-intolerant people. Through these discoveries, Holsinger’s work has had a major impact on worldwide public health. . Virginia H. Holsinger Source , an African-American space scientist and mathematician, is a leading figure in American space history and has made enormous contributions to America’s aeronautics and space programs by her incorporation of computing tools. She played a huge role in calculating key trajectories in the Space Race — calculating the trajectory for Alan Shepard, the first American in space, as well as for the 1969 Apollo 11 flight to the moon. Johnson is now retired, and continues to encourage students to pursue careers in science and technology fields. . Katherine Johnson Source (1976- present) is a Professor of Computer Science at Stanford University. She is currently the Co-Director of Stanford University’s Human-Centered AI Institute and the Stanford Vision and Learning Lab. She served as the director of the Stanford Artificial Intelligence Lab (SAIL) from 2013 to 2018. In 2017, she co-founded AI4ALL, a nonprofit organization working to increase diversity and inclusion in the field of artificial intelligence. Her research expertise includes artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, deep learning, computer vision and cognitive neuroscience. She was the leading scientist and principal investigator of ImageNet. Fei-Fei Li Source ‘SUPPORT OTHER WOMEN. PERIOD.’ Women In Blockchain is the co-founder and CEO of Lightning Labs. Lightning Labs is the company that is building the next generation of decentralized financial infrastructure. Lightning is an open protocol layer that makes blockchains scalable and flexible to support a new wave of financial applications. The lightning network is a Layer 2 scaling solution for Bitcoin which allows users to utilize payment routing and payment channels with low fees and immense speed. Stark has led the Lighting Labs and the development of the lightning network. Stark aims to help Bitcoin reach a point where it will be adopted by the masses for both small and large retail purchases. She is also a fellow researcher at Coin Center, the leading non-profit research and advocacy center, which focuses on public policy issues relating to cryptocurrency and decentralized computing technologies such as Ethereum and Bitcoin. Elizabeth Stark holds a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard. She has taught at Yale and Stanford. Elizabeth Stark is certainly a highly valued contributor to the blockchain space. Elizabeth Stark is a cryptocurrency and blockchain journalist and is also a co-host at ‘The Bad Crypto’ podcast. She is a contributor at Forbes and Huffington Post. She has motivated many women enthusiasts and has worldwide experience in writing about technology. She has graduated from the University of Texas in Austin and holds a degree in B.A. (English, Government). She holds a master’s degree from Tel Aviv University in Security and Diplomacy. She is a blockchain guru and a board advisor for a blockchain-based supply chain management company. She was recently named one among the top five women who are working to change the world of crypto. Rachel Wolfson brings her 22 years of Wall Street knowledge to the blockchain sector. She is the former Chairwoman and President at Symbiont.io. Symbiont is a leader in the smart contracts platform for the financial sector utilizing blockchain technology. On her website, , Caitlin announced she recently left Symbiont to pursue other blockchain ventures. On her website and through her Twitter account she shares her musings on blockchain, Bitcoin, and the future of the industry. Caitlin Long Caitlin-Long.com describes herself as a digital sociologist. She currently works as a Lecturer in the Psychology of Interactive Media at the University of Southern California. Additionally, she is an Advisor at . DNXCommunity is a Digital Nomad platform that is built on the Ethereum blockchain and is designed to provide a decentralized platform for the remote worker community. Dr. Julie Albright has been featured on the Today Show, CNN, and in the Wall Street Journal among other media outlets. She often Tweets and shares content with her nearly 20,000 followers relating to technology, including cryptocurrency, and its effect on human behavior. Dr. Julie Albright DNXCommunity has contributed to the mass adoption of Bitcoin in the United States. She has served as an intern and staff assistant to the United States congressmen. She has graduated in political science from Wheaton College. Till March 2018, she was a member of the Board of Directors at The Bitcoin Foundation. She is now the blockchain business development and marketing consultant at various companies. She is also an advisor at the BitGive Foundation and Coin Congress. Elizabeth McCauley Thankfully, despite odds, women are recently filling books with inspiring, world altering accomplishments. The leaders noted, and many other ladies, have opened the door to opportunities for all of us. Thanks to the amazing women who were teased, overlooked, taken advantage of; and still continue to “shrug it off” and outshine their peers with perseverance, brain and wit. Today and everyday, celebrate women and assist our next generation in the pursuit of seeing more Females in STEM. “ ”, said António Guterres UN Secretary-General. To rise to the challenges of the 21st century, we need to harness our full potential. That requires dismantling gender stereotypes. On this International Day of Women and Girls in Science, let’s pledge to end the gender imbalance in science Remember; this can’t change without your help; “ .”― . Training for and pursuing a career in science can be treacherous for women; many more begin than ultimately complete at every stage. Characterizing this as a pipeline problem, however, leads to a focus on individual women instead of structural conditions Enobong Hannah Branch, Pathways, Potholes, and the Persistence of Women in Science: Reconsidering the Pipeline Source Being an active Woman in STEM/Women in Blockchain I can personally relate to this powerful quote. In efforts to show support to the ladies that have overcome tremendous battles to bring science, technology, engineering and mathematics to you; I hope you each take the time to thank a female that’s been a STEM-inspiration and personally touched your life or work. Hey. Boys. You Paying Attention? That’s right. I’m talking to you, dudes. I have something to tell you. Thank you. Ladies, don’t forget to give a special ” to our STEM Gentlemen. Without the support of wonderful, fearless male leaders that raise women up; we may not be as far as we’ve come. “thank you ‘HER SUCCESS IS NOT YOUR FAILURE.’ Remember; it’s a team effort. ‘ ’ was adopted as a slogan for the 1960–70s feminist movement, after first being used in Meryll Frost’s story ‘Most courageous athlete of 1945’ . Behind every great man there’s a great woman Source Calling all Ladies (and Men!) “ ”. Boldly states the United Nations. . With Sustainable Development Goal 9, part of the Global Goals that world leaders agreed to in 2015 with a deadline of 2030, countries around the world have pledged to “build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.On the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, let’s change this narrative Source The UN, GIVE Nation, Women In Blockchain and others, ask you to join us in celebrating women and girls who are leading innovation and call for actions to remove all barriers holding us back. Join the conversation using; , , , , , #WomenInScience #GIVENation #WomenInSTEM #GirlsWhoCode #WomenInBlockchain #WomenInBlockchainFoundation Tell me what you think. What are YOU doing to bring more women in STEM? What should the community be doing to engage women in STEM? What advice/opinions do you have? How can we mutually benefit one another? I’d love to professionally discuss, collaborate and connect with you all. Welcome feedback, positive and negative; as I’m only here to improve and educate myself/others. Let’s Connect @ LinkedIn @ instagram @ Twitter @ Facebook

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