Ordinarily Extraordinary - Conversations with women in STEM

Sheila Wells is a Telecommunications Engineer in the utility industry. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering and a Master’s Degree in Informations Systems – Communications Technology. She has worked in the utility industry for 30 years and wants to encourage more women to go into the industry. Sheila has a deep passion for her career and life.
Episode Notes
Music used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound Studio
Acronyms, Definitions & Fact Check
SONET – Synchronous Optical Networking and synchronous digital hierarchy are standardized protocols that transfer multiple digital bit streams synchronously over optical fiber using lasers or highly coherent light from light-emitting diodes. At low transmission rates data can also be transferred via an electrical interface. (wikipedia)
Wireless Co-location – he act of placing multiple (sometimes related) entities within a single location. (wikipedia)
Electric power quality is the degree to which the voltage, frequency, and waveform of a power supply system conform to established specifications. (wikipedia)
“Invisible Women “, Caroline Criado Pérez. Data is fundamental to the modern world. From economic development, to healthcare, to education and public policy, we rely on numbers to allocate resources and make crucial decisions. But because so much data fails to take into account gender, because it treats men as the default and women as atypical, bias and discrimination are baked into our systems. And women pay tremendous costs for this bias, in time, money, and often with their lives. (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41104077-invisible-women)
Are COVID vaccines designed for men? Preliminary data from the earliest vaccinations in December suggest that women are reporting more severe vaccine side effects than men. In February, the CDC released data on adverse effects during the first month of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout, finding that while women received 61 percent of vaccine doses, 72 percent of the side effects reported to the agency were from women. (https://medicine.yale.edu/news-article/sex-and-gender-and-covid-19-vaccine-side-effects/)
Women made gains – from 8% of STEM workers in 1970 to 27% in 2019 – but men still dominated the field. Men made up 52% of all U.S. workers but 73% of all STEM workers. The National Center for Education Statistics reports that in 2015 the percentage of women of color attending higher education institutions who earned STEM degrees was:

• Asian women: 5%
• Black women: 2.9%
• Latinas: 3.8%

Optical Ground Wire (OPGW) – a type of cable that is used in overhead power lines. Such cable combines the functions of grounding and communications. An OPGW cable contains a tubular structure with one or more optical fibers in it, surrounded by layers of steel and aluminum wire. (wikipedia)
Multiple Address System (MAS) – A basic MAS radio link consists of a master radio transmitter/receiver unit and multiple remote radio transmitter/receiver units. A master unit can access or poll multiple units via a pair of transmit/receive frequencies. (http://xanthus-consulting.com/IntelliGrid_Architecture/New_Technologies/Tech_Multiple_Address_(MAS)_Radio.htm)

Vicki is the Programs Director for High Tech Kids in Minnesota, the non-profit organization that organizes and runs robotics tournaments for kids such as FIRST LEGO League. While Vicki doesn't have a degree in a STEM field herself - she calls her degree in political science the "other" science, Vicki is getting girls into the pipeline for STEM careers. She has been involved with FIRST LEGO League robotics tournaments for over 20 years starting as a parent, then coach, then volunteer, then staff. She is passionate about the programs they create and the opportunities it provides for kids to learn about technology and STEM.
Episode Notes
Music used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound Studio
Acronyms and Definitions
First Lego League Challenge (FLL) - FIRST® LEGO® League introduces science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) to children ages 9-14 (US), 4-16 (globally) through fun, exciting hands-on learning. Participants gain real-world problem solving experience through a guided, global robotics program. (www.firstinspires.org)
Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) - a fuel produced from various types of waste such as municipal solid waste (MSW), industrial waste or commercial waste. (wikipedia)
Nano Technology - manipulation of matter on an atomic, molecular, and supramolecular scale. A more generalized description of nanotechnology was subsequently established by the National Nanotechnology Initiative, which defines nanotechnology as the manipulation of matter with at least one dimension sized from 1 to 100 nanometers. (wikipedia)
Fact Check
First authors 3 robotics programs: FIRST LEGO League Discover for preK - Grade 1; FIRST LEGO League Explore for Grade 2-4; FIRST LEGO League Challenge for Grade 4-8; FIRST Tech Challenge for grades 7-12; FIRST Robotics Challenge for grades 9-12.
First Lego League is in 41 countries.
First Lego League started in 1999. There is a lot of information about themes in different years, etc. on wikipedia. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIRST_Lego_League_Challenge)
High Tech Kids is a Minnesota nonprofit founded in 1999 that supports
youth STEM programs in Minnesota. High Tech Kids offers high
energy, fun, team-based programs and competitions that celebrate
science and technology. Through these robotics and coding programs
and events, student teams discover the fun in science, engineering
and technology. High Tech Kids is committed to introducing the next generation of
engineers, scientists, computer programmers, technicians, policy
makers and project managers to the challenge and promise of STEM.
High Tech Kids inspires kids to BUILD confidence, CREATE
opportunities and THRIVE in the 21 st century. (hightechkids.org)

Lois Melbourne is the co-author of the newly released science-fiction novel, "Moral Code", a book about ethical artificial intelligence. Lois has also written two children's books and is the former co-founder and CEO of Acquire, a global technology company which provides talent management solutions.

Lois now calls herself the Chief Storytelling Officer - a great title! She has a Bachelor's Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.
Episode Notes

Lois Melbourne's book, "Moral Code" is a book about the power of artificial intelligence and and an AI who's mission is to defend against child abuse and trafficking. The book features strong female STEM characters and is a wonderfully written, thought provoking science fiction novel. Lois shares how she got started writing fiction and her enjoyment that comes from this new career for her.

Lois spent nearly 20 years as the CEO of Acquire, a company she co-founded with her husband. They also co-authored "Moral Code" and work well together! Lois shares her career journey and how she navigated the technology space as a young, female CEO a couple decades ago and the challenges and opportunities it brought her.

Music used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound Studio

Acronyms, Definitions, and Fact Check

Moral Code - Dr. Keira Stetson has two passions: ethical artificial intelligence—AI with a conscience—and creating technology that improves children’s lives. Trapped in an earthquake-flattened building with a half-dozen panicked five-year-olds, she fears the worst. When billionaire Roy Brandt leverages his mysterious nanite technology to rescue them, she’s both grateful and intrigued. Impressed by his prototype technology but alarmed at its potential for exploitation, Keira merges her company with Brandt’s. The merger gives Keira access to much-needed funds for the development of her own tech, and access to Brandt’s powerful minuscule robots. In turn, she and her AI assistant, Elly, embed Keira’s trademark Moral Operating System in Brandt’s nanite SmartDust to rein in its power. But Brandt’s technology has been kept secret for a reason. Though he’s adamant about using the Dust to improve life, not destroy it, corporate raiders and the military have other ideas. They want to weaponize Brandt’s nanites. Suddenly, everything Keira has worked for is in jeopardy. Exposed to the worst humanity has to offer, she and Elly must fight to use this newfound tech for good and keep it out of the wrong hands...before it’s too late. (https://www.amazon.com/Moral-Code-Lois-Melbourne-ebook/dp/B0B44H9FH7/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=moral+code&qid=1668562601&sr=8-1)

Moral Code Available Now
https://www.amazon.com/product/dp/0997679204

Proceeds of Moral Code go to the following organizations: www.preventchildabuse.org and www.thorn.org.

The STEM Club Goes Exploring (My Future Story) https://www.amazon.com/STEM-Club-Exploring-Future-Story/dp/1626343039/ref=sr_1_2?crid=33SYV7698AOT0&keywords=lois+melbourne&qid=1668562707&sprefix=lois+melbourne%2Caps%2C137&sr=8-2)

Kids Go To Work Day (My Future Story) (https://www.amazon.com/Kids-Work-Day-Future-Story/dp/1626343861/ref=sr_1_3?crid=33SYV7698AOT0&keywords=lois+melbourne&qid=1668562707&sprefix=lois+melbourne%2Caps%2C137&sr=8-3)

A nanite is a microscopic robotic device, and a form of nanotechnology that was built by manipulating atoms. Nanites were small eno

Katlyn is a young software developer that got her start to software developing and programming in a unique way. She is passionate about the work that she does and where she is going in her career. She shares her challenges overcoming being "painfully introverted" (her words, not mine!) and is an avid golfer.
Episode Notes
Music used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound Studio
Acronyms, Definitions, and Fact Check
UTC - Utilities Technology Council - a global association focused on the intersection of telecommunications and utility infrastructure. (www.utc.org)
The Starbucks College Achievement Plan, first introduced in June 2014, is a first of its kind partnership with Arizona State University (ASU) that creates an opportunity for all eligible U.S. partners (employees) to earn their bachelor’s degree with full tuition coverage all the way to graduation at ASU’s top-ranked online degree program. (https://stories.starbucks.com/stories/2015/starbucks-college-achievement-plan-frequently-asked-questions/)
OKCupid - A U.S.-based, internationally operating online dating, friendship, and formerly also a social networking website and application. (wikipedia)
Python - an interpreted, high-level and general-purpose programming language. Created by Guido van Rossum and first released in 1991, Python's design philosophy emphasizes code readability with its notable use of significant whitespace. (wikipedia)
Code Academy - an American online interactive platform that offers free coding classes in 12 different programming languages including Python, Java, Go, JavaScript, Ruby, SQL, C++, Swift, and Sass, as well as markup languages HTML and CSS. (wikipedia)
Hello World, by Warren Sande and his son, Carter - A gentle but thorough introduction to the world of computer programming. It's written in language a 12-year-old can follow, but anyone who wants to learn how to program a computer can use it. Even adults. (wikipedia)
Java Script - a programming language that conforms to the ECMAScript specification. JavaScript is high-level, often just-in-time compiled, and multi-paradigm. (wikipedia)
HTML - Hypertext Markup Language is the standard markup language for documents designed to be displayed in a web browser. It can be assisted by technologies such as Cascading Style Sheets and scripting languages such as JavaScript. (wikipedia)
Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) is a style sheet language used for describing the presentation of a document written in a markup language such as HTML. CSS is a cornerstone technology of the World Wide Web, alongside HTML and JavaScript. (wikipedia)
Perl - a family of two high-level, general-purpose, interpreted, dynamic programming languages. (wikipedia)
100 Days of Code: A challenge to code on a regular basis in order to get in the habit of coding. There are two rules: 1) Code minimum an hour every day for the next 100 days. 2) Tweet your progress every day with the #100DaysOfCode hashtag. (www.100daysofcode.com)

Dr. Alison Banwell is a Glaciologist and Research Scientist in the Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES), part of the University of Colorado Boulder. She studies glaciers in the Arctic and Antarctica and glacial lakes that form from glacial ice melt. She has led many field expeditions in Antarctica and has also conducted fieldwork on the Greenland Ice Sheet, Svalbard and the Himalaya. She has a PhD in Polar Studies from the University of Cambridge.
What do we talk about in this episode?

1. What is a glaciologist or glacier scientist and how she got interested in this field.
2. How climate change is affecting glaciers throughout the world and how studying glaciers can help understand climate change.
3. What her field work experiences in Antarctica and the Arctic.
4. What it's like to be a glaciologist when you hate the cold!
5. How does one get to Antarctica for work (it's a really long commute)?
6. Penguins in Antarctica...they're so cool!

Music used in the podcast: Higher Up, Silverman Sound Studio

You can support my podcast on Patreon here: https://patreon.com/user?u=72701887

Resources

Contact Dr. Banwell: email: [email protected]; Instagram & Twitter: @alibanwell

Info on Dr. Alison Banwell and links to her publications: https://cires.colorado.edu/researcher/alison-banwell

3.2% of all climbers are women.

Longyearbyen is the administrative centre of Svalbard, is a tiny Norwegian metropolis with 2,400 residents from almost 53 different countries. Longyearbyen is the gateway to the nature-based experiences and the starting point for most adventures in Svalbard. (https://en.visitsvalbard.com/visitor-information/destinations/longyearbyen)

As powerful predators, polar bears pose a major risk to human life and property. Throughout the polar bear’s range, attacks on humans and property continue to rise. In recent years, more than 20 direct attacks on humans have been reported within the polar bear’s range. (WWF)

Leopard seals are the only seals known to regularly hunt and kill warm-blooded prey, including other seals. Although rare, there are a few records of adult leopard seals attacking humans. (www.doc.govt.nz)

A glacier is an accumulation of ice and snow that slowly flows over land. At higher elevations, more snow typically falls than melts, adding to its mass. (https://nsidc.org/learn/parts-cryosphere/glaciers)

Mer de Glace, (French: “Sea of Ice”) one of the longest glaciers in the Alps, extending for 3.5 miles (5.6 km) on the northern side of Mont Blanc near Chamonix, France. (Britannica)

McMurdo Station is located on volcanic rock marking the southernmost solid ground accessible by ship, it is the gateway of most all scientific, private, and touristic jaunts into the Antarctic. (https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/mcmurdo-station)

The Drake Passage is the body of water between South America's Cape Horn, Chile, Argentina and the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica. It connects the southwestern part of the Atlantic Ocean (Scotia Sea) with the southeastern part of the Pacific Ocean and extends into the Southern Ocean. The passage is named after the 16th-century English explorer and privateer Sir Francis Drake. The Drake Passage is considered one of the most treacherous voyages for ships to make. Currents at its latitude meet no resistance from any landmass, and waves top 40 feet (12 m), hence its reputation as "the most powerful convergence of seas". (Wikipedia)