Black Girls of STEM: How 4 Female Entrepreneurs Are Altering Science, Technologies, Engineering, and Mathematics

Author: Megan Sayles,
AFRO Company Writer,
msailes@afro.com

Science, technologies, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers are some of the highest-paying and quickest-developing professions in the labor market place. In 2021, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the median annual salary in all STEM occupations was $95,420 compared to $40,120 for non-STEM occupations.

But the STEM workforce is mostly male and white. Girls and people today of colour have struggled for decades to get equitable representation and possibilities in STEM industries.

According to the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES), despite the fact that girls make up 51 % of the U.S. population, only 35 % of the STEM workforce is female.

For girls of colour, that quantity is even decrease, with black girls generating up only 1.six % of scientists and engineers in the nation.

Civic leader Tyrone Taborn is the founder of Profession Communication Group, which aids international corporations and governments find, create and retain minorities with STEM backgrounds. The firm publishes “The Girls of Colour Magazine” and “US Black Engineer & Info Technologies Magazine” annually. Every year, Taborn’s organization recognizes the greatest Black girls contributors in STEM with the Girls of Colour Awards, which highlight diverse scientists, technologies innovators, engineers and mathematicians.

He stated to boost the representation of girls in STEM, society have to construct young women’s self-confidence in math and science, increase STEM education for girls, and intentionally attract, recruit and retain girls in STEM majors.

“This lack of diversity in STEM has actual consequences for all of us. That indicates we’re not tapping into the complete variety of talent and perspectives we require to resolve the complicated challenges facing our society, from climate alter to overall health care to cybersecurity. It also indicates that we are leaving a big pool of prospective innovation and financial development untapped,” Taborn stated.

“That is why it is so critical that we make a lot more possibilities for girls in STEM, from early education to profession advancement.”

In honor of AFRO’s unique edition for Women’s History Month, it has identified 4 award-winning girls of colour who have created waves and created important contributions to STEM fields.

Denise Gray

Denise Gray is president of LG Energi Options Michigan Tech Center. As portion of her function, she styles the batteries that energy electric cars. (Courtesy of LinkedIn)

The Michigan native is president of the LG Energi Resolution Michigan Tech Center, the North American subsidiary of LG, a South Korea-primarily based chemical firm. In his function, Gray styles and manufactures batteries that support energy electric cars. In 2017, she was named the Girls of Colour Technologist of the Year. In 2022, she was elected to the National Academy of Engineering for her leadership in the improvement and manufacturing of electronic manage and battery systems for electrified passenger auto powertrains. Her objectives contain rising the adoption of electric cars and the quantity of people today in engineering and technologies jobs in the US

******************************

Norma B. Clayton

Norma B. Clayton is the former vice president of finding out, coaching and improvement at Boeing. It has transformed manufacturing processes and provide chain management in the aerospace market. (Courtesy of Tuskegee University)

Now retired from Boeing, Clayton was the 2009 Girls of Colour Technologist of the Year. At Boeing, she held a variety of leadership positions in engineering, manufacturing excellence, plant operations and optimization, and provide chain and procurement. In 2022, right after retiring as vice president of finding out, coaching and improvement at Boeing, Clayton was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering for Manufacturing Method Reshaping and Provide Chain Management. She has also been recognized for building revolutionary coaching applications in the industrial aviation market.

******************************

Mei Cai is director of battery cell systems study for the Basic Motors Chemical and Components Laboratory. It has created state-of-the-art technologies to learn battery supplies and advance battery cell production. (Courtesy of Asian American Engineer of the Year)

Mei Cai

As director of battery cell systems study for Basic Motors’ Chemical and Components Laboratory, Tsai led cutting-edge innovations that sophisticated the discovery of battery supplies and simplified battery cell manufacturing. The Beijing native also played a essential function in the improvement of Basic Motors’ Ultium battery cells, which energy electric cars. 2021 Cai was named the 2021 Girls of Colour Technologist of the Year.

******************************

Delia Grenville is Director of Company and Operations Atmosphere, Manufacturing Components and Provide Chain for Intel Corporation. She invented and patented 5 digital content material technologies. (Courtesy of LinkedIn)

Delia Grenville

A study scientist and technologies strategist, Grenville is the Director of Company and Operations Atmosphere, Manufacturing Components and Provide Chain for Intel Corporation. In the course of her profession, Grenville invented 5 digital content material technologies, most of which use the World wide web to support people today filter the content material streamed to their televisions. In 2015, Grenville won the Girls of Colour Technologist of the Year Award.

Megan Sayles is a member of the American Corps Report.