Why my goal as a parent is not to produce more minority engineers by Tony Green

I recently received a letter inviting my daughter to participate in Alameda County’s STEM program. STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math. STEM programs, if you are not aware, are designed to identify minorities who show aptitude in the math and sciences and provide them the resources needed to transition to successful careers in these fields.  Traditionally, minorities have been under represented in these fields and if the United States is going to remain competitive globally it will need ALL segments of its populace to be proficient in the technical skills needed to stay at the forefront of technology.

I recalled my participation in the Philadelphia Regional Introduction to Minorities in Engineer (PRIME) program while I was in high school and, later, in the University of Delaware’s Resources to Insure Successful Engineers (RISE) program.  The programs were designed to ensure prospective engineering students are provided resources to maximize their chances of success with success being defined as graduating from an undergraduate engineering program. 

I would be proud if my daughter chose to study engineering but only if she is interested. I recall during my time as an undergraduate I recalled many of my classmates who started off in engineering who did not enjoy their coursework and changed their majors to disciplines which interested them and lived happily ever after.

The part of me that used to work as an engineer for over 10 years has seen the lack of diversity in many engineering fields first hand. Particularly alarming are the scarcity of those of color and of women.

There is another part of me realizes the overall purpose of being a parent is to set your children up for success in things they are interested in and not what you are fascinated with since when I am long longer alive it will be their lives.

I am grateful her teachers believe she can study engineering or any hard science but if she is not interested in studying these subjects with the goal of making a living then what is the point? So I declined the gracious invitation from Alameda County. As much as I believe in the group’s mission and the benefits of the program.  Is this the right decision?

Image Courtesy of Minority Engineer Magazine @ www.eop.com

Fireworks - past and present by Tony Green

I was sitting in downtown Livermore on the 4^th of July in picnic chairs waiting as my children used their IPad’s prior to the beginning of the fireworks display.  Traditionally, I attend the yearly celebration with my family when they are not visiting their in-laws in Japan. This year’s participation was, for the most part, a “no-brainer” since they were being held in the downtown area which was walking distance from my house.  I looked out among the people who had gathered and the unseen others in attendance at many locations throughout the country asked the question,” How did it come to this?”

 

Image of fireworks exploding

Interestingly enough, Bamboo is extremely strong and grows in a series of hollow segments. You may ask what does that have to do with fireworks? Bear with me, when bamboo is dropped into a fire and the air pockets inside will heat and expand until the bamboo explodes resulting in a loud sound. This phenomenon was first discovered in China around 200 B.C.

Moving ahead to the 9th century A.D., an unidentified alchemist, mixed sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate and by accident created gunpowder. A little gunpowder in a bamboo shoot produced the world’s first firework.

As for its connection with our nation’s independence on July 2, 1776 a day after Congress voted on separating from British rule John Adams reportedly wrote in a letter to his wife,”[The day] ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires, and illuminations, from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more”.

Sure enough, the next year, in Philadelphia, Congress authorized a fireworks display for the first commemoration of July 4, leading the way for fireworks to come to symbolize the day.

So now you know. With the history lesson behind us, the time had come for us to get out of the crowd and make my way back to my house.  I, and many of you, will in all probability not think again about how fireworks came to be, but it still does not take away from the enjoyment we get from spend time without families.

Image: Courtesy of fotolia.us

How can a man make a country cry? by Tony Green

Image of a soccer pitch with Brazilian flag

During the 2014 World Cup in Brazil various programming was shown on cable television related with the theme of soccer.

ESPN produced a show called “30 for 30” which caught my attention. The program profiles certain sport stories exposing the human side of the athletes portrayed.  One episode profiled the story of Moacir Barbosa who at the time happened to be one of the world’s best the goal keepers.  He had been chosen to handle the goalkeeping duties for the 1950 Brazilian national team which had been favored to win the World Cup the last time the tournament was hosted in Brazil prior to this year.  

Barbosa surrendered a “soft” goal in the final against Uruguay which allowed the country to win one of its two World Cup titles. The disappointment caused many people in Brazil to openly weep in despair and many others to express open hostility toward him.  Despite a brilliant career the defeat followed him like a shadow for the rest of his life.

Fast forward to 2014 and the scene of Julio Cesar, the 2014 goalie of the Brazilian national team, opening crying after his interview after Brazil survived penalty kicks against Chile would seem extreme upon initial glance. However, given the history of soccer in the country and the impact of the result to a nation of millions maybe I’d fold up like a cheap tent under such intense pressure.

The ‘beautiful’ game stands as a symbol as a global celebration of culture and competition.  Yet, as passionate as many fans are about their team and their countries and the game is, by far, the planets most prominent sport. The importance cannot be overstated of keeping mind that futbol is still only a game.  

Not as green as I thought by Tony Green

Image of grease in a cooking pan

Any new position whose technology touches any part of your everyday life is sure to change your view on some things once insider industry knowledge has been obtained. 

Before I started working at a company who manufacturers equipment for the waste water treatment industry I never thought about where the cooking grease goes after I pour it down the drain. Now I know the fats, oils, and greases go into the waste water treatment system where these by-products cause massive problems once the material re-solidifies.

I usually pour my used grease down the drain after running hot water on the pan. Once down the drain the greasy substance was out of sight and, in my mind, no longer my concern.  The reality was  the leftover product of my cooking would become some else’s predicament. Frankly, I should have been aware that grease, and any other fatty oil, does not disappear once melted. From my studies in college I was well aware once cooled the oil would return to its gelatinous form.

Frequent readers of this blog know I am a strong supporter of alternative energy but in this instance I had fallen short of observing green living practices. In short, I was not as green as I thought.

Maybe I should reach out to my locality and ask them about recycling grease to use as biodiesel, in the same fashion plastics and organic materials are recycled.

Until then since the placing my used grease in the trash does not seem like a viable option, what should I do?

Image courtesy of fotalia.us

Why I would want a personal logo for myself by Tony Green

Tony Green logo

Once in a while, entertainers have tried to describe themselves as an image or a logo. Remember when, his royal badness, Prince decided to refer to himself as “the artist formerly referred as Prince” and had a logo created which his marketing people pushed out to his listeners. Wasn't that the last we heard of Prince?  But I digress.

A business logo is the symbol which represents your company's identity. Its image will, over time, become the most recognizable representation for your company. A logo is designed to bring your company to a prospect or customer’s mind. The image attempts to capture the essence of what the company is about.

Companies create logos with the help of graphic artists under the direction of the marketing department who manage their companies’ brand to ensure a constant message is communicated, which with any luck will differentiate them from their competitors.

Now think of the concept on personal level. My thinking was a person represents an image to any one he/she meets.   Every person is their own brand regardless if they realize it or not. In my case, I'm technical/mathematical, but sharp, detailed and to the point with a clear creative side. Why not try to create an image to describe what I am about?

Does my decision to get a personal logo to put on my updated website as well as this blog seem a little less crazy?   More importantly, how did I do?