In this episode, I talk with Danielle Schroeder, P.E., ENV SP, transportation staff engineer at Gannett Fleming and student outreach director for WTS Philadelphia, about her passion for STEM outreach. She emphasizes the importance of inspiring the next generation of engineers and highlights the various formats of STEM outreach events, including classroom visits and tabling activities. Danielle also provides hands-on activities and resources and shares her experiences in STEM outreach.
***The video version of this episode can be viewed here.***
Engineering Quotes:
Here Are Some of the Questions I Ask Danielle:
- What motivated you to take your first step into STEM outreach, and what inspired your involvement in this field?
- What achievements and progress have you made in the field of STEM?
- Can you discuss the significance of being proficient in STEM and sharing knowledge about it, especially for younger individuals who might have an interest in these fields?
- Do engineers often overlook promoting the importance of their work, and is STEM outreach a way to showcase the value of engineering?
- Can you share examples of diverse STEM outreach events you’ve come across and explain how they cater to various audiences?
- How many STEM or outreach events do you typically participate in each year?
- What characteristics do you believe contribute to making a STEM outreach event notably successful and memorable?
- Can you provide innovative ideas, tools, or resources that have proven to be effective in hands-on STEM outreach activities?
- How do you typically reach out to schools and events to establish connections?
- Is there a specific moment or event in your STEM outreach journey that holds special significance for you?
- What is the role of the student outreach director at WTS Philadelphia?
- Could you provide additional details about your experience with the Princess with Power Tools calendar?
- What advice do you have for those seeking to make a meaningful impact in STEM outreach?
Here Are Some Key Points Discussed in This Episode About How to Lead a Successful STEM Outreach Program:
- Danielle joined the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) to lead volunteering programs, including classroom visits and community service. Motivated by her realization of the importance of early engineering exposure, Danielle aims to inspire others and bridge the awareness gap in engineering careers.
- Danielle leads STEM outreach for WTS Philadelphia and previously managed K-12 programs for ASCE Philadelphia. Since March 2020, she’s been giving virtual talks worldwide, sharing the excitement of STEM and her experiences as a civil engineer.
- By encouraging STEM majors to connect with students, the goal is to break the “you can’t be what you can’t see” barrier by showcasing civil engineering as a viable career during classroom visits and tabling events. This is crucial due to the shortage of civil engineers needed for infrastructure projects.
- Engaging in STEM outreach events goes beyond inspiring future civil engineers. The aim is to impart the importance of civil engineering, making students aware of the role it plays in everyday comforts like bridges and clean water. Even if they choose different careers, the goal is for them to appreciate the crucial work in maintaining and improving infrastructure.
- In-person STEM outreach has two main formats: classroom visits with a brief presentation and hands-on activities, like the slender tower challenge, and tabling activities at science museums, featuring quick challenges such as the foil boat test. Both inspire students and educate adults about the significance of civil engineering.
- Danielle has been part of 20 to 30 outreach events, including both virtual and in-person engagements. Although her recent in-person visits have been fewer, she values the variety of experiences, especially relishing the opportunity to return to her grade school as an alumna to discuss civil engineering.
- Success in STEM outreach is measured by the student’s enjoyment of learning. The primary goal is to convey knowledge about civil engineering and instill an appreciation for the field. The real triumph occurs when students are so engaged that they have numerous questions, sometimes even leading to a time crunch.
- For hands-on STEM activities, two key resources are Discover E and the ASCE pre-college outreach webpage. Discover E allows easy filtering by time, age, and engineering discipline. On the ASCE page, besides hands-on activities, there are best practice webinars covering topics like Engineers Week success stories and tips for enhancing the accessibility of STEM outreach events. These resources are go-to tools for planning and improving STEM engagement initiatives.
- For STEM outreach, a balanced strategy involves sending emails to local schools and leveraging alumni connections, tapping into personal networks for engagements. Another valuable resource is the STEM ecosystem, connecting with various organizations for outreach opportunities. This approach ensures a broad outreach effort, utilizing both personal and organizational networks.
- A few years ago, around 2018 or 2019, Danielle spoke to an entire K-8 school in their auditorium, introducing the slender tower challenge. During the presentation, while showing skyscraper photos, a young student surprised her by saying, “All of them have lights on them, so airplanes know they’re there.” Danielle cherishes such moments where kids impress with insightful thoughts during STEM outreach events.
- WTS, Women’s Transportation Seminar, has been a key player in the Philadelphia section for 45 years, organizing events for transportation professionals. The student outreach committee oversees three programs, including an annual scholarship and Transportation YOU (TrYOU) for young women interested in transportation careers. TrYOU, a STEM outreach initiative, showcases diverse opportunities within the field. WTS’ uniqueness lies in including various professionals beyond engineers, offering a broad learning experience.
- The Princess with Power Tools calendar by Reinvented magazine showcases women in STEM, with each princess relating her STEM journey to a fictional character. In the 2022 edition, a Star Wars princess was featured, creatively connecting her story to civil engineering concepts. The calendar has reached students in 50 states and 20-plus countries, offering a unique way to promote STEM representation.
- Interested in STEM outreach? Get involved! Organizations like the ASCE Younger Member Forum often need volunteers, and there are likely similar opportunities nearby. Many groups have events set up — they just need more voices to share diverse stories, especially in civil engineering. Volunteers discussing their choices can provide valuable insights. For questions or advice, reach out — there’s help available for anyone organizing STEM events, regardless of location.
More Details in This Episode…
About Danielle Schroeder, P.E., ENV SP
Danielle Schroeder (she/her/hers) currently works as a transportation engineer for Gannett Fleming, Inc. in their Philadelphia office. She graduated from Drexel University in 2017 and received her B.S. and M.S. in Civil Engineering through their accelerated degree program. Since 2019, she has tracked her student STEM Outreach impact, which was over 3,000 students in 2019, 1,000 students in 2020, 1,400 students in 2021, 1,000 students in 2022, and over 1,400 students in 2023 through in-person and virtual events.
Danielle is a former K-12 Outreach Co-chair for the Philadelphia Younger Member Forum’s American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Chapter and former Vice President of Outreach for the Philadelphia Section of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE). She currently serves as student outreach director for Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS) Philadelphia and a corresponding member for ASCE’s Committee on Pre-college Outreach. For her work with these organizations and her extensive STEM outreach work, Danielle was honored as one of ASCE’s New Faces of Civil Engineering in 2021. Danielle focuses on the rehabilitation of the physical infrastructure of our past through her job and inspires the minds of our future through her STEM Outreach. In her spare time, Danielle enjoys traveling, snowboarding, playing tennis, and taking long walks with her partner, Doug, and their rescue dog, Nemo.
About the Host: K. James Taylor, Jr., P.E.
K. James Taylor, Jr., P.E., is a licensed professional engineer and an associate vice president at Verdantas, an emerging environmental, engineering, and technical consulting company with a green, sustainable, and people-first approach in the foreground. James has over 17 years of experience in civil engineering in the land development and municipal fields. Land development services include the design of subdivisions and site plans for compliance with local codes and ordinances, civil/site engineering, stormwater management, road design, and utility design. James has served as a project manager since 2018. In 2021, James was recognized with the Outstanding Project Manager Award at Duffield Associates (now Verdantas) for outstanding performance as a project manager and his consistent display of leadership traits valued by the company, including scheduling, management, proactive communication, collaboration, responsiveness, and client-focused service.
James was selected as the 2021 Young Engineer of the Year by the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Delaware Section and served as the President of the Delaware Engineering Society and the New Professionals Director on the NSPE Board of Directors from 2021-2023.
Books Mentioned in This Episode:
Sources/References:
Gannett Fleming
Drexel University
Society of Women Engineers (SWE)
American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE)
DiscoverE
STEM Ecosystems
Women’s Transportation Seminar (WTS)
Reinvented Magazine
The Princesses With Powertools Calendar by Reinvented Magazine
WTS Philadelphia
Connect with Danielle Schroeder, PE, ENV SP, on LinkedIn
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