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      Local women in STEM-related professions to be highlighted in new WPSU web series

      'Women in Science Profiles' project part of new made-for-web WPSU Digital platform

      Elena Zavala is one of five women featured in WPSU's "Women in Science Profiles." Credit: WPSU Penn State / Penn State. Creative Commons

      UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Carolina Pulido, a quality engineer, tests her company’s software in five different languages. Erica Smithwick, a geography professor, has traveled around the world conducting research on the environment.

      The two are among the five women featured in a new video series through WPSU Penn State that promotes local women working in science, technology, engineering and math professions.

      WPSU Penn State’s “Women in Science Profiles”  aims to inspire young women to enter STEM-related fields while dispelling misconceptions about STEM professionals and their lives. 

      The five women will participate in 30-minute online chats over the next month at wpsu.org/live-wiscifiles and facebook.com/wiscifiles. The chats will allow local students and the general public to speak directly with the STEM professionals. Pulido, who works as a quality engineer for a statistical software company, will host the first chat at 10:50 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 16.

      “Balancing personal and professional lives are always a challenge, and it’s important for you to be compassionate with yourself and ask for help,” Pulido says in the video. “I think you’re successful when you’re happy at what you’re doing.”

      The five women featured and their live chat times are:

      • Carolina Pulido, Minitab quality engineer (10:50 a.m. Feb. 16)
      • Elena Zavala, Penn State forensic science graduate student (12:30 p.m. Feb. 24)
      • Felecia Davis, Penn State assistant professor of architecture (3:45 p.m. March 1)
      • Erica Smithwick, Penn State associate professor of geography (1 p.m. March 16)
      • Michelle Orner, Penn State Berkey Creamery quality manager (TBD)

      Students from local area school districts, including Altoona, Bald Eagle, State College, Huntingdon and Tyrone, will participate in the chats.

      The series can be viewed online on the new WPSU Digital platform, which features made-for-web series promoting the people and culture of central Pennsylvania. Additional WPSU Digital series include “Metronome” and “Pennsylvania Makers,” which feature local artists, and science-related productions “Science U” and “SciTech Now.”

      Visit the WPSU Digital website to watch the “Women in Science” profiles.

       

      Last Updated March 20, 2017

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