Tech Corner - Craig Rosen
We had the opportunity to interview a leader in the STEM and tech community, Craig Rosen from Desert Research Institute & Office of Education to get his take on why he loves STEM, how NASA is working to empower young people, and how tech is making the world a better place.
Q. What led you to the tech/STEM industry?
A. Curiosity has always been a driving force in the way I live my life. I am fascinated with the way things work and in the discovery of something new. One of my earliest memories growing up as a child was watching our astronauts taking their first steps on the moon. I was hooked at an early age and have grown up with tech ever since. From pagers, palm pilots, and brick phones to the communications tools of today, from pong and Atari to e-sports, from typewriters to computers – I am a witness and participant in the burgeoning tech enterprise. What I have come to understand and now preach is that without a solid STEAM educational foundation, young people will be left behind.
Q. What excites you about the tech/STEM industry?
A. STEAM education solves problems! Possibilities are endless when innovation is encouraged and acted upon. Imagine any problem that exists in the world today and then think about what technology, new inventions, science practices can be deployed to solve that problem. We have all of the tools we need today to make the world a much better place, but what we need is to unleash the innovative mindset to tackle these problems one by one.
Q. What projects are you currently working on?
A. I am excited to be able to work on many projects through my work in STEAM education. I have projects that are sponsored by NASA to excite young people about Space Science and to get the community thinking about our future travel to Mars and beyond. I am working with our energy companies SW Gas and NV Energy to educate the community as to the importance and benefits of energy conservation to help protect our planet from climate change and consumption of our natural resources. I am working to train educators throughout Nevada in sharing STEAM education practices with their students. And I’m working with community leaders throughout the state to encourage investment in STEAM educational initiatives and to showcase the many career opportunities that a high-quality STEAM education can support.
Q. Do you have any tech/STEM resources you can share?
A.DRI has a lot of great resources and information that can be used by educators, students, and community members to enrich their STEAM knowledge and connect to authentic science exploration happening here in our state and around the world. https://www.dri.edu/ https://www.dri.edu/education/
Q. What’s your favorite quote, or one piece of advice you would give to girls pursuing careers in tech/STEM?
A. “If you can dream it, you can do it.” Walt Disney There is no doubt in my mind that there is a problem that cannot be solved. Sometimes it takes numerous attempts and failure surely will be a part of that experience. I encourage embracing failure and continuing to refine your solution. Never give up on a dream and use that creative talent to make a difference in the world.
Q. What do you believe to be the future of tech/STEM?
A. The tech boom will only continue to blossom as we are advancing a much greater pace than society has ever witnessed. Current tech allows us to expand future tech that much quicker and if our young people don’t embrace this today, then certainly they will fall far behind. Jobs that exist today will be sidelined due to technological advances, but for every 1 job that is eliminated, there are 3-4 jobs in tech that will be needed to replace that position. Careers of the future will depend on a skilled workforce with a mindset towards design and experience with manufacturing/automation/coding. There is a huge demand for these positions today and an even greater demand for these positions in years to come.
You can get in touch with him via social media at: @driscience @DRIScienceAlive @RosenCraig
