Explore the Law of Conservation of Energy and Newton’s Laws of Motion, all while building a challenging maze! Use straws to construct an elaborate marble labyrinth and learn about Princess Ariadne and the Greek hero Theseus.
Betty McDaniel
Girlstart’s Women in STEM weekly series highlights various women who are making a difference in STEM. Be inspired as these incredible women describe how they became interested in their field, provide insight into a day in the life, and share learnings from their experiences.
Betty McDaniel
Senior Chip Designer @ AMD
Betty is an accomplished chip designer who is passionate about bringing more women into STEM fields. She has previously volunteered with Girlstart by teaching at various events, and we are thrilled that she is now sharing her words of wisdom with us today.
Can you first briefly describe your career?
I have been a chip designer in a variety of different types of microprocessors. First, I was a part of an awesome team that designed graphics chips, which are responsible for the visuals you see on your computer screens. Then I designed network processors with another team that enables so much information to be sent across the internet. Now I am designing chips at AMD that are the “brains” of the computer. It has been exciting to be a part of the digital revolution and to be able to contribute to cutting edge technology.
What are your favorite things about your career?
I am near the end of career now, and what I have most enjoyed is the constant newness – I am always learning something new, which keeps it interesting. Doing the same thing day after day, year after year, would be so dull. Instead, I get to do really big puzzles with open ended solutions that call for two of my favorite words: creativity and curiosity.
Second, I have enjoyed the trust and respect of my colleagues. Engineering truly is a professional job, even with just a 4-year degree like I have, so I am able to work independently despite being a part of a team, with each team member trusting each other to get their parts done well and on time. I have a lot of flexibility in how I do my work as a result, which I appreciate. You don’t get that kind of flexibility or respect in just any kind of career, and I don’t take it for granted.
Last, I enjoy the tangible rewards of being a chip designer. I know that I have been a part of bringing technology to where it is today. Can you imagine what it would be like to meet a global pandemic without the internet – without the ability to have video calls, meetings, and classrooms online, or stream movies, search for news, or connect with your friends? I have been a part of making that possible. There are financial rewards as well – I am well paid for just 4 years of college, and I am able to provide well for my family and not have to worry about money. Believe me, that makes life much easier.
What advice do you have for girls interested in a STEM career?
Work hard and stay curious. We are all unique, and you just might be able to look at a problem from your unique angle and come up with something BIG! Something that has never been done before!
What brought you to volunteer with Girlstart?
There are simply not enough women in STEM careers. While there are growing numbers of women from other countries moving to the US, there are not many US women becoming electrical engineers. I am usually the only US woman on my team, and often the only woman of any nationality. Women bring different perspectives to problem solving, and are needed if we want to remain competitive technologically. Additionally, I would like to see more women become financially independent and intellectually recognized. That means getting girls in the US interested in STEM subjects and opening their eyes to career paths that they might not have considered otherwise.
Why is confidence in STEM important for girls?
There are so many societal messages for girls to ‘dumb themselves down,’ despite all the counter messages they may be getting at home. STEM has traditionally been a male dominated arena, so if girls are confident in their STEM abilities, I believe that they will be confident in all aspects of their life. It can’t help but spill over. I want girls to never make themselves small in order to help someone else feel bigger – that only makes us all smaller. When girls are doing their best, everybody benefits!
Materials List: Greek Starry Night at Home
We are excited for you to participate in Girlstart’s Starry Night at Home, including a Greek star show and hands-on STEM activities! Gather materials from around the house and join us on Thursday, September 3rd for Starry fun.
* The following list contains affiliate links. Girlstart is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.
Greek Columns
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- Books
- 3 pieces of copy paper
- Tape
Greek Labyrinth
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- Marble
- Marker or pen
- Paper or Styrofoam plate (a piece of cardboard works too!)
- Ruler
- Scissors
- 10-20 straws
- Tape
Olympic Flame in a Bottle
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- Empty plastic bottle
- Food coloring
- Fork
- Funnel (optional)
- Small bowl
- Tablespoon
- Vegetable or canola oil
Parthenon Architecture
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- 2-4 books
- 12 paper cups
- 2 pieces of cardboard (large enough to stand on)
- 12 pieces of copy paper (or more!)
- Straw, dowel, or pencil
- Tape
Karla Saludares
Girlstart’s Women in STEM weekly series highlights various women who are making a difference in STEM. Be inspired as these incredible women describe how they became interested in their field, provide insight into a day in the life, and share learnings from their experiences.
Karla Saludares
Owner/Founder @ Texican Oil & Gas LLC
Karla has volunteered with Girlstart in the past, and loved speaking at our summer camps. She is truly passionate about inspiring the next generation of women to thrive in various STEM fields, and we are so excited to have her on the blog today to share her story as an Engineer.
What sparked your interest and made you want to volunteer with Girlstart?
As a young girl, I was never exposed to science and math in a way that made it cool or inviting. As a mother to a young girl, I want to let girls know that there are many careers within STEM where they can flourish. I really believe that it is our job as a community to help raise the next generation. We are here to help as mentors, volunteers, teachers, parents and counselors.
Can you give us a brief overview of your career path?
I am a petroleum engineer (graduated from The University of Texas at Austin). My job has involved how to most efficiently and economically find and produce oil & natural gas from the earth and bring it to the surface. Specifically, for most of my career, I was a reservoir engineer. We are essentially project managers that collaborate with various disciplines such as drilling, completions, land, regulatory, and management so that we can execute a drilling program.
Was there any influence in your life growing up that pushed you towards STEM?
I knew I wanted to be an engineer because I loved math. My junior year in high school I visited the college/counselor room and saw a bar chart on what the starting salaries were for different types of engineers. Well, petroleum engineering was at the top; I went for my BS in Petroleum Engineering and enjoyed all the challenges and problem solving!
Do you have any words of encouragement you would like to share with girls interested in a STEM career?
If you are a girl and are considering a STEM career, jump in! Start by learning as much as you can about math, science, and technology. Your job for the first few years of your life is to learn as much as possible. Ask your question in class. Raise your hand. Work hard. No one can stop you. Ask for help when you need guidance.
Why do you think confidence in STEM important for girls?
The ability to have confidence in STEM for girls is the beginning to powerful and meaningful change in the world. It is a step for true equality, for innovation.