M STEM A G A Z I N E Happy Pi Day A Holiday for Every Equation Ada Lovelace First Computer Programmer A Dream for the World The Global Flight of Shaesta Waiz \\212v March 2018 ENGINEERING SUCCESS GaynelleGaynell Swann Swann AssociateAssociate Dean ofDean Academics of Academics STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. But at SNHU, it stands for so much more. It standsSTEM for stands hands-on for science, experience. technology, Exciting engineering, internship and mathematics. opportunities. But at SNHU,High-tech it stands labs for andso much simulators. more. It stands And foroutstanding faculty hands-onmembers. experience. Exciting internship opportunities. High-tech labs and simulators. And outstanding faculty members. FacultyFaculty members members like likeGaynelle Gaynelle Swann, Swann, associateassociate dean dean of ofacademics academics for SNHU’sfor SNHU’s College College of Engineering, of Engineering, Technology, Technology,and and Aeronautics.Aeronautics. With over over 25 25years years of experience of experience in the automotive, in the automotive, aerospace, and aerospace, defense industries, and defense an M.S. industries,in Engineering, an M.S. in Engineering,and multiple and STEM-related multiple certifications,STEM-related Gaynelle certifications, is dedicated Gaynelleto helping isstudents dedicated follow into herhelping footsteps students with a high-quality follow in her footstepsSTEM with education. a high-quality STEM education. Aeronautical Engineering | Air Traffic Management | Aviation Management | Aviation Operations and Management Computer Science | Construction Management | Electrical and Computer Engineering | Mechanical Engineering New majors. New facilities. New opportunities for every student. Come see for yourself! Visit the SNHU campus today. snhu.edu/stem | [email protected] | 603-645-9611 To understand STEM... ...you must DEFINE STEM, but you cannot define an acronym using the words it stands for; you must define the words the acronym stands for. Universities and organizations around the world continue to debate what a STEM career is. There is no doubt that “every career” uses STEM skills and this observa- tion remains the focus of STEM Magazine. Science: “The systematic accumulation of knowledge” (all subjects and ENGINEERING careers) Technology: “The practical application of science” (all subjects and careers) SUCCESS Engineering: “The engineering method: a step by step process of solving problems and making decisions” (every subject and career) GaynelleGaynell Swann Swann Math: “The science of numbers and their operations, interrelations, combina- AssociateAssociate Dean ofDean Academics of Academics tions, generalizations, and abstractions” (every career will use some form[s]) For a moment, set aside any precon- As an example, according to the STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. But at SNHU, it stands for so much more. It stands for ceived notions of what you think a Department of Labor, there is a serious hands-on experience. Exciting internship opportunities. High-tech labs and simulators. And outstanding faculty members. STEM career is and use the above shortage in the U.S. of women - Faculty members like Gaynelle Swann, associate dean of academics for SNHU’s College of Engineering, Technology, and dictionary definitions to determine Aeronautics. With over 25 years of experience in the automotive, aerospace, and defense industries, an M.S. in Engineering, the skills used in any career field you Pilots and multiple STEM-related certifications, Gaynelle is dedicated to helping students follow in her footsteps with a high-quality choose. STEM education. Did you know pilot was a STEM Aeronautical Engineering | Air Traffic Management | Aviation Management | Aviation Operations and Management These definitions are the “real” meaning career? Computer Science | Construction Management | Electrical and Computer Engineering | Mechanical Engineering of STEM and STEM careers. With this in mind, briefly connect New majors. New facilities. New opportunities for every student. Come see for yourself! Visit the SNHU campus today. piloting to the definitions above. That’s how it’s done. snhu.edu/stem | [email protected] | 603-645-9611 Happy Pi Day / Wayne Carley A Dream for the World / Shaesta Waiz The Sound Barrier DOES NOT Exist / Publisher Ada - First Computer Programmer / Tanya Lee Stone Some STEM Problems / Dr. Susan A. Pruet Keri Kukral - STEM to STEAM / Azam Shaghaghi We believe that the key to success in STEM Magazine is a non-profit monthly seeing higher graduation rates, education publication for educators, improved testing results, student students, and their parents. inspiration, creativity, excitement and career satisfaction rests in the hands Read monthly in 67 countries, STEM of the teacher. The example and inspi- Magazines strive to encourage the ration of individual educators carries educator to better understand the tremendous weight on a daily basis, importance of STEM skills, their use in greatly impacting the quality and effec- every school subject, the need and ease tiveness of the classroom environment. of integration into curriculum and the urgency for students to embrace STEM. Our mission: Encourage curiosity, investigation, inspiration, creativity, To find out more, simply send your and innovation; the foundations of E-mail request to: every career passion. [email protected] Wayne Carley Publisher STEM Magazine STEM for Women Magazine STEAM Magazine STEM Magazine Canada CTIM Revista (Spanish version) www.stemmagazine.com 478.319.7177 Why PIs i important? Pi Day is celebrated on March 14th While only a handful of digits are (3/14) around the world. Pi (Greek needed for typical calculations, Pi’s letter “π”) is the symbol used in math- infinite nature makes it a fun challenge ematics to represent a constant — the to memorize, and to computationally ratio of the circumference of a circle to calculate more and more digits. its diameter — which is approximately 3.14159. Pi has been calculated to over Pi is the 16th letter (π) of the Greek one trillion digits beyond its decimal alphabet which is used to represent this point. As an irrational and transcen- mathematical constant. It is typically dental number, it will continue infinitely written as “pi” in text. without repetition or pattern. Pi is perhaps the most important By the late 19th century, its value had mathematical constant. It appears in been computed by hand to several various formulas throughout math and hundred decimal places. Since the science in fields as diverse as physics, dawn of the computer age in the mid- statistics, and sociology. Although pi is 20th century, the number of calculated defined in terms of the geometry of a digits of pi has skyrocketed. Since 2002, circle, most applications of this number its value has been known to over a do not directly involve circles. trillion decimal places - enough to fill a large library! If the circumference or the area of a circle is known, pi can be used to find The earliest known official or large- the diameter and the radius of that circle. scale celebration of Pi Day was orga- Likewise, if the radius or diameter is nized by Larry Shaw in 1988 at the San known, pi can be used to find out the Francisco Exploratorium, where Shaw circumference or the area. worked as a physicist, with staff and Pi is perhaps the most important mathematical constant. The ratio equals about 3.1415. This public marching around one of its value is a constant for any circle. The circular spaces, then consuming fruit circumference of a circle is always pies. The Exploratorium continues to equal to pi times the diameter. The area hold Pi Day celebrations. of a circle is always equal to pi times the radius squared. These formulas are On March 12, 2009, the U.S. House of used constantly by engineers, physi- Representatives passed a non-binding cists, designers and mathematicians. resolution (111 H. Res. 224), recogniz- The uses of pi extend beyond merely ing March 14, 2009 as National Pi Day. finding circumferences or radii. NASA uses pi to calculate the trajectories of The entire month of March 2014 (3/14) spacecraft, to determine the sizes of was observed by some as “Pi Month”. craters and to estimate the sizes of In the year 2015, Pi Day had special planets outside our solar system. significance on 3/14/15 (mm/dd/yy date format) at 9:26:53 a.m. and also at The computation of pi has a long and p.m., with the date and time represent- fascinating history. Some of the most ing the first 10 digits of π. elaborate mathematical methods have been used in devising various formulas for pi. A Dream for the World Photo Credit: Chris Paine Photography A Dream for the World Shaesta Waiz just became the youngest woman ever to complete a solo trip around the world in a single engine air- craft. Shaesta is only 30 years old and in addition to her remarkable global achievements has founded Dreams Soar Inc., a non-profit organization with a mission to promote science, technology, engineering and mathe- matics (STEM) and aviation among the next generation of young women and professionals. Some have called her a modern-day Amelia Earhart because of her global accomplishments, passion for flying as well as her gender. Ms. Waiz was born in a refugee camp in Afghanistan in 1987 and then escaped the Soviet-Afghan war by relo- cating with her parents to Richmond, California, where she was raised with her five sisters. In 2011 while she stud- ied at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University she founded the Women’s Ambassadors Program as a mentor, boosting female enrollment at Embry- Riddle. This of course was paving the way for Dreams Soar and adventures to come. Shaesta is also the first certified civilian female pilot from Afghanistan where gender discrimination remains a huge problem. Shaesta wrote her graduate capstone project on the Beechcraft Bonanza A36 single engine aircraft which is regarded by many as one of the best aircraft for flying around the world.