Text version of video - STEM Career:  Civil Engineer

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Science Technology Engineering Mathematics

STEM Career Connections

(engineer narration)

My name is Monique Head.  I'm an assistant professor in the department of civil engineering at Morgan State University.

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(text on screen) What do engineers do?

(engineer narration)

I am actually focused on the design and performance of bridges. But in general, structural engineers can focus on bridges, buildings, tunnels. I also love what I do as a professor because I also get to teach. So students can use these skills and become future engineers.

So as engineers we can create and invent, be it the roads that you drive on, to the tunnel that you go through or even when you brush your teeth to make sure that water is filtered and safe.

Largely what an engineer does is that we're problem solvers. We have ideas and general ways in which things are going to happen, but things come up where we have to be innovative and creative, and we don't know the solution. And sometimes we even learn from the things that we did wrong or things that we didn't expect would happen.

(text on screen) How do you use STEM?

I got into civil engineering because I loved the math and science. And in terms of technology, obviously we all pretty much have a computer and I have an iPhone and all that. So I use the computer for coming up with models of a bridge.

(text on screen) When you were growing up, did you know what you wanted to be?

When I was younger, I liked to participate in lots of different activities. I liked sports. I liked going outside, playing softball. I liked tinkering with stuff, putting stuff together, but I was actually more so on the art side. I have a background -- I was in ballet since I was four, so I actually did more artsy-type things which I think helped me to visualize and see things in a creative way as an engineer.

We would do like kind of science fair projects. I even remember doing an experiment where, at a young age, I was looking at insulation in a house. So, my idea was to figure out the different types of insulation that I can use to keep a cup of water warm.

(text on screen) What should I do if I like creating and inventing?

Do well in math and science, and make sure you keep practicing. Do problems over the summer. I would say another thing would be just to keep reading. Really question the why and the how in things and don't just say , “oh okay, the water is blue.” Well, why is the water blue? Could it be a different color? Really just start looking at things and say, “Why are things a certain way, and what's making that thing?” So, not just the “why” but also “how” and “how could it be different?”