Northrop Grumman Sponsored Event Offers Career Lectures and Hands-On Experience Opportunities Related to STEM Fields for Female High School Students

Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE: NOC) and the Korea Center for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology (WISET) held a mentoring and career exploration event for high school girls interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) to nurture future women scientists in South Korea. Held Feb. 11, the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, at Korea University, ‘WOMEN@STEM Career Day’ was the first of three events planned for 2019 to inspire students to pursue scientific careers during the Fourth Industrial Revolution. With two more upcoming events, Northrop Grumman and WISET will continue to provide more students with opportunities for career exploration and support the development of STEM education.

The WOMEN@STEM Career Day provided the students with practical advice and realistic experiences through various programs such as special career lectures, mentoring and a career opportunities booth. Female college students majoring in computer engineering, information security, robotics and virtual engineering participated as junior mentors. Also, women leaders in the science and technology industry took part as special lecturers and interacted closely with the students to raise the understanding of STEM fields.

A special video address was delivered by Northrop Grumman’s Debbie Simmons, director of observatory system engineering for NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. Simmons encouraged the students and shared her personal experiences as a female engineer along with vivid industry stories. In addition, she explained how the advanced technologies used at Northrop Grumman are attracting student interest in science and technology.

 “As an engineer and a woman, I feel a responsibility to nurture future female scientists and I am very pleased to participate in WOMEN@STEM Career Day" said Simmons.

In addition, career experience booths were set up for the students to allow them to have the Fourth Industrial Revolution experiences such as a 3D printing demonstration, virtual reality programming and Arduino autonomous vehicles coding. The participants applied integrative thinking and creativity to understand the basic principles of each program.

“The passion and excitement of the students participating at WOMEN@STEM Career Day reinforces the need for systematic and practical career programs to foster more female scientists in South Korea,” said Dong Ha, chief executive, Northrop Grumman South Korea. “We will continue to help young students to develop interest in science and technology, and to establish a foothold for them to enter STEM-related careers.”

“Feb. 11, when WOMEN@STEM Career Day was held, is the International Day of Women and Girls in Science established by the UN General Assembly in 2015 to promote women and girls’ participation in STEM education, training and research,” said Han Wha-jin, president of WISET. “WISET will continue to provide female students with opportunities to explore and experience STEM fields, and actively support them to grow as women scientist and technicians,” she added.

With an office in Seoul since 1991, Northrop Grumman is committed to a strong partnership with the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of National Defense. Key programs include the APG-68 Fire Control Radar on the KF-16, MESA radar on Peace Eye, LONGBOW Fire Control Radars for the AH-64E Apache attack helicopter and the RQ-4 Global Hawk unmanned aircraft systems for the Republic of Korea’s Air Force.

WISET is a public institution that supports women in science and technology under the Ministry of Science and ICT In accordance with Article 14 of the Act on Fostering and Supporting Women Scientists and Technicians, the center is operating policies for training and support of women scientists and engineers as well as providing support programs tailored to different life stages.

Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing innovative systems, products and solutions in autonomous systems, cyber, C4ISR, space, strike, and logistics and modernization to customers worldwide. Please visit news.northropgrumman.com and follow us on Twitter, @NGCNews, for more information.