Karen Moore
The STAR program (Student-Teacher and Research Engineer/ Scientist) was started in 1995 by the IEEE Electron Devices and IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Societies. STAR was started in an effort to encourage young women to participate more in math, science, and engineering by providing positive female role models for those disciplines. The program aims to address the growing concern that young women in junior high and high school are discouraged from careers in mathematics, science, and engineering at a young age. The goal of STAR is to create a technical support network for teachers, and a mentoring program for students, through one-on-one interactions with IEEE society volunteers and student/teacher teams. EDS and MTTS offered STAR to their chapters from 1995-1997. Several successful programs were started during that time both in the United States and around the world.
The IEEE Women in Engineering Committee took over administration of the STAR program in January 1998. This transition was made in an effort to make STAR available to more individuals and societies in the IEEE. STAR was re-launched under WIE with a forum at the November 1997 IEEE Board of Directors Meeting followed by an article in the Institute in January 1998. Since these two events, WIE has had a great deal of increased interest in the program. Over the last several months, WIE has had inquiries about STAR from 9 of the 10 IEEE regions, including groups not only from the United States, but also from Canada, Finland, Singapore, and Malaysia. We have had interest from several additional societies, including the IEEE Computer, Robotics and Automation, Control Systems, Industry Applications, and Professional Communications Societies. Finally, and possibly most exciting, is we have had inquiries from several organizations outside IEEE who are interested in educating young women and may also want to partner with IEEE to support STAR programs and development.
WIE believes that the STAR program is a unique opportunity to increase the IEEEÕs level of community involvement while encouraging more young women to enter technical fields. For more information about the STAR program, please contact WIE by E-MAIL: women-star@ieee.org.
Karen Moore
Motorola Inc.
Tempe, AZ