By Megan Sayles,
AFRO Company Writer,
msayles@afro.com

Science, technologies, engineering and mathematics (STEM) careers are some of the highest-paying, quickest-expanding professions on the job marketplace. In 2021, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that the median annual wage across all STEM occupations was $95,420 compared to $40,120 for non-STEM occupations. 

But, the STEM workforce is mainly male and White. Girls and men and women of colour have struggled to achieve equitable representation and chance in STEM industries more than the decades. 

According to the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES), despite the fact that females comprise 51 % of the U.S. population, only 35 % of the STEM labor force are females. 

For females of colour the quantity is even decrease, with Black females comprising a mere 1.six % of the country’s scientists and engineers. 

Civic leader Tyrone Taborn is the founder of Profession Communication Group, which assists worldwide corporations and governments find, create and retain minorities with STEM backgrounds. The firm annually publishes “The Girls of Colour Magazine” and the “U.S. Black Engineer &amp Information and facts Technologies Magazine.” Each and every year, Taborn’s organization recognizes top rated Black female contributors in STEM with “Women of Color” awards that highlight diverse scientists, tech innovators, engineers and mathematicians.

He stated in order to enhance women’s representation in STEM, society ought to construct young women’s self-confidence in math and science, increase STEM education for females, and intentionally attract, recruit and retain females in STEM majors. 

“This lack of diversity in STEM has true consequences for all of us. It implies that we are not drawing on the complete variety of talent and perspectives that we require to resolve the complicated challenges facing our society, from climate transform to healthcare to cybersecurity. It also implies that we are leaving a substantial pool of prospective innovation and financial development untapped,” stated Taborn.

“That’s why it is so critical that we develop additional possibilities for females in STEM, from early education via to profession advancement.”

In honor of the AFRO’s unique edition for Women’s History Month, he identified 4 award-winning females of colour who have created waves and notable contributions to the STEM fields. 

Denise Gray 

Denise Gray is the president of LG Power Option Michigan Tech Center. As aspect of her part, she styles batteries that energy electric autos. (Courtesy of LinkedIn)

This Michigan native is the president of LG Power Option Michigan Tech Center, the North American subsidiary of LG, a South Korea-primarily based chemical firm. In her part, Gray styles and produces batteries that aid to energy electric autos. In 2017, she was named Girls of Colour Technologist of the Year. In 2022, she was elected to the National Academy of Engineering for her leadership in creating and generating electronic controls and battery systems for electrified passenger vehicle propulsion systems. Her objectives contain rising the adoption of electric autos and the quantity of men and women pursuing engineering and technologies jobs in the U.S.

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Norma B. Clayton

Norma B. Clayton is the former vice president for studying, instruction and improvement for the Boeing Business. She transformed manufacturing processes and provide chain management in aerospace industries. (Courtesy of Tuskegee University)

Now retired from the Boeing Business, Clayton was the 2009 Girls of Colour Technologist of the Year. At the Boeing Business, she held a variety of leadership positions in engineering, manufacturing excellence, plant operations and optimization and provide chain and procurement. In 2022, immediately after retiring as vice president for studying, instruction and improvement at the Boeing Business, Clayton was inducted into the National Academy of Engineering for reshaping manufacturing processes and provide chain management. She was also recognized for making revolutionary instruction applications in industrial aerospace industries. 

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Mei Cai is the director of battery cell systems investigation for Common Motors’ Chemical and Components Program Laboratory. She created cutting-edge technologies to uncover battery components and advance battery cell manufacturing. (Courtesy of Asian American Engineer of the Year)

Mei Cai

As director of battery cell systems investigation for Common Motors’ Chemical and Components Program Laboratory, Cai has spearheaded cutting-edge innovations that have sophisticated the discovery of battery components and streamlined battery cell manufacturing. The Beijing native has also been instrumental in creating Common Motors’ Ultium battery cells, which assistance electric autos. In 2021, Cai was named the 2021 Girls of Colour Technologist of the Year.

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Delia Grenville is the director of organization and operating atmosphere, fabrication components and provide chain for Intel Corporation. She invented and patented 5 digital content material technologies. (Courtesy of LinkedIn)

Delia Grenville 

A investigation scientist and technologies strategist, Grenville is the director of organization and operating atmosphere, fabrication components and provide chain for Intel Corporation. More than her profession, Grenville has invented 5 digital content material technologies, most of which use the world-wide-web to aid men and women filter content material streaming to their TVs. In 2015, Grenville won the Girls of Colour Technologist of the Year Award. 

Megan Sayles is a Report for America Corps member.