Meet Summer: Pro cheerleader-turned-NASA aerospace engineer | Hacker News Reader

Meet Summer: Pro cheerleader-turned-NASA aerospace engineer

sciencecheerleader.com

16 pointswallflower8 comments

Somewhat bizarre that they say pro cheerleader-turned-NASA engineer. It's really the opposite. She started as an engineer and became a pro cheerleader on the side, according to her profile on the Texans website. http://www.houstontexans.com/news/Story.asp?story_id=3750

I think more accurately, that she was a cheerleader who became an engineering student, and then a professional engineer and finally cheerleader.

It's good for science, and for any field, I think, to show that there's a diversity of interest within it :-) Also -- what a cool first professional project.

Regardless of the order, stuff like this should really start making it into the press. It still amazes me in this day and age that we see so few young women in science programs in high schools/colleges. Obviously, we shouldn't necessarily tokenize people like Summer, but I feel that young girls aren't getting enough encouragement by our society to get into science and engineering.

How much encouragement is enough? What's so special about science and engineering? Why aren't young boys encouraged more to get into Nursing and Early Childhood Development? Why have all of my realtors been women?

What a waste of time. Wear what you dig. Get a job that interests you (not society or your parents).

I don't know how it is where you live, but around here boys and men ARE encouraged to get into education and childcare (and all my realtors were men).

I have completely selfish, sexist reasons for wanting more women in science and engineering: Women who are into science and eng are more interesting to be around and, ultimately, date.

Are you unaware of the shortage of engineers? Have you tried to hire a good developer or engineer lately? We need more, and women are an obvious underutilized talent pool.

There's no shortage. You just can't hire the ones you want at the price you want. Economics lesson: Lower your standards or raise your price.

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