Required Readings
Non- Fiction
- The Robot’s Rebellion by Keith E. Stanovich
- Nanotechnology Demystified by Linda Williams and Wade Adams
- The Design of Future Things by Don Norman
Fiction
- Kindred by Octavia Butler
- Little Brother by Cory Doctorow
Career Pathways
CAD Operators
CAD operators use computer software to prepare blueprints and drawings. These are very significant in creating numerous products which include manufactured items, structures and buildings. A CAD operator is highly in demand in clothing industries, landscaping designs, architectural firms, mechanical engineering and importantly, lighting systems for public and private buildings.
Educational background: 4 year Bachelor’s degree or similar degree in drafting or CAD.
- Preference is given to candidates who have gained certification from professional drafting. Should have background in manual or CAD drafting
- Training in various CAD programs
Engineers (Various Disciplines)
Engineers who work in design and development:
- Design, plan, and supervise the construction of buildings, highways, and transit systems;
- Develop and implement improved ways to extract, process, and use raw materials;
- Develop new materials that both improve the performance of products and take advantage of advances in technology;
- Analyze the impact of the products they develop or the systems they design on the environment and on people using them;
Engineers who work in testing, production, or maintenance:
- Supervise production in factories;
- Determine the causes of breakdowns;
- Test manufactured products to maintain quality;
- Estimate the time and cost to complete projects;
Educational background: 4 year Bachelor’s degree in engineering.
- Sometimes a bachelor’s degree in physical science or mathematics may suffice especially in high-demand specialties.
Computer Programmer
Convert project specifications and statements of problems and procedures to detailed logical flow charts for coding into computer language. Develop and write computer programs to store, locate, and retrieve specific documents, data, and information. May program web sites.
Educational background: Associate degree or a certificate in computer programming.
- Most employers, however, require programmers to hold at least a bachelor’s degree in a field such as computer science, mathematics or information systems.
Animator
An animator produces multiple images called frames which when sequenced together rapidly create an illusion of movement known as animation. The images can be made up of digital or hand-drawn pictures, models or puppets. Animators tend to work in 2D animation, 3D model-making animation, stop frame or computer-generated animation. Computer-generated animation features strongly in motion pictures (to create special effects or an animated film in its own right) as well as in aspects of television work, the internet and the computer games industry.
Educational background: Aside from talent, an animator’s skills can be vastly improved by completing post-secondary training, such as a certificate, associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree program in animation or a related field. Students typically take courses in drawing, 3D programming, computer graphics, video effects and graphic design. Supplemental courses may cover topics in image generation, digital animation, modeling, story structure and game design. Programs may also provide training on sound and video editing, as well as kinematics.
Patent Lawyer
Patent lawyers specialize in the area of law protecting the property rights of inventors. Applying for a patent is a complicated procedure that requires the expertise of a lawyer, who is trained to interpret the rules and regulations of the patent process, negotiate contracts, file documents and provide legal representation to inventors.
Educational background: 4-year degree in a field of science like chemistry, biology or physics or a technical degree in electrical, civil, mechanical or biomedical engineering. Patent lawyers are required to complete a law program from an accredited law school and pass a state bar exam. If a patent lawyer would like to represent inventors in front of the USPTO, then he or she must sit for and pass the USPTO licensing exam, which is commonly known as the ‘patent bar.’ In cases where a lawyer has attained five years of continuous service with USPTO, the licensing exam is waived.
Creativity
“Spider’s web” is the symbol of wisdom, creativity and the complexities of life.