Latest news with #day
Chicago Tribune
12-05-2025
- Science
- Chicago Tribune
BP hosts event encouraging high school girls to work in STEM
Orlan Drummond has always been interested in a career in science, technology, engineering and math. When she was a child, she would help her dad with STEM-related events at the Boys and Girls Club, and Drummond has been interested in hands-on activities. 'I always had a fear that I'd be the only woman in the workforce, and I'd be discriminated against,' said Drummond, a junior at Highland High School who wants a career in welding. 'I just didn't want that fear of being alone. Seeing other women in a field like this, I know I won't be alone, and there will be people to support.' Drummond was one of about 25 high school students who took part in BP's annual Girls in STEM day at the Whiting refinery. Participants came from Hammond, Highland and East Chicago. 'I like to get my hands dirty, and I like to mess with stuff,' Drummond said. 'This has really helped me with that.' The refinery has hosted the event for high school girls since about 2016, said Gwen Miller, a BP process engineer. The event features presentations and interactive activities that teach participants about careers at the refinery. Students also participated in a tour of the facility, which Miller said she hoped gave students more of an idea of what it's like to work at BP. 'My favorite part is probably the tour,' she said. 'I worked at other places before, and until you're really at some place this large, you don't realize the scale.' Miller wishes she had a program like Girls in STEM Day when she was in high school. 'It's really exciting because I do love being in STEM so much,' Miller said. 'I really hope they find this valuable, especially some of the interactive activities. I didn't learn some of these things until college … so I'm hoping this inspires them to pursue careers in STEM because they might not have had exposure to this kind of thing before.' Kourtney Trotter, an operation specialist, said she was excited to teach high school students about STEM. She helped with a computer simulation that correlates with processes that Trotter and others might see at work. Trotter thought it was awesome to watch high school girls get so excited about STEM careers, she said. 'Representation absolutely matters,' Trotter said. 'I think it'll definitely have a positive impact on them going forward and will let them know that they can do it, too.' Julie Jones, a work-based learning coordinator at the Hammond Area Career Center, said she enjoyed watching how engaged students were with the presentations and activities. Jones believes it's helpful for students to see 'a more advanced version' of what's taught at the career center in the workplace. The career center brought eight students, including Drummond, to the STEM event Friday. As their teacher, Jones said she was proud to see her students thriving in a STEM environment. 'I love it,' she added. 'I'm having a blast because they're asking great questions, and it's really wonderful seeing them be so engaged.'
Daily Mail
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Outrage after fountain in Auckland is dyed red as part of Anzac Day protest
Police are investigating a protest incident at a popular fountain which caused the water to run red on Anzac Day. Deputy Mayor of Auckland Desley Simpson expressed her fury on Friday that Mission Bay's Trevor Moss Davis Memorial Fountain, in the city's inner east, had been damaged. Photos shared on her Facebook show the memorial covered with red liquid and surrounding water dyed with red paint or dye. 'I respect the right for peaceful protest. What I don't respect or condone is wilful damage of public property,' she said. 'Our wonderful Mission Bay fountain was only cleaned yesterday! 'A police report has been done, we have CCTV in the area and another clean will occur today!' The protest, which was about Israel's war in Gaza, appeared to coincide with Anzac Day, with a poster stuck to the foundation with a remembrance poppy at the bottom. Above the poppy was the phrase: 'Never again is now.' The poster urged the New Zealand government to act to uphold 'international law'. 'How many more children slaughtered in Gaza,' it asked. '18 months of genocide. Blood on their hands.' New Zealand news website, Stuff said police received a report at about 5am local time that people were near the fountain while the caller set up for an Anzac service. The report is being assessed by officers. Locals appeared to be split on the protest, arguing in the comments on the choice of day to make a statement. 'How totally disrespectful to the men and women we remember today who fought for these morons,' one commenter said. Another said: 'ANZAC day is not the day to do this.'
