Maurice Ball: on being a minority student in an engineering degree program

Fermilab recently hosted more than 300 middle school students from 13 schools for a special showing of Hidden Figures and a panel discussion with four Fermilab scientists, including Maurice Ball. This video was played as part of the panel introductions.

Less than 15 percent of bachelor’s degrees in engineering, math, physics and astronomy are awarded each year to underrepresented minorities, according to the American Physical Society. Students who are underrepresented minorities or are economically disadvantaged may lack exposure to science and guidance from mentors to encourage them to nurture their interest in STEM. The event was aimed at showing students scientists and engineers at Fermilab similar to them, and removing the mystery surrounding their nearby particle physics lab. The goal of the program was to show fifth- to eighth-grade students that entering a STEM field was possible for them – no matter their background. You can read more about the event here: http://news.fnal.gov/2018/02/f....ermilab-organizes-hi

As a minority student, Maurice Ball faced challenges in his college engineering courses and, overcoming them, found himself taking on different, surprising and exciting challenges as an engineer at Fermilab. Learn what he'd tell his younger high school and college self if he could.