STEAM Careers: Part 2

Do you have a gifted child interested in a STEAM career? Last month, we posted part one of STEAM Careers. Learn about four additional STEAM careers and influential people within each field. Plus, discover related STEAM courses offered at Summer Institute for the Gifted (SIG).

Here are 4 more exciting STEAM careers for 2020 and beyond:

1. Actuary

An actuary calculates and manages risks related to insurance. Consistently ranked one of the most desirable careers, actuary jobs are expected to grow by 20% between 2018 and 2028. Actuaries combine strong analytical and mathematical skills with an understanding of economics and human behavior.

Notable Actuaries:

• Edmund Halley – Although better known for determining the periodicity of the namesake comet, Halley strongly influenced the development of actuarial science. In 1693, Halley published an article on life annuities, featuring an age-at-death analysis that allowed the British government to determine the price of life annuities by the age of the purchaser.
• Elizur Wright – Regarded as the “father of life insurance”, American mathematician and abolitionist created mathematical formulas to prevent life insurance companies from taking advantage of policy owners.
• Frank Redington – Redington, a British actuary, developed the Immunization Theory, a strategy that ensures fixed income portfolios are not affected by changing interest rates.

Recommended SIG Courses:

• Discrete Math (ages 13-14)
• The Mathematics of Finance (ages 15-17)
• Fundamentals of Mathematical Modeling (ages 15-17)
• Big Data: The Age of Analysis (ages 15-17)

2. Information Security Analyst

Information security analysts monitor networks and protect against cyber attacks. Jobs are expected to increase by 32% between 2018 and 2028, making it one of the fastest growing career fields. Information security analysts plan and execute security measures to protect the private information of governments and organizations.

Notable Information Security Analysts:

• Tyler Cohen Wood – A cyber-security expert, Wood is a former Senior Intelligence Officer for the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency who has helped the White House, federal agencies, and corporations thwart many cyber attacks.
• Theresa Payton – Payton made history as the first female to serve as the White House Chief Information Officer (CIO). She is currently the CEO of a leading cybersecurity consulting company.
• Joseph Steinberg – A well-respected cybersecurity advisor, Steinberg is one of just 28 people in the world to hold all four advanced information security certifications (CISSP, ISSAP, ISSMP, and CSSLP).

Recommended SIG Courses:

• Concepts of Coding and Engineering (ages 7-8)
• Navigating AI Robotics (ages 13-14)
• Discrete Math (ages 13-14)

3. Forensic Science Technician

Forensic science technicians aid crime investigations by gathering and analyzing evidence. Forensic science technicians work in laboratories or on crime scenes. Many specialize in a particular aspect of forensic science, such as DNA or ballistics.

Notable Forensic Scientists:

• Clea Koff – Koff is best known for her work with the UN, where she used forensic science to identify evidence of war crimes in Rwanda, Bosnia, Kosovo, and Croatia.
• Edmond Locard – A French criminologist, Locard is regarded as a pioneer in forensic science and known as the “Sherlock Holmes of France”. Locard’s Exchange Principle states that perpetrators leave behind traces of their presence at a crime scene and leave with traces of the crime scene on them.
• William Bass – Bass is an American forensic anthropologist best known for founding “The Body Farm”, a facility at the University of Tennessee used to study human decomposition in a variety of settings and environmental conditions.

Recommended SIG Courses:

• Sleuthing Like Sherlock: Logic and Facts (ages 7-8)
• DNA Diagnostics (ages 13-14)
• Criminology: Reform, Rehabilitation, and Restoration (ages 15-17)

4. Biomedical Engineer

Biomedical engineers apply the principles of engineering and design to biology to improve healthcare. Many lifesaving inventions stem from this field, including artificial organs, surgical robots, modern prosthetics, and kidney dialysis. Biomedical engineers usually specialize in a particular field, such as tissue engineering, genetic engineering, or biomedical electronics.

Notable Biomedical Engineers:

• Robert S. Langer – One of the most cited individuals in history, Langer is regarded as the founder of tissue engineering in regenerative medicine and is known for creating engineered blood vessels and vascularized engineered muscle tissue.
• Willem Johan Kolff – Kolff’s medical inventions include an intra-aortic balloon pump for patients in acute cardiac failure, artificial kidneys, and artificial hearts. He also founded the first blood bank in Europe.
• Yuan-Cheng Fung – Regarded as the founder of the modern biomechanics field, Fung was also a pioneer in the fields of bioengineering and tissue engineering.

Recommended SIG Courses:

• Engineering Your Future (ages 11-12)
• Cloning: Copycat Science (ages 11-12)
• DNA Diagnostics (ages 13-14)
• Pandemic Preparedness (ages 13-14)
• Bionic Humans: Artificial Organs to the Rescue! (ages 15-17)

Interested in More STEAM Courses?

With 3-week day and residential program options, SIG offers over 80 courses in STEAM plus humanities and fitness for gifted, creative, and academically talented students ages 5-17 at program locations throughout the United States. Discover exciting SIG courses spanning all facets of STEAM plus the humanities and fitness, including the courses listed above.