WEST WINDSOR – When working in the sciences, it is important to be aware of a variety of demographics, cultures, and needs, according to an Engineering professor who recently spoke to a group of Mercer County Community College (MCCC) science and engineering students.

“There is an economic case for diversity in the workforce. If you don’t have a diverse workforce, you don’t have diversity during the design and development phase,” said Dr. Beena Sukumaran, chair of the College of Engineering at Rowan University. “This can mean something as simple as developing a user’s manual. The end-user must be taken into account.”

Sukumaran addressed a group of MCCC STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) during a recent dinner for Engineering students at the Conference Center, which was also attended by Mercer S-STEM scholars, who attend events throughout the year as part of their scholarship funded by the National Science Foundation. Representatives from several technology-based businesses in the region also participated.

“This gives our science students the opportunity to study and learn something that is not in the Engineering curriculum,” said Dr. Jim Maccariella, coordinator of the MCCC Engineering program.

For more information about S-STEM scholarships, visit http://www.mccc.edu/stem.



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