Girls discover STEM careers with help from BP engineers

Engineers and scientists from BP’s Women in Wells group partnered with a Houston-area school district to encourage girls to continue their pursuit of careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields

BP employees joined high school sophomores, juniors and seniors from Spring Branch Independent School District for “Dinner with the Experts” in April, and at the Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) in early May.

“By helping the next generation of female engineers and scientists learn about the endless opportunities that exist for women in STEM, we hope to inspire their career plans for the future,” said Christine White, BP Women in Wells committee member and organizer of the OTC event.

Dinner with the experts

At the annual “Dinner with the Experts” program, two dozen BP employees joined about 60 young women for dinner to discuss their career goals and offer advice for preparing for college.

In a keynote speech, Keisha Wilson Tanner, Thunder Horse area planning team lead, talked with the students about the importance of staying true to themselves, persevering through challenging times and finding joy and fulfillment in their careers. Throughout dinner and following the keynote speech, the young women asked BP employees about their own career paths and the challenges they faced as women working in a STEM industry, especially during their time in the field.

Offshore Technology Conference

Women in Wells and the Houston chapter of BP’s WIN business resource group also hosted a STEM event at OTC for around 30 high school seniors. The young women from Spring Branch Independent School District who participated in the program were selected to attend because of their strong aptitude in STEM, and the visit exposed them to the wide range of opportunities that exist in the offshore industry, with a focus on careers at BP.

The students toured the BP suite as well as the exhibit hall, which showcased the transformative role technology plays in the energy sector. A team of BP volunteers hosted these tours and discussed their own education and career paths to help the students learn more about the many ways to enter the industry.