COVER STORY
IN SIG H TS
Tamara Robertson, MythBusters 2.0 STEM TODAY: You did not go through
going into STEM
school necessarily thinking you're
programs. But even then,
going be an engineer or scientist.
we're seeing such a large
What made you go into engineering?
exit rate once they're in.
Tamara Robertson: I was born and
It's one of those things
raised by two Marines. We were lucky
that I tell people, like the
in our county if people graduated high
issue of getting STEM
school, let alone going on from there.
women into STEM
I grew up tinkering, building, doing
careers. It isn't a systemic
everything with my dad. I joined all of
issue, it's a pipeline issue.
the groups that as a girl you're
So, we're losing them in
supposed to be in. It was something
elementary school. We're
that led me to the point where, two
losing them in middle
years before I graduated, I thought I
school, we're losing them
might wanna pursue college. I took
in high school. I would
the ASVAB, which is the aptitude test
say, don't be worried
for military enlisted branches to figure
about what everyone else
out where you would fall. And
thinks, because at the end
because I scored high, I had a lot of
of the day, everyone is
recruiters talking to me about ROTC
different, and it's those
and academies.
differences that we have to celebrate.
PHOTO CREDIT: Tamara Robertson by Beyond Productions
ST: So, going back to the decision to get into engineering school, did you
ST: Seekers of Science is a comic book
make the connection that engineering
that you and Tracy Fanara put together.
ST: What advice would give to
has building aspects to it?
Can you tell us a little about it and the
parents who may not necessarily
TR: I think for me that there was that
message it sends to girls?
have a strong STEM background, to
a-ha moment, I can do what I love
TR: Seekers of Science is an amazing
get their children excited and
doing and make money. That was kind
project that has been a lifelong goal of
interested in the core STEM fields?
of neat. I wish that I had realized that
mine as a comic lover. I've always
TR: It's hard, right? My parents had
there had been more exposure to
wanted to be part of a comic. Tracy and I
no idea what to do with me when I
engineering because mechanical
met on MythBusters and we realized that
was taking stuff apart. Aside from
engineering would've been a space
we both really wanted to change the
giving me more things to take apart
that I would've been way happier in. I
world. She's always been more geared
that were more mechanical. Just like
love chemical biomolecular
towards inspiring the older generation
with any skill, getting a coach, getting
engineering, don't get me wrong, but
and letting them know that you can
a mentor is so helpful. If they are
the one thing that I miss more than
always restart, and I'm always trying to
excelling in math or science, I
anything is getting to be mechanically
get young women excited about STEM.
guarantee if they go up to one of
challenged.
It's an interesting thing because comics
their science teachers and are like,
are a more male gendered consumer
“Hey, I wanna learn more,” the
ST: What would your message be to
product. So, for me, the importance of
teachers are going be so excited to
young girls that are considering
having us as female leads, is we’re using
be able to talk to them and mentor
joining the STEM fields?
real world science to solve real world
them. I would say to parents, reach
TR: Right now, there's about a 6%
problems to showcase what women are
out to your resources.
annual increase in the number of girls
capable of.
— E.J. SPRING 2022 | STEM TODAY
33
