Meet the Book Characters at Engirlneer
Betty
Hola! I’m Betty. I love animals.
My parents and I foster pets through the local animal shelter, and we also take care of wildlife that have been hurt and need some attention before we release them back to their homes.
I really love fish and sea animals, and one day, I hope to be a vet that works for a nonprofit organization, saving wildlife from the dangers of climate change and unsustainable practices.
Chloe
Hi! I’m Chloe! I love Chemistry! My parents bought me a chemistry kit for Christmas when I was in first grade. Since then, I’ve been hooked on experiments.
I’ve made volcanoes and bottle rockets. I’ve turned my parents’ garage into a lab with a microscope and a lot of supplies that allow me to test the quality of the air you breathe and the water you drink.
One day, I hope to get my Ph.D. in biochemistry and develop quicker and cheaper ways to make our air and water safer.
What other careers could Chloe choose?
Elan
Taŋyáŋ yahí. Welcome. My name is Elan! I’ve been fascinated by water supply systems ever since my reservation’s water supply was changed from groundwater to the nearby river.
The state environmental quality department told us that our groundwater was dangerous. Chemicals from industries upgradient of our wells made it into the water. Cleanup was going to be expensive, so we installed a small water treatment plant along the river.
My class toured the plant when it was built, and it was amazing how many components go into the design of a water treatment facility. One day, I want to be an environmental engineer and help less fortunate communities get safe water to drink.
How else could Elan help the environment?
Gillian
Good morning! My name is Gillian.
When I was young, my family took a trip to South Dakota and went mining for gold. The following year, we went to Colorado Springs, and I was amazed by the beautiful gemstones we could buy.
Since then, I’ve been fascinated with geology. I love collecting rocks on every trip we take. In Norway, I collected some coronite, quartzite, and epidote crystals from the top of a mountain. One day, I’d love to be a geologist and study how the Earth formed.
How else could Gillian rock her career?
Sally
Hi! My name is Sally! When I was little, my family and I took a trip to San Francisco, where we drove across the Golden Gate Bridge. I was amazed that something so magnificent was designed by humans. Since then, I’ve researched hundreds of bridges.
Bridges are vital to our lives today. They help people get everywhere: home, work, and school. As an Engirlneer, I have learned that they are not only vital to my everyday activities, but to our economy, industry, and commerce.
I love building models of bridges and testing different designs to see which is the strongest. One day, I plan to be a structural engineer so I can design bridges as grand as the Golden Gate.
How else could Sally put her interest in structures to use?
Tatiana
Nice to meet you! My name is Tatiana.
Last winter, my family was in a car accident. Another car slid through a stop light when they couldn’t stop because of ice. Luckily, no one was hurt. Using my skills as an Engirlneer, I learned that bad tires, a slick road, and a poorly timed yellow light were the main causes of the crash.
Now, I pay more attention to the roads and lights when I’m going somewhere. Always wanting to enhance my knowledge, I watch how roads curve and lights change. I plan on becoming a traffic engineer so I can design safer traffic lights and roads.
What other routes could Tatiana take with an interest in traffic and roadway engineering?