Women are making inroads in fields like science and much more with help from a longtime Massachusetts learning institution. This week, several women spoke with the Cape Cod Times about the career opportunities they discovered while attending the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Buzzards Bay. One student, Hannah Gasper, is training to become a biomedical engineer, while graduate Stephanie Griffin ('95) works as a maritime casualty investigator and Meghan Duggan ('99) manages energy efficiency projects at Harvard Business School. The Maritime Academy recently hosted a conference that attracted about 100 high school girls to learn more about careers in fields like engineering, maritime sciences and others. Organizers are already reportedly planning another one for next year based on the strong turnout they saw this month. "I'm interested in dominating a generally-male dominated area of study. I'm interested in being a leader," Gasper told the newspaper. The Academy, which only began admitting female students in 1977, is comprised of eight percent women students, with a long-term goal of reaching at least 20 percent, according to the report. Admiral Richard Gurnon, the academy's president told the newspaper that "if we're preparing people for this business, they need to understand the diversity that exists."  |