Top Hollywood producers are teaming with the National Academy of Engineering, the University of Southern California’s Viterbi School of Engineering (USC Viterbi), and the MacGyver Foundation to engage the worldwide public in a competition to crowdsource ideas for a scripted TV series featuring a female engineer as the leading character. Less than 20% of engineering bachelor degrees currently go to women and recent trends have been declining. White House officials have asked “what could Hollywood and our creative talent do to help make engineers and entrepreneurs the rock stars of the 21st century?” Much like CSI did for forensic science, positive portrayal of engineers in popular culture can help young people consider themselves in such a role.
***A LIVE WEBCAST OF THE EVENT WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THIS PAGE ON FEB. 19, AT 11:00 AM EST.***
Have questions? Email [email protected] during the webcast!
WHAT: Join us for the launch of The Next MacGyver crowdsourcing project and a discussion about the portrayal of engineers in entertainment. Find out more about the competition, its goals, our collaborators, and how to enter!
WHEN: February 19, 2015
11:00 AM- 12:00 PM EST
WHO:
•Mario Armstrong (moderator), TODAY Show digital lifestyle expert
•Ivan Bermudez, Creative Artists Agency
•Ruth David, president & CEO, Analytic Services, Inc., former CIA deputy director for S&T, NAE member
•Lori McCreary, CEO Revelations Entertainment, (creator of Madam Secretary)
•Megan Smith, U.S. Chief Technology Officer, White House
•Yannis Yortsos, dean USC Viterbi, NAE member
•Lee Zlotoff, creator of MacGyver
•Anthony Zuiker, creator of CSI
WHERE: National Academy of Sciences Building
2101 Constitution Avenue
Washington, DC 20001
The Next MacGyver competition is sponsored with a grant from The United Engineering Foundation.