Start Engineering

Start Engineering The goal of Start Engineering is to inspire and engage children from elementary school through high school about engineering. About us:
Robert F. Mr. Ms.

We help students gain career confidence in STEM by providing engaging career guides and workbooks in fields like Data Science, AI, Biotechnology, Cybersecurity, and Engineering. Our books and learning resources aim to create an environment where children can learn about the crucial role engineering plays in their lives. We work to engage the larger community of people from academic institutions, c

ompanies, foundations, and non-profits working to get kids excited about engineering. Through collaborations with engineering outreach organizations, targeted learning projects, and social media outlets, Start Engineering seeks to serve the needs of engineering outreach programs and leaders. We want to provide a rich variety of information and resources that can help present a full picture of engineering as a course of study and a career. In our kids’ book, "Dream, Invent, Create," we use poetry and whimsical, fun illustrations to help children learn about the crucial role engineering plays in their lives. "Start Engineering," our career guide book for advanced middle-school and high-school students, introduces exciting career options, with information on innovations and trends in space exploration, energy, robotics, computer science, prosthetics, environmental issues, sports technology, cyber security and more. We hope to encourage kids to dream, invent, and create a better world for themselves and others through engineering. Our efforts are also aimed at getting more women and minorities into the field of engineering. Universities, corporations, foundations and schools as well as extracurricular programs will find our materials easy to use and a great way to introduce children to the world of engineering. For end-users who buy in large quantities, the back cover of our publications can carry your personalized ad, brand or message. Black, CEO and Founder



For over a decade, Mr. Black served as the Deputy Executive Director of the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE). In his capacity as Deputy Executive Director, Mr. Black supervised all of ASEE’s domestic and international activities. In addition, he directly managed all of ASEE’S publications, marketing, and advertising endeavors. Under Black’s leadership as the long-term editor-in-chief of PRISM magazine, a leading publication on science, technology, and engineering education issues, the magazine received over 150 awards. He was also the creator and founder of Engineering Go For It, a magazine aimed at exciting middle and high school students about engineering. The publication currently has over 2 million copies in circulation. For many years, he was Deputy Business Editor at US News & World Report magazine, and has published and edited numerous articles in the national media on business, economics, finance, and technology. Prior to joining US News, Mr. Black was one of the original members of the Congressional Budget Office, and a senior economist at the Urban Institute. Black received an honors degree from the University of Wisconsin, has done postgraduate work in political science at Columbia University, and received a Master’s of Public Policy from the University of California at Berkeley. Stacie Harrison, Creative Director

For many years, Ms. Harrison was the Art Director/Creative Director at the American Society for Engineering Education, and co-director of ASEE’s K-12 outreach program, eGFI, Engineering, Go For It. She was instrumental in art-directing the eGFI magazine, website, flash cards and kids’ book. She has spoken to K-12 teachers across the country about introducing students to engineering. Before joining ASEE, she worked for the Washington Post as Art Director of the Washington Post Magazine and the Health section; and for Saveur and Garden Design magazines, Time and Entertainment Weekly. Harrison has won over 50 awards from such organizations as the Society of Publication Designers, the Society of Newspaper Designers, the Association of Educational Publishers, APEX and Communicator. She has communications and economics degrees from the University of Virginia. Eric Iversen, Ph.D., Vice President, Learning and Communications

Eric Iversen has worked in learning for over 25 years. At the American Society for Engineering Education, he started the ASEE Engineering K-12 Center, an effort to catalyze engineering learning in K-12 classrooms. Featuring a website, a guidebook for high school students, annual workshops for K-12 teachers, and partnerships with diverse organizations, the Center earned over $1 million in the five years he ran it. He also worked with engineering and education deans to launch K-16 engineering education initiatives, and for the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program, Mr. Iversen helped lead program operations and ran the training and outreach activities. Iversen was also Director of External Relations at the Universal Service Administrative Company. He initiated online learning programs for organizations eligible for telecommunications and Internet subsidies from the $8.5 billion universal service fund, increasing individual learning contacts by over 400%. Iversen received a Ph.D. in comparative literature from the University of North Carolina and a B.A. in English with high honors from the University of Virginia. After receiving his Ph.D., he taught English at the University of Texas, El Paso.

Just released: Future-Proof Careers in the Age of AI, a 168-page ebook now available on our website and on Amazon. With ...
10/02/2025

Just released: Future-Proof Careers in the Age of AI, a 168-page ebook now available on our website and on Amazon. With all the doom and gloom about AI, we created this guide to reassure students about their future—and to give teachers, parents, and counselors the tools they need to encourage and guide them along the way. Starting with trade careers, our ebook highlights over 75 “AI-resistant” careers that rely on human skills machines can’t replace and maps out the education and training pathways to get there. Find out more: https://start-engineering.com/future-proof-careers

🚀 Big news from the Bureau of Labor Statistics:Data Science is projected to grow 34% over the next decade — one of the f...
09/09/2025

🚀 Big news from the Bureau of Labor Statistics:
Data Science is projected to grow 34% over the next decade — one of the fastest-growing careers in the U.S. 【source: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/fastest-growing.htm】

Why? Because every industry — from healthcare and sports to entertainment and national security — relies on data scientists to make smarter decisions, find patterns, and predict outcomes.

That’s why we’re excited to announce our newest publication, Explore Careers in Data Science, now headed to print! 🎉 This guide makes data science clear, accessible, and inspiring for students — and will be available for purchase very soon. Email me if you'd like a review copy at [email protected].

Stay tuned for updates, and help us spread the word about this incredible, future-proof career path.

🔎 Explore more: https://start-engineering.com/datascience-career-guide

We’re honored that "Join the Biotech Revolution" was named a winner in the “One-of-a-Kind Publication” category of the A...
07/21/2025

We’re honored that "Join the Biotech Revolution" was named a winner in the “One-of-a-Kind Publication” category of the Apex Awards for Publication Excellence! 🏆

This guide was created to open students’ eyes to the exciting world of biotechnology—and we’re proud it’s being recognized for its unique approach to career exploration.

Thanks to everyone who helped bring it to life, and to the educators and students who continue to use it in classrooms and beyond.

Have you seen our biotechnology video?
07/11/2025

Have you seen our biotechnology video?

A career in biotechnology means joining a community of professionals who work to harness the incredible power of biology to develop products and technologies...

Check it out: FREE tools to explore engineering careers!We teamed up with the fantastic team at Activate Learning to cre...
07/08/2025

Check it out: FREE tools to explore engineering careers!

We teamed up with the fantastic team at Activate Learning to create resources that help students discover the exciting world of engineering. From career cards to lesson plans, these tools are great for classrooms, career days, or one-on-one guidance.

Check them out here 👉 https://activatelearning.com/free-tools-to-help-students-explore-engineering-careers/

These free resources offer engaging ways to spark meaningful classroom discussions, explore engineering careers, and foster critical thinking.

Help students explore careers in data science! Data is everywhere — in the apps we use, the games we play, and the decis...
07/01/2025

Help students explore careers in data science! Data is everywhere — in the apps we use, the games we play, and the decisions that shape our world. That’s why data literacy is becoming one of the most important skills any student can have, no matter what career they choose.

Our Data Science Career Guide makes it easy for students to discover how data science powers everything from sports and entertainment to healthcare and social good. It’s filled with real-world examples, clear explanations, and pathways into this fast-growing field.

Let’s get the next generation ready to think critically, ask smart questions, and use data to make a difference.

✨ Learn more about bringing the guide to your school or program today! https://start-engineering.com/datascience-career-guide

We’re Back — and We Have Big News! It’s been a little while since we’ve posted, but we’ve been hard at work creating bra...
06/30/2025

We’re Back — and We Have Big News!

It’s been a little while since we’ve posted, but we’ve been hard at work creating brand new resources to help students explore the most exciting careers of the future.

We’re thrilled to share our latest career guides for high school students and educators:

Biotechnology — Discover how breakthroughs in science are saving lives and transforming industries. https://start-engineering.com/biotechnology-career-guide

Artificial Intelligence (AI) — Learn why students need to understand this technology, and how it impacts nearly every career. https://start-engineering.com/ai-and-your-career

Data Science — See how data drives decision-making in sports, business, and beyond. https://start-engineering.com/datascience-career-guide

Each guide is packed with real-world examples, clear explanations, and inspiration to help students see themselves in these growing fields. And, they each come with a FREE student workbook.

Are you curious to learn more or bring these guides to your classroom or counseling office? Our website, start-engineering.com, has copies of each publication for you to review.

Let’s get students excited about the future — and the skills they’ll need to thrive.

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Winnetka, IL
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