Career Communications Group, publisher of US Black Engineer and Information Technology, Hispanic Engineer and Information Technology, and Women of Color magazines, will host Minorities in Research Science (MIRS)Women and Minorities in Energy, which is scheduled to take place during the 2015 BEYA STEM Conference at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park.

Attracting more students and professionals in various energy fields is critical. According to the American Petroleum Institute, “1.5 percent of African-Americans in four year colleges are getting degrees associated with the energy industry.” As the industry steadily enhances, the potential for African American success in energy fields is increasing. “By 2020, it is projected that 500,000 jobs will be created in the upstream oil and natural gas sector alone,” the organization reported.

“The greatest challenge we face in assuring that underrepresented communities have access to these job opportunities will be producing and maintaining strong STEM programs that will actively engage minorities’ interest and expose underrepresented students to successful women and minorities in STEM industries who now hold high-level, executive positions,” CEO of Career Communications Group Tyrone Taborn said.

For underrepresented students to successfully obtain a career in energy, it is essential that they graduate with STEM degrees. Important resources for developing new talent are the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). According to Advancing Minorities’ Interest in Engineering (AMIE), about one-third of African American graduates in science and engineering are produced by HBCUs, and one quarter of PhD recipients in Science and Engineering received their undergraduate from an HBCU.

Taborn believes that HBCUs and industry partnerships will promote minorities’ interest in energy and will significantly increase the numbers of students in this industry.

Career Communications Group’s MIRS Women and Minorities in Energy program will include information about energy platforms, covering fossil, nuclear, efficiency and renewable energy systems as it pertains to communities with a special focus on underrepresented groups. This will include a continuous dialogue with employers, federal agencies, educators and students.

About Career Communications Group, Inc.
Career Communications Group (CCG) is the leader in celebrating diversity and promoting equal opportunity in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). CCG provides leadership in talent management and career development, enabling employers to recruit, retain, and recognize highly qualified students and professionals.