Healthcare and engineering degrees are some of the most in-demand following the end of the pandemic, while technology and innovation-related professions will be some of the highest paid in 2022. This is the result of a recent report prepared by Adecco, which places 4 engineering degrees among the 20 degrees with the most professional opportunities.

Other data and studies also serve to try to predict what the labor market will be like in a few years. For example, the Ministry of University publishes data on the employment situation of university graduates four years after completing their studies, which can serve as an orientation for university applicants.

The statistics – collected by El Mundo – reveal the gap that exists between science and literature majors. While graduates in Computer Science and Health Sciences exceed 80% of Social Security affiliates in 2018, graduates in Arts and Humanities do not reach 60%. In addition, it is common for those graduating in more technical fields to get a job commensurate with their level of education.

According to these data, the engineering programs have job placement rates of up to 100%. Mechanical Engineering at the University of Valladolid or Communications Engineering at the University of Alcalá are some of them. Mathematics is the most demanded degree and the one that requires a higher cut-off mark, given its employability.

However, despite the strong data, enrollment in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) disciplines continues to decline year after year, especially among girls. Among the many solutions that can help alleviate this problem -many of them included in the report prepared by DigitalES on the subject- is the visibility of female references in these matters.

Girls with female role models in the science-technology field show a higher rate of interest in STEM subjects than those with none (41% vs. 26%). Characters like little Fei Fei, the protagonist of ‘Beyond the Moon’, have a more than relevant role in promoting scientific vocations.

In fact, there are already precedents. Agent Scully, co-star of the ‘X-Files’ series, led 55% of women to increase their interest in STEM careers as a result of this character, and 63% to gain more confidence to move into masculinized professions because of her. Thus the so-called “Scully Effect” was born.

10 series and movies to awaken vocations

What series and movies today can replicate the success achieved by the FBI agent in the 1990s? There is certainly no shortage of candidates with so much on offer on television. Here is a selection of some of the most outstanding ones to contribute to the promotion of scientific vocations

1 Beyond the Moon

In this cartoon movie a very clever girl builds a rocket to travel to the moon and prove the existence of a legendary goddess. You will live a fun adventure in a world of fantastic creatures.

 

2. The Circle

Mae, a computer engineer, is hired to work for the world’s largest and most powerful social media and technology company. As she rises through the ranks, the company founder encourages her to participate in an innovative experiment. Every decision he makes in the experiment begins to affect the lives and future of his friends, his family and humanity.

3. Years and Years

British TV miniseries that shows the impact and scope of technologies in the family nucleus of an English and progressive family.

4. Hidden Figures

It tells the story of a team of African-American women mathematicians who played a pivotal role at NASA.

Known as the “living computers,” they helped launch astronaut John Glenn into orbit, an achievement that restored the nation’s confidence and turned the space race around.

5. Code Girl

Inspirational documentary by Google that shows the initiatives that have been generated in the United States to increase the percentage of women studying careers related to technology and computer science. One of them is the Global Technovation Challenge 2015, which saw the participation of more than 5,000 young people.

 

6. Beyond the Sun. In search of a new Earth.

It is a Spanish film specially designed for planetariums. Its objective is to foster vocations in science, technology, engineering and mathematics and it has already been exhibited in more than 14 countries. It lasts 26 minutes and is aimed at audiences between 7 and 14 years old.

7. Her

Feature film that shows how technology has invaded society, reflecting on how Artificial Intelligence impacts on a user who has acquired an Operating System.

8. Gravity

Ryan Stone is a brilliant medical engineer on her first assignment. On a spacewalk the shuttle is destroyed leaving Stone and his partner all alone. This film shows the audacity and great performance of women in STEM activities, as it is thanks to these that the doctor is able to return to Earth.

9. Contact

A woman astrophysicist in the SETI program who has dreamed since childhood of discovering intelligent life on other planets will try to establish contact with extraterrestrials after hearing a message via radio transmissions.

Agora

Film by Alejandro Amenábar that revolves around Hypatia of Alexandria. This philosopher and teacher is considered the first woman mathematician and, for some, a martyr of science at the height of Christianity.