The Catskill Chronicle

LOCH SHELDRAKE (April 21, 2015) – SUNY Sullivan will host a screening of the film BIG DREAM on Tuesday, April 28 at 6:00 p.m. in the Seelig Theatre. Admission is free and the public is encouraged to attend.

The Big Dream Movement connects organizations, academia, and resources to girls around the world to help them pursue a future in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields. The movement is anchored by BIG DREAM, a documentary film that follows the stories of seven young women who are breaking barriers and overcoming personal challenges to follow their passions in STEM fields, especially in technology. From small town Iowa to the bustling streets of the Middle East, BIG DREAM immerses viewers in a world designed by and for the next generation of girls.

The goal of the Big Dream Movement is to excite young women, their families, and friends to the possibilities inherent in STEM, as well as educating them about the career possibilities and the impact they can make on the world by pursuing a career in a STEM field.

In the United States, there is a growing demand for computer scientists. However, it is projected that many computing jobs will go unfilled due to an insufficient number of college graduates with computing-related degrees in the labor force. The Bureau of Labor estimates that only 39 percent of computing jobs could be filled by qualified workers by 2022.

Encouraging girls to take computer science courses is crucial to addressing the low numbers of college graduates with computing-related degrees in the workforce.

There will be a panel discussion following the screening. Girls of all ages, their parents, teachers and mentors are encouraged to attend. For more information on the screening of BIG DREAM at SUNY Sullivan, please contact Associate Professor Dr. Cynthia Marcello at 845-434-5750, ext. 4322. To learn about the Big Dream Movement, visit www.bigdreammovement.com.