James Boileau, PhD
| Q1 What are you doing now? |
| I am starting my 33rd year at Ford Motor Company. I spent the first 31 years in the Research Laboratory, where I investigated the fundamentals of materials to develop technology that aided vehicle design, performance, and durability. For the past 2 years, I have been with the Electrified Powertrain Organization, where I am actively engaged in analyzing, implementing, and ensuring the correct materials are used for new electric powertrain systems. I also have the good fortune to be adjunct faculty at Wayne State University and the University of Michigan-Dearborn, where I teach undergraduate and graduate courses in materials and manufacturing processes. |
| Q2 How did the Science Fair change your life? |
| The Science Fair was a major turning point in my life and its benefit can be summed up in one word: Opportunity. I had the opportunity to not just prepare a project, but to present it to a large number of very bright and very encouraging people. I am an engineer today partially because of a great judge I had at ISEF 1982, who spent over an hour with me talking about what I could be and how research could be a great means of developing technology that would benefit people. I am fortunate to have over a dozen patents that are in use on vehicles, and have developed additional technology that has been used to improve vehicle design and manufacture; the hour that judge spent with me was very valuable. SEFMD also provided me with a full-tuition scholarship, which meant I could go to college full-time and concentrate on my degree without incurring large debts. This allowed me to start my career at a younger age, which meant I could start my family life earlier as well; I have been married for 30 years and four beautiful daughters (one of which was a SEFMD/ISEF participant as well.) |
| Q3 What did you like the most about the Science Fair? |
| The best part of the Science Fair was the people I got to meet. Both at SEFMD and ISEF, the judges were great individuals. They took the time to talk with me about what I wanted to do as a career and gave me insights into what a mathematician/engineer actually did/could do (it was great career advice, some of which I still pass along today.) The students that went to ISEF were a great group to be a part of, and showed me that I would really enjoy working with people like them (so I needed to get a good degree that would allow me to do so.) |
| Q4 What career advice do you wish someone told you when you were younger? Career advise you wish to share? |
| The advice I wish I had gotten earlier than the Science Fair was the need to talk to people in the career field you are thinking of entering. Most scientific and technical fields are very broad, and there are a large number of interesting careers that are possible; talking to people in the field gives you insight that a web page never will. |
| Q5 Any specific advice on becoming involved in Science and Engineering? |
| Talk to people in the fields you are interested in having a career and get as many "shadowing" opportunities as you can. The professionals will be able to show you the different careers you can have within a field, and the shadowing will let you see the places you can work in and the technology you can work with. Other than this, work hard in all your classes and learn to communicate well through writing and public presentations. |
| Q6 Why be a part of the Science Fair after high school and college? |
| After college, you can be the person that inspires the upcoming students to be great scientists and engineers. Judging is the easiest way to do this; it involves just 8 hours on one day, but it can change lives forever. Beyond this, helping sponsor and mentor students with their Science Fair projects is a great way to continue this focus. Ultimately, becoming part of the Operational and Executive Boards of your local Science Fair will allow you to continue the legacy of changing students' lives. By ensuring that the Science Fair is present annually, you will “pay forward” everyone who enables this great opportunity. |
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