17th South Magazine

Top Menu

  • Home
  • About US
    • Our Mission
    • Meet The Team
  • All Articles
  • Contact Us
  • Past Issues
  • Pick Up A Copy
  • Read The Current Issue Online

Main Menu

  • Home
  • Latest
  • Culture
  • Indulge
  • Happening
  • Living
  • Cover Story
  • Home
  • About US
    • Our Mission
    • Meet The Team
  • All Articles
  • Contact Us
  • Past Issues
  • Pick Up A Copy
  • Read The Current Issue Online

logo

Header Banner

17th South Magazine

  • Home
  • Latest
    • Artistic Acquisition

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • WESTSIDE WARES

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • PCM Premieres

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • Burning Up

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • Edge of Tomorrow

      January 10, 2019
      0
    • The High Gets Higher

      January 10, 2019
      0
    • COMEBACK KID

      January 10, 2019
      0
    • DYNAMIC DESIGN

      November 1, 2018
      0
    • European Experience

      November 1, 2018
      0
  • Culture
    • The Voice of Atlanta Radio

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • Put a Sock on It

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • Happy to Be Here

      January 10, 2019
      0
    • Coming Up Roses

      January 10, 2019
      0
    • Going Green

      November 1, 2018
      0
    • Stompin’ on the Westside

      November 1, 2018
      0
    • PAINTING THE TOWN

      September 27, 2018
      0
    • EAT WITH YOUR EARS FIRST

      September 27, 2018
      0
    • Atlanta-based designer Megan Huntz

      Fashion, Forward

      August 23, 2018
      0
  • Indulge
    • A Modern Classic Menu

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • Drinks on Demand

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • Family Affairs

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • Food News - March / April 2019

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • A SEASONAL BITE

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • Happening Hood Hangout

      January 10, 2019
      0
    • How Sweet It Is!

      January 10, 2019
      0
    • Cozy Up, Drink Up

      January 10, 2019
      0
    • Food News - JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2019

      January 10, 2019
      0
  • Happening
    • ATLANTA ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • THE GREAT RACE

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • FASHION FORWARD

      January 10, 2019
      0
    • LE JARDIN FRANÇAIS WINTER FLORAL DESIGN CLASS

      January 10, 2019
      0
    • 2019 ATLANTA BIENNIAL

      January 10, 2019
      0
    • VIRGINIA-HIGHLAND TOUR OF HOMES

      November 1, 2018
      0
    • YOUR BEST LIFE

      November 1, 2018
      0
    • MOSCOW BALLET’S GREAT RUSSIAN NUTCRACKER - DOVE OF PEACE TOUR!

      November 1, 2018
      0
    • BOO AT THE ZOO

      September 27, 2018
      0
  • Living
    • Minnesota's Shopping Mecca

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • Treasured Acquisition

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • Preserving the Past

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • Cajun Country Culinary

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • Spring Forward

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • West Highlands Retreat

      January 10, 2019
      0
    • Highly Addictive Beauty

      January 10, 2019
      0
    • A Dose of the Ocean

      January 10, 2019
      0
    • A Gangbuster Alabama Getaway

      January 10, 2019
      0
  • Cover Story
    • BOOZY BLASTOFFS

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • BRUNCH BUCKET LIST

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • GET CRACKING

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • CREAM OF THE CROP

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • GLOBAL BEGINNINGS

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • LAST THINGS FIRST

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • RISE & SHINE …

      February 21, 2019
      0
    • Matt Gryder and Matthew Fishman

      January 10, 2019
      0
    • Antonio Brown

      January 10, 2019
      0
  • BOOZY BLASTOFFS

  • BRUNCH BUCKET LIST

  • CREAM OF THE CROP

  • GET CRACKING

  • GLOBAL BEGINNINGS

  • LAST THINGS FIRST

  • RISE & SHINE …

CultureHeadliners
Home›Culture›ENGINEERING THE FUTURE

ENGINEERING THE FUTURE

By 17thSouth
May 4, 2017
3347
0
Share:

TV personality, engineer and educational program founder Deanne Bell is designing a bright future

Deanne Bell plays a lot of roles that, at first glance, don’t seem to go together. She’s a mechanical engineer, television host of CNBC’s “Make Me a Millionaire Inventor” and the founder of Future Engineers, a dynamic organization designed to engage students with national innovation challenges.

For the vibrant Virginia-Highland resident, making all of those interests work together was just another exercise in problem solving.

“I didn’t fit in a box,” the statuesque 37-year-old says with a smile, “so I had to build it myself.” Here, Bell shares how she’s applied that same spirit of optimism and ingenuity to craft her own science dream.

When did you know you were interested in science?

I grew up in Palm Bay, Florida, where I was able to see the space shuttle go off from my backyard. When I was little, I loved to tinker, invent and build. I had a group of friends, mostly girls, and we used what little bit of money we had to go to thrift stores. We’d buy broken down appliances, basically junk, take them all apart and put them together in fun and inventive ways. Then in middle school, I really started to think I wanted to be an inventor.

Hollywood and engineering seems like a unique pairing.

I knew I wanted to apply my engineering degree in a creative way. My first job out of college was in the aerospace industry in L.A., and I saw there weren’t many women in science on TV. Fast forward: I went backpacking around the world, and I kept thinking I wanted to work in science and TV. I was in the Philippines when I saw a job posting for a TV show in Boston looking for a mechanical engineer. I flew to Boston and got the job.

Did the same sense of adventure that prompted you to travel also shape your career path?

Most definitely. It took a lot of guts to go on that trip solo. It put me in a state of mind where I was willing to create my own adventure, take risks and forge a career that didn’t exist.

The same seems true about starting Future Engineers.

Yes! As an entrepreneur, starting Future Engineers took a lot of grit, perseverance and optimism.

What inspired you to create it?

I was a television host, but I thought, “I’m also an educator, teaching on a very large scale.” In my spare time I also do after-school workshops or speak at student STEM (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics) Education Coalition events. I was passionate about promoting science, technology, engineering and math education, and I’d been simmering on the idea to take that experience to a new level. I launched Future Engineers in 2014 as an online platform that issues national design and innovation challenges for [students in] kindergarten through 12th grade.

You’ve partnered with some pretty big science organizations, haven’t you?

We’ve launched challenges with the American Society of Mechanical Engineers and NASA related to 3D printing and space.

What do you hope the future of the organization holds?

The vision is to start working with companies of all sizes to highlight the different kinds of technology and research. I’m a big believer in turning your ideas into reality, and engineers do that every day.

For more info, visit futureengineers.org; cnbc.com/make-me-a-millionaire-inventor

STORY: Jennifer Bradley Franklin
Photo: M. Larsson

TagsAmerican Society of Mechanical Engineers and NASADeanne Belleducational programengineerENGINEERING THE FUTUREmechanical engineerPhoto: M. LarssonSTEM (Science Technology Engineering Mathematics) Education Coalition eventSTORY: Jennifer Bradley Franklintelevision host of CNBC’s “Make Me a Millionaire Inventor”the founder of Future EngineersTV personality
Previous Article

¡QUE DULCE!

Next Article

WESTSIDE

0
Shares
  • 0
  • +
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0
  • 0

Related articles More from author

  • The author and her horse, Ivan, explore the ranch’s rugged landscape.
    LivingOut Of TownSEPTEMBER 2018

    The Luxury of Going Wild

    August 23, 2018
    By 17thSouth
  • Breakfast Is ServedCover StoryIssueMARCH / APRIL 2019

    BRUNCH BUCKET LIST

    February 21, 2019
    By 17thSouth
  • CreatorsCulture

    Coming Up Roses

    January 10, 2019
    By 17thSouth
  • Cover StoryJuly 2017Trendsetters & Tastemakers

    SARA MAFFEY

    July 6, 2017
    By 17thSouth
  • LivingWellness

    Highly Addictive Beauty

    January 10, 2019
    By 17thSouth
  • Breakfast Is ServedCover StoryIssueMARCH / APRIL 2019

    BOOZY BLASTOFFS

    February 21, 2019
    By 17thSouth

Leave a reply Cancel reply

You may also be interested in...

  • IndulgeJune 2017Review

    HEALTHY AND HEARTY

  • LivingStyle To Go

    Pattern Play

  • Fresh BitesIndulgeJune 2017

    SCOOP, THERE IT IS!

Visit Our Sister Publication

Subscribe to our Newsletter

Sign up to receive email updates and to hear what's going on with our magazine!

Follow us

Instagram @17thSouth

This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Error: No feed found.

Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to create a feed.

Find us on Facebook

logo

17th South:
In the heart of Atlanta,17th South magazine reaches active, exploration-minded residents ages 24-65 who want to experience the best the area has to offer, through stories and features on individuals and businesses they can relate to in their direct communities. We feature of-the-moment and hidden gem restaurants, beautiful private homes, philanthropy, arts and cultural offerings, and the trendsetters and tastemakers who are making it happen!
Valuestream Media Group
simply-buckhead-magazine
17th-south-magazine

Contact Us

  • P.O. Box 11633, Atlanta, GA 30355
  • 404.538.9895
  • advertising@17thsouth.com

Find us on Facebook

Follow us

17th South Instagram

This error message is only visible to WordPress admins

Error: No feed found.

Please go to the Instagram Feed settings page to create a feed.

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Pick Up A Copy
© Copyright 17th South. All rights reserved.