Women in science and engineering seek their own version of 'MacGyver' on TV

With an insane ability to turn random things like wine and lamp cords into tools, "MacGyver" inspired a generation of men to become tinkerers. Now, it just might be Mimi’s turn to spark a generation of women. Beth Keser, a principal engineer at Qualcomm in San Diego (CA), sure hopes so. Keser was among five winners selected by a coalition that’s trying to get a female version of “MacGyver” on TV in hopes of boosting the number of women who pursue science and engineering careers. The National Academy of Engineering, USC Viterbi School of Engineering and a couple of other groups put on the competition.

Inspired by friends and acquaintances, Keser devised a plot centered on Mimi, a successful tech entrepreneur about 30 years old who’s making a second career as an expert witness. Mimi would use science and tech to assist attorneys on a new case each week. An underground hacking group would serve as Mimi’s overarching adversary. Keser wanted to a show that would change people's attitudes toward women, so that the women in tech would feel that they can be promoted. “The only way that’s going to change is if people doing the promoting look at their internal bias,” Keser said. “Using media and entertainment can make a big impact."