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When author Judith Love Cohen was earning her degree in engineering at the University of Southern
California in the 1950s, she was disturbed that “the graduating class had eight hundred students, only eight
of which were women. And I never saw another woman in any of my classes.”
This experience led her to a lifelong conviction that girls need to be told that “you can be a woman
engineer.”
After she married artist David A. Katz, they realized that children’s books would be the most effective
medium in which to get that message to the girls who need to hear it. So they established Cascade Pass, Inc.
“Speaking to college-aged women doesn’t work because it’s already too late,” she said. “The
prerequisites needed for science-based degrees have already been missed.
“When speaking to classroom-aged children, ask them what they want to become. Boys tend to have great
answers like astronaut, engineer or scientist. Girls tend to limit themselves to teaching, nursing or secretarial
work,” said Cohen.
California in the 1950s, she was disturbed that “the graduating class had eight hundred students, only eight
of which were women. And I never saw another woman in any of my classes.”
This experience led her to a lifelong conviction that girls need to be told that “you can be a woman
engineer.”
After she married artist David A. Katz, they realized that children’s books would be the most effective
medium in which to get that message to the girls who need to hear it. So they established Cascade Pass, Inc.
“Speaking to college-aged women doesn’t work because it’s already too late,” she said. “The
prerequisites needed for science-based degrees have already been missed.
“When speaking to classroom-aged children, ask them what they want to become. Boys tend to have great
answers like astronaut, engineer or scientist. Girls tend to limit themselves to teaching, nursing or secretarial
work,” said Cohen.
The target age range for the books
produced by Cascade Pass is fourth- to
sixth-grade students, although younger
children have also become interested in
their books.
The books they publish are also for
boys, and really anyone who wants to
learn something new. “I learned a lot
about the process of constructing a
power plant,” said Katz, illustrator of the
“A Clean Earth” series.
“I’m trained in fine arts with a modern
background. I try to incorporate my fine-
art sensibility. And I’m a former teacher,
so I often do artwork with children. I look
at [the subject matter] through their eyes
and try to find how they would like to see
it,” he said.
The most recent installment of the
series, “The Geothermal Story,” focuses
heavily on local geographical features
such as active local earthquake faults
and Coso Hot Springs on the Naval Air
Weapons Station, China Lake.
The book also explains natural
phenomena like earthquakes,
volcanoes and geysers.
produced by Cascade Pass is fourth- to
sixth-grade students, although younger
children have also become interested in
their books.
The books they publish are also for
boys, and really anyone who wants to
learn something new. “I learned a lot
about the process of constructing a
power plant,” said Katz, illustrator of the
“A Clean Earth” series.
“I’m trained in fine arts with a modern
background. I try to incorporate my fine-
art sensibility. And I’m a former teacher,
so I often do artwork with children. I look
at [the subject matter] through their eyes
and try to find how they would like to see
it,” he said.
The most recent installment of the
series, “The Geothermal Story,” focuses
heavily on local geographical features
such as active local earthquake faults
and Coso Hot Springs on the Naval Air
Weapons Station, China Lake.
The book also explains natural
phenomena like earthquakes,
volcanoes and geysers.
Children’s book highlights local energy sources
By KENNETH C. CURNOW
News Review Correspondent
News Review Correspondent
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The book could easily be used, Katz said, “to explain to children what’s happening in Japan right
now, and the volcano in Iceland that blew and the earthquake which just happened in New Zealand.”
All of these areas — and California — are part of what is known as the “Ring of Fire,” an area
surrounding the Pacific Ocean that is prone to frequent geothermal activity. The book describes not
only how these phenomena occur, but also how they can be harnessed effectively.
Speaking of the Coso Hot Springs area, the book notes that “In addition to generating the
electricity to supply power to the Naval Air Station, electricity [generated from China Lake geothermal
activity] can be generated for an estimated 250,000 California homes!”
The book goes on to explain that aside from the abundance of geothermal energy, it is also clean,
reliable and extremely gentle — compared to other sources of energy — on the land and nearby
habitats.
Furthermore, geothermal energy is economical as “Money does not have to be spent to import fuel
[to operate the plant]. Geothermal energy is right there where the power plant is,” says the book.
Collaborators for the book include Cohen; Katz; Robyn C. Friend, author; Dan Chase, South-ern
California Edison contract negotiator; Joseph Greco, senior vice president of Terra-Gen Power, LLC
(Reno, Nev.); and Ellen Allman, senior business manager with Terra-Gen Power.
Aside from the publisher’s website www.cascadepass.com at which the rest of the series may be
found, “A Clean Earth: The Geothermal Story” is available at Red Rock Books, Just Imagine!, the
Maturango Museum and the Cerro Coso Community College bookstore.
The book includes sample lesson plans for classroom implementation.
now, and the volcano in Iceland that blew and the earthquake which just happened in New Zealand.”
All of these areas — and California — are part of what is known as the “Ring of Fire,” an area
surrounding the Pacific Ocean that is prone to frequent geothermal activity. The book describes not
only how these phenomena occur, but also how they can be harnessed effectively.
Speaking of the Coso Hot Springs area, the book notes that “In addition to generating the
electricity to supply power to the Naval Air Station, electricity [generated from China Lake geothermal
activity] can be generated for an estimated 250,000 California homes!”
The book goes on to explain that aside from the abundance of geothermal energy, it is also clean,
reliable and extremely gentle — compared to other sources of energy — on the land and nearby
habitats.
Furthermore, geothermal energy is economical as “Money does not have to be spent to import fuel
[to operate the plant]. Geothermal energy is right there where the power plant is,” says the book.
Collaborators for the book include Cohen; Katz; Robyn C. Friend, author; Dan Chase, South-ern
California Edison contract negotiator; Joseph Greco, senior vice president of Terra-Gen Power, LLC
(Reno, Nev.); and Ellen Allman, senior business manager with Terra-Gen Power.
Aside from the publisher’s website www.cascadepass.com at which the rest of the series may be
found, “A Clean Earth: The Geothermal Story” is available at Red Rock Books, Just Imagine!, the
Maturango Museum and the Cerro Coso Community College bookstore.
The book includes sample lesson plans for classroom implementation.