As the next generation of leaders prepares to take its place as the decision makers of tomorrow, well trained and educated engineers are becoming more and more in demand. Many industries rely on engineers to provide both expertise and a creative vision of the future. And In spite of the urgent need to develop our nation’s engineering talent, the fact remains that a large majority of engineers are men. Girls often feel discouraged from pursuing opportunities in engineering. We’d like to see that changed! So, we are encouraging you to participate in the National Engineers Week Foundation’s Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day – February 18th in cities around the U.S. Women engineers and their male counterparts will mentor and reach as many as 1 million girls around the country with workshops, tours, on-line discussions and a host of hands-on activities at local businesses, universities and libraries. All of these events deliver the message that a career in engineering is within the grasp of every young woman who is looking to play a role in addressing the issues her generation will face as it comes of age.
“The Girl Day vision is to broaden the way girls and young women look at engineering and help them to see that it touches our lives in ways we might not even be aware of,” said Leslie Collins, executive director, National Engineers Week Foundation. They want to make sure to deliver the message that “making more women engineers needs to be one of this nation’s most important engineering projects.”
Some of the events happening in various locales include:
- Siemens Industry, Inc. in West Chicago , IL will hold its annual ‘Introduce a Girl to Engineering event’ for girls in 5th through 11th grade, hosted by women engineers. Girls who attend will complete several experiments associated with different engineering disciplines. Other highlights will include a short video about engineering and a factory tour.
- The New York City Transit Museum will present a program recognizing the key role that women engineers play throughout the Metropolitan Transit Authority’s (MTA) agencies. Attendees will hear first-hand from representatives of various programs about their goals, ambitions, and experiences in the MTA workforce. Panelists include a Design Manager with NYC Transit Capital Program Management – Signals and Systems Program and a Design Manager, NYC Transit Capital Program Management – Stations Program.
- In Kihei , Hawaii , Maui Economic Development Board’s (MEDB) Women In Technology Project will host Maui ’s 10th annual ‘Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day’ event. Middle school girls will be given an opportunity for a half-day of job-shadowing with an engineer and fun, hands-on engineering-based activities. The event is free and open to 7th & 8th grade girls. The WIT Project is also expanding its outreach by arranging presentations by local engineers at Maui County middle schools.
- The Redding, California members of the Society of Women Engineers will host a Girl Day event where approximately 50 young women will learn about science and engineering. Hands on workshops will include: Best Bounce, Spaghetti Egg Drop, Electromagnetism, and Kinetic Energy.
For more information on the Foundation’s week of events, and Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day, visit their website at: www.eweek.org.
