(ARA) - The need for the United States to build a new generation of leaders proficient in science, technology, engineering and math is at the top of the nation's agenda. While encouraging all young people to take more math and science classes and pursue careers in related fields is critical, this initiative has even greater significance among the nation's young women. Less than 10 percent of American engineers today are women. According to a recent national survey commissioned by the Society of Women Engineers, 75 percent of young women do not plan on pursuing a career in science, math or technology, and only 10 percent of those surveyed have considered engineering as a future career option.
“ Wow! That's Engineering? ”
Yet, women have a deep history of creating some of the world's most vital technologies. A woman inventor was responsible for saving thousands of lives by designing Kevlar, a fiber five times stronger ounce for ounce than steel, that is best known for its use in bulletproof vests. Long-lasting lipstick can attribute its birth to a woman named Hazel Gladys Bishop, who led the charge by utilizing advances in chemistry to design one of the first modern cosmetics. A woman was the first to engineer a carburetor and windshield wipers for cars, and in fact, it was even a woman who first devised a method of using punch cards to calculate Bernoulli numbers, which advanced the field of computer science.
"American culture has traditionally misled young girls to believe that they cannot excel in math or science, and as a result, they often hold negative perceptions of engineering careers" said Ronna Robertson, president of the Society of Women Engineers. "Now is the time to change that perception and open the minds of young girls to the exciting opportunities that await them in the technology and engineering fields."
In order to change these perceptions and encourage young women across the country to get involved in engineering and technology, the Society of Women Engineers has announced a new program, "Develop, Design, Discover... Women Innovating with Technology."
The program kicks off on March 8, 2006 with an inspiring and educational special event series called "Wow! That's Engineering?", a new Web site (www.developdesigndiscover.org), compelling survey data on girls' attitudes toward engineering and a nationwide contest to find out what inventions and discoveries are on girls' minds. The essay contest is designed to honor the achievements of women and girls as they develop and discover their future through technology.
The Develop Design Discover Essay Contest asks girls ages ten to seventeen what invention or innovation they would create, using technology, to make the world a better place. One lucky winner of the contest will walk away with a trip to IBM Headquarters in New York where they will spend the day shadowing a leading IBM engineer. Additional individual prizes include a week at Camp Invention, laptops and MP3 players, to name a few.
IBM, a leader in developing strong and innovative programs supporting women in engineering fields, is the founding sponsor of The Society of Women Engineers' Develop, Design, Discover...Women Innovating with Technology.
"Diversity is a key component in cultivating an environment that fosters innovation. As a society, we must work to help young women realize their potential in these fields," said Stefanie Chiras, an IBM engineer who will lead the first prize job shadow. "Encouraging more young women to pursue technology and engineering driven careers is critical to leading companies like IBM and to the future competitiveness of the United States."
The Society of Women Engineers' Develop, Design, Discover...Women Innovating with Technology Essay Contest will run from March 8, 2006 through April 19, 2006. Participants are encouraged to log on to www.developdesigndiscover.org and submit a 100-word essay about their proposed invention. The Society of Women Engineers, together with IBM, will choose a grand prize winner and three runner-ups.
The "Wow! That's Engineering?" event series is honoring the achievements of women and girls as they develop and discover the future through technology with a "Wow! That's Engineering?" kick off event in Chicago. Similar events will take place worldwide in Japan, Austin, Orlando, Philadelphia, Raleigh, and San Francisco throughout the spring. Visit www.developdesigndiscover.org for full details.
Courtesy of ARA Content
