Published February 23, 2023
By : Staff Writer
Did you know that only 16% of engineers in the workplace are women, and less than 6% are women of color? According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, less than 1% of all U.S. engineering bachelor's degrees were awarded to African American women in 2015.
On Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day 2023, the National Academy of Engineering tweeted that despite the increasing representation of women in male-dominated fields, women remain vastly underrepresented in engineering.
Introduce A Girl To Engineering Day traditionally takes place during Engineers Week, which was founded in 1951 by the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE).
In 2018, one of the highlights of the 17th annual Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day was a Capitol Hill briefing for lawmakers, non-profits, and corporations. During the luncheon, DiscoverE illustrated how even one engineering experience for a girl can make a difference in her future.
DiscoverE is described as "the backbone organization" behind Engineers Week, World Engineering Day, and Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day.
"The day grew from the need to increase the number of women in engineering and has since turned into a worldwide movement," said Leslie Collins, executive director of the National Engineers Week Foundation. "DiscoverE’s Girl Day on Capitol Hill event is geared at uniting the nation’s leaders and partners and volunteers to share that there still remains a growing need for diversity and inclusion in the engineering and other STEM fields.”
DiscoverE's network of volunteers is drawn from a coalition of professional societies, corporations, and government agencies. Together they meet a vital need: introducing students, parents, and educators to engineering, engaging them in hands-on engineering experiences, and making science and math relevant.
Speakers at the 2018 briefing included Michael Smith, DiscoverE Diversity Council chair, and deputy executive director of the National GEM Consortium; Sukari Brown of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), Racheida Lewis also a rep from NSBE, Shirali Patel, a senior product manager at Raytheon, Kaitlyn Ludlum of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) high school member, and Nikki Nola Gordon, a Girl Scouts of the USA member and NSBE.
Girl Day 2018 sponsors included 3M Foundation, Bechtel, ExxonMobil Corporation, Fluor Corporation, IBM International Foundation, Motorola Solutions Foundation, Northrop Grumman Foundation, Raytheon Company, Rockwell Collins, TE Connectivity, Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., and the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying, an American non-profit organization dedicated to advancing professional licensure for engineers and surveyors.
On Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day 2023, Women of Color Online took a sweep through Twitter to see what these organizations are saying.
It’s never too early for young women & girls to explore a future in engineering!
— U.S. Department of Education (@usedgov) February 23, 2023
🌠🛠️🚀@NASAArtemis engineer Antja Chambers shares her advice for young women & girls curious about the engineering field.
#IntroduceAGirlToEngineeringDay #IGED #EngineersWeek #EWeek2023 #STEM pic.twitter.com/LBrrOqEf2Q
Happy Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day!#GirlDay23 is very important to the society because in 2015, less than 1% of all U.S. engineering bachelor’s degrees were awarded to African American women. Help build the pipeline!#NSBEProfessionals #BlackEngineers #EWeek23 #GirlDay23 pic.twitter.com/Qo3bceaYK6
— NSBE Professionals (@NSBEPros) February 23, 2023
Happy Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day! #GirlDay2023
— DiscoverE (@DiscoverEorg) February 23, 2023
DiscoverE’s Girl Day is a time when volunteers, educators, and others act as role models, facilitate engineering activities, and show girls how engineers change our world. Tell us how YOU are celebrating! #Eweek2023 pic.twitter.com/fMHFkYexSK
It's Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day! Seize the opportunity to inspire the next generation and introduce a girl in your life to @SWENext! It's free to join & provides access to programs & resources designed to develop leadership skills & self-confidence. #Eweek23 #GirlDay2023 pic.twitter.com/xzHTfFOoR3
— SWE (@SWEtalk) February 23, 2023
Today is #GirlDay2023! Girl Day aims to inspire young girls’ involvement in engineering and encourage role models to facilitate interest in engineering for girls. Introduce a girl to engineering and see how she can change the world! https://t.co/viFRtxEhzB pic.twitter.com/Xn6KkgVGvB
— National Academy of Engineering (@theNAEng) February 23, 2023
📢 Today is Introduce A Girl To Engineering Day! Inspire a girl’s future. Be a role model. 👩🏾🏭👩🏻💻👩🏼🔧
— STEM Gems (@STEMGemsBook) February 23, 2023
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, only 16% of engineers in the workplace are women, and less than 6% are women of color.#IntroduceAGirlToEngineeringDay #WomenInSTEM pic.twitter.com/LMkuqxCZdh
