As businesses across the nation strive to create a more diverse work force, the University of Houston Cullen College of Engineering planted the seed for diversification by hosting “Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day” on Thursday, Feb. 22, 2001, as part of National Engineers Week (Feb. 18-24).
UH engineering professors played host to a dozen fifth grade girls from Windsong Intermediate School in Friendswood ISD by showing how engineering careers can be fascinating, fun and ideally suited for girls who want to make a difference in the world. Students saw live demonstrations in applied engineering, shadowed a professor in the lab and developed their own interpretations of engineering through interactive projects.
According to the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), the engineering profession is facing not only a shortage of engineers in general, but a lack of diversification. Women are severely underrepresented in the engineering profession. Women now fill only nine percent of all engineering positions. Research shows that girls and young women lose interest in subjects and the fields of study that lead to engineering careers long before they enter college. That underscores the urgency to encourage girls to excel in math and science as early as elementary school—and continue to excel—so they’ll be ready for formal engineering courses in college.
“Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day”was a unique effort. Other programs, notably “Take Your Daughter to Work Day,” have sought to introduce girls to the concept of working outside the home, but it’s believed that “Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day” marks the first time an individual profession has set aside a specific day annually to target girls.