It's "Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day" - my favorite part of National Engineer's Week! This year's theme is "Creating the Future".
Creating the future is the hallmark of what engineers do, and every single day I feel fortunate that I am in this profession. Not only do I get to help create the next generation of Intel products, but I am also lucky enough to teach the next generation of engineers.
When I think about my students, I am confident that tomorrow's engineers will create a brighter future for all of us. However, I would like to see more women among the ranks. Check out these sobering numbers:
In the United States, only 14% of engineers are women.
Only 18% of tenure-track engineering faculty are women.
Only 9% of electrical, electronic, or computer hardware engineers are women.
Of 15-year old girls, only 6% want to pursue a career in engineering.
While in college, over 32% of women switch out of STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) degree programs.
Among 25- to 34-year-old women with a bachelor's degree in STEM, about 70% are employed in non-STEM occupations.
Just 20 years after graduation, only 30% of women with a bachelor's degree in engineering are still working as engineers.
Those numbers are not particularly encouraging, but they can change. One role model or one moment can make all the difference in each girl's life. It can change a girl's perception of engineering, give her a sense of belonging, boost her self-esteem, and alter the course of her career.
Today, on "Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day", I encourage each of you to take some time out of your day and make a difference in the life of a young girl. Just one moment or one word could change the course of her life, and she will go on to create a brighter future, not only for herself, but for all humankind.
Creating the future is the hallmark of what engineers do, and every single day I feel fortunate that I am in this profession. Not only do I get to help create the next generation of Intel products, but I am also lucky enough to teach the next generation of engineers.
When I think about my students, I am confident that tomorrow's engineers will create a brighter future for all of us. However, I would like to see more women among the ranks. Check out these sobering numbers:
In the United States, only 14% of engineers are women.
Only 18% of tenure-track engineering faculty are women.
Only 9% of electrical, electronic, or computer hardware engineers are women.
Of 15-year old girls, only 6% want to pursue a career in engineering.
While in college, over 32% of women switch out of STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) degree programs.
Among 25- to 34-year-old women with a bachelor's degree in STEM, about 70% are employed in non-STEM occupations.
Just 20 years after graduation, only 30% of women with a bachelor's degree in engineering are still working as engineers.
Those numbers are not particularly encouraging, but they can change. One role model or one moment can make all the difference in each girl's life. It can change a girl's perception of engineering, give her a sense of belonging, boost her self-esteem, and alter the course of her career.
Today, on "Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day", I encourage each of you to take some time out of your day and make a difference in the life of a young girl. Just one moment or one word could change the course of her life, and she will go on to create a brighter future, not only for herself, but for all humankind.
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