Thursday, February 22nd is Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day. This day caps off a week of recognizing women in the engineering fields.

The gesture and its meaning are wonderful particularly when the number of woman in the engineering fields is low. However, if you live in the United States another interesting statistic is that the number of men or women enrolling in engineering programs is on the decline. The reason for this may be because of the lack of interest by U.S. children in science and engineering.

Unfortunately the likely cause for the lack of interest is because U.S. children are performing below their international peers in science education, yet professional demands for science and engineering skills is expected to significantly increase.

Women are expected to comprise of 50% of the work force in the next ten years. With the demand for engineering and science skills on the increase it would appear that there is a large opportunity for women.

Women are severely underrepresented in the engineering profession. Research shows that girls and young women lose interest in subjects and the fields of study leading to engineering careers long before they enter college.

To help close the gap a change of attitude is required from parents, teachers and mentors. We need to encourage young women and girls that the sciences including engineering are wonderful opportunities and not just for men.

Women who are in the field today should be encouraged by employers to help mentor and become a roll model to young women in college and at the high school level.

Once young women become involved we should do our best to retain them through support and mentor programs.

February 22nd is “Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day”…so take your daughter, family member or girl scout group and introduce her or them to engineering. To learn more about how to provide information regarding women in engineering and encouraging children to the sciences please go to the following link:  http://www.discoverengineering.org/default.asp

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