At a GPS Lunchtime Learning seminar on Tuesday, a panel of representatives from Society of Women Engineers fielded questions and explained exactly what they do in their jobs in the hopes of demystifying what it means to be an engineer and promoting the advantages of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) fields.
Brought to GPS by Science Department Head Linda Dizer, 10 professionals joined a group of faculty, staff and students for the seminar, an extension of the GPS Impact program.
Engineering is an occupation rife with diversity, and an advantage mentioned by all the panelists was the benefit of being able to modify their career choices as their own needs change. One panelist began her career in architectural design but now trains others in team building and collaboration. Another combined her interests in electrical engineering and nursing into working with pacemakers and EKGs. High school dance was the passion of one guest engineer, but she now works on dams and loves her field. One worked in nuclear advocacy but is now a project manager-- and the list goes on.
“If you like math,” one panelist said, “engineering is simply solving for x.” Another, initially interested in technology, mentioned a college professor who had challenged her. “Why program a computer,” he asked her, “when you can learn how to build one?”
Hands on activities, team building, creative problem solving, — all are components of this type of work. Each woman spoke positively about the skills she has been able to develop in a field that is traditionally composed of men. They emphasized that young women interested in problem solving and helping to better the world around them would find a good fit in engineering.