This coming week is National Engineers Week, honoring engineers and their contributions to society. Despite the strides that have been made in engineering, there is an underlying dynamic that could impact innovation for the future. Gender equality and education, although broader issues, affect growth in fields such as engineering.
The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a recent agreement officiated by the UN, describes goals and plans for addressing these issues. In fact, the UN deemed February 11th as the International Day for Women and Girls in Science, which was celebrated for the first time this February. Since men comprise the majority of those involved in STEM, the commemoration highlights the disparity within STEM education and related careers. It emphasizes the need for social connection and support for women, in order to close the gender gap and make STEM careers more inclusive and viable for women.
Lina Nielson, biomedical engineer and director of innovation at UC Berkley’s Center for Developing Economies, serves as a role model and mentor for other women pursuing careers in STEM. She noted in her New York Times article from April 2015, entitled How to Attract Female Engineers, that in the U.S. only “about 14 percent of engineers in the workforce are women." Nielson acknowledges that mentorship and support groups are important resources that can help women succeed.
While educational and social support can help women in a formal setting, such as school or the workplace, they need to first become interested in math or science. Therefore, another issue that may be holding women back is the negative perception of what it means to study and pursue a career in STEM. There is a compilation of negative stereotypes about people involved in math and science. Nielson explains that there are widely held presumptions about STEM disciplines, as many believe that STEM contains a narrow scope and is impersonal.
On the contrary, the application of math and science impacts everyone. Engineering projects are underway, for example, to help transport clean water to communities in need. Nielson has observed that engineering programs, when they emphasize STEM’s impact on social welfare, attract more women.
Technological initiatives seek to identify and address our needs, making societal improvement a reality. Engineers cannot simply hide in the lab or office, but must communicate with other professionals. Teamwork plays a vital role in engineering projects, as many sectors come together and need to work cohesively. This concept of a unified force can be applied more broadly. Innovation is taking place beyond the borders of the U.S., for it is relevant to people around the globe. By keeping an open mind and collaborating with others, women can secure important roles in helping our world and its inhabitants.
