NATIONAL ACADEMY OF ENGINEERING LAUNCHES ENGINEERYOURLIFE.ORG
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
The following information was released by the National Academies:
The National Academy of Engineering (NAE) announced today the launch of "Engineer Your Life," a new Web site to encourage academically prepared girls to enroll in undergraduate engineering programs. "This Web site is part of a national effort to inform high school girls, and those who counsel them, about engineering through personal and informative sketches about women's experiences as engineers," said NAE President Charles M. Vest.
At , high school girls can "virtually" meet young women engineers and learn about their careers. Twelve women tell their inspiring stories on the Web site -- about working with their communities, solving real problems, and how they came to choose engineering as a profession. Eleven engineering fields are described at the site, with information on possible engineering projects, starting salaries, resources, and additional young engineers talking about their careers in their own words. A third section explains how to prepare for college engineering programs, with information on what high school classes to take, the experience of being an engineering student, and choosing an engineering program.
Parents, counselors, teachers, and other educators will also find useful information about engineering at the Web site, as well as resources and training for advising high school students about engineering careers.
The themes of Engineer Your Life -- creativity has its rewards, explore the possibilities, and make a world of difference -- were developed through extensive research on ways to appeal to girls who are qualified to enter undergraduate engineering programs but who may not have considered engineering as a career. These themes will be used in a national campaign to encourage high school girls, assist counselors and teachers, and mobilize engineers into outreach efforts.
Engineer Your Life, launched in conjunction with National Engineers Week, is part of NAE's ongoing commitment to increase the diversity of the engineering work force. The new site complements the material found on other NAE Web sites including "EngineerGirl!" at , which was developed for middle school girls.
Engineer Your Life? is a production of WGBH Educational Foundation and the National Academy of Engineering, in partnership with a coalition of over 50 engineering and educational organizations including American Association of Engineering Societies, American Society of Civil Engineers, American Society of Mechanical Engineers, DuPont, IBM, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, National Association for College Admission Counseling, National Society of Professional Engineers, Junior Engineering Technical Society, Northrop Grumman Corp., Society of Women Engineers, and Women in Engineering ProActive Network.
Major funding for Engineer Your Life is provided by the National Science Foundation and the Northrop Grumman Foundation. Additional funding is provided by Stephen D. Bechtel Jr. and the United Engineering Foundation.