Web site encourages girls to enter engineering field

The National Academy of Engineering, Washington, D.C., has launched “Engineer Your Life,” ( www.engineeryourlife.org ) a 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.

High school girls can “virtually” meet young women engineers and learn about their careers. Twelve women tell their 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.

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 www.engineergirl.org for middle school girls.

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