top of page
This site was designed with the
.com
website builder. Create your website today.Start Now
Search
  • Writer's pictureWomen Who Lead
    • Jun 22, 2020
    • 3 min read

International Women In Engineering Day

A fun interactive based project to help students get involved in International Women in

Engineering Day, which takes place on June 23rd.




Learning outcome: Get students involved in the celebration with videos and fun tasks in order to help honor the amazing things women engineers do.





Materials:

  • A platform to watch the videos on, see the projects, and conduct research

  • Paper to draw invention on, or physical crafts to make them with

  • Art supplies


Step 1:

Research the background of the day on the main website:


Step 2:

Watch this TedTalk: A female engineer helps ‘inspire the next generation of female

engineers’:


Key times:

  • Beginning to 10:00 – her background and a discussion of gender stereotypes

  • 10:00- 16:35 – a discussion of her product and invention

  • 16:35 – to the end: a call to action for future engineers

While watching the TedTalk, note down any mentions she makes of barriers of entry that

women face in becoming engineers.


Step 3:

Divide a piece of paper into two columns. Label one side ‘female engineers’ and the other

side ‘male engineers’ and write the numbers 1-20 down the sides.


Step 4:

That task is to search ‘names of engineers’ on google. As you begin, start a timer, and record

the amount of time it takes to fill out both columns of engineers.


Note down how many different websites it took to find to the female engineers – and

whether you had to tweak your search to ‘female engineers’ in order to find their names.


(Note: I don’t know your results, but when I did Step 4, the top 50 names of engineers that

appeared contained ZERO females)


Step 5:

Discuss the effect it has when people looking to educate themselves about engineers, go

online, and the first results they find contain only male names.


Step 6:

Discuss why these highly skilled female engineers are not getting the important recognition

they deserve.


Brainstorm simple ways you can help raise awareness of women in engineering

(here are some prompts, if required):

  • Take time to understand and educate yourself – and everyone around you – about female achievement in engineering and other areas.

  • When/if you're able to use social media accounts, follow accounts promoting female equality and share posts on your own platforms

  • Support people you know who want to become engineers and are worried they will be shot down or faced with sexist responses

  • Never let ANYONE tell you that you can’t do something because of your gender

  • Always use your voice to stand up for what you believe in.

  • If you are in a class and your teacher or mentor mentions a famous male engineer (or inventor/scientist/economist etc) call them out on it and challenge them! Ask why they have chosen a male and whether they know the name of a female one.

The final step:

As today is about women in engineering, why not join in and create your own invention –

either on paper or using arts/crafts.


Here are a few videos to watch, which will help instruct you and inspire you:


TED talks by Women in STEM:

Online discussion with women involved in STEM:


More STEM activities and resources:


Competitions to join in with:




[ Project Credit: Jodie-Anna Hamilton ]





[ Bio ]


Hi I’m Jodie, as a 17 year old student. I am trying all I can to contribute to the causes i care strongly for. My passion in life is to help those who suffer as victims of discrimination and to shine a light on them, to help them speak their truth


141 views0 comments

Recent Posts

See All
bottom of page