New Picture Book, “Women in Engineering,” Confronts Underrepresentation in STEM

“It’s a joy to learn how women have, throughout time and place, used innovation to change lives for the better! With a charming protagonist and biographical snapshots, this book masterfully shows the relevance and beauty of engineering.” – Ashley Raynal, Ph.D., Instrument Scientist, Brandywine Photonics

Engineers create important things that help advance our society. Civil engineers build bridges and tunnels, aerospace engineers design airplanes and satellites, and mechanical engineers make escalators and elevators. No matter where you are, engineers have played a role in practically everything you see!

Engineering is such a prevalent field, yet only 13% of engineers are women. STEM education can be incredibly impactful and meaningful for young minds, especially young girls. Women in Engineering teaches readers that women can not only be brilliant engineers, but they can contribute in big ways.

Read the excerpt from STEM Magazine below to find out more about the amazing work done by female engineers. Then, play the game to see if you can match the engineer to her discovery!

Making Dreams Tangible, “Women in Engineering” Battles Underrepresentation and Encourages Early STEM Education

If you take a look at all of the items in your home, classroom, or office, most of them were developed with the help of an engineer. Engineering is a huge field that consists of many branches and career options. It is constantly growing and expanding. Yet, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, women make up only 13% of engineers in the country, which is the lowest amount of female representation out of all the major STEM fields.

Female role models in engineering are absolutely vital for helping young girls feel confident in pursuing STEM education. There are plenty of engineers, now and in the past, who are living proof that women can not only become engineers, but can also have an important impact in a field dominated by men. All children need to be taught that a career in engineering can be both viable and incredibly meaningful. So how do we share and celebrate what women engineers have achieved and encourage the next generation to pursue this field?

A picture book, perhaps? Coming in September, Women in Engineering tells the stories of inspiring figures from around the world, breaking down the engineering process with charming illustrations and informative graphics. Reviewed by real scientists, this book

explores the fundamentals of civil, chemical, mechanical, biomedical, aerospace, and electrical engineering, plus concepts like bridge construction, frequency hopping radio signals, space expeditions, biomaterials—and much more! Women in Engineering introduces children to the complexities and endless possibilities of engineering.

As Kelly Dooley, the Executive Director and CEO of International Technology and Engineering Educators Association (ITEEA) says: “Children with different backgrounds and interests will be excited to learn how impactful a career in this field can be. What an inspiring way to discover that engineers transform ideas into reality!”

Match the engineer to her incredible scientific contribution!

Be sure to learn more at STEMMagazine.com and check out Women in Engineering, the fourth book in the Science Wide Open series.

Answers:

Huang Daopo - Invented a machine to clean raw cotton quickly, used for fabric weaving.

Mary the Prophetess - Invented her own tool to purify liquids for alchemy experiments.

Hedy Lamarr - Designed and patented the first frequency-hopping device to protect radio transmissions.

Dr. Treena Livingston Arinzeh - Created a calcium phosphate fiber structure to help bones heal.

Sandra Cauffman - Directed the team that launched a spacecraft to study the atmosphere of Mars.