Introduce A Girl To Engineering Day

Categories:: Special Interest
Tags:: Careers Educational Women
Where:: United States
Date change rule:: 4th Thursday of February
Holiday emoji:: 👷‍♀️

Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day inspires young women to explore the vast and rewarding world of engineering every 4th Thursday of February. This vital observance, part of Engineering Week, highlights the critical need for diversity in STEM fields. Encourage a girl in your life to discover her potential, explore engineering careers, and connect with mentors.

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Expected Introduce A Girl To Engineering Day Deals

As a Recognition holiday focused on career development rather than commercial sales, Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day emphasizes programs that foster interest and provide opportunities. Expect engineering firms like Lockheed Martin and Boeing to host virtual or in-person mentorship sessions and workshops. Organizations such as the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) and Girls Who Code will promote scholarships, internships, and educational resources. Universities often waive application fees for STEM programs or offer special open house events. Look for local engineering chapters to organize school visits and career fairs. We will update this page with confirmed live programs and resources as February 2027 approaches.

Platform Guide for Introduce A Girl To Engineering Day

Tag National Today (linkedin.com/company/nationaltoday) and use #GirlDay. Share stories of female engineers and career advice.

X/Twitter

Mention @NatlToday and use #GirlDay. Share inspiring quotes, statistics, and resources for aspiring engineers.

Instagram

Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #GirlDay. Post visuals of innovative projects or female engineers in action.

Introduce A Girl To Engineering Day Hero

Edith Clarke

Edith Clarke (1883–1959) was an American electrical engineer who became the first woman to be professionally employed as an electrical engineer in the United States and the first woman to present a paper before the American Institute of Electrical Engineers. She developed graphical methods to simplify calculations in power transmission lines, making complex engineering problems more accessible. Her pioneering work opened doors for countless women in a male-dominated field, leaving a lasting legacy in electrical engineering.

History of Introduce A Girl To Engineering Day

For many years, STEM fields, particularly engineering and computer science, have been under male domination. Data from research over the years reflects a spike with women today; accounting for 14% of engineers in the United States (risen from 5.8% in the 1980s) more work needs to be done to grow representation. Although over time the engineering landscape has received a major boost with more willing female applications churning in, a jaw-dropping 40% of females move to other fields.

Man has forever been intuitively creative, possessing the innate ability to tap imagination and adapt to different situations. Engineering traces its roots to the ancient era where makeshift devices such as wedges, levers, wheels, and pulleys were invented. The word ‘engineering’ comes from the words ‘ingeniare’ and ‘ingenium’ — two Latin words that mean “to create” or ‘contrive’ and ‘cleverness’ respectively.

In the ancient era, the much talked about Egyptian pyramids, ziggurats of Mesopotamia, among others, are proof of early civil and military engineering. Documented records say the earliest civil engineer was Egyptian chancellor Imhotep, one of the officials of the Pharaoh, speculated to have designed the Pyramid of Djoser — the Step Pyramid at Saqqara in Egypt built around 2630 B.C.

Engineering as a profession kicked off in the 18th century, with modern engineering drawing much from Newtonian mechanics (based on Newton’s Laws of motion). Engineering as a field had been male-powered for many years; however, in today’s society, we see women successfully fighting for equal opportunities in the engineering workspace.

Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day had been proclaimed 15 years ago by the N.S.P.E. in collaboration with I.B.M. and the National Engineering Week Foundation. This day is an effort to introduce young girls to STEM professions to create fairness in STEM fields by allowing them to engage in practical work tasks as well as learn about the diverse fields.

Introduce A Girl To Engineering Day timeline

10th Century

Al-ʻIjliyyah Invents Astrolabes

Al-ʻIjliyyah invents the astronomical astrolabes employed to measure time and the position of the sun and stars during the Islamic Golden Period.

1809

The First American Woman Gets a Patent

President James Madison signs Mary Dixon Kies’ patent for her new technique of making hats by weaving straw with silk and thread.

1859

Martha Coston Receives a Patent

Coston invents a night signal flare system (Coston flare), which receives a patent and is used by the U.S. Navy.

1919

The First Engineering Society For Women

Lady Katharine Parsons, Amy Johnson, Dame Caroline Haslett, and Professor Daphne Jackson establish the United Kingdom's Women's Engineering Society (WES).

2008

Wanda Austin Rewrites History

Aeronautical engineer, Austin, makes history as the first woman, the first African-American appointed president and CEO of the Aerospace Corporation.

How Businesses Can Celebrate Introduce A Girl To Engineering Day

Local businesses can actively participate in Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day by hosting virtual or in-person ‘shadow a professional’ events, allowing girls to see engineers in action. Offer mentorship opportunities or sponsor STEM workshops at local schools. Companies can also highlight their female engineers on social media, sharing their stories and career paths to inspire the next generation. Partner with organizations like DiscoverE to amplify your outreach efforts.

Introduce A Girl To Engineering Day FAQs

When is Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day?

In 2027, this inspiring day is observed on Thursday, February 25, marking a crucial moment for career exploration and mentorship opportunities for girls nationwide.

How many women are in engineering?

Despite ongoing efforts, women remain significantly underrepresented in engineering. Approximately 16% of engineers are women, a figure that Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day strives to increase through exposure and encouragement.

What is the goal of Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day?

This day seeks to broaden girls’ perceptions of engineering, showcase the diverse and creative aspects of the field, and address the critical need for a more diverse and inclusive engineering workforce for future innovation.

What is DiscoverE?

As the driving force behind Engineering Week, DiscoverE provides resources and coordinates events like Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day to ensure a diverse and well-educated future engineering workforce, fostering interest from an early age.

Introduce A Girl To Engineering Day Activities

Spark their interests
Engineering is one of the world's most diverse fields, yet females are largely under-represented. You could ignite curiosity and passion through a showcase of different fields such as beauty, construction, and health where engineering cuts across.
Hands-on training
Delve into problem-solving. Get practical and explore the awesome transformative impact of engineering on everyday life through workshops and events, and table the numerous possibilities waiting out there.
Adjust the societal mindset
STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and medicine) are male-dominated mostly owing to perception and stereotypes. Engineering isn't a "boy" thing, girls are smart and capable too. We must foster mentorship and an enabling environment in engineering for females to blossom.

5 Super Cool Facts About Engineering

Edith Clarke — world's first female engineer
The pioneering electrical engineer achieved the feat in 1919 when she landed her degree upon completion of her MSc. at MIT.
Ada Lovelace — world's first computer programmer
English mathematician, Lovelace, wrote an algorithm for a computing machine in the mid-1800s.
Mae Jemison — world's first black female astronaut
American engineer, Jemison, flew into space and rewrote history as the first African American woman in space in 1992.
Windshield wipers were invented by a woman
Long before automobiles were industrialized, Mary Anderson invented the windshield wiper in 1903.
Marie Van Brittan Brown invented home security
In 1966, she invented a video home security system along with her husband, Albert Brown, who patented the device in 1969.

Why We Love Introduce A Girl To Engineering Day

It opens up a world of endless possibilities
The engineering field, super exciting yet oh so challenging, offers diverse innovative solutions spanning across different sectors (I.T, beauty, health care, food, infrastructure, artificial intelligence); therefore, ushering limitless possibilities for females to thrive.
It encourages efforts towards inclusivity and diversity
Agelong beliefs about STEM fields have led to the drastic underrepresentation of women in the field of engineering. However, with Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day we are faced with the reality that our girls are limited in terms of intellectual development, higher pay, job flexibility, and ultimately robbed of the thrill of conquering a challenge.
It fosters an avenue for reflection and communication
Owing to the low percentage of female engineers and the arguable significance of the field, the burden of what we can do better to change the narrative weighs heavier. Apart from women being given engineering jobs, the need to encourage them via being addressed respectfully, promotion of brilliant talent, and equal pay with their male counterparts, the day helps us address these challenges.