Together We Engineer

-
Globally, only 16.5% of engineers are women. Historically, the field of engineering has been a typically male environment. STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) at school were seen more as male subjects, while females gravitated towards the humanities subjects. Traditionally, women and girls were encouraged to study non-STEM subjects. The humanities are more a collection of disciplines than a single discipline. Disciplines that focus on the human condition, from a philosophical or artistic perspective, are generally included in the humanities. These include fine arts, performing arts, literature, philosophy, religion, and history. This gender biased perspective and reality must be interrogated. Regrettably, in some societies, such as Afghanistan, women and girls are excluded from accessing secondary and tertiary education. Disturbingly, the global community has been muted for the most part. Engineering is about innovation and problem solving. The field of engineering requires multiple perspectives and as such women and girls should be encouraged to pursue careers in engineering. International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) is celebrated annually on June 23rd to honour the outstanding achievements of women engineers and to encourage more girls and women to pursue careers in engineering. The day highlights the contributions of women to the engineering field and promotes gender diversity in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). INWED is an international awareness campaign that celebrates the work and achievements of women engineers. It aims to inspire the next generation of female engineers and promote gender equality and diversity in engineering professions. This year’s theme is “Together We Engineer”. The theme is perfectly aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #5 that speaks to achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls. International Women in Engineering Day was launched for the first time in the United Kingdom in 2014 by the Women’s Engineering Society (WES) to celebrate its 95th anniversary. Since that launch, the day has grown enormously over the subsequent years to the point where it received the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) patronage in 2016. In 2017, International Women in Engineering Day became international for the first time due to the interest and enthusiasm developed by the international audience and participants in the previous years. Global education systems have a vital role to play in fostering a culture that is supportive of girls pursuing STEM subjects. Unfortunately, many countries only pay lip service to girls in STEM. Female mentors are crucial for encouraging women to pursue careers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields. Mentorship programmes can provide valuable support, guidance, and role models, helping women navigate the challenges and build confidence in these traditionally male-dominated areas. It is critical to encourage girls to consider engineering careers and to help fill the substantial future job opportunities predicted for the engineering sector. On this the International Women in Engineering Day, let us collectively support initiatives that empower women and girls in STEM. Wayne Campbell is an educator and social commentator with an interest in development policies as they affect culture and or gender issues. waykam@yahoo.com @WayneCamo © #InternationalWomenInEngineeringDay #INWED

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

International Men's Day

-
Image
“International Men’s Day has the potential to become the global medium to heal our world. The concept and themes of International Men’s Day are designed to give hope to the depressed, faith to the lonely, comfort to the broken-hearted, transcend barriers, eliminate stereotypes and create a more caring humanity.”- Dr. Jerome Teelucksingh. At times it appears there is a double standard regarding how societies put in place measures concerning the observation and celebration of manhood and masculinity. Men are socialized to be rough and tough. Interestingly, this gendered socialization is perpetuated by many women in the societies given that so many of our families are female-headed households. Men who championed men’s rights are oftentimes viewed with suspicion; however, the same microscope is not applied to women who championed women’s rights. In fact there are very few organizations which are dedicated to the empowerment of our men and boys. The structure of most education systems ...
Read more

National Bird Day

-
Image
“Wherever there are birds, there is hope.”- Mehmet Murat Ildan. Birds have always held a special place in our hearts. According to Born Free USA , nearly 12 percent of the world's almost 10,000 bird species are in danger of extinction. Regrettably, each year, millions of birds are captured from the wild or produced in captivity for commercial profit or human amusement, only to waste away in conditions that fail to meet the instinctive behavioral and physical needs of these wild animals. National Bird Day , celebrated on January 5 each year, is a day dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of birds in our ecosystems and their conservation. The day encourages people to appreciate the beauty, diversity, and significance of birds while promoting efforts to protect their habitats. National Bird Day was first established in 2002 by the Avian Welfare Coalition. The day not only draws attention to the pressing issues of bird extinction and habitat destruction but also encoura...
Read more

A Cultural Shift: The Evolution Of Halloween

-
Image
“Let no one be found among you who sacrifices their son or daughter in the fire, who practices divination or sorcery, interprets omens, engages in witchcraft, or casts spells, or who is a medium or spiritist or who consults the dead. Anyone who does these things is detestable to the LORD; because of these same detestable practices the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you.” - Deuteronomy 18:10-12. Culture is meant to be responsive to change. In fact, humans also are responsive to their cultural space. The relationship is therefore one of reciprocity and works beautifully when in alignment. Notwithstanding, culture is shaped by both internal and external agents. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) defines culture as “the set of distinctive spiritual, material, intellectual and emotional features of society or a social group, that encompasses, not only art and literature but lifestyles, ways of living together, value systems, t...
Read more