Since 1982, women have earned almost 10 million more college degrees than men. However, despite this statistic, a 2019 survey revealed that only 15% of engineers are women. Pay disparities, challenging work-life balances, and biased applications in fields like artificial intelligence (AI) have created roadblocks for many women trying to break into the profession.
Women in engineering can fill vital positions in the workforce. For example, in the United Kingdom’s energy sector, a indicated that 400,000 engineers are needed to reach critical climate goals in the future. In the same study, 83% of women engineers said that they were willing to help the U.K. meet its target of net zero emissions by 2050. Not only are women in engineering eager to make a difference in sectors such as energy, but more women in engineering roles lead to better communities and diversity in the workplace, as well as more competitive businesses.
International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) celebrates the amazing work that women engineers around the world are doing. Read on to learn more about this occasion, and how the International Society of Automation (ISA) is highlighting its members and other women engineers that are making a difference around the globe.
About International Women in Engineering Day (INWED)
International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) began in the United Kingdom on 23 June 2014 as a national campaign from the Women’s Engineering Society (WES) to celebrate its 95th anniversary. In 2017, National Women in Engineering Day became international, due in part to the rising popularity of participants living outside of the U.K. Thus, International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) was created to celebrate the achievements of women engineers across the globe.
This year marks the 9th year of INWED, and with a theme of inventors and innovators, the day has given women engineers around the world a community, playing a vital role in encouraging more young women to take up engineering careers and advance the profession for years to come.
You can learn more by going to the official International Women in Engineering Day website here.
How ISA is Celebrating
Highlighting ISA’s Women Engineer Members
On ISA’s 2022 International Women in Engineering Day website, we’ve been interviewing and highlighting a few of our members who have paved their way in a field that, while predominately male-led, is constantly evolving with the help of women engineers. To read all of the interviews, visit our INWED website here.
Social Media Contest
On 16 June, ISA launched a social media contest where followers were asked to tell us about women engineers who have made a significant difference in their lives and careers. By using the hashtag #ISAInspire, our followers have been commenting on our Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and TikTok social channels with videos and written testimonials, and tagging those that inspired them.
One winner, along with the person who inspired them, will have the opportunity to choose from one of three special edition International Women in Engineering t-shirt options to celebrate the occasion. Winners will be notified by 27 June 2022.
To learn more, visit our INWED website.
Book Sale
ISA is offering 20% off of both member and non-member pricing on books written by women authors and contributors.
Books include:
- Start-Up: A Technician’s Guide, Third Edition, by Diane R. Barkin
- MES Guide for Executives: Why and How to Select, Implement, and Maintain a Manufacturing Execution System, by Bianca Scholten
- A Guide to the Automation Body of Knowledge, edited by Nicholas P. Sands, P.E., CAP, and Ian Verhappen, P.E., CAP
Use promo code INSPIRE20 at checkout to save on these resources. Click here to learn more.
Conclusion
From all of us at ISA, thank you to our women engineers and automation professionals for your amazing contributions and innovations to the field as you forge the path for future generations!
