Since 2002, Nitsch Engineering has been hosting an annual Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day for 6th to 12th grade students. Each year we aim to:
- increase attendees’ interest in engineering in a supportive and enthusiastic atmosphere.
- educate them about the various engineering fields by showcasing different types of engineering each year.
- share information about how rewarding a career in engineering can be.
- introduce the students to women engineers.
- demonstrate that engineering is fun!
Each year we choose a specific field of engineering as a topic, and develop a program that combines female engineers’ stories with hands-on activities to educate and inspire the girls. Past topics have included:
- 2025 – Transforming Communities Through Land Development
- 2024 – Exploring Structural Engineering and Building Bridges
- 2023 – Connecting Communities with Transportation Engineering
- 2022 – Virtual River Clean-Up
- 2021 – Virtual Panel Discussion
- 2020 – Virtual Engineering Fair
- 2019 – Fight Climate Change: Engineering a Resilient Future
- 2018 – Sharing Resources, Building Communities: Engineering Around the World
- 2017 – Now Hear This: Acoustical Engineering Improves Daily Life!
- 2016 – Computer Engineering Makes an Impact!
- 2015 – Improving Life with Biomedical Engineering!
- 2014 – Get Your Feet Wet: Learn About Marine & Ocean Engineering!
- 2013 – Engineering for Cell Phones
- 2012 – Engineering for Schools
- 2011 – Improving the World With Robotics
- 2010 – Get Excited About Green Energy!
- 2009 – Designing and Building Bridges for the World
- 2008 – Saving the World One Drop of Water at a Time
- 2007 – Experience Bioengineering
- 2006 – Mapping your Engineering Career
- 2005 – Structural Engineering
- 2004 – Engineering at Logan Airport
- 2003 – Ride the Segway!
- 2002 – Engineering the Big Dig
Resources
Visit the following websites to learn more about pursuing an engineering education and career!
- Engineer Girl: This website shares the exciting opportunities that engineering represents for girls and women. Bright, energetic girls from all around United States and Canada helped develop this site by serving as the Advisory Board.
- Engineering – Go For It: Check out this site to find descriptions of different engineering fields, get information on how to prepare yourself for an engineering education, and learn how to choose the right college for you.
- Try Engineering: This interactive site gives you a chance to explore science and engineering with virtual visits, activities, and design challenges.
- SWENext: This program from the Society of Women Engineers is focused on providing girls younger than 18 with a way to #BeThatEngineer!
- Don’t miss the Digital Library to Explore STEM Careers to learn more about a number of different types of engineering careers!
- PBS Design Squad Nation: Design Squad Nation includes tons of articles, activities, and challenges to put your engineering and design skills to the test!
- Discover-e: This site, from the National Engineers Week Foundation, connects you with engineering-related resources including type of engineering, career outlook, activities, and other resources.
- Tomorrow’s Engineers: This site from the UK has great information on engineering. While some information is UK-specific, there is a lot to explore!
- Smore Magazine: Smore is a science magazine for 7-12 year old girls that covers interesting research news, STEM activities, and stories of women in STEM.
- IT Hare: This website, which is focused on computer engineering and software programming, includes a great list of major engineering fields with short introductions and links to more information. Thanks to Zoe, a future engineer, for recommending we add this resource!
Similar Events
There are a number of organizations that sponsor programs similar to our event. We’d suggest taking a look at these if you’re interested in engineering!
- Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day: The official site for the national event includes information on activities, events, and competitions.
- Girl Scouts of Eastern Massachusetts: Check out a number of STEM-focused events, including the annual “Changing the World Through STEM” event; girls do not always need to be a Girl Scout to attend.
- Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts: The Geek is Glam STEM Expo in October is a great opportunity for 4th-8th grade girls to get hands-on experiences with STEM fields.
- Cambridge Science Festival: The Cambridge Science Festival offers a wide range of STEM-related activities – lectures, debates, exhibitions, concerts, plays, workshops, etc. – over ten days at a variety of locations in Massachusetts.
- USA Science and Engineering Festival: Check out the largest science festival in the United States, which features nationwide contests and school programs.
- Massachusetts Science and Engineering Fair: The MSEF aims to empower middle- and high-school students through science and engineering learning, and provides tools for students who are doing independent projects.
- Society of Women Engineers Boston: SWE Boston hosts a number of other K-12 Outreach events.
- Howard University, STEM Summer Camp & Verizon Innovative Learning: This summer camp introduces 6th-8th grade students to a variety of STEM subjects.
- Northeastern University, Center for STEM Education: Throughout the year, Northeastern’s Center for STEM Education hosts multiple events for girls of all ages who are interested in STEM fields. All are either free or very low cost.
- Virginia Tech Pre-College Programs: Virginia Tech has a variety of programs for 6th-12th grade students.
- Worcester Polytechnic Institute Pre-College Programs: WPI holds a variety of outreach events for students from 3rd-12th grade, including programs during the school year and summer.
- UMass Lowell, Francis College of Engineering Community Outreach: UMass Lowell runs a series of events for students interested in engineering, including ones targeted specifically for female students.
- CodeCampKidz: This user-friendly eLearning platform was designed to introduce coding to kids in an achievable and fun way! Many people are moving onto elearning platforms, with tips and tricks to help people transition into this available online (source here). In addition to the eLearning platform, they host events around New England.
* U.S. Department of Labor, Women’s Bureau (based on Census data)