Interactive Women in Engineering!
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Ida Noddack Tacke
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Ida Noddack Tacke (Grace Hopper
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Grace Hopper, computer programmer, designed the MARK series of computers at Harvard in 1944 and coined the term "bug" for a computer fault when a moth caused a hardware fault. In the 1970s, she pioneered the implementation of Lillian Moller Gilbreth
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Lillian Moller Gilbreth, inventor and industrial engineer for General Electric interviewed over 4000 women to design the proper height for stoves, sinks and other kitchen fixtures and was a leader in what we know today as ergonomics. he was one of the first working female Emily Roebling
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Due to her husband's infirmity, Emily took over for her husband and developed an extensive knowledge of strength of materials, stress analysis, cable construction, and calculating catenary curves through Washington’s teachings. She continued for the next fourteen years, dealing so effectively with politicians, competing engineers, and all those associated with the work on the bridge that people believed she was behind the bridge’s design. In 1882, Emily went as the first woman to speak before the American Society of Civil Engineers to defend her husband. Her actions allowed Washington to stay on as Chief Engineer of the Brooklyn Bridge, which was finally completed in 1883. At the bridge’s opening ceremony, Emily was honored in a speech by Abram Stevens Hewitt who said at the bridge was "an everlasting monument to the sacrificing devotion of a woman and of her capacity for that higher education from which she has been too long disbarred." Today the Brooklyn Bridge holds a plaque dedicating the memory of Emily, her husband, and her father-in-law. After the completion of the Brooklyn Bridge, the Roebling family moved to Trenton, New Jersey. There, Emily participated in social organizations such as the Relief Society during the Spanish-American War and served on the Board of Lady Managers for New Jersey at the World’s Columbian Exposition. She also continued her education and received a law degree from New York University. Until Emily’s death on February 28, 1903, she spent her remaining time with her family and kept socially and mentally active.
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Born in Edith Clarke
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She was the first woman to earn an M.S. in electrical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She invented the Clarke calculator, a simple graphical device that solved equations involving electric current, voltage and impedance in power transmission lines. The device could solve line equations involving hyperbolic functions ten times faster than previous methods. She applied for a patent on the device in 1921. She was the first woman to deliver a paper at the American Institute of Electrical Engineers' annual meeting, she showed the use of hyperbolic functions for calculating the maximum power that a line could carry without instability. Two of her later papers won awards from the AIEE. In 1948, Clarke was the first female Fellow of the American Institute of Electrical Engineers. In 1954, she received the Society of Women Engineers Achievement Award. |
Edith Clark was an Heddy Lamarr
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Hedy Lamarr (November 9, 1913 – January 19, 2000) was an 
Karen Panetta, Associate Professor; Tufts University
Job:
Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering
Teaches core computer engineering courses
Developing the multimedia curriculum at Tufts
Creator, "Nerd Girls": Breaking the Stigmas and
Stereotypes of Women in Engineering project
Career Highlights:
Several awards for outstanding teaching and mentoring, creative curriculum development and outreach activities. Recognized as the only educator in Massachusetts for Engineering Technology advancement by Mass High Tech Magazine, 2003. Dr. Panetta is the recipient of several NASA and National Science Foundation Research Grants, including the NSF CAREER Award. Performed engineering outreach activities to over 7500 Massachusetts school children, parents and educators through the Nerd Girls Program in 2003-2006.
Education:
B.S. in Computer Engineering, Boston University
M.S. in Electrical Engineering, Northeastern University
Ph.D. in Computer Systems Engineering, Northeastern University.
Tufts University, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering:
- Responsible for instructing computer engineering core courses including microprocessor design, operating systems, digital logic and analog circuits, digital system testing and computer animation.
- Director of the Simulation Research Laboratory at Tufts University. Current research areas include the development of image processing algorithms for enhancement and security, simulation, behavioral modeling and reliability analysis for multi-level systems including embedded processors and MEMS components..http://simlab.eecs.tufts.edu
- Co-developer of the interdisciplinary Multimedia and arts minor. This was the first program in the United States that paired liberal arts students with engineers.
- Developed the first interdisciplinary projects in “Sports Engineering” at Tufts University.
- Created the “Breaking the Stigmas and Stereotypes of Women in Engineering and Science: The Nerd Girls Project.” The program encourages young girls to pursue engineering and science careers and shows all young children that Engineers are cool and very talented. Website: http://nerdgirls.eecs.tufts.edu. Articles on Dr. Panetta and her award winning team have appeared in ElleGirl.Com, the Boston Globe, August 2002, written by Jena Russell, Newsweek Magazine, September 2002, written by Karen Springen and the IEEE Institute, September 2002, written by Helen Horowitz.
- Faculty Advisor for the Robotics Academy at Tufts University and Faculty Advisor for the IEEE Student Chapter, which sponsors the “Junk Yard Wars in Engineering” and the IEEE robotics competition. Developed the “Robot Escape!” and “Virtual Student Pets” design projects for the advanced digital design course within the Electrical and Computer Engineering department.
- Selected by Tufts University President Lawrence S. Bacow to be a member of the Tufts University Task Force on Undergraduate Education. This committee of 5 faculty and 2 students is responsible for designing the future of the Tufts Undergraduate education.
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 Laura Dauphinais, Director, Systems Engineering; Raytheon Company
Job: Education:
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 Beth Wilson, Senior Engineering Fellow; Raytheon Company
Job: Career: Education:
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Carolyn Duby, Pathfinder Fellow; Pathfinder Solutions
Nancy Nicholas, Director 747-400 Boeing Converted Freighter, Boeing Corp.
- Job description – Responsible for the profit and loss of a multi-million dollar program to convert 747-400 aircraft currently flying in passenger configurations to freighters for customers from around the globe. Oversee a design team in Washington, California, and Moscow, Russia. Parts are produced by the Boeing Company and an international network of suppliers and are shipped to China, Korea, and Singapore where the aircraft are modified.
- Career Journey – My first job after college was in a chemical testing laboratory where I analyzed soil samples from Superfund sites. It was interesting to translate my education into practice, but I was not eager to work around toxic chemicals any longer than necessary.
I joined the Boeing Company in Manufacturing, Research, and Development where my first project was to assist in the development of pre-impregnated carbon fiber composite materials for use in the 747-400 cabin interior panels. Working with various suppliers, designers, and mechanics in our factory, we developed materials that met stringent requirements for weight, strength, flammability, and smoke.
Over the years, I had the opportunity to work in many different areas including: payloads design, make versus buy analysis, finance, and most recently in program management. I have used my foundation of math and science and built off of that with on the job and formal training along the way.
- Favorite part of career – Always learning! One of the benefits of working for a very large company like Boeing is that there are so many different jobs you can do over the course of a career. I have had the pleasure of taking on many new roles and exploring many different facets of our enterprise. This variety makes every day exciting. I was also able to take advantage of a wonderful tuition reimbursement benefit that Boeing offers and get my MBA while working. This allowed me to round out my technical skills with more business knowledge.
- Challenges you’ve overcome – College was a big adjustment. I had to study and work much harder than in high school. It took me some time to realize how much effort it would require. Once I started working, each new assignment required me to learn new skills. This can be daunting at first, but very rewarding as you grow. Starting a family while continuing a career is very difficult – especially if you want to be very involved in both. My husband has been incredibly supportive in my career and with the raising of our children.
- Preparation for career (education and other life experiences) – I enjoyed math and science in high school and was able to take technical drawing courses as electives since King Philip had a vocational department. I really liked my chemistry teacher and was able to take an advanced chemistry course where I had a broader exposure to the subject.
While in high school, I also had the opportunity to attend a week at Stevens Institute of Technology where young women were exposed to various fields of engineering. We had the chance to hear from many different professors, to have some hands on fun with computers, and to see some of what the different departments were studying in their laboratories.
I attended Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and obtained my bachelor’s of science in Chemical Engineering. While working, I went back to school at night and earned an MBA from Seattle University.
- Advice – If you are interested in math or science – or if you are good at them – look into what careers you can pursue and give one a try. You can do many different jobs over the course of a career – or even change careers – so don’t be afraid to try one and know that you can branch out into something else later.
- Influences – My parents were always behind me and from a young age I was taught that I could choose any career. Education was always emphasized as important. I also had grandparents (male and female) who had owned their own businesses, so I had plenty of role models to show what you could do if you were willing to work for what you wanted.
I participated in competitive sports in junior high and high school. I learned the value of teamwork and how to work at something for a long time. I also had some coaches that really taught us to perservere.
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 Kathleen Morris, Owner of “The Carpenter Aunt”
Job: Career: Education:
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Job: Career: Joined Kenner Toys as a design engineer, which was subsequently purchased by Hasbro. Education:
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Helena Willis, Director of Engineering, Boys Toys, Hasbro, Inc.
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Supervise product engineering for Advanced Products Career: Chemical engineer with Corning Glass Works.
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Mary Edwards, Product Engineering and Government Program Manager, Corning, Inc.
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Marina Musicus is studying Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. She is a Judith Reznick scholar and hopes to attend graduate school in Biomechanical Engineering and later work in the field of prosthetic limb design. In her spare time, Marina enjoys working as an EMT, organizing community service projects for the Carnegie Mellon chapter of the Society of Women Engineers, building robots, and folding origami.
Blanche Ames
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One year after graduation, Blanche married Oakes Ames and moved to North Easton. Between 1901 and 1910, she and Oakes had four children. While raising her children and maintaining the family’s winter and summer households, Blanche found time to create an extensive body of portrait work, develop a color chart system, and collaborate with Oakes on his botanical publications.
Although her family and her art were her primary concerns, Blanche actively pursued a variety of other interests. A lifelong supporter of woman suffrage, Blanche produced a series of political cartoons that received national attention. In 1916, she co-founded the Birth Control League of Massachusetts, an affiliate of Margaret Sanger’s national group. During World War II, having noticed that thread could snarl and jam a sewing machine motor, Blanche used that same principle to design a device to ensnare low-flying aircraft. The machine was demonstrated on the lawn at Borderland for guests from the Pentagon. Although accepted by the U.S. Army, it came too late for practical application in the war. Angered by a passage in John F. Kennedy’s Profiles in Courage, criticizing her father as a “carpetbagger,” Blanche set out to write a biography that would vindicate him and “correct” history. She was eighty years old when she began the project. The research took six years, and in 1964, Adelbert Ames: Broken Oaths and Reconstruction in Mississippi was published. Blanche Ames and Oakes Ames came from prominent but unrelated Massachusetts families. Among their ancestors were blacksmiths and manufacturers, congressmen and governors, generals and yachtsmen, farm wives and—Blanche’s grandmother—a Shakespearean actress. The mansion’s exhibits tell the stories of many of theses people. The ship Hercules brought the forebears of Oakes Ames to Massachusetts in 1638. Several generations of farmers and blacksmiths later, John Ames of Bridgewater became the first American to manufacture shovels. Within a few years, the colonists no longer needed to import shovels from England In 1803, John’s son, Oliver Ames, moved to North Easton where he founded the Ames Shovel works company. The company developed a lightweight shovel much favored during the Gold rush, the settlement of the Northwest Territory, and the Civil War. The Ames shovel was so highly regarded that at one time it was used as “legal tender” on the frontier.
Oakes’ son Oliver continued the family’s political involvement serving as Governor of Massachusetts from 1887 to 1890. It was his son Oakes who pursued a career in botany and developed Borderland. Blanche’s family roots also go back to colonial Yankee stock. Her mother’s side of the family included veterans of the French and Indian War, the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the Civil War. Her most famous forebear was her maternal grandfather Benjamin Franklin Butler. He proved himself a military leader of high caliber as a General of the Union Army during the Civil War. In 1864, President Lincoln asked Butler to be his running mate for his second term. Butler declined, believing he could better serve the interests of his country by remaining in the army. Had he accepted, Ben Butler—not Andrew Johnson—would have become President following Lincoln’s assassination. After the Civil War, Butler resumed his political career. He returned to Lowell, Massachusetts, and was elected to the House of Representatives. During his years in Congress, he led successful fights for the first Civil Rights Act and a bill to curb the activities of the Ku Klux Klan. In 1882 he became governor of Massachusetts. Two years later, Butler ran for President of theUnited States on the third party Greenback ticket. His wife was Sarah Hildreth Butler, a Shakespearean actress from Dracut, Massachusetts. She gave up her stage career after their marriage, and remained in Lowell to raise their three children while Ben Butler was in Congress. When their daughter Blanche was a young woman, she often went to Washington to watch her father at work. It was at the Capitol that she met Adelbert Ames, a native of Maine who represented Mississippi in the Senate. They were married on July 20, 1870, in Lowell Adelbert Ames was a much-decorated Union Army officer. He rose rapidly through the ranks, becoming a Brigadier General of the U.S. Volunteers and Lieutenant Colonel in the Army. Following the Civil War, Adelbert was appointed Provisional Governor of Mississippi. In 1870, that state sent him to the U.S. Senate, where he served until 1873. Elected Governor of Mississippi in 1874, he served two years before leaving politics for business, and returning to his home and family in Lowell. He later commanded American troops in Cuba during the Spanish-American War. He and Blanche Butler had six children, the fourth of whom was the Blanche Ames of Borderland. Source: State of Massachusetts. Learn more |
Blanche Ames (1878-1969) was an artist, feminist, author and inventor. Leading citizens of Lowell, Massachusetts, her parents believed in the equality of women and encouraged their daughters to pursue higher education. When Blanche entered Smith College in 1895, she was one of a small minority of American women of her generation who attended college. As president of the Class of 1899, she gave the commencement address. She told her audience, which included President McKinley, “We are fortunate to live in an age that—more than any other—makes it possible for women to attain the best and truest development in life.”
It was during this period of prosperity that the Ame0 family first became involved with politics and national affairs. Oliver’s son Oakes served in the U.S. Congress from 1862 to 1873. President Abraham Lincoln, a staunch supporter of a transcontinental railroad, personally asked Oakes Ames to take over the financially-ailing Union Pacific. Oakes, together with his brother Oliver, undertook the venture. Their success was celebrated on May 10, 1869, when the “golden spike” was driven at Promontory Point, Utah, linking the Union Pacific with the Central pacific Railroad and creating the country’s first transcontinental railway
Martha Coston
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Martha Coston invented a system of maritime signal flares based on color and pattern. Using various color combinations, these flares made ship-to-ship and ship-to-shore communication possible. In February 1859, C.S. McCauley, Captain and Senior Officer of the United States Navy, recommended the signals to the Secretary of the Navy, Isaac Toucey. Coston sold her system to the U.S. Navy for $5,000, and later sold the U.S. patent rights to the Navy for $20,000. Her system was also adopted by the governments of France, Italy, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Haiti. |
Martha Coston perfected then patented her deceased husband’s idea for a pyrotechnic flare. Coston’s husband, a former naval scientist, died leaving behind only a rough sketch in a diary of plans for the flares. Martha Coston developed the idea into an elaborate system of flares called Night Signals that allowed ships to communicate messages nocturnally. The U. S. Navy bought the patent rights to the flares. Coston’s flares served as the basis of a system of communication that helped to save lives and to win battles. Martha Coston credited her late husband with the first patent for the flares, but in 1871 she received a patent for an improvement exclusively her own.
Do You Want To...
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Feed the world? Do more than recycling to protect the environment? Take things apart to see how they work? Write your own video game or software? Power the world? Know how they get the non-stick surface of a frying pan to stick to the pan? Know what the Egyptian pyramids, the Golden Gate Bridge and the road you took from home to school have in common?
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Agricultural engineering is a discipline that combines engineering science and agricultural knowledge in order to ensure food security. Agricultural engineers deal with the development and improvement of cultivation methods and livestock production systems as well as processing engineering. They eventually design machineries and structures for alternative energy systems such as bioenergy. Based on statistical analysis of the agricultural sector itself, land and weather conditions, available raw materials and other factors, Agricultural Engineers also assist in policy decision making by project planning and analysis.
Agricultural processing engineering describes all processing steps that an agricultural product runs through before ending on the consumer's table including on-line computer control of food processing operations, modelling heat transfer mechanisms during thermal processing and developing of smart food. It also analyses the foods own characteristics for example the flow behavior of powder and granular food products; aseptic aspects; food biosensors.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agricultural_engineering
Mechanical Engineering is an engineering discipline that involves the application of principles of physics for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. Mechanical engineering is one of the oldest and broadest engineering disciplines. It requires a solid understanding of core concepts including mechanics, kinematics, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, and energy. Mechanical engineers use the core principles as well as other knowledge in the field to design and analyze motor vehicles, aircraft, heating and cooling systems, watercraft, manufacturing plants, industrial equipment and machinery, robotics, medical devices and more.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanical_engineering
Computer Engineering (also called Electronic and Computer Engineering or Computer Systems Engineering) is a discipline that combines elements of both Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.[1] Computer engineers usually have training in electrical engineering, software design and hardware-software integration instead of only software engineering or electrical engineering. Computer engineers are involved in many aspects of computing, from the design of individual microprocessors, personal computers, and supercomputers, to circuit design. This field of engineering not only focuses on how computer systems themselves work, but also how they integrate into the larger picture.[2]
Usual tasks involving computer engineers include writing software and firmware for embedded microcontrollers, designing VLSI chips, designing analog sensors, designing mixed signal circuit boards, and designing operating systems.[citation needed] Computer engineers are also suited for robotics research,[citation needed] which relies heavily on using digital systems to control and monitor electrical systems like motors, communications, and sensors.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_engineering
Electrical engineering, sometimes referred to as electrical and electronic engineering, is a field of engineering that deals with the study and application of electricity, electronics and electromagnetism. The field first became an identifiable occupation in the late nineteenth century after commercialization of the electric telegraph and electrical power supply. It now covers a range of subtopics including power, electronics, control systems, signal processing and telecommunications.
Electrical engineering may or may not include electronic engineering. Where a distinction is made, usually outside of the United States, electrical engineering is considered to deal with the problems associated with large-scale electrical systems such as power transmission and motor control, whereas electronic engineering deals with the study of small-scale electronic systems including computers and integrated circuits.[1] Alternatively, electrical engineers are usually concerned with using electricity to transmit energy, while electronic engineers are concerned with using electricity to transmit information.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_engineering
Materials science or materials engineering is an interdisciplinary field involving the properties of matter and its applications to various areas of science and engineering. This science investigates the relationship between the structure of materials at atomic or molecular scales and their macroscopic properties. It includes elements of applied physics and chemistry, as well as chemical, mechanical, civil and electrical engineering. With significant media attention focused on nanoscience and nanotechnology in recent years, materials science has been propelled to the forefront at many universities. It is also an important part of forensic engineering and failure analysis.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Materials_Engineering
Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including works such as bridges, roads, canals, dams and buildings.[1][2][3] Civil engineering is the oldest engineering discipline after military engineering,[4] and it was defined to distinguish non-military engineering from military engineering.[5] It is traditionally broken into several sub-disciplines including environmental engineering, geotechnical engineering, structural engineering, transportation engineering, municipal or urban engineering, water resources engineering, materials engineering, coastal engineering,[4] surveying, and construction engineering.[6] Civil engineering takes place on all levels: in the public sector from municipal through to federal levels, and in the private sector from individual homeowners through to international companies.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_engineering
Other Notable Women Engineers
Barbara Johnson – NASA aeronautical engineer responsible for moon landing, only woman on the engineering team
Bonnie Dunbar – NASA astronaut from Sunnyside, WA; BS in Ceramic Engineering from UW; PhD from U. Houston; developed ceramic tiles to protect space capsules on re-entry at Rockwell before joining NASA; named Rockwell Space Division Engineer of the Year; flew on several NASA space missions
Judith Resnik – NASA astronaut with a PhD in EE, mission specialist on a space flight
Beatrice Hicks – degrees in both chemical and electrical engineering, founding member and first president of SWE which now has 16,000 members, first woman engineer hired by Western Electric Co, developed sensing devices
Ellen Swallow Richards – pioneer in the field of environmental engineering, conducted first water quality studies of Massachusetts waters in 1870, developed methods still being used today, known as the “mother of environmental engineering”
Mary Walton – British technologist in late 1800’s, developed a method to detect smoke emissions, developed methods to reduce train noise that was purchased by the New York railroad system
Margaret Engels – first woman to get master’s degree in mechanical engineering, worked for Carrier Corp designing better air conditioning systems, wrote books on the subject
Katherine Stinson – inspired by Amelia Earhart she became the first woman to get BS in ME with Aero Option from NC State, first female engineer to work for the Civil Aeronautics Administration that later became the FAA, she earned the FAA Sustained Superior Performance Award, helped organize SWE and served as president, named as the Aviation Pioneer of the Year in 1987
Kathrine Hopper – master’s in civil engineering, design and construction of major sports facilities including Safeco Field
Elizabeth MacGill – first woman to graduate in EE at U. Toronto, worked for Austin Motors which went into aircraft manufacture during WWII, she went to U. Michigan for aeronautical engineering and became first woman to earn a master’s degree in this subject, she went back to Canada and designed an aircraft trainer called the Maple Leaf Trainer II, first woman to chair a committee of the UN
Stephanie Kwolek – known for the invention of Kevlar, worked for DuPont and advanced to their research labs, has 19 US patents, awarded National Medal of Technology (highest award in engineering in US)
Maryly van Leer Peck – PhD in chemical engineering, became an engineering educator, research on fuel combustion for the Navy, family with four children
Denise Denton – EE professor and Dean of Engineering at UW, research on MEMS with biological applications, has worked to get students involved with research early in their academic careers and to get more women into engineering
Borjana Mikic – biomedical engineer and professor at Smith College
Gail Boydston – chemical engineer with Eli Lilly Co, developing new types of insulin, forecasts world wide manufacturing capacity needs for chemical and biotech facilities, responsible for mentoring and training new engineering hires at Eli Lilly
Carol Muller – Associate Dean of Engineering at Dartmouth, developed program to link lower class engineering students to upper classmates, head spin-off nonprofit company “moniter.net” to link female engineering students to female engineers in industry, now 4000 pairs and used at over 70 universities
Barbara McClintock – one of pioneers in field of bioengineering, worked in genetics at Cornell and had major research breakthroughs, her success irked male peers and she was fired, continued her work in genetics and awarded Nobel Prize
Anita Vasavada – biomedical engineering faculty member at WSU, enjoys teaching and her research on impact of whiplash on neck muscles
Elizabeth Messer – aerospace engineer at NASA, led a team that developed and tested the Marshall Oxygen Cold-flow Facility, first female engine test director at NASA’s Stennis Space Flight Center
Lindsay Margn(?) – nuclear engineer with US Navy working on the nuclear propulsion program, supervises over 50 people running a nuclear reactor
Barbara Williams – bioengineering technical person with major biomedical company, first African American woman to be named division head, developed improved pace-makers for dogs and company hopes to use these innovations to move into ones for humans
Rosalind Elsie Franklin – doctorate from Cambridge, studied x-ray diffraction in Paris, research at King’s College (London), made important contributions to discovery of DNA
Marie Curie – from Poland but doctorate in Paris, research on properties of steel in concert with industry needs, helped develop fundamental understanding of radioactivity, won two Nobel Prizes
Lise Meitner – PhD in physics based on studies of heat conduction, known as the “mother of the atomic bomb”, provided great insight to radioactive decay processes, collaborated with Otto Hahn who discovered nuclear fission and other important scientists Niels Bohr, Max Born, Max Planck, Wolfgang Pauli, James Chadwick and Albert Einstein, Einstein referred to her as “The German Madam Curie”
Mildred Dresselhaus – professor of engineering at MIT, made advances in superconductors for use in solid-state electronics, has received many honors and awards
Chien-Shiung Wu – originally a researcher in nuclear physics, did experimental verification of Lee and Yang’s theory about beta decay (they got Nobel Prize but not her), worked on the Manhattan Project and developed a process for separating U235 from U238 by gaseous diffusion; helped develop more sensitive Geiger counters, research on sickle-cell anemia using advanced biophysics
Thelma Estrin – PhD in EE and a biomedical engineer, first IEEE woman vice president, developed first computer in the Middle East, became Director of the Brain Research Institute
Elizabeth Pate-Cornell – PhD in engineering economic systems, Distinguished Professor and Chair of Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management at Stanford University, making developments in risk reduction for technological activities such as space shuttle flights and construction of dams and off-shore oil platforms, first female engineering faculty member from Stanford to be elected to National Academy of Engineering, member of the National Research Council, on the NASA Advisory Committee
Hertha Ayrton – educated at University of London and Cambridge in math in late 1800’s, has a number of papers published on solution of math problems, helped her husband conduct important experiments in electricity, first female member of The Institution of Electrical Engineers, first female to read her own paper before The Royal Society of London
Earnings for Engineers by Discipline
Earnings for engineers vary significantly by specialty, industry, and education. Variation in median earnings and in the earnings distributions for engineers in various specialties is especially significant. Table 2 shows wage-and-salary earnings distributions in May 2006 for engineers in specialties covered in this statement.
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Table 2: Earnings distribution by engineering specialty, May 2006 |
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Specialty |
Lowest 10% |
Lowest 25% |
Median |
Highest 25% |
Highest 10% |
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Aerospace engineers |
59,610 |
71,360 |
87,610 |
106,450 |
124,550 |
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Agricultural engineers |
42,390 |
53,040 |
66,030 |
80,370 |
96,270 |
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Biomedical engineers |
44,930 |
56,420 |
73,930 |
93,420 |
116,330 |
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Chemical engineers |
50,060 |
62,410 |
78,860 |
98,100 |
118,670 |
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Civil engineers |
44,810 |
54,520 |
68,600 |
86,260 |
104,420 |
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Computer hardware engineers |
53,910 |
69,500 |
88,470 |
111,030 |
135,260 |
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Electrical engineers |
49,120 |
60,640 |
75,930 |
94,050 |
115,240 |
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Electronics engineers, except computer |
52,050 |
64,440 |
81,050 |
99,630 |
119,900 |
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Environmental engineers |
43,180 |
54,150 |
69,940 |
88,480 |
106,230 |
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Health and safety engineers, except mining safety engineers and inspectors |
41,050 |
51,630 |
66,290 |
83,240 |
100,160 |
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Industrial engineers |
44,790 |
55,060 |
68,620 |
84,850 |
100,980 |
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Marine engineers and naval architects |
45,200 |
56,280 |
72,990 |
90,790 |
113,320 |
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Materials engineers |
46,120 |
57,850 |
73,990 |
92,210 |
112,140 |
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Mechanical engineers |
45,170 |
55,420 |
69,850 |
87,550 |
104,900 |
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Mining and geological engineers, including mining safety engineers |
42,040 |
54,390 |
72,160 |
94,110 |
128,410 |
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Nuclear engineers |
65,220 |
77,920 |
90,220 |
105,710 |
124,510 |
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Petroleum engineers |
57,960 |
75,880 |
98,380 |
123,130 |
Over 145,600 |
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All other engineers |
46,080 |
62,710 |
81,660 |
100,320 |
120,610 |
In the Federal Government, mean annual salaries for engineers ranged from $75,144 in agricultural engineering to $107,546 in ceramic engineering in 2007.
As a group, engineers earn some of the highest average starting salaries among those holding bachelor’s degrees. Table 3 shows average starting salary offers for engineers, according to a 2007 survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers.
http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos027.htm#earnings
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Table 3: Average starting salary by engineering specialty and degree , 2007 |
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Curriculum |
Bachelor's |
Master's |
Ph.D. |
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Aerospace/aeronautical/astronautical |
$53,408 |
$62,459 |
$73,814 |
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Agricultural |
49,764 |
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Architectural |
48,664 |
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Bioengineering and biomedical |
51,356 |
59,240 |
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Chemical |
59,361 |
68,561 |
73,667 |
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Civil |
48,509 |
48,280 |
62,275 |
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Computer |
56,201 |
60,000 |
92,500 |
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Electrical/electronics and communications |
55,292 |
66,309 |
75,982 |
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Environmental/environmental health |
47,960 |
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Industrial/manufacturing |
55,067 |
64,759 |
77,364 |
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Materials |
56,233 |
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Mechanical |
54,128 |
62,798 |
72,763 |
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Mining and mineral |
54,381 |
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Nuclear |
56,587 |
59,167 |
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Petroleum |
60,718 |
57,000 |
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Footnotes: |
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http://stats.bls.gov/oco/ocos027.htm#earnings
Ask an Engineer!
Becoming a Mechanical Engineer *
Q: Hello, I'm a high school student in Indonesia and I'm kind of interested of becoming a mechanical engineer. By this mail, I would like to ask what is it like being a mechanical engineer? Many people say that engineering is usually related to men's work, such as lifting heavy weights. Is the real situation really like this? Is there any risk for women working in this field? I hope you can share your experience with me. Looking forward to your answer. Thanks in advance. -Na Huang
Hi Na Huang! Glad to talk to you! When I first told my parents that I wanted to go into mechanical engineering, they thought of the same thing, i.e. working with cars and lots of heavy machinery. Mechanical engineering is a very wide field with many disciplines. There is a lot more to it than most people think. Automotive and machine designs are a few examples but that's not all mechanical engineers do. I myself work with robots for medical applications. There are mechanical engineers who work in fluid dynamics, heat transfer, mechanics of materials, dynamics and controls, etc. In many cases, the work they do involves mainly simulations and designing software. As an undergraduate student, you will get to explore all these core mechanical engineering areas. There will definitely be some design aspects, which may involve working with machinery, making your own parts in the machine shop, etc. You may think of that as "men's work", however, I think what is more important is whether it is something you would enjoy doing. I think at the end, that's all that matters. If you like it, don't be afraid and go for it! Who says women can't get their hands dirty? :) -Nim
What classes should I take? *
Q: I'm currently in grade 10 and had to choose subjects. My subjects include science and math. What subjects do you recommend I take if I'm thinking of becoming an electrical engineer? –Ella
Hi Ella, Math and science sounds pretty good :) I would recommend taking algebra, calculus, physics and chemistry. But don't forget to balance things out with some of your other interests (maybe music or history or a language something). As much as I love science, sometimes it's good to take a break from it; arts, the humanities and languages can be really enjoyable and they make you a more well-rounded person. Also, in my experience, when I study something completely unrelated to science, it actually gives one part of my brain a break so that when I come back to math or scientific problems, I'm more refreshed and can focus a lot better. I hope that helps! -Yasmin
Resources for a girl in second grade
Q: Hi, You have a really wonderful site. I am the parent of a seven-year-old, second-grade girl who appears to have an aptitude for math, science, and engineering. Her favorite toys are building toys (tinker toys, KNEX, legos, Bionicles), she is fascinated by how things work, she is good at math, and she has scored extremely high on the quantitative and nonverbal (spatial relations) portions of her cognitive aptitude tests. Clearly, she is wired for these activities and enjoys them, too!
I would really appreciate any and all advice you have about how to develop and encourage this strength. Although I do see some puzzles and games on your site that would be great for her age group, a lot of material is aimed at kids that are a little older: nine or ten, or middle school and high school. We will play all the games and do all the puzzles that we can, but is there anything else we can do at this age? The school's gifted program doesn't start until later grades, and I think it's more directed at advanced verbal skills. I'm not full of ideas myself, since I do not possess the same ability in math and science. I'm able to help with language skills and reading, but I'm very limited in how to develop math/science/engineering aptitude. Thanks, Pamela
Dear Pamela, I think it is great that you want to encourage your daughter to pursue something like engineering. A major reason that some very qualified girls don’t consider engineering is that they don’t know anything about it, but the best way for them to learn about it is generally from their parents. Girl Scouts may also have some great resources for you, or you might enjoy some of the games and activities on Cyberchase. The only thing I would caution you against is pushing her too hard. Good engineers generally explore their world because they enjoy it (as it sounds like your daughter does). Doing puzzles of any kind, reading, exploring, and just learning to love learning are the best things she can probably do at this point. Good luck. -Simil
What is the difference between engineering and design or drafting?
Q: Hello, My name is Josie and I have a 15 year old daughter interested in engineering and design/drafting. I have been trying to find out what is the difference between engineering and design/drafting? Can you please give me a response? Also can you direct me to my local engineering and design/drafting groups? I live in Southern California. Thank you. - Josie
Hi Josie! By design/drafting are you referring to making mechanical drawings of parts/structures or design/drafting in the artistic sense? In the first case, I would say design/drafting is related to engineering; however, the engineering design process is much more involved. All engineering disciplines will involve some aspects of design. First, there are many kinds of engineering such as electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, and biomedical engineering. For example, electrical engineers may design circuits which may involve drawing of the circuit on a computer. Civil engineers may design buildings. "Design" is a big part, and in order to do it correctly we need to apply the mathematical and scientific concepts that we learn. For example, for a mechanical engineer to design a part or a system, he/she needs to determine the material strength, system safety, etc. Once the design is created, the engineer may send it to a drafter who then creates a mechanical drawing which a machinist can use as a reference when building the part. I would suggest visiting some universities in your area to learn more about engineering. I don't know much about design/drafting companies in Southern California unfortunately. Hope this helps! -Nim
On Being an Aerospace Engineer
Q: My name is Lizzy and I am a high school student interested in the aerospace engineering career and I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions. I am also doing a speech on the topic and any information you can give me would be very helpful. Anyway, here are a few of my questions:
- What is involved in being an aerospace engineer?
- Did your education fully prepare you for a profession in the engineering field or were there some surprises along the way?
- What is/was one of the biggest obstacles you’ve had as an engineer?
- Is your job fun or is it “just another day at the office” and why?
- What did you education consist of?
- Since you work with NASA, do you also learn about the other things that go on there?
- Do you ever regret choosing this career path and why?
- Thank you very much for your time. If you have anything else you’d like to tell me, I would be so happy to hear it.
I’m looking forward to hearing from you!!! Thanks again!
1. Aerospace engineering involves aeronautics (Aero - vehicles in lower air medium, i.e., airplanes, jets, helicopters, glider, balloons) and astronautics (an old term that describes vehicles that work in the upper atmosphere of space, i.e., satellites, International Space Station, Space Shuttle, rockets)
2. My education did prepare me for my career. But there are always surprises. One major surprise was the first Space Shuttle disaster. I graduated that spring and realized the jobs I wanted to work on were at a standstill. I decided to go to graduate school.
3. When attending MIT I was ill prepared for the level of mathematics that I was expected to have mastered. Also, as a practicing engineer money and time are never enough.
4. My job is great. I really like the fact that I am always learning something new. My days are never the same.
5. BS from Mass. Institute of Technology Aeronautical/Astronautical Engineering
Master of Engineering and Doctor of Philosophy from Howard University Mechanical Engineering, Aerospace Option
Classes were in: technical writing; computer programming; electrical eng. - optimization, circuitry and control theory; civil eng. - structures, finite element theory; mathematics - linear algebra, calculus, differential equations, applied mathematics, statistics; mechanical eng. - vibrations, mechanics, system dynamics, astrodynamics, fluid dynamics, thermodynamics, aerodynamics, etc....
6. All the time. We are sent lots of announcements, have workshops and lectures that are available to all employees.
7. Nope. But I think about extending my knowledge to other fields.
8. I love teaching and speaking about what I do.
What is it like for women in engineering?
Q: I am Ethel, a Nigerian. Please, I would like to know how as a woman you fare in the world of engineering. What are some good colleges and universities to study mechanical engineering around the world? Thank you.
Hi Ethel. To answer your question about being a woman engineer, the answer is very dependent on where you are and what field of engineering you are in. All I can tell you is just from my experience in the United States. Unfortunately engineering is still a male-dominant field, though it is improving and there is a huge effort in encouraging more women in science and engineering. I know in some parts of the world, woman engineers are treated quite differently. I feel that it is very open in the US, and there are a lot of support systems out there now for women in technical fields. I believe that the most important thing is to enjoy it and have confidence in yourself and what you do. Then you can excel in anything anywhere. :) As for suggestions of good mechanical engineering programs, there are a lot of good undergrad schools out there. I would consult some online websites such as USNews.com if you would like to see some rankings. Though keep in mind that their ranking system is not always the best way to judge a school, but it will give you a start. I would go to the university website to find out more about any school and see if it will be a good fit for you in terms of class size, location, faculty/student ratios, financial aid, etc. Good luck! -Nim
Source: *Ask an Engineer — Engineer Girl! http://www.engineergirl.org/?id=5230