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Southern Illinois University Edwardsville and The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) hosted nearly 150 middle school-age girls for the second annual Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day. The event was Saturday, Feb. 22, in the SIUE School of Engineering Building and offered young girls exposure to the engineering field.

The program drew almost 50 more participants than last year said Sofia Chkautovich, chair of the event committee and a junior civil engineering major from St. Louis.

The goal is to learn the different types of engineering and discover what engineering is all about,” said Chkautovich, the chair of the SWE event committee. “At SIUE, we want girls to know the possibilities in the math and science fields, and see the possibilities in a traditionally male-dominated field. This is about empowering women, so that they know their options.”

Activities included small groups using teamwork to design and create miniature roller coasters, ferris wheels and slingshots. The attendees also managed balance with marshmallows and designed robot commands.

An approximately 60-member volunteer group comprised of professional women engineers and SIUE students supported and guided the participants. Following the completion of each activity, the professional engineers and the SIUE engineering students offered analysis.

“We discover that as the girls get more comfortable with each activity and their team, they become more competitive and produce the best structure,” Chkautovich said. “They move from being intimidated or afraid to being interested, lose that protective cloak, and see the result of teamwork and bonding.”

The parents were also included as SIUE Chancellor Julie Furst-Bowe, School of Engineering Dean Hasan Sevim and female engineers spoke to them about future career paths for their daughters.

For more information, contact swesiue@gmail.com or visit www.facebook.com/swesiue.