By Oona Hirvonen
Did you know that only 15% of the engineering workforce is made up of women, compared to the larger 85% of men? Not only that, but many women are discouraged from pursuing a career in any STEM-oriented field. That is why a new club called the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), has been established here at BC! I had the wonderful privilege of attending their first meeting on October 2nd.
During the session, the amazing officer team delved into the purpose and goals of the club. The most prominent goal of SWE is to welcome and support young women pursuing engineering as a career. Throughout the year, SWE will participate in various activities in different engineering fields; from civil engineering all the way to biomedical engineering, the list is endless! This club will invite guest speakers, engage in hands-on activities, and provide resources specific to each engineering field.
In addition, the officer team is open to all ideas from members, allowing them to have as much say as board members when discussing the curriculum and activities presented in the club. Sabrina Grillet Panvini, president of the SWE, said, “We want to create a positive learning environment, where girls, women, and anyone who has an ambition for engineering can explore all their interests freely, creatively, and educationally in a judge free zone that sets all our members up for success and can help decide what they want to be in the future too!”
SWE is a non-profit organization that can guide an individual all the way through to the workforce. It hires ambassadors to connect with other female engineers around the country with expositions. In addition, SWE at BC works alongside Engineering Tomorrow, a non-profit organization, to provide engineering labs exploring each field with professionals to enlighten SWE’s members on their experiences in engineering.
After the meeting, I interviewed Kaylie Gomez, a Junior at the College Academy, and a fellow officer, asking why she joined the club and the benefits she has gained in her time here. Gomez explained “I joined SWE to learn more about engineering and expand my view on the different branches, which is all done through hands-on labs and presentations from professionals.” Kaylie also mentioned how she’s intrigued in pursuing biomedical engineering and is looking forward to the biomedical engineering lab where they will be using light to cure a disease.
SWE encourages anyone with a curiosity in math, science, or any kind of STEM major to look into joining SWE. From the officers to the clubs’ members, everyone will be delighted to see a new member and leads them to consider engineering as a possible career pathway. This shows how SWE is not just another club at BC, but an environment that fosters a sense of community combined with extravagant opportunities.
If interested, feel free to contact the club president: (954)-478-3756