College of Engineering students hosted 160 middle school girls from five South Florida schools at the Shalala Student Center to acquaint them with the benefits of a career in engineering. The event, organized by The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) University of Miami chapter, aimed to showcase how engineers are at the forefront of solving many of today’s issues.
"Early exposure to STEM fields is crucial,” said Alexandra Bothe, a junior at the College of Engineering who serves as president of SWE at the University. “Many young female students won't consider engineering as an option for themselves because of the preconceived notion that it is too difficult.”
To expose the South Florida students to engineering concepts, girls from Riviera Middle School, Ponce de Leon Middle School, American Heritage Schools Broward Campus, Ransom Everglades School, St. John Neumann Catholic School, and Gulliver Preparatory School, participated in three interactive workshops where they put their critical thinking skills to the test.
The students built a car out of various materials powered by a balloon. The activity focused on utilizing the engineering design process and Newton’s laws of motion.
The middle schoolers built a bridge out of gumdrops and toothpicks, focusing on utilizing civil engineering principles and working together as a team.
The students organized and alphabetized cards with randomized words to learn how to become more efficient. The activity focused on how to optimize processes and work together.
Bothe, who is also a mechanical engineering major, said that her primary goal is to normalize engineering as a viable career path for women. “By demystifying engineering through events like these, we aim to break stereotypes, showcasing engineering as a fun and exciting field that is open to everyone,” she said.
