FutureSWE 2016 encourages the next generation of women in engineering

More than 120 middle and high school girls, and their parents, attended FutureSWE 2016, a community outreach event hosted by the Wayne State University chapter of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE). The February event, sponsored by the national Society of Women Engineers, encouraged girls to explore the different disciplines of engineering through a series of workshops led by College of Engineering students.

"I think these events at FutureSWE are really fun because they provide an opportunity to learn about engineering and what to expect in the field in the future," said Summer, a student attending the event.

The day's activities included making balloon-powered cars, building flashlights and creating lava lamps. Attendees also had the chance to ask questions about engineering or college to current engineering students and women in industry.

"Seeing all of the young ladies at FutureSWE excited about science and engineering makes me confident that the future generations of engineers will be more diverse," said Tonya Whitehead, an engineering doctoral student at Wayne State and one of the event planners. "FutureSWE is a great event to inspire young women to pursue careers that they may have otherwise been steered away from by showing them role models that look like them."

Parents who attended the event were treated to lab tours and workshops that provided valuable information on how to prepare their daughters for college and educate them on the biases that women face in the engineering industry.

View photos from the event here
More about WSU FutureSWE here