The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) was founded in 1950. The Kansas City chapter, which was created in 1982, currently has more than 150 members. The organization’s focus is on STEM Outreach for girls in the metropolitan area and on networking events for women in STEM fields. Events include Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day (IGED) for high school students and IGED Jr. for middle school students. A full school day is devoted to having students meet women who are pursuing professional STEM careers, learn about opportunities, engage in hands-on activities, hear a keynote speaker, attend a discipline and industry fair, and either watch or participate in a student-led panel discussion. IGED and IGED Jr. are annual events, generally reaching about 300 high school students and 150 middle school students. Another event is FIRST Robotics. SWE-KC hosts a signature professional development conference, in addition to numerous outreach and networking events. Volunteers are needed to serve as members of event planning committees, as judges for math and science competitions, and to assist with college preparatory workshops for high school students and career preparatory activities for college students.
IGED students worked with a mentor to design a catapult.
SWE-KC members at a professional development conference
Featured in the March 18, 2023 issue of The Independent.
Learn more at SWE-KC.SWE.org
