February 22, 2006

Celebrating Pioneering Women
in Engineering

Although today's women are encouraged to learn about math, science and engineering, it hasn't always been so easy for girls that wanted to grow up to help solve problems.

At one time in history, society discouraged women who showed an interest in math, science or engineering. Although men were encouraged to succeed in these fields, it was unpopular for women to invent new gadgets or solve scientific problems.

Often studying in private and working in secret, a few pioneering women learned the necessary math and science skills to become expert engineers. To keep from being ridiculed for their work, they sometimes patented their inventions under a man's name to keep their knowledge secret.

Many of these women went on to make significant historical contributions to the fields of engineering, science and math.

One women who made history by proving that gender doesn't determine success in engineering was Emily Roebling.

In 1872, Roebling helped with the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge her husband, the chief engineer, became ill. Many of the assistant engineers and contractors respected her advice and suggestions so much that they referred to her as the Chief Engineer.

Her name is included on the dedication plaque of the bridge, recognizing her role in creating one of the era's greatest engineering achievements.

Another brilliant scientist, Marie Curie, was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize in physics.

In 1903, Curie helped her husband discover two new elements, radium and polonium, which are widely used today in applications ranging from treating cancer to powering satellites.

For her pioneering work in the field of nuclear physics, Curie was awarded a second Nobel Prize in 1911, becoming the first person to win two of the awards.

Today it is much more common for women to become engineers, but their contributions to engineering fields are no less important.

Like Roebling and Curie, women engineers at Texas Tech are working to research new and creative solutions to today's problems.

Civil Engineering Assistant Professor Audra Morse works with NASA to find new ways to recycling wastewater in space.

By transforming used water into clean drinking water for astronauts, Morse is helping NASA make sure that astronauts will have enough water to drink on long space flights.

Another engineer at Texas Tech, Assistant Professor Michelle Pantoya looks for ways to make explosives safer. She also researches ways to create materials with specific properties that solve specific problems.

For example, if Pantoya needs a metal stronger than anything that exists naturally, she would use mechanical engineering to combine existing materials to produce a stronger alloy. This new material could be used to build stronger buildings or solve other problems.

Even with the contributions of women scientists and engineers like Roebling, Curie, Morse and Pantoya, many young girls still have the misconception that engineering is too hard to study or that it is strictly for boys.

However, the ongoing contributions women make to society prove just the opposite - women are capable of succeeding as engineers and continue to pioneer new advances in math and science.

With a growing shortage of engineers in the United States, we need more engineers – especially women.

Society benefits from a more diverse engineering community, and women add different perspectives to problem solving and alternative approaches to to effective teamwork that can lead to creative solutions to better address society's needs.

So how can you become one of the next female engineers? Consider joining the Science Club or competing on a U.I.L. math team. In you are curious about the way things work, visit a museum in your area. Share your interest in engineering with your family and other girls at your school.

Because of the contributions of pioneering women in engineering, you too have the opportunity to help solve the worlds problems as an engineer.

- Alexis Acosta

Story Features

click for larger photos

Emily Roebling pioneered the way for women in Civil Engineering when she took over as Chief Engineer of the Brooklyn Bridge following her husband's death

Marie Curie, a two-time Nobel Prize winner, was an innovative and creative physicist who discovered new elements over a century ago that we still use today.

Audra Morse, an environmental engineer at Texas Tech, makes sure NASA's astronauts have plenty of water during long space flights.

Michelle Pantoya, a Texas Tech researcher, uses mechanical engineering to make safer explosives and new building materials.