AU group encourages local girls to pursue engineering

By: Donathan Prater Staff Writer | Opelika Auburn News
Published: November 20, 2008

Sugar and spice and some structurally sound career advice.

That’s what one group of young ladies’ futures are made of.

The Auburn University Society of Women Engineers (SWE) was at Opelika’s Sanford Middle School Tuesday encouraging seventh and eighth-grade girls to pursue careers in engineering.

Sanford Middle School is part of an AMSTI (Alabama Math, Science and Technology Initiative), which seeks to improve math and science teaching in schools statewide.

“We’re hoping to get some of the girls here interested in careers in math and science,” said Jennifer Carter-Lang, a seventh-grade science teacher at SMS. “For so long, engineering has been a man’s job but now there are more women entering the field.”

The group of about 26 girls were split up into groups that took part in engineering-related activities that demonstrated how fibrous materials could strengthen the foundation for a structure built on sand as well other team building exercises that stressed time management.

Engineers and architects work hand in hand in their professions, according to Terri H. Carson, SWE academic advisor.

“Architects focus on layout and appearance of a project while engineers design its structural, mechanical and electrical systems,” said Carson.
Carson’s colleague Bonnie Wilson agrees with her but has a much simpler way of putting it.

“Engineers turn ideas into reality and reshape the world around us,” said Wilson as she spoke to the students who met in the SMS cafeteria.

And it seems she’s winning a few young minds over.

“English is my favorite subject, but this was a really educational activity,” said Kourtni-Leanne Smith, a seventh-grader at SMS who said she is now considering an engineering career.

Her schoolmate Kayla Smith echoed her feelings.

“I love science, and it’s one of my favorite classes,” Smith said. “When it comes to engineering, you usually see only men doing the handiwork but when you see women doing it, it’s inspiring.”

And that’s just how Wilson wants to leave the girls at SMS — inspired.

“They’re taking math and science classes every day,” Wilson said. “Now they know why and that they can make a positive difference in the world with it.”