[Music] my name is Jenny and I’m a mechanical
my name is Jenny and I’m a mechanical
my name is Jenny and I’m a mechanical engineer and more than that actually I’m
engineer and more than that actually I’m
engineer and more than that actually I’m a mechanical engineering professor and
a mechanical engineering professor and
a mechanical engineering professor and it’s one of the great pleasures of my
it’s one of the great pleasures of my
it’s one of the great pleasures of my life that I get to inspire other people
life that I get to inspire other people
life that I get to inspire other people to become engineers and one of the
to become engineers and one of the
to become engineers and one of the things that I tell my students and I
things that I tell my students and I
things that I tell my students and I teach freshmen all the way to seniors is
teach freshmen all the way to seniors is
teach freshmen all the way to seniors is that the core of engineering is not all
that the core of engineering is not all
that the core of engineering is not all of this technical knowledge that I’m
of this technical knowledge that I’m
of this technical knowledge that I’m like cramming into their heads okay it’s
like cramming into their heads okay it’s
like cramming into their heads okay it’s not a beam deflection and Young’s
not a beam deflection and Young’s
not a beam deflection and Young’s modulus of stainless steel the core of
modulus of stainless steel the core of
modulus of stainless steel the core of engineering is really problem solving
engineering is really problem solving
engineering is really problem solving this is why it frustrates me when I put
this is why it frustrates me when I put
this is why it frustrates me when I put on my administrator hat and I don’t like
on my administrator hat and I don’t like
on my administrator hat and I don’t like to do that too often but I put on my
to do that too often but I put on my
to do that too often but I put on my administrator hat and I sit with my
administrator hat and I sit with my
administrator hat and I sit with my fellow engineering educators and we sit
fellow engineering educators and we sit
fellow engineering educators and we sit down to tackle one of the most pressing
down to tackle one of the most pressing
down to tackle one of the most pressing problems in engineering which is gender
problems in engineering which is gender
problems in engineering which is gender diversity and we stop thinking like
diversity and we stop thinking like
diversity and we stop thinking like engineers we throw out the core of our
engineers we throw out the core of our
engineers we throw out the core of our profession when we’re trying to tackle
profession when we’re trying to tackle
profession when we’re trying to tackle this issue so how should we be solving
this issue so how should we be solving
this issue so how should we be solving this problem let me introduce that first
this problem let me introduce that first
this problem let me introduce that first as engineers we have a process for
as engineers we have a process for
as engineers we have a process for problem solving and if you know any
problem solving and if you know any
problem solving and if you know any engineers I’m sure that’s really
engineers I’m sure that’s really
engineers I’m sure that’s really surprising to you that we have a process
surprising to you that we have a process
surprising to you that we have a process for it okay so I’m going to show you a
for it okay so I’m going to show you a
for it okay so I’m going to show you a flow diagram all right so the way that
flow diagram all right so the way that
flow diagram all right so the way that this process works it’s called the
this process works it’s called the
this process works it’s called the engineering design process you start by
engineering design process you start by
engineering design process you start by defining the problem at hand you set up
defining the problem at hand you set up
defining the problem at hand you set up some targets right you set up targets
some targets right you set up targets
some targets right you set up targets for what success would look like with
for what success would look like with
for what success would look like with your design to solution then you
your design to solution then you
your design to solution then you brainstorm and you narrow down your
brainstorm and you narrow down your
brainstorm and you narrow down your concepts and you come up with three or
concepts and you come up with three or
concepts and you come up with three or four unique and viable concepts that
four unique and viable concepts that
four unique and viable concepts that could potentially solve your problem you
could potentially solve your problem you
could potentially solve your problem you go through then and make rational
go through then and make rational
go through then and make rational decisions about which of these concepts
decisions about which of these concepts
decisions about which of these concepts you should advance into a design
you should advance into a design
you should advance into a design designing takes a lot of work it takes a
designing takes a lot of work it takes a
designing takes a lot of work it takes a lot of time and energy so you want to be
lot of time and energy so you want to be
lot of time and energy so you want to be careful on which design you choose to
careful on which design you choose to
careful on which design you choose to move forward then you build it out you
move forward then you build it out you
move forward then you build it out you build yourself a prototype it could be a
build yourself a prototype it could be a
build yourself a prototype it could be a product it could be a process it could
product it could be a process it could
product it could be a process it could be a piece of software
be a piece of software
be a piece of software and you test it you test it to those
and you test it you test it to those
and you test it you test it to those metrics that you laid out all the way in
metrics that you laid out all the way in
metrics that you laid out all the way in the beginning right and hopefully it
the beginning right and hopefully it
the beginning right and hopefully it works out and you got yourself a
works out and you got yourself a
works out and you got yourself a solution you succeed on your test waha
solution you succeed on your test waha
solution you succeed on your test waha we have ourselves a solution right this
we have ourselves a solution right this
we have ourselves a solution right this is great this only happens like point 0
is great this only happens like point 0
is great this only happens like point 0 1 percent of the time as somebody who’s
1 percent of the time as somebody who’s
1 percent of the time as somebody who’s designed a lot of things okay you fail
designed a lot of things okay you fail
designed a lot of things okay you fail right and what happens is you got to go
right and what happens is you got to go
right and what happens is you got to go back and you gotta test again ok so you
back and you gotta test again ok so you
back and you gotta test again ok so you test you fail a test you go back to the
test you fail a test you go back to the
test you fail a test you go back to the drawing board you tweak a little couple
drawing board you tweak a little couple
drawing board you tweak a little couple things with your design all right you go
things with your design all right you go
things with your design all right you go again and again and again and again okay
again and again and again and again okay
again and again and again and again okay and eventually eventually your design
and eventually eventually your design
and eventually eventually your design might get there that concept that you
might get there that concept that you
might get there that concept that you chose to move forward might find the
chose to move forward might find the
chose to move forward might find the eventual solution right but there’s
eventual solution right but there’s
eventual solution right but there’s something that happens in engineering
something that happens in engineering
something that happens in engineering more often than we like to admit and
more often than we like to admit and
more often than we like to admit and that’s that we picked the wrong concept
that’s that we picked the wrong concept
that’s that we picked the wrong concept to begin with we picked the wrong
to begin with we picked the wrong
to begin with we picked the wrong concept to invest all of this time and
concept to invest all of this time and
concept to invest all of this time and energy and when we do that we get stuck
energy and when we do that we get stuck
energy and when we do that we get stuck in what I like to call the cycle of
in what I like to call the cycle of
in what I like to call the cycle of death okay we’re stuck in an endless
death okay we’re stuck in an endless
death okay we’re stuck in an endless design test cycle that’s never going to
design test cycle that’s never going to
design test cycle that’s never going to get us to our eventual solution because
get us to our eventual solution because
get us to our eventual solution because we need to be doing something radically
we need to be doing something radically
we need to be doing something radically different so what we have to do in this
different so what we have to do in this
different so what we have to do in this moment is engineers is we have to stop
moment is engineers is we have to stop
moment is engineers is we have to stop and we have to go back to the drawing
and we have to go back to the drawing
and we have to go back to the drawing board and is really tough okay because
board and is really tough okay because
board and is really tough okay because we’ve put all this energy into it we’ve
we’ve put all this energy into it we’ve
we’ve put all this energy into it we’ve mortgaged our parents house to do it
mortgaged our parents house to do it
mortgaged our parents house to do it okay but you got to stop because you’re
okay but you got to stop because you’re
okay but you got to stop because you’re never going to get there with this idea
never going to get there with this idea
never going to get there with this idea and you got to pick another idea and
and you got to pick another idea and
and you got to pick another idea and advance that through to design and go
advance that through to design and go
advance that through to design and go through the testing all over again and
through the testing all over again and
through the testing all over again and hopefully find the solution ok that’s
hopefully find the solution ok that’s
hopefully find the solution ok that’s the engineering design process that’s
the engineering design process that’s
the engineering design process that’s the way that we should be tackling the
the way that we should be tackling the
the way that we should be tackling the problem of gender diversity and
problem of gender diversity and
problem of gender diversity and engineering let’s apply it for a second
engineering let’s apply it for a second
engineering let’s apply it for a second okay let’s start by defining the problem
okay let’s start by defining the problem
okay let’s start by defining the problem I’m going to put some numbers out there
I’m going to put some numbers out there
I’m going to put some numbers out there it’s another thing we engineers just
it’s another thing we engineers just
it’s another thing we engineers just love to do okay so Wham pie chart okay
love to do okay so Wham pie chart okay
love to do okay so Wham pie chart okay we generate each and every year in this
we generate each and every year in this
we generate each and every year in this country we graduate about 107,000
country we graduate about 107,000
country we graduate about 107,000 bright-eyed bushy-tailed engineers out
bright-eyed bushy-tailed engineers out
bright-eyed bushy-tailed engineers out into the world and those engineers are
into the world and those engineers are
into the world and those engineers are primarily concentrated in three core
primarily concentrated in three core
primarily concentrated in three core disciplines these are also the disc
disciplines these are also the disc
disciplines these are also the disc ones that have the largest charged job
ones that have the largest charged job
ones that have the largest charged job market believe it or not there’s
market believe it or not there’s
market believe it or not there’s mechanical engineering civil engineering
mechanical engineering civil engineering
mechanical engineering civil engineering and electrical engineering a lot of the
and electrical engineering a lot of the
and electrical engineering a lot of the newer more interdisciplinary majors they
newer more interdisciplinary majors they
newer more interdisciplinary majors they are fantastic I also teach in some of
are fantastic I also teach in some of
are fantastic I also teach in some of those but they constitute less than
those but they constitute less than
those but they constitute less than twenty-five percent of the total
twenty-five percent of the total
twenty-five percent of the total engineering population in terms of
engineering population in terms of
engineering population in terms of graduation so I want you to remember
graduation so I want you to remember
graduation so I want you to remember this chart as I show you the next bit of
this chart as I show you the next bit of
this chart as I show you the next bit of data which is where are the women in
data which is where are the women in
data which is where are the women in engineering the women in engineering are
engineering the women in engineering are
engineering the women in engineering are concentrated in three core disciplines
concentrated in three core disciplines
concentrated in three core disciplines environmental engineering biomedical
environmental engineering biomedical
environmental engineering biomedical engineering and chemical engineering in
engineering and chemical engineering in
engineering and chemical engineering in those three disciplines they’ve actually
those three disciplines they’ve actually
those three disciplines they’ve actually reached what we consider or actually
reached what we consider or actually
reached what we consider or actually what our sociologist friends they know a
what our sociologist friends they know a
what our sociologist friends they know a lot more about human behavior than we do
lot more about human behavior than we do
lot more about human behavior than we do okay they consider to be a critical mass
okay they consider to be a critical mass
okay they consider to be a critical mass critical mass is about thirty percent
critical mass is about thirty percent
critical mass is about thirty percent female do you reach that number it’s
female do you reach that number it’s
female do you reach that number it’s self sustaining right we we have to we
self sustaining right we we have to we
self sustaining right we we have to we don’t have to put as much energy into
don’t have to put as much energy into
don’t have to put as much energy into recruiting women in environmental bio
recruiting women in environmental bio
recruiting women in environmental bio medical and chemical have reached that
medical and chemical have reached that
medical and chemical have reached that threshold the three core disciplines
threshold the three core disciplines
threshold the three core disciplines that graduate the most engineers fall
that graduate the most engineers fall
that graduate the most engineers fall far far short of that critical mass
far far short of that critical mass
far far short of that critical mass target civil engineering is the closest
target civil engineering is the closest
target civil engineering is the closest to the target at a whopping 20 percent
to the target at a whopping 20 percent
to the target at a whopping 20 percent female and my own discipline of
female and my own discipline of
female and my own discipline of mechanical engineering battles it out
mechanical engineering battles it out
mechanical engineering battles it out for the bottom of the barrel with
for the bottom of the barrel with
for the bottom of the barrel with electrical at twelve percent female
electrical at twelve percent female
electrical at twelve percent female nationally alright those are some
nationally alright those are some
nationally alright those are some depressing numbers now this problem has
depressing numbers now this problem has
depressing numbers now this problem has been around for a long long time and
been around for a long long time and
been around for a long long time and because it’s been around for a long time
because it’s been around for a long time
because it’s been around for a long time and the distribution is looked like this
and the distribution is looked like this
and the distribution is looked like this and because the three biggest
and because the three biggest
and because the three biggest disciplines don’t have enough women the
disciplines don’t have enough women the
disciplines don’t have enough women the total percentage of female in
total percentage of female in
total percentage of female in engineering for the past 50 years okay
engineering for the past 50 years okay
engineering for the past 50 years okay has remained very low so here we are
has remained very low so here we are
has remained very low so here we are we’re looking at percentage female
we’re looking at percentage female
we’re looking at percentage female graduates in engineering from 1960s up
graduates in engineering from 1960s up
graduates in engineering from 1960s up until the present you can see there was
until the present you can see there was
until the present you can see there was a nice little jump we can thank women’s
a nice little jump we can thank women’s
a nice little jump we can thank women’s lib for that okay nice little jump in
lib for that okay nice little jump in
lib for that okay nice little jump in the late 70s into the early 80s we went
the late 70s into the early 80s we went
the late 70s into the early 80s we went from pretty much nothing okay up to
from pretty much nothing okay up to
from pretty much nothing okay up to twenty percent and we’ve
twenty percent and we’ve
twenty percent and we’ve old there since the late 80s until the
old there since the late 80s until the
old there since the late 80s until the present every year we engineering
present every year we engineering
present every year we engineering educators put another dot on this chart
educators put another dot on this chart
educators put another dot on this chart and it fluctuates between like 18 and 22
and it fluctuates between like 18 and 22
and it fluctuates between like 18 and 22 okay we are not moving the needle and
okay we are not moving the needle and
okay we are not moving the needle and this is super frustrating people it is
this is super frustrating people it is
this is super frustrating people it is super frustrating considering more women
super frustrating considering more women
super frustrating considering more women are going into stem in general stem
are going into stem in general stem
are going into stem in general stem stands for science technology
stands for science technology
stands for science technology engineering and math okay so let’s look
engineering and math okay so let’s look
engineering and math okay so let’s look at another stem field let’s look at the
at another stem field let’s look at the
at another stem field let’s look at the Biosciences okay the Biosciences saw a
Biosciences okay the Biosciences saw a
Biosciences okay the Biosciences saw a similar jump now they had a higher
similar jump now they had a higher
similar jump now they had a higher baseline to start with in the 60s but
baseline to start with in the 60s but
baseline to start with in the 60s but they also jumped up in the 70s and they
they also jumped up in the 70s and they
they also jumped up in the 70s and they continued to grow in percentage female
continued to grow in percentage female
continued to grow in percentage female up until the president present when you
up until the president present when you
up until the president present when you there’s actually an over-representation
there’s actually an over-representation
there’s actually an over-representation of women in the Biosciences why is this
of women in the Biosciences why is this
of women in the Biosciences why is this happening there are no women in
happening there are no women in
happening there are no women in engineering lots of women in the
engineering lots of women in the
engineering lots of women in the Biosciences well there’s two things
Biosciences well there’s two things
Biosciences well there’s two things going on first we know a bit now that
going on first we know a bit now that
going on first we know a bit now that women are sort of naturally drawn to
women are sort of naturally drawn to
women are sort of naturally drawn to disciplines with immediate societal
disciplines with immediate societal
disciplines with immediate societal impact the fact that all engineering
impact the fact that all engineering
impact the fact that all engineering disciplines have immediate societal
disciplines have immediate societal
disciplines have immediate societal impact is beside the point right it’s
impact is beside the point right it’s
impact is beside the point right it’s more evident in engineering disciplines
more evident in engineering disciplines
more evident in engineering disciplines with a bio or enviro prefixed to it the
with a bio or enviro prefixed to it the
with a bio or enviro prefixed to it the other thing is there’s a huge amount of
other thing is there’s a huge amount of
other thing is there’s a huge amount of pop culture that’s behind this right if
pop culture that’s behind this right if
pop culture that’s behind this right if you look at all the imagery of women
you look at all the imagery of women
you look at all the imagery of women going into medicine okay all through the
going into medicine okay all through the
going into medicine okay all through the past 30 years that’s that’s huge that’s
past 30 years that’s that’s huge that’s
past 30 years that’s that’s huge that’s a huge driver of these trends and then
a huge driver of these trends and then
a huge driver of these trends and then consider what we put out there as a
consider what we put out there as a
consider what we put out there as a culture in terms of engineering I know
culture in terms of engineering I know
culture in terms of engineering I know he’s a physicist all right I know he’s a
he’s a physicist all right I know he’s a
he’s a physicist all right I know he’s a physicist but most people can’t tell the
physicist but most people can’t tell the
physicist but most people can’t tell the difference all right you could not ask
difference all right you could not ask
difference all right you could not ask for a worse PR campaign for the cause of
for a worse PR campaign for the cause of
for a worse PR campaign for the cause of engineering then somebody with
engineering then somebody with
engineering then somebody with questionable social skills okay we don’t
questionable social skills okay we don’t
questionable social skills okay we don’t need more on that all right so so what
need more on that all right so so what
need more on that all right so so what are we doing about it well we have been
are we doing about it well we have been
are we doing about it well we have been trying to solve this problem guys for 30
trying to solve this problem guys for 30
trying to solve this problem guys for 30 years we have been really putting a lot
years we have been really putting a lot
years we have been really putting a lot of time and energy into this and as a
of time and energy into this and as a
of time and energy into this and as a case in point I’m going to show you some
case in point I’m going to show you some
case in point I’m going to show you some examples okay what would it look like if
examples okay what would it look like if
examples okay what would it look like if you have a daughter right now I don’t
you have a daughter right now I don’t
you have a daughter right now I don’t have a daughter I have a need
have a daughter I have a need
have a daughter I have a need so she’s super cute so I’m going to take
so she’s super cute so I’m going to take
so she’s super cute so I’m going to take this as an opportunity to show her this
this as an opportunity to show her this
this as an opportunity to show her this is Macy okay Macy is macys almost too
is Macy okay Macy is macys almost too
is Macy okay Macy is macys almost too okay she’s a potential engineer well
okay she’s a potential engineer well
okay she’s a potential engineer well right and then she wants to become like
right and then she wants to become like
right and then she wants to become like her aunt jen jen okay and become a
her aunt jen jen okay and become a
her aunt jen jen okay and become a mechanical engineer what what’s going to
mechanical engineer what what’s going to
mechanical engineer what what’s going to happen to macy as she grows up what kind
happen to macy as she grows up what kind
happen to macy as she grows up what kind of programming is she going to be
of programming is she going to be
of programming is she going to be exposed to that’s trying to push her in
exposed to that’s trying to push her in
exposed to that’s trying to push her in this direction well we start off we’ve
this direction well we start off we’ve
this direction well we start off we’ve got some wonderful gendered construction
got some wonderful gendered construction
got some wonderful gendered construction toys games and say what you want about
toys games and say what you want about
toys games and say what you want about this all right it’s definitely out there
this all right it’s definitely out there
this all right it’s definitely out there all right and I think it does something
all right and I think it does something
all right and I think it does something there’s also tons of programming right
there’s also tons of programming right
there’s also tons of programming right take your daughter to work day introduce
take your daughter to work day introduce
take your daughter to work day introduce a girl the engineering day Girl Scouts
a girl the engineering day Girl Scouts
a girl the engineering day Girl Scouts is in on the game okay there’s there’s
is in on the game okay there’s there’s
is in on the game okay there’s there’s engineering badges and all kinds of
engineering badges and all kinds of
engineering badges and all kinds of stuff all right then you’ve got great
stuff all right then you’ve got great
stuff all right then you’ve got great organizations girls who code is
organizations girls who code is
organizations girls who code is fantastic right you got summer camps at
fantastic right you got summer camps at
fantastic right you got summer camps at universities I’ve got an organization
universities I’ve got an organization
universities I’ve got an organization that’s trying to do this right and it
that’s trying to do this right and it
that’s trying to do this right and it kind of steps its way up as this child
kind of steps its way up as this child
kind of steps its way up as this child is going through school and by the time
is going through school and by the time
is going through school and by the time she gets the high school if she is
she gets the high school if she is
she gets the high school if she is seriously considering doing engineering
seriously considering doing engineering
seriously considering doing engineering as a college major we start to bring a
as a college major we start to bring a
as a college major we start to bring a national organization Society of Women
national organization Society of Women
national organization Society of Women Engineers weep an NSF gets in on the
Engineers weep an NSF gets in on the
Engineers weep an NSF gets in on the game as soon as you’re in college right
game as soon as you’re in college right
game as soon as you’re in college right massive massive amount of time and
massive massive amount of time and
massive massive amount of time and energy and funding that’s going into it
energy and funding that’s going into it
energy and funding that’s going into it and so well intentioned every women
and so well intentioned every women
and so well intentioned every women engineers conference that i go to we put
engineers conference that i go to we put
engineers conference that i go to we put up Rosie the Riveter and we say yeah
up Rosie the Riveter and we say yeah
up Rosie the Riveter and we say yeah girls you can do it you can do it you
girls you can do it you can do it you
girls you can do it you can do it you can become an engineer except we’re not
can become an engineer except we’re not
can become an engineer except we’re not doing it right we are not doing it okay
doing it right we are not doing it okay
doing it right we are not doing it okay this is not working all right so let’s
this is not working all right so let’s
this is not working all right so let’s go back to that design process it’s time
go back to that design process it’s time
go back to that design process it’s time to admit that what we’ve been trying for
to admit that what we’ve been trying for
to admit that what we’ve been trying for 30 years isn’t working it’s not working
30 years isn’t working it’s not working
30 years isn’t working it’s not working and we can continue to beat our heads
and we can continue to beat our heads
and we can continue to beat our heads against the wall for another 30 years
against the wall for another 30 years
against the wall for another 30 years but are we we’re just adding another dot
but are we we’re just adding another dot
but are we we’re just adding another dot eighteen to twenty-two percent okay
eighteen to twenty-two percent okay
eighteen to twenty-two percent okay mechanical is down there at twelve all
mechanical is down there at twelve all
mechanical is down there at twelve all right so we need to do something
right so we need to do something
right so we need to do something fundamentally different we need to go
fundamentally different we need to go
fundamentally different we need to go back pick another concept advance it
back pick another concept advance it
back pick another concept advance it through to design test it and hopefully
through to design test it and hopefully
through to design test it and hopefully reach that solution so let’s engineer
reach that solution so let’s engineer
reach that solution so let’s engineer diversity for a second we have learned
diversity for a second we have learned
diversity for a second we have learned you things from 30 years worth of work
you things from 30 years worth of work
you things from 30 years worth of work in this area i’m going to say two
in this area i’m going to say two
in this area i’m going to say two important things two important bits of
important things two important bits of
important things two important bits of data here the first is that nationally
data here the first is that nationally
data here the first is that nationally on average we don’t lose women any more
on average we don’t lose women any more
on average we don’t lose women any more than we lose men once they make the
than we lose men once they make the
than we lose men once they make the decision to go into engineering say what
decision to go into engineering say what
decision to go into engineering say what you will about the retention rate that
you will about the retention rate that
you will about the retention rate that I’m about to quote you that’s another
I’m about to quote you that’s another
I’m about to quote you that’s another TED talk okay but men and women are
TED talk okay but men and women are
TED talk okay but men and women are retained from freshman through to
retained from freshman through to
retained from freshman through to graduation in college engineering majors
graduation in college engineering majors
graduation in college engineering majors at sixty percent sixty percent of your
at sixty percent sixty percent of your
at sixty percent sixty percent of your freshman class is going to graduate
freshman class is going to graduate
freshman class is going to graduate whether your man or your one okay so no
whether your man or your one okay so no
whether your man or your one okay so no difference in retention the second bit
difference in retention the second bit
difference in retention the second bit of information that we know is that at
of information that we know is that at
of information that we know is that at the start of the college pipeline there
the start of the college pipeline there
the start of the college pipeline there are equal numbers of men and women who
are equal numbers of men and women who
are equal numbers of men and women who are ready to go into engineering case in
are ready to go into engineering case in
are ready to go into engineering case in point what we consider one of the most
point what we consider one of the most
point what we consider one of the most important characteristics of a potential
important characteristics of a potential
important characteristics of a potential engineer is math literacy okay in math
engineer is math literacy okay in math
engineer is math literacy okay in math skill and if we take AP calculus scores
skill and if we take AP calculus scores
skill and if we take AP calculus scores as an indicator of that we see equal
as an indicator of that we see equal
as an indicator of that we see equal numbers people equal numbers of men and
numbers people equal numbers of men and
numbers people equal numbers of men and women scoring a four or a five on the
women scoring a four or a five on the
women scoring a four or a five on the calculus a B exam nationally there are
calculus a B exam nationally there are
calculus a B exam nationally there are 50,000 men and 50,000 women that would
50,000 men and 50,000 women that would
50,000 men and 50,000 women that would qualify them for calculus credit in
qualify them for calculus credit in
qualify them for calculus credit in college calc 1 and it’s also a good
college calc 1 and it’s also a good
college calc 1 and it’s also a good indicator whether or not you’re going to
indicator whether or not you’re going to
indicator whether or not you’re going to succeed in an engineering major if we
succeed in an engineering major if we
succeed in an engineering major if we consider count 2 it’s actually
consider count 2 it’s actually
consider count 2 it’s actually interesting this data is from 2015 okay
interesting this data is from 2015 okay
interesting this data is from 2015 okay the ladies actually outperform the dudes
the ladies actually outperform the dudes
the ladies actually outperform the dudes okay in Cal to soho so we have more
okay in Cal to soho so we have more
okay in Cal to soho so we have more women than men getting a four or five
women than men getting a four or five
women than men getting a four or five what this tells me is that there’s
what this tells me is that there’s
what this tells me is that there’s essentially fifty to sixty five thousand
essentially fifty to sixty five thousand
essentially fifty to sixty five thousand potential female engineers out there
potential female engineers out there
potential female engineers out there each and every year fifty to sixty five
each and every year fifty to sixty five
each and every year fifty to sixty five thousand who have the aptitude for going
thousand who have the aptitude for going
thousand who have the aptitude for going into engineering so let’s put some
into engineering so let’s put some
into engineering so let’s put some engineering skills to use here okay
engineering skills to use here okay
engineering skills to use here okay we’re going to do a little math it’s
we’re going to do a little math it’s
we’re going to do a little math it’s really complicated we’re going to do
really complicated we’re going to do
really complicated we’re going to do multiplication and division so bear with
multiplication and division so bear with
multiplication and division so bear with me okay
me okay
me okay so we have a hundred and seven thousand
so we have a hundred and seven thousand
so we have a hundred and seven thousand engineering graduates every year if we
engineering graduates every year if we
engineering graduates every year if we incorporate our retention rate of a
incorporate our retention rate of a
incorporate our retention rate of a whopping 60 percent we need to recruit a
whopping 60 percent we need to recruit a
whopping 60 percent we need to recruit a hundred and eighty thousand men and
hundred and eighty thousand men and
hundred and eighty thousand men and women as college freshman in engineering
women as college freshman in engineering
women as college freshman in engineering classrooms 180,000 if we then put our
classrooms 180,000 if we then put our
classrooms 180,000 if we then put our critical mass target of 30 percent
critical mass target of 30 percent
critical mass target of 30 percent female on there we get 54,000 female
female on there we get 54,000 female
female on there we get 54,000 female recruits that’s what we need each and
recruits that’s what we need each and
recruits that’s what we need each and every year entering college classrooms
every year entering college classrooms
every year entering college classrooms this is an interesting number okay it’s
this is an interesting number okay it’s
this is an interesting number okay it’s interesting because remember when I
interesting because remember when I
interesting because remember when I quoted you for the AP calc scores
quoted you for the AP calc scores
quoted you for the AP calc scores there’s fifty to sixty five thousand
there’s fifty to sixty five thousand
there’s fifty to sixty five thousand potential female engineers each and
potential female engineers each and
potential female engineers each and every year it’s also interesting if you
every year it’s also interesting if you
every year it’s also interesting if you look at this number relative to the
look at this number relative to the
look at this number relative to the number of high schools in the United
number of high schools in the United
number of high schools in the United States there are twenty-six thousand
States there are twenty-six thousand
States there are twenty-six thousand public high schools and another like
public high schools and another like
public high schools and another like dozen or so twelve twelve thousand
dozen or so twelve twelve thousand
dozen or so twelve twelve thousand private high schools if each public high
private high schools if each public high
private high schools if each public high school in the US graduated to two
school in the US graduated to two
school in the US graduated to two females to go into engineering we would
females to go into engineering we would
females to go into engineering we would hit this target I think that’s possible
hit this target I think that’s possible
hit this target I think that’s possible ok this is we’re not stretching this too
ok this is we’re not stretching this too
ok this is we’re not stretching this too far here alright so where where are
far here alright so where where are
far here alright so where where are these girls going where are these girls
these girls going where are these girls
these girls going where are these girls going if they’re not going into
going if they’re not going into
going if they’re not going into engineering well they’re going into the
engineering well they’re going into the
engineering well they’re going into the Biosciences okay the female talent is
Biosciences okay the female talent is
Biosciences okay the female talent is going into the Biosciences so if i am to
going into the Biosciences so if i am to
going into the Biosciences so if i am to look out into a calculus one class in
look out into a calculus one class in
look out into a calculus one class in college forty-three percent of the
college forty-three percent of the
college forty-three percent of the females that i see that class are going
females that i see that class are going
females that i see that class are going into the Biosciences only fourteen
into the Biosciences only fourteen
into the Biosciences only fourteen percent are going into engineering for
percent are going into engineering for
percent are going into engineering for the males in the class it’s the exact
the males in the class it’s the exact
the males in the class it’s the exact opposite thirty-eight percent are going
opposite thirty-eight percent are going
opposite thirty-eight percent are going into engineering with only nine percent
into engineering with only nine percent
into engineering with only nine percent going into Biosciences ok so if i’m
going into Biosciences ok so if i’m
going into Biosciences ok so if i’m suggesting a solution here am I
suggesting a solution here am I
suggesting a solution here am I suggesting that we steal female talent
suggesting that we steal female talent
suggesting that we steal female talent from the Biosciences yes yes I am
from the Biosciences yes yes I am
from the Biosciences yes yes I am suggesting that we steal female talent
suggesting that we steal female talent
suggesting that we steal female talent from the Biosciences okay because the
from the Biosciences okay because the
from the Biosciences okay because the messaging that those women are receiving
messaging that those women are receiving
messaging that those women are receiving to go into the Biosciences a lot of it
to go into the Biosciences a lot of it
to go into the Biosciences a lot of it is you can save the world as a doctor
is you can save the world as a doctor
is you can save the world as a doctor right well I save the world every day as
right well I save the world every day as
right well I save the world every day as an engineer i design medical devices ok
an engineer i design medical devices ok
an engineer i design medical devices ok so our messaging is off so let’s think
so our messaging is off so let’s think
so our messaging is off so let’s think for a second about some potential
for a second about some potential
for a second about some potential concepts here I want to I want to leave
concepts here I want to I want to leave
concepts here I want to I want to leave you with some hope and I also want to
you with some hope and I also want to
you with some hope and I also want to point out a couple organizations that I
point out a couple organizations that I
point out a couple organizations that I think are doing this correctly that we
think are doing this correctly that we
think are doing this correctly that we could use as models for what our
could use as models for what our
could use as models for what our eventual design solution will be full
eventual design solution will be full
eventual design solution will be full disclosure here guys I am involved with
disclosure here guys I am involved with
disclosure here guys I am involved with these organizations that i’m going to
these organizations that i’m going to
these organizations that i’m going to show you i am not paid by them ok i’m a
show you i am not paid by them ok i’m a
show you i am not paid by them ok i’m a fangirl and a volunteer all right so
fangirl and a volunteer all right so
fangirl and a volunteer all right so we’re going to start with I got to give
we’re going to start with I got to give
we’re going to start with I got to give a shout out to the National Academy of
a shout out to the National Academy of
a shout out to the National Academy of Engineers ok National Academy of
Engineers ok National Academy of
Engineers ok National Academy of Engineers very prestigious organization
Engineers very prestigious organization
Engineers very prestigious organization they realized that they’ve had a PR
they realized that they’ve had a PR
they realized that they’ve had a PR problem ok it’s not okay to keep saying
problem ok it’s not okay to keep saying
problem ok it’s not okay to keep saying we’re Sheldon all right so they have
we’re Sheldon all right so they have
we’re Sheldon all right so they have done a really great job of promoting the
done a really great job of promoting the
done a really great job of promoting the message that engineers are problem
message that engineers are problem
message that engineers are problem solvers and engineers are solving the
solvers and engineers are solving the
solvers and engineers are solving the world’s most essential problems
world’s most essential problems
world’s most essential problems engineers are focused on security on
engineers are focused on security on
engineers are focused on security on health care and on sustainability those
health care and on sustainability those
health care and on sustainability those are the grand challenges of engineering
are the grand challenges of engineering
are the grand challenges of engineering that our most pressing so they’ve helped
that our most pressing so they’ve helped
that our most pressing so they’ve helped us reframe the field of engineering we
us reframe the field of engineering we
us reframe the field of engineering we also have programs like my own I run a
also have programs like my own I run a
also have programs like my own I run a nonprofit organization called the Perry
nonprofit organization called the Perry
nonprofit organization called the Perry initiative which quite frankly steals
initiative which quite frankly steals
initiative which quite frankly steals female talent shamelessly from the
female talent shamelessly from the
female talent shamelessly from the Biosciences okay so we take girls who
Biosciences okay so we take girls who
Biosciences okay so we take girls who are interested in medicine who are
are interested in medicine who are
are interested in medicine who are interested in biology and we show them
interested in biology and we show them
interested in biology and we show them all the engineering that’s involved in
all the engineering that’s involved in
all the engineering that’s involved in developing the tools that go into
developing the tools that go into
developing the tools that go into medicine and it’s been it’s tremendous
medicine and it’s been it’s tremendous
medicine and it’s been it’s tremendous it’s like empowerment through power
it’s like empowerment through power
it’s like empowerment through power tools so we reach about 1500 girls per
tools so we reach about 1500 girls per
tools so we reach about 1500 girls per year all across the country and what
year all across the country and what
year all across the country and what we’ve found to be the most valuable is
we’ve found to be the most valuable is
we’ve found to be the most valuable is actually this curriculum this idea that
actually this curriculum this idea that
actually this curriculum this idea that we can influence college major choice by
we can influence college major choice by
we can influence college major choice by showing them the possibilities in
showing them the possibilities in
showing them the possibilities in engineering there’s also a great
engineering there’s also a great
engineering there’s also a great organization called Project Lead the way
organization called Project Lead the way
organization called Project Lead the way pltw Project Lead the Way is operating
pltw Project Lead the Way is operating
pltw Project Lead the Way is operating on a scale
on a scale
on a scale nationally that has the potential to
nationally that has the potential to
nationally that has the potential to actually recruit those 54,000 females
actually recruit those 54,000 females
actually recruit those 54,000 females pltw is curriculum that is engineering
pltw is curriculum that is engineering
pltw is curriculum that is engineering themed for elementary middle and high
themed for elementary middle and high
themed for elementary middle and high school classes that’s taught by actual
school classes that’s taught by actual
school classes that’s taught by actual elementary middle and high school
elementary middle and high school
elementary middle and high school teachers so it’s happening during the
teachers so it’s happening during the
teachers so it’s happening during the school day it reaches 2.4 million kids
school day it reaches 2.4 million kids
school day it reaches 2.4 million kids in all 50 states so if pltw gets the
in all 50 states so if pltw gets the
in all 50 states so if pltw gets the messaging right to the female sitting in
messaging right to the female sitting in
messaging right to the female sitting in those classrooms we have some hope
those classrooms we have some hope
those classrooms we have some hope another point on the policy side there’s
another point on the policy side there’s
another point on the policy side there’s been a lot of great progress with the
been a lot of great progress with the
been a lot of great progress with the next generation science standards NGSS
next generation science standards NGSS
next generation science standards NGSS was developed by representatives from
was developed by representatives from
was developed by representatives from about 40 states and it’s been adopted so
about 40 states and it’s been adopted so
about 40 states and it’s been adopted so far in 16 of them it explicitly
far in 16 of them it explicitly
far in 16 of them it explicitly incorporates engineering theory and
incorporates engineering theory and
incorporates engineering theory and engineering practice into the science
engineering practice into the science
engineering practice into the science classroom so this is like the Common
classroom so this is like the Common
classroom so this is like the Common Core but for science and they have
Core but for science and they have
Core but for science and they have chosen engineering as the theme through
chosen engineering as the theme through
chosen engineering as the theme through which to teach a lot of science so we’ve
which to teach a lot of science so we’ve
which to teach a lot of science so we’ve got a lot of hope here that at least
got a lot of hope here that at least
got a lot of hope here that at least kids are aware of this discipline called
kids are aware of this discipline called
kids are aware of this discipline called engineering and aware of the problem
engineering and aware of the problem
engineering and aware of the problem solving potential that comes with it so
solving potential that comes with it so
solving potential that comes with it so what needs to happen now folks is that
what needs to happen now folks is that
what needs to happen now folks is that we need to advance these concepts we
we need to advance these concepts we
we need to advance these concepts we need to take what we’re learning in
need to take what we’re learning in
need to take what we’re learning in terms of innovative curriculum and
terms of innovative curriculum and
terms of innovative curriculum and programming and scale it up through some
programming and scale it up through some
programming and scale it up through some of these existing entities so that we
of these existing entities so that we
of these existing entities so that we can reach that target that target of
can reach that target that target of
can reach that target that target of 54,000 females and eventually solve this
54,000 females and eventually solve this
54,000 females and eventually solve this problem we need to invest our time in
problem we need to invest our time in
problem we need to invest our time in our energy in organizations that have
our energy in organizations that have
our energy in organizations that have the potential to solve this these summer
the potential to solve this these summer
the potential to solve this these summer camps with 20 girls at a time when you
camps with 20 girls at a time when you
camps with 20 girls at a time when you send a female engineer off into a high
send a female engineer off into a high
send a female engineer off into a high school classroom these are all
school classroom these are all
school classroom these are all well-intentioned but they’re not fixing
well-intentioned but they’re not fixing
well-intentioned but they’re not fixing the bigger problem fifty-four thousand
the bigger problem fifty-four thousand
the bigger problem fifty-four thousand females going into this discipline
females going into this discipline
females going into this discipline nationally is totally totally achievable
nationally is totally totally achievable
nationally is totally totally achievable we can fill that gap but in order to do
we can fill that gap but in order to do
we can fill that gap but in order to do that we have to think like engineers and
that we have to think like engineers and
that we have to think like engineers and we must engineer the diversity that we
we must engineer the diversity that we
we must engineer the diversity that we want to see
want to see
want to see thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] you
you
you [Music]
”
Be First to Comment