The Women’s Engineering Society - inspiring women as engineers, scientists and leaders. Our members are people who work in the field of engineering, science and technology at all levels (and with any type of qualifications), students on engineering and related courses, companies and others who share our aims.
The Society and its members are involved in many different activities, almost all of them in the United Kingdom where we are based.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Women Engineering Society
IEEE Women in Engineering
IEEE Women in Engineering
IEEE Women in Engineering (WIE) is the largest international professional organization dedicated to promoting women engineers and scientists.
Mission of IEEE WIE
| The mission of IEEE WIE is to inspire, engage, encourage, and empower IEEE women worldwide. |
Vision of IEEE WIE
| IEEE WIE envisions a vibrant community of IEEE women and men innovating the world of tomorrow. |
| IEEE WIE strives to:
|
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Celebration of Women in Engineering
Only 9% of American engineers are women. And only 20 of engineering degrees are earned by women. There are a number of reasons why the low number of women in engineering is a problem.
There are a few major reasons why girls don't consider engineering careers. Many girls opt out of math and science courses in middle school and close the doors to many socially important and personally rewarding jobs in the future.
Find out how you influence girls' career choices and access resources to learn more about engineering to help you roster girls' interest in math, science, and technology.
The EngineerGirl website celebrates the achievements of women engineers and shares information on engineering careers with girls and young women.
There are a few major reasons why girls don't consider engineering careers. Many girls opt out of math and science courses in middle school and close the doors to many socially important and personally rewarding jobs in the future.
Find out how you influence girls' career choices and access resources to learn more about engineering to help you roster girls' interest in math, science, and technology.
The EngineerGirl website celebrates the achievements of women engineers and shares information on engineering careers with girls and young women.
Engineer Girls
Girls Can Grow Up to Solve Problems and Make the World a Better, Cleaner, Safer Place
- Why should girls become engineers?
- Engineers help solve important problems, like controlling and preventing pollution, developing new medicines, creating advanced technologies, even exploring new worlds.
- Engineers have significantly higher starting salaries than do college graduates with bachelor's degrees in many other fields.
- Engineers enjoy lots of options: they work in big cities and small towns, business offices or classrooms, factories or research labs, in the great outdoors, or even in outer space!
- Some engineers go into medicine, law, business management, or policymaking.
There's job security—people who solve problems and come up with new ways of thinking and doing things will always be in demand!
Monday, November 2, 2009
Engineering a Mindset
Engineers increase the standard of living for their communities. They improve efficiency, lower cost, and create opportunities in new job fields. Without engineers, there would be no solutions for the new problems we encounter because the rest of the population is already specialized in established fields; although the energy crisis worries a large portion of the world community, we can’t expect those without the expertise to alter the inevitable implications of empty oil fields. Engineers must be the ones to bring about change because they are the only people equipped to do so.
But perhaps the focus of engineers should be less technical and more ideological. Instead of building machinery, they should be molding mindsets. There is no shortage of energy-conserving options for those willing to invest their time, money, and patience, but the problem arises from the preconceptions of the public, especially those of the United States. We cannot forget that the main reason for America’s movement towards a “green” way of life has been the endangerment of our most precious resource: money. If impassioned speeches regarding the disappearance of ice caps and reduction of the ozone layer didn’t move citizens to call for another option, rising gas prices did. But what keeps the homes from being solar-paneled, cars electrically run, and windmills from filling lawns? The United States, in particular, seems to lack the foresight to realize the potential for investment in these options. It is always too expensive, too inconvenient, and not aesthetically appealing. The difficulty of the energy crisis lies not in the awareness of the issue and its consequences, or even in the applicability of the technology that will replace oil fields, but a full understanding of what the country, and world, will have to sacrifice in order to maintain the luxuries of a civilized society. Engineers must be the ones to educate the public because they will know the full implications of their alternatives.
Each option for conserving energy comes with its own side effects. For instance, the main problems with solar panels are their cost and wavelength compatibility. In less sunny climates, the panels will not provide as consistent savings on energy bills as other areas because of the difference in light waves. For many locations, this may cause the initial start-up cost to be greater because of the increased time of compensation. In addition, most energy options require more inconvenience than the consumer may have predicted. Electric cars, for example, can only be driven for a set number of miles or in certain conditions until needing to be plugged in again. And if the vehicle is powered with an alternate fuel, such as ethanol, there is an added reliance on fueling stations to be built. Even though consumers want to reduce their costs, and improve the environmental conditions, they are not prepared for the lifestyle changes needed to use each fuel-saving option to the fullest.
As the innovators of society, engineers will bear the weight of the environment’s outcome. But in order to be successful, they will first need to expand their plan of action beyond the AutoCAD-designed structures and reaction-tested substances; they will need to develop a desire for change and an acknowledgement of the challenges ahead. Engineers will need to build, within each individual, the feeling of empowerment and responsibility
But perhaps the focus of engineers should be less technical and more ideological. Instead of building machinery, they should be molding mindsets. There is no shortage of energy-conserving options for those willing to invest their time, money, and patience, but the problem arises from the preconceptions of the public, especially those of the United States. We cannot forget that the main reason for America’s movement towards a “green” way of life has been the endangerment of our most precious resource: money. If impassioned speeches regarding the disappearance of ice caps and reduction of the ozone layer didn’t move citizens to call for another option, rising gas prices did. But what keeps the homes from being solar-paneled, cars electrically run, and windmills from filling lawns? The United States, in particular, seems to lack the foresight to realize the potential for investment in these options. It is always too expensive, too inconvenient, and not aesthetically appealing. The difficulty of the energy crisis lies not in the awareness of the issue and its consequences, or even in the applicability of the technology that will replace oil fields, but a full understanding of what the country, and world, will have to sacrifice in order to maintain the luxuries of a civilized society. Engineers must be the ones to educate the public because they will know the full implications of their alternatives.
Each option for conserving energy comes with its own side effects. For instance, the main problems with solar panels are their cost and wavelength compatibility. In less sunny climates, the panels will not provide as consistent savings on energy bills as other areas because of the difference in light waves. For many locations, this may cause the initial start-up cost to be greater because of the increased time of compensation. In addition, most energy options require more inconvenience than the consumer may have predicted. Electric cars, for example, can only be driven for a set number of miles or in certain conditions until needing to be plugged in again. And if the vehicle is powered with an alternate fuel, such as ethanol, there is an added reliance on fueling stations to be built. Even though consumers want to reduce their costs, and improve the environmental conditions, they are not prepared for the lifestyle changes needed to use each fuel-saving option to the fullest.
As the innovators of society, engineers will bear the weight of the environment’s outcome. But in order to be successful, they will first need to expand their plan of action beyond the AutoCAD-designed structures and reaction-tested substances; they will need to develop a desire for change and an acknowledgement of the challenges ahead. Engineers will need to build, within each individual, the feeling of empowerment and responsibility
The Fuel of the Future: Hydrogen Energy
Commuting to school in a SUV, flickering the lights on in the evening, and turning on the air conditioning on a hot summer day - the very comforts that Americans take for granted. However, the fuel that provides the power to support these comforts and the economy cannot last forever. If no immediate actions are taken, exhaustion of the fuel will lead to an apocalyptic future.
According the U.S. Department of Energy, “Fossil fuels – coal, oil and natural gas - currently provide more than 85% of all the energy consumed in the United States, nearly two-thirds of our electricity, and virtually all of our transportation fuels.” This total dependence on fossil fuels is detrimental, as worldwide demand for fossil fuels is projected to surpass the supply of fossil fuels in the coming decades. The low supply and great demand have lead to increasingly higher prices on fossil fuels, hurting the economy of many nations, including the United States. Moreover, fossil fuels have a damaging effect on the environment; many scientists believe that fossil fuels are key to producing the emissions that cause global warming, an ecological catastrophe.
However, the world is not without hope. One of the most anticipated energy alternatives to fossil fuels is hydrogen energy. Currently, the focus of hydrogen energy research focuses on applications to power automobiles. Automobiles are one of the principal users of energy resources. “The number of vehicles worldwide, now 750 million, is expected to triple by 2050” (Ogden, 2006). Thus, if automobiles can shift to the use of hydrogen energy than relying on fossil fuels, the dependency of society on fossil fuels will greatly decrease, which will benefit the environment and the economy for a brighter future.
Hydrogen energy provides many advantages over fossil fuels; hydrogen energy is flexible, renewable, eco-friendly, and efficient. For example, chemically, hydrogen energy can be produced from a variety of sources, like biomass or water. Hydrogen energy can also be conveniently stored, so it can be utilized when needed in any desired destination. Furthermore, hydrogen energy can be produced through several methods that produce virtually little or no greenhouse gas emissions. For instance, engineers could either use electrolysis, which separates hydrogen from water, or biomass gasification, which heats organic substances, like wastes to release hydrogen. In order to make use of hydrogen energy to fuel automobiles, fuel cells, or hydrogen “batteries” that make electricity, need to be developed. These fuel cells are more efficient than current gasoline engines. Therefore, hydrogen energy would solve many of the problems associated with the use of fossil fuels and provide an energy source to power the economy and society.
Hydrogen energy is still not without some challenges that engineers must face. The electrolysis and biomass gasification processes are still too expensive to be attractive to today’s consumers. Currently, the costs for hydrogen production are six to ten dollars for every kilogram, meaning that the cost for hydrogen automobile fuel cells would be about one thousand five hundred to two thousand dollars, which is ten times the cost needed to be competitive in the global market. So, cheaper fuel cells need to be developed. Other possible solutions to initiate the hydrogen energy economy with lower cost issues include producing hybrid cars with internal combustion engines that use hydrogen energy and converting conventional automobiles to use hydrogen fuel. Engineers predict that a car manufacturing company can convert 100,000 cars to hydrogen fuel in a year, and the conversion for each hydrogen car would cost less than two thousand five hundred dollars (Cashman, Logue, 2004). As of now, no conversion processes exist. All in all, according to the National Research Council and the National Academy of Engineering, with improved technologies and large-scale manufacturing of hydrogen energy in the future, the cost for hydrogen could be reduced to two to four dollars for every kilogram. So, it is predicted that hydrogen could cost less than gasoline in powering automobiles, which will provide a boost to the global economy (Ogden, 2006).
Hydrogen energy truly has great potential as a major energy source for the future. However, to make it a reality, politicians need to place a greater emphasis on hydrogen energy. Engineers play a vital and major role in designing less complex methods to produce hydrogen energy cheaply, less expensive hydrogen fuel cells, and more efficient conversion processes for conventional automobiles to use hydrogen energy. A society and economy fueled by hydrogen energy will be extremely promising and an apocalyptic future can be averted.
According the U.S. Department of Energy, “Fossil fuels – coal, oil and natural gas - currently provide more than 85% of all the energy consumed in the United States, nearly two-thirds of our electricity, and virtually all of our transportation fuels.” This total dependence on fossil fuels is detrimental, as worldwide demand for fossil fuels is projected to surpass the supply of fossil fuels in the coming decades. The low supply and great demand have lead to increasingly higher prices on fossil fuels, hurting the economy of many nations, including the United States. Moreover, fossil fuels have a damaging effect on the environment; many scientists believe that fossil fuels are key to producing the emissions that cause global warming, an ecological catastrophe.
However, the world is not without hope. One of the most anticipated energy alternatives to fossil fuels is hydrogen energy. Currently, the focus of hydrogen energy research focuses on applications to power automobiles. Automobiles are one of the principal users of energy resources. “The number of vehicles worldwide, now 750 million, is expected to triple by 2050” (Ogden, 2006). Thus, if automobiles can shift to the use of hydrogen energy than relying on fossil fuels, the dependency of society on fossil fuels will greatly decrease, which will benefit the environment and the economy for a brighter future.
Hydrogen energy provides many advantages over fossil fuels; hydrogen energy is flexible, renewable, eco-friendly, and efficient. For example, chemically, hydrogen energy can be produced from a variety of sources, like biomass or water. Hydrogen energy can also be conveniently stored, so it can be utilized when needed in any desired destination. Furthermore, hydrogen energy can be produced through several methods that produce virtually little or no greenhouse gas emissions. For instance, engineers could either use electrolysis, which separates hydrogen from water, or biomass gasification, which heats organic substances, like wastes to release hydrogen. In order to make use of hydrogen energy to fuel automobiles, fuel cells, or hydrogen “batteries” that make electricity, need to be developed. These fuel cells are more efficient than current gasoline engines. Therefore, hydrogen energy would solve many of the problems associated with the use of fossil fuels and provide an energy source to power the economy and society.
Hydrogen energy is still not without some challenges that engineers must face. The electrolysis and biomass gasification processes are still too expensive to be attractive to today’s consumers. Currently, the costs for hydrogen production are six to ten dollars for every kilogram, meaning that the cost for hydrogen automobile fuel cells would be about one thousand five hundred to two thousand dollars, which is ten times the cost needed to be competitive in the global market. So, cheaper fuel cells need to be developed. Other possible solutions to initiate the hydrogen energy economy with lower cost issues include producing hybrid cars with internal combustion engines that use hydrogen energy and converting conventional automobiles to use hydrogen fuel. Engineers predict that a car manufacturing company can convert 100,000 cars to hydrogen fuel in a year, and the conversion for each hydrogen car would cost less than two thousand five hundred dollars (Cashman, Logue, 2004). As of now, no conversion processes exist. All in all, according to the National Research Council and the National Academy of Engineering, with improved technologies and large-scale manufacturing of hydrogen energy in the future, the cost for hydrogen could be reduced to two to four dollars for every kilogram. So, it is predicted that hydrogen could cost less than gasoline in powering automobiles, which will provide a boost to the global economy (Ogden, 2006).
Hydrogen energy truly has great potential as a major energy source for the future. However, to make it a reality, politicians need to place a greater emphasis on hydrogen energy. Engineers play a vital and major role in designing less complex methods to produce hydrogen energy cheaply, less expensive hydrogen fuel cells, and more efficient conversion processes for conventional automobiles to use hydrogen energy. A society and economy fueled by hydrogen energy will be extremely promising and an apocalyptic future can be averted.
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