Introducing engineering to young women through nontraditional products

Faculty members at Mass Bay Community College (MBCC) and the University of Maine (UM) are finding ways to use nontraditional products to attract and retain women students. At MBCC young women exploring engineering careers create jewelry designs using three-dimensional Computer Aided Design and Drafting (3D-CADD) software. Students enrolled in engineering graphics courses select their own products to represent graphically. At UM girls introduced to 3D-CADD software are encouraged to imagine objects to model. The UM Women in the Curriculum (WIC) program has awarded grants for mentoring girls at a summer 3D-CADD camp and for a study of the feasibility of developing a weave room in the School of Engineering Technology. A small stained glass laboratory where young women can use 3D-CADD, small machine tools, and soldering equipment is also under development.