Engineering is not just a man’s game, but the trick is making sure women know that.
The UNM chapter of the Society of Women Engineers (SWE) is looking to make that known by holding a live auction where people can bid on their favorite engineering student and “geeks” from other majors. Winning bidders earn a picnic date at the Duck Pond after the event.
Amy Wang, a two-year member of SWE and “Geek Chic” auctionee, said SWE’s mission is to combat the belief that the science and math fields are for only men.
“We as women are the minority in math, science and engineering fields,” she said. “We want to break that stereotype of ‘It’s a man’s job to be an engineer or scientist,’ and we want to inspire the younger generation of females so they would also want to be in science and engineering.”
Committee Chair Debbie Nguyen said that Geek Chic is the organization’s biggest fundraiser of the year.
In addition to promoting awareness about women in science, technology, engineering and math fields on campus, SWE also does outreach with middle school girls to encourage them to pursue careers in scientific and technologic fields.
Proceeds will fund activities such as interactive “Explora nights” for groups including the Girl Scouts of America.
SWE also helps members network with industry professionals by holding annual regional conferences, which Nguyen said helped many UNM SWE members find a job after graduation.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to go to three national conferences where they hold some of the largest career fairs in the nation, and that’s where I got my internship at Sandia Labs,” she said. “Without that internship, I wouldn’t be going to MIT in the fall.”
