On March 25, “Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day” became part of an international event. At the United Nations, Dr. Sylvia Wilson-Thomas, representing Engineers Week and IEEE, reported on “Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day” and programs promoting math and science education for girls and career opportunities for women. The event was an international briefing, "Girls and Technology: New Educational Opportunities."

The program was part of the weekly briefing of the UN’s Department of Public Information (DPI). On average, 170 representatives of national and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) attend the weekly UN DPI/NGO briefings. The Engineers Week contribution was an engineering perspective on education, mentoring, and employment of women throughout the world.

Engineers Week headquarters provides special posters and hands-on activities for local outreach and maintains an online pledge roster to report on local Girl Day programs. At the time this report was finalized, dozens of organizations and individuals had signed on. In addition, IEEE’s Women in Engineering (WIE) division distributed our materials worldwide. Through WIE and www.eweek.org, we have received queries from Australia, Greece, India, Canada, Nigeria, Egypt, Colombia, United Arab Emirates, Republic of Macedonia, and Spain. Next year we will work with the WIE to translate materials into Spanish.

While only 10 percent of the engineering work force is comprised of women, an estimated one million girls have been involved annually in what is considered to be the first outreach program targeting girls ever established by a single profession. “The Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day” campaign is designed to fit existing outreach efforts or start something new, and to promote collaboration among individuals and organizations and, now, even among nations.

At the heart of “Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day” is the engineer’s passion to solve problems. Volunteers are helping underrepresented groups see opportunities in engineering. Whether or not you participate in Engineers Week/Girl Day, show your support for girls and women in engineering worldwide. Sign the online statement of support and alert others to sign. This global “virtual rally” – the only one of its kind - can become a symbol of turning ideas into reality for thousands of individuals.