Engineering is the field of science that combines mathematics, technology, and science principals to create machines, buildings, and other tools for humans. In other words, engineering is the perfect blend of art and science, which aims to design, develop and improve our lives in every possible way.
Ada Lovelace, known as the world's first computer programmer, was a British mathematician and writer, who worked with inventor Charles Babbage in the mid-19th century to create the Analytical Engine - an early mechanical general-purpose computer.
Emily Warren Roebling was an American civil engineer, who helped complete the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge during the late 19th century, after her husband and chief engineer of the project, Washington Roebling, developed caisson disease.
Lillian Gilbreth was a pioneering American industrial engineer, who is notable for her work as a management consultant, inventor, and author. She actively promoted the use of time and motion studies in industry, and was awarded the prestigious Hoover Medal in 1966 for her achievements.
Mary Jackson was an African-American mathematician and aerospace engineer who worked for NASA during the 1950s and 1960s. She was instrumental in the success of the early space program and was one of the first female engineers to work for the agency.
Hedy Lamarr was an Austrian-American actress and inventor, who is famously known for her work in developing a frequency-hopping communication system that is still used in modern day technology such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.
Dr. Mae Jemison was the first African-American woman astronaut to travel to space, during the Space Shuttle Endeavour mission in 1992. She is a chemical engineer by profession, and has also worked as a physician and professor.
Edith Clarke was an American electrical engineer, who is famously known for her contributions in the early development of the electrical power system. She was the first female electrical engineer, and her contributions have made her one of the most important female figures in the field of electrical engineering.
Elsie Eaves was a pioneering American civil engineer, who is notable for her work on both the Golden Gate Bridge and the Hoover Dam. She is known for becoming the first woman to receive a civil engineering degree from the University of California, Berkeley.
Grace Hopper was an American computer scientist and pioneer in the field of computer programming. She is credited with creating the first compiler and inventing the COBOL programming language, which is still used in modern day computing.
Katherine Johnson was an African-American physicist and mathematician, known for her work at NASA, where she calculated the trajectories for the first American spaceflights, including the first Mission to the Moon. Her contributions to the space program were pivotal in the success of the early space missions.
Elisa Leonida Zamfirescu was the world's first female engineer, who studied at the Royal Academy of Technology in Berlin at the turn of the 20th century.
According to a study conducted by the National Science Foundation in 2020, the field of Bioengineering/Biomedical Engineering has the highest percentage of women engineers, with 35% of the workforce being female.
Some common challenges faced by women in engineering include gender bias, lack of support from male colleagues, and a gender pay gap. However, there are many organizations and initiatives dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion in the field of engineering, which aim to alleviate these issues.