Engineering Disciplines
What kind of engineer(s) do
YOU want to be?
Note: These are the kinds of engineers that you will see at today’s open house. To learn about more
engineering fields, visit engineergirl.org!
□ Biomedical Engineers

Enhance health care for humans and animals by solving complex medical problems

Collaborate with doctors to make better equipment to save lives & some biomedical engineers become doctors or
veterinarians themselves!
□ Chemical Engineers

Create products in so many different areas: discover new medicines for people and animals, improve the food we
eat (including candy, cookies, and potato chips we all love!), help provide clean water for drinking, & create makeup – just to name a few!

Some chemical engineers become doctors or veterinarians
□ Computer Engineers

Design software that runs computer games, computer programs (like Microsoft Word) and phone apps that we use

Designs, computer chips & computer hardware (the parts of the computer you see – like the monitor and hard
drive)

Create helpful robots of the future!
□ Electrical Engineers

Solve problems related to communications, such as radio, television, & telephones

Create ways to use renewable energy – wind, solar and water power instead of gasoline and coal

Collaborate with biomedical engineers to make hearing aids and prosthetic arms and legs which can move - for people who are missing these abilities from accidents or birth defects
□ Industrial Engineers

Figure out how to improve everything by saving money and time (who doesn’t want to save $$$?)

Work in postal/package delivery services, airlines, space programs, hospitals, banks, & even amusement parks
□ Mechanical Engineers

Designs all types of machines that produce or use power (like jet engines, steam engines, power plants, underwater
structures, tractors for food production, hydraulic systems, and transportation systems)

Design medical devices, sports equipment, materials for space travel and roller coasters
□ Microelectronic Engineers

Design and manufacture electronic systems using Integrated Circuits (aka extremely tiny circuits) so they can pack
many transistors onto very small semiconductors

Make components for cell phones, computers, and other high-powered devices
FOR PARENTS:
Encourage your children
to consider becoming
ENGINEERS
Visit websites with engineering activities together
www.engineeryourlife.org
www.engineergirl.org
www.braincake.org
www.discoverengineering.org
www.tryengineering.org
www.egfi-k12.org
www.eweek.org
www.pbskids.org/designsquad
Read story books about Engineering together (recommended ages shown where known)

Engineering the ABC’s: How engineers shape our world by Patty O’ Brien Novak (ages 4+)

Rocks, Jeans, and Busy Machines: An Engineering Kids Storybook by Alane Rivera (ages 4-8)

Engineering Elephants by Emily Hunt (ages 4-8)

Engineering for Every Kid: Easy Activities that Make Learning Science Fun by Janice Pratt VanCleave (ages 9-14)

Cool Engineering Activities for Girls by Heather Schwarz

The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind by William Kamkwamba (ages 6-8)

Cool careers in Engineering by Matt Hutson – includes fun activities

Goldie Blox – read-a-long story book with companion design and build activities (ages 6+)
Connect their hobbies and interests to engineering fields/careers

Learn about these connections to different engineering fields on the websites above & also refer to handouts from
this event.

Share with your child that an engineering degree is excellent preparation for other professions such as doctors, lawyers, veterinarians and business leaders – just to name a few!

Emphasize that engineering is NOT just about math and science

Note that engineers make a comfortable living – starting out over $60,000/year on average.

Help your child to find a mentor based on their interests – someone in engineering. If you don’t know anyone, check
with a local university or www.mentornet.net .

Help your child to identify some camps, clubs, events or other programs related to their interests and to engineering
through the websites above, internet searches or local universities.