Inspiring Future Engineers? That’s SWEET: A SWE-Led Middle School Program

This session will discuss how one university developed a SWE-led engineering outreach program for middle school-aged students to increase awareness of and participation in engineering fields by women and minorities. Speakers will discuss the development and implementation of the SWEET (Society of Women Engineers: Engineers in Training) Outreach Program, consisting of a series of one-day workshops where participants were exposed to engineering fields through informational presentations, hands-on activities, and discussions with professionals in the field. At the end of this session, attendees will obtain practical examples of various outreach initiatives that they can execute at their institutions or organizations. In addition, attendees will gain insight on outcomes and lessons learned while administering pre-college engineering outreach initiatives through a student-led organization in a university setting.