Come to the career day and see for yourself! Listed below are the different panel discussions going on during the day. Spend some time listening to woman engineers speak about what they do at work, ask questions, and discover what engineering is all about. Check out the panels below:

Panel A: Chemical, Polymer, Materials Science

Chemical Engineers are involved in the processing and treating of liquids and gases. They help to discover and manufacture better plastics, paints, fuels, fibers, medicines, fertilizers, semiconductors, paper, and all other kinds of chemicals. They rely on their knowledge of mathematics and science, particularly chemistry, to overcome technical problems safely, economically, and in an environmentally friendly way.

Polymer Engineers make and develop products made from materials such as plastics and rubber. They are familiar with manufacturing, processing, blending, and producing final products made from polymers. The field of polymer engineering is really a wide discipline. Polymer engineers could be making components for cars, improving the quality of bulletproof vests, developing composites for sports equipment, or designing advanced tires.

Materials Science and Engineering plays a key role in the development of new technologies in engineering and science resulting in startling changes in our lives in the 21st century. Materials engineers deal with the science and technology of producing materials that have properties and shapes suitable for practical use. Materials include metals, ceramics, polymers (plastics), semiconductors, and their combinations called composites. The activities of these engineers range from primary materials production, including recycling, through the design and development of new materials to the reliable and economical processing/manufacturing for the final product. Materials engineers may also conduct durability evaluation research to see how durable certain materials are in various environments, such as whether car components are durable to harsh winter weather and salt, or whether spacecraft materials survive in the harsh environment of space. Materials science and engineering activities are found commonly in aerospace, transportation, electronics, energy conversion, biomedical and spacecraft industries.

Panel B: Civil, Industrial, Mechanical

Civil Engineers belong to one of the largest branches of engineering. They deal with buildings, bridges, dams, roads, and other structures. Civil engineers plan, design and supervise the construction of facilities such as high-rise buildings, airports, water treatment centers, and sanitation plants. Civil engineers will need to design the special rail beds for the magnetic levitation trains of tomorrow.

Industrial Engineers organize the people, information, energy, materials, and machines involved in the production process. They are concerned with plant design and management, quality control, and the human factors of engineering. Industrial engineers perform tasks such as finding the best location for a high-tech company's new plant.

Mechanical Engineers work in many industries, and their work varies by industry and function. Some specialties include applied mechanics; computer-aided design and manufacturing; energy systems; pressure vessels and piping; and heating, refrigeration, and air-conditioning systems. Mechanical engineering is one of the broadest engineering disciplines. Mechanical engineers may work in production operations in manufacturing or agriculture, maintenance, or technical sales; many are administrators or managers.

Panel C: Bio-Medical, Electrical

Bioengineering/Biomedical Engineering combines biology and engineering. Some of these engineers work closely with biologists and medical doctors to develop medical instruments, artificial organs, and prosthetic devices. Others investigate questions that involve the interaction between technology and humans such as: How does working with computers all day affect one's health?

Electrical Engineers cover everything related to electrical devices, systems, and the use of electricity. Electrical engineers work on power plants, computer systems, hardware circuit design, electrical/network wiring, and the design of electrical power for machines/devices. Electrical engineers are designing the dashboard computers that will monitor engine functions on automobiles of the future.

Panel D: Aerospace, Environmental

Aerospace Engineers are responsible for developing extraordinary machines, from airplanes that weigh over a half a million pounds to spacecraft that travel over 17,000 miles an hour. They design, develop, and test aircraft, spacecraft, and missiles and supervise the manufacturing of these products. Aerospace engineers who work with aircraft are considered aeronautical engineers, and those working specifically with spacecraft are considered astronautical engineers.

Environmental Engineers study and develop methods to protect the environment. They develop water distribution systems, recycling methods, sewage treatment plants, and other pollution prevention and control systems for the water, air, and land. Environmental engineers work closely with the EPA and regional/local environmental regulatory agencies to ensure that environmental standards are met.

Panel E: What is Engineered?

When people think about engineering, they often think of products like cell phones, DVDs, and automobiles. But engineered products cover all aspects of everyday life. From the food we eat to the clothes we wear, engineering has played a part in making our lives easier, cheaper and better. By becoming an engineer, you can help solve problems that are important to society. You could be controlling and preventing pollution, developing new medicines, creating advanced technologies, or even exploring new worlds.

Panel F: Preparing for College

Engineers should be inquisitive, creative, analytical, and detail-oriented. They should be able to work as part of a team and be able to communicate well, both verbally and in writing.

There are courses you can take in high school to prepare you for a college engineering education. These include classes such as math, chemistry, physics, biology, computer science and programming, and English composition.

An engineering education provides a foundation that can be applied to many other professions. Not many other disciplines give individuals the depth and breadth of knowledge that engineering does. As a trained engineer, you will have one of the most useful and transferable traits available: you will know how to approach problems logically and have strong problem-solving skills in general. An undergraduate degree in engineering has proved to be an excellent stepping stone to the fields of medicine, law, and business.