On Saturday, February 24, the Northwestern undergraduate student chapter of the Society of Women Engineers (NU SWE) hosted the 54th annual Career Day for Girls. With 143 students from Chicago-area middle school and high schools registered, the program took place in the Technological Institute and featured the theme “Eco Girls: Engineers for Sustainability!”

This year’s keynote was delivered by Kyra Woods (’13). Woods, who earned a bachelor’s degree in environmental engineering, is the sustainability consultancy director for Sustain Our Future Foundation, a national nonprofit dedicated to developing strategies for meaningful community benefit through the rapidly growing green economy.

While designed with female students in mind, the program is open to all junior high and high school students who are interested in science and mathematics. Held annually since 1970, Career Day for Girls is NU SWE’s largest on-campus outreach event, hosting students for hands-on engineering activities and competitions. The program included education and career information about opportunities in engineering and applied science.

"Young students are typically more nervous and unsure about the challenges surrounding engineering, so we always try to utilize various approaches to alleviate any nerves," said event organizers Maya Ramaswamy (ME/CS '27) and Elia Rodriguez (ChBE '27), who serve as NU SWE's co-outreach directors. "Our activities give students the fun, hands-on experience that engineering provides, and by bringing in experienced engineers and a keynote speaker, we provide them with the resources and information they might not otherwise have access to. Our goal is for students to walk away having learned something new and feeling inspired to pursue engineering further on their own."

The program was divided into separate paths for the middle school students and the high school students. The high-school cohort visited labs such as the Querrey Simpson Institute for Bioelectronics, the lab run by Professor Jeffrey Richards that focuses on soft matter and colloidal science, and the Center for Robotics and Biosystems. The middle-school group met with members of the AutoAquaponics team in Northwestern’s chapter of Engineers for a Sustainable World and saw the 3D Printing and Rapid Prototyping Lab.

The design activity for high schoolers was to create a solar powered car, while the younger group was challenged to design sustainable cities with Woods - who used to work for the City of Chicago and helped set the city's sustainability policies - serving as a consultant. The high schoolers heard a panel discussion with five engineering graduates from Northwestern and other universities on why they decided to pursue a degree in engineering.

"Career Day for Girls has a lasting impact on young students by fostering confidence and curiosity about engineering and STEM fields. Through hands-on activities, team-building exercises, and lab tours, students gain a deeper understanding of how engineering works in a real-world setting," Ramaswamy and Rodriguez said. "Interacting with professionals during panels and tours helps demystify the field, showing that it is not only accessible but also exciting and full of opportunity. The event also allows students to explore these opportunities alongside their peers, who share similar excitement and curiosity, creating a supportive environment where they can encourage and inspire one another."

With more than 300 members, NU SWE has a strong and growing presence on campus. Centered on three fundamental pillars – outreach, professional development, and social development – the group’s mission is to build a supportive community of female engineers at Northwestern and beyond.

The Society of Women Engineers is a nationally recognized professional, educational, and service organization dedicated to supporting women in science and engineering. They aim not only to empower their members to fulfill their full potential as engineers and leaders, but also to inspire the next generation of engineers through STEM outreach programs.