SWE did not become a formal organization until 1950, it originated in the late 1940’s when shortage of men due to World War II created opportunities for women to join the field of science and engineering. Female student groups majorly from the Drexel Institute of Technology in Philadelphia, Cooper Union and City College of New York in New York City, began forming local meetings and networking activities.
On the weekend of May 27–28, 1950, about fifty women representing the above stated universities participated in first national meeting at The Cooper Union's Green Engineering Camp in northern New Jersey. During this first meeting, the society elected the first president of SWE, Dr. Beatrice A. Hicks. The first official annual meeting was held in 1951, in New York City.
After the war, women were discouraged from engineering and denied management level positions. Over the decade a large number of women started enrolling in the STEM field and in 1973, SWE signed an agreement with the National Society of Professional Engineers in hopes of recruiting a larger percentage of working women and students to its ranks. By 1982, the Society had swelled to 13,000 graduate and student members spread out over 250 sections across the country.
Industrial visit to Cummins India.
Interaction with underprivileged girls during an outreach event.
Student explaining a science experiment during an outreach event.
The student panel of SWE CCEW 2019 at conclusion of Incube Conference 2019.
Shalvika Patil presenting in the Incube Conference.
