Engineering Rock Stars: Women In Engineering Who’ve Elevated The Industry
Engineering… a field historically dominated by men, but has relied on the remarkable contributions of women. In honor of Women's History Month, we’re celebrating some of the most inspiring women in engineering, and the impact their accomplishments have had on the world.
These rock star female engineers had to overcome societal barriers to pursue their passion for problem-solving. To push the engineering industry to where it is today.
Emily Warren Roebling
Roebling is famous for her crucial role in the completion of the Brooklyn Bridge in 1883.
After her husband, Washington Roebling, the chief engineer, fell ill, Emily took over for him by overseeing the project's completion, which took more than 10 years.
At the Brooklyn Bridge opening ceremony, Roebling was honored in a speech by Abram Stevens Hewitt, who said that the bridge was…
“...an everlasting monument to the sacrificing devotion of a woman and of her capacity for that higher education from which she has been too long disbarred.”
Roebling’s leadership and engineering knowledge were essential to the successful construction of the Brooklyn Bridge, making her one of the first prominent female engineers in the United States.
Lillian Moller Gilbreth
Gilbreth is often described as “America’s first lady of engineering.” But she was also known for being the inspiration for the intelligent, quirky mom in the movie Cheaper by the Dozen.
She was an industrial engineer and psychologist. Her work in time-and-motion studies – showing companies how to improve their management techniques, efficiency, and productivity – was her most popular achievement. A trailblazer for women in academics, she was also one of the first female engineers to ever receive a PhD.
Gilbreth's innovations in workplace efficiency revolutionized industrial engineering. She was the first woman to be inducted into the Society for Industrial Engineers and the first female to receive the Hoover Medal for public service as an industrial engineer.
Elsie Eaves
Eaves was a civil engineer and the first woman to become a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers.
“Eaves was considered a role model for young women interested in engineering. She was often contacted by them, and by high school counselors and university professors, looking for advice and information on career opportunities for women in engineering.” (Society of Women Engineers)
In 1983, she wrote an enlightening article in an issue of U.S. Woman Engineer about the changes she experienced throughout her lifetime to the engineering industry.
Recent Innovative Women in Engineering
Rosalind Picard
A professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Picard is known for her pioneering work in affective computing, a field that explores the relationship between emotions and technology.
She’s the recipient of the 2022 International Lombardy Prize for Computer Science Research, which is described as the “Nobel prize in computer science.”
Picard is an inventor for more than 100 patents, earning her recognition as a member of both the National Academy of Engineering and as a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors.
For more recent Highly Influential Women in Engineering Today, see Academic Influence’s article.
Calling All Female Engineers
Women have made remarkable contributions to the field of engineering throughout history, breaking barriers and paving the path for future generations. From Roebling's leadership on the Brooklyn Bridge to modern-day trailblazers, these women continue to show us that gender shouldn’t be a barrier to success when it comes to engineering.
As we celebrate Women's History Month, let's honor these inspiring women and continue to support and encourage women in engineering and other STEM fields.
Thanks for reading ❤
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