Symmetry wrote:WingCmdr Ginkapo wrote:Its about terminology.
You say the word, engineering, to a girl and they switch off. Say, problem solving, instead and they are interested.
Friends and family have a lot to answer for.
That's kinda broad (no pun intended), but there's a point there. Engineering isn't really considered a subject for women. Like I said, there's no real reason for it- women are suited to it when it comes to qualifications needed to access graduate degrees. Biological and chemical engineering seem to get a fair share of women, but that's just anecdotal experience.

Biological Engineering and Chemical Engineering do reasonably well for the same reason that "Architectural Engineering" Degrees do quite well. Now I guess, like everyone else, you have no idea what Architectural engineering is! You can guess. Sounds cool.
Well you are wrong, its the engineering of building systems such as air conditioning, heating etc. Nobody realises that before they go to uni though, and it is a rewarding degree as you get a great deal of knowledge and building services really are an intriguing problem.
Engineering IS the art of problem solving. Mathematics is just one tool. An Engineer is part mathmatician, part scientist, part economist, part lawyer..... Simply the application of theory to real life.
Look at me and Mets. There is a difference in how we write and what we think. He is a scientist. I am an engineer. He accepts nothing less than perfection. I expect error. We come from very similar worlds, yet the entire mindset is completely different.