People around the world will celebrate International Women in Engineering Day this Sunday, June 23. The goal of the day is to raise awareness of women engineers and encourage the next generation of young girls interested in engineering to pursue their goals and dreams.

Engineering plays an essential role in mining, Nevada’s original STEM industry. For over 150 years, engineers have driven innovation and have been responsible for numerous accomplishments, including square set timbering and the Sutro Tunnel. Today, the hard work of engineering professionals continues to advance mining technology, keep workers safe, and maintain Nevada mining’s status as a high-tech, high-skill industry.

Unfortunately, like many other STEM industries, mining has traditionally had a male dominated workforce and not always welcoming to women. Numbers are improving, both internationally and in the United States, but more work still needs to be done to ensure women feel welcome.

Programs across Nevada are helping address the issue. The University of Nevada, Reno hosts an annual Young Women in Engineering Camp, which introduces middle school-aged girls to different varieties of engineering and gives campers the opportunity to speak with women working directly in engineering, including mining. Soroptimist International of Elko hosts their Dream It, Be It Career Support Day for Girls every spring, where Elko County high school girls meet successful professional women and learn how to pursue their dreams with confidence.

Encourage your daughters, sisters, nieces, and the other young women in your life to pursue their goals. Maybe they’ll discover the next breakthrough in cancer treatment or become a leader in Nevada mining!