IRVING, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–ExxonMobil is inspiring girls to consider careers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) through its 13th annual Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day program. This year’s program is a component of the company’s broader “Be an Engineer” initiative and will engage more than 2,000 middle-school girls around the country.
“Many girls may not realize that engineering is an exciting and rewarding career option,” said Ben Soraci, ExxonMobil’s general manager of public and government affairs. “ExxonMobil’s Introduce a Girl to Engineering program is designed to showcase the breadth and diversity of engineering careers and inspire girls to be innovators of the future.”
This week and over the course of the next several months, students at 11 ExxonMobil and XTO Energy sites around the country will participate in a variety of hands-on activities designed to ignite curiosity in STEM careers. Activities include demonstrating the energy industry’s use of 3D imaging technology to search for oil and natural gas, water purification experiments, and exploring the science and chemistry behind everyday consumer products. ExxonMobil employees will guide students through the activities, helping to sharpen their STEM skills. Since the program’s inception more than a decade ago, 11,000 students have participated in activities conducted at company facilities or as part of classroom demonstrations.
ExxonMobil launched its “Be an Engineer” program in 2014 to highlight real-life engineers behind some of the world’s greatest technical achievements and to encourage students to choose related careers. The campaign has won several awards, including the 2014 Ragan PR Daily CSR award for cause marketing, and has generated more than 17 million online engagements.
Introduce a Girl to Engineering, one of ExxonMobil’s many initiatives to attract more young people to STEM careers, particularly girls and underrepresented minorities, is being conducted in concert with Girl Day, an initiative founded by DiscoverE designed to demonstrate the collaborative and life-changing work of engineers. While employment overall is expected to grow just shy of 10 percent by 2018, STEM-related jobs are predicted to grow by 17 percent. Programs that encourage interest in STEM fields are crucial in meeting the needs of the STEM sector as it continues to expand, as well as providing young people with meaningful and well-paying jobs.
About ExxonMobil
Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM), the largest publicly traded international oil and gas company, uses technology and innovation to help meet the world’s growing energy needs. ExxonMobil holds an industry-leading inventory of resources, is the largest refiner and marketer of petroleum products and its chemical company is one of the largest in the world. ExxonMobil engages in a range of philanthropic activities that advance education, with a focus on math and science in the U.S., promote women as catalysts for development, and combat malaria. In 2014, together with its employees and retirees, ExxonMobil, its divisions and affiliates, and the ExxonMobil Foundation provided $279 million in contributions worldwide. Additional information on ExxonMobil’s community partnerships and contribution programs is available at www.exxonmobil.com/community.
About DiscoverE
DiscoverE, formerly National Engineers Week, was founded in 1951 by the National Society of Professional Engineers and is dedicated to ensuring a diverse and well-educated future engineering workforce by increasing understanding of and interest in engineering and technology careers among young students and by promoting pre-college literacy in math and science. DiscoverE also raises public understanding and appreciation of engineers’ contributions to society and is among the oldest of America’s professional outreach efforts. For more information please visit www.discovere.org.
