Above: Fresh out of college and in the field during my first job at Honeywell.
When I think about what first sparked my interest in chemical engineering, I always go back to my AP Chemistry class.
I had an incredible teacher, Mrs. Wyckoff, whose passion for sharing science made it come alive. The hands-on lab work especially stayed with me. In particular, I remember when my best friend and I led a school assembly for elementary students and performed experiments to ignite their curiosity.
We froze bouncy balls with liquid nitrogen and smashed them to show how their physical properties changed. The real showstopper was when we then froze gummy bears, which quickly became the highlight of the assembly.
That experience stuck with me. It showed me science could be exciting. It also showed me how much influence a teacher, mentor, or even a single experiment can have.
Each year during Engineers Week, Introduce a Girl to Engineering, or Girl Day, gives us a moment to reflect on who we are building the future for and who we are inviting into it.
Girl Day, led nationally by DiscoverE, encourages engineers to connect with girls in grades K–12 through classroom visits, hands-on activities, and mentorship. For me, it represents something larger than a single day of outreach.
As chemical engineers, we know that our work shapes everyday life. We strengthen process safety, develop cleaner energy solutions, design sustainable materials, and advance technologies that improve health and quality of life. But none of that impact continues without the next generation. And the next generation needs to see themselves in this profession.
Representation makes engineering real
Many girls do not grow up knowing what a chemical engineer does. When they meet engineers who can explain how chemistry connects to clean water, medicine, energy, or manufacturing, the field becomes tangible. When they see women leading in the sciences, it becomes possible.
Representation expands who feels welcome to pursue engineering and who believes they belong in technical field.
Bringing STEM to life
At AIChE’s K–12 STEM Showcase Competition, students have the opportunity to present innovative ideas, experiment with hands-on activities, and experience the excitement of scientific discovery in a supportive environment. These events create a bridge between curiosity and what's possible. They show students, especially girls, that their ideas matter.
We have also partnered with STEM influencers who know how to make science dynamic and accessible. Leaders like Jay Flores and Kate Biberdorf, known to many as Kate the Chemist, have delivered keynote demonstrations that capture young audiences. Through engaging experiments and relatable storytelling, they help students see that science is not distant or abstract. It is energetic, creative, and within reach.
When students watch a live chemistry demonstration and see the excitement in the room, something shifts. Engineering becomes something they can picture themselves doing.
Building the pipeline year-round
AIChE’s commitment to outreach extends beyond a single event. Through Bee a ChemE and other K–12 initiatives, we provide classroom-ready modules and volunteer resources to make it easier for our members and student chapters to engage young learners.
Our members mentor, speak, volunteer, and serve as role models in communities around the world. These efforts are not simply about recruitment. They are about strengthening the profession itself. Expanding access leads to stronger innovation, broader perspectives, and better solutions.
The challenges facing our world require diverse voices and bold ideas. Encouraging more girls to explore engineering is essential to meeting those challenges.
Looking ahead
Girl Day reminds us that inclusion requires not just intention, but visibility and effort.
When we show girls what chemical engineers do and introduce them to women who are leading in the field, we expand what feels possible. Those moments of exposure can influence decisions years later.
Today, I am proud to be a woman in chemical engineering. I am equally proud to help create opportunities for the next generation of girls to see themselves in this field.
I hope more of our members will find a way to step into a classroom or youth program this year. You may not feel the impact in the moment. But for one student, it could be the beginning of something much bigger.
Sometimes all it takes is a single experiment to spark a lifelong path.
