98. Who is an Engineer?

2/10/2023

Claire and Natasha discuss how the history of engineering education tends to focus on the college of engineering, but what about the female-dominated home economics course of study? Starting in 1929, women could major in household equipment, focusing on a scientifically based understanding of household technologies. Students took physics and math classes and conducted labs that involved dismantling refrigerators to assess the application of thermodynamic principles. Sounds like engineering to me! Listen for more of this fascinating history, how we decide who gets to be an engineer, and our ideas of what all students should know about engineering and technology.

Click below to watch or listen to this episode of The STEM Space! You can also download the episode on your favorite podcast app.

Links from the Show:

Related The STEM Space Podcast Episodes

• 91. Defining STEM ft. Molly Seward (K-4 STEM Teacher)

• 79. The Impact of STEM

• 58. Are You Training Up Innovators?

• 50. How to Involve Girls in After-School STEM

Vivify STEM Blog Posts

• Top 10 Ways To Encourage Girls In STEM

• Engineering in the Science Classroom

• Critical Issues of K-12 Engineering Education

Vivify STEM Lessons & Products

• Who is an Engineer or Scientist? STEM Career Game & Activity

• Heat Shield Space Exploration STEM Challenge

• Picture a STEM Professional Critical Thinking Worksheet

• Bridge Engineering STEM Challenge - Women in STEM History Activity

• Starter STEM Activities Engineering Challenges

Other STEM Resources

• Equipped for Life: Gendered Technical Training and Consumerism in Home Economics, 1920-1980: This is the paper Natasha was referring to in the podcast.

• The Evolution of Engineering in the 20th Century (book)

Subscribe and Leave a Review:

Subscribe to The STEM Space podcast to get the latest episodes full of useful links and resources for your STEM education journey. Click here for iTunes.

Please leave us a review here and let us know what you think of our show. We would love to hear from you and are truly grateful for your support so that we can continue to produce helpful content! Click here and select “Ratings and Reviews”, then “Write a Review”. Thank you so much!