Women have played a pivotal role in shaping our modern world through their groundbreaking inventions. Despite often facing barriers to recognition and patenting, these trailblazing women have introduced innovations that have transformed daily life. From practical items to life-saving technology, here are 20 incredible inventions by women that you might not know about.

Being a part of the field sampling squad means Breeann Ortega-Roberts gets to be on the front lines of science, sort of an Indiana Jones that researches the environment. She enjoys being part of the scientific community that is actively working to monitor the ecological dynamics of our biomes.

Join the 30th Annual WITI Summit, Prompt'24, where they unravel technological mystery with cutting-edge discussions and visionary perspectives. AI and digital advancements are reshaping society, business, and individual lives. Their summit is not only an event, it's a journey toward understanding and leveraging the transformative power of AI. Bringing together industry leaders, innovators, and influencers, Prompt'24 is a collaborative environment for trust-building and influential networking. Their commitment is to highlight the pathways of technological change while emphasizing ethical considerations and strategic innovations.

International Women in Engineering Day was here, and it was time to both celebrate progress and address the ongoing difficulties faced by women in STEM fields. While there have been strides made towards gender parity in STEM, women still make up less than a third of the global workforce in tech-related fields. This day, along with every day of the year, is an important reminder that uplifting women in STEM and cultivating inclusive environments requires a collective effort. 10 Women In Engineering share what the day means to them and their hopes for the future.

Across the world, women remain underrepresented in STEM. For example, more than half of humanities professionals are women, but only one in three graduates in STEM are women. As part of the ongoing work to make an impact on this imbalance, SWE has been working with Global Contact since 2021 to understand gender equity in STEM on the global front and ensure that women are equally represented in STEM careers. Through its work on Gender Scan, a global survey of STEM students and professionals across more than 100 countries, Global Contact’s benchmark study continues to shed light on gender inequalities in STEM studies and career, analyzing the causes of the “leaky pipeline” phenomenon in these disciplines. You can help them beat the response rate from the last Gender Scan! In 2021, SWE members were part of the more than 30,000 respondents - helping double the response rate from the 2019 survey. This year, Global Contact is working with multiple international organizations, including SWE and UNESCO, to assess the impact of gender balance policies in the STEM workforce, as well as report trends of female participation along the STEM pipeline. You can be a part of this important research by taking the Gender Scan survey.

In the heart of Silicon Valley, where innovation thrives and ideas spark revolutions, the Association for Women in Science (AWIS) Palo Alto Chapter has stood as a beacon for women in STEM for almost four decades. Established in 1985, this chapter has weathered the tides of change, adapting and evolving to meet the needs of women navigating the often male-dominated landscapes of scientific and technological fields. Much like numerous businesses and organizations grappling with post-COVID recovery, AWIS Palo Alto faced a significant exodus, leading to a decline in its membership and influence. In recent months, the chapter has been quietly but diligently engaged in a process of rejuvenation and renewal. Guided by the visionary leadership of chapter president Anita Chu Li, PharmD, and fueled by a team of passionate leaders committed to fostering inclusivity and empowerment, the AWIS Palo Alto Chapter has embarked on a journey to rebuild and revitalize its presence in the community. Reflecting on decades of achievement and progress, the chapter remains steadfast in its mission to provide networking opportunities, foster career development, and raise public awareness of the scientific prowess of women. It is this unwavering dedication to its core values that has inspired the chapter’s rebuilding campaign slogan: “Inspired by Science, Driven by Passion”.

Are you a female founder with a groundbreaking idea ready to disrupt the market? The 10th Annual Girls in Tech Startup Challenge is your golden opportunity to transform your vision into reality. This premier competition invites you to join a global community of trailblazing women entrepreneurs, showcase your innovative product, and compete for seed funding to fuel your startup's growth. The journey culminates at Vanderbilt University's Wond'ry on October 17th, where the top 10 finalists will present their startups to a panel of esteemed judges and an audience of potential investors. This is your chance to shine, network with industry leaders, and secure the funding and support your startup deserves. Should you hopefully make it to the final round, you’ll need to make your way to Nashville, TN to attend and pitch at the live event. During this exciting hybrid startup competition, female founders will submit a video pitch for their early-stage startup and fill out a short application form. Pitches will be judged based on the innovativeness, framework, and market viability of the product.

Scientific research yields essential medication, technology, and data to improve our lives. Postdoctoral researchers and graduate students work excessively to provide the public with this information, but this effort takes a toll. In 2018, a survey of graduate students determined that the likelihood of graduate students having anxiety and depression is six times higher than the general population. It has been shown that 75% of graduate students report feeling stressed, 50% report feeling overwhelmed, and 40% of students report being exhausted. As a result, a recent survey showed that 51% considered leaving science due to work-related mental-health concerns. Graduate students and postdoctoral researchers are expected to supervise students, attend seminars and conferences, review and write scientific papers, assist with grant writing, conduct experiments, produce data for projects unrelated to their own projects, and aid with laboratory maintenance. The demand for higher productivity forces them to work extensive hours. One survey shows that 76% of graduate students worked more then 41 hours per week, where 25% of these students worked more than 61 hours per week. A 2016 Nature poll of early-career researchers also suggested that 38% worked more than 60 hours each week, in which 9% of those worked more than 80 hours a week. This poor work-life balance has been linked to an increased burnout risk in both graduate students and postdoctoral researchers. Articles show that postdoctoral researchers are also struggling with low incomes and the rapidly rising living costs. Much of their income is based on “soft money” – meaning they rely on external funding sources and spend a lot of time writing grant proposals that oftentimes do not get approved. The lack of financial stability and security can exacerbate levels of stress and anxiety. A global survey of graduate students conducted by Nature in 2022 showed that 85% were concerned about not having the amount of money necessary to cover living expenses. This lack of career stability is causing researchers to walk away from postdoctoral positions, and principal investigators are struggling to find postdocs.

The SWE Women Engineers in Government Contractor Careers Affinity Group (WEgcc AG) informally started in November 2022 as our leaders searched for ways to connect with other women in engineering at government-owned, contractor-operated facilities. This group is particularly unique in the opportunities, challenges, and growth paths that face employees, combining attributes seen in the industry and public sectors, and academia, as well as forming some aggregate of these traits that wasn’t well-represented by any singular group. Because government contractors and consultants work at these intersections between the federal government, academia, and industry, it’s not uncommon for this group to feel excluded on all sides. The mission of the WEgcc AG is to connect the community of women working in government contractor careers and provide support, engagement, and encouragement to all professionals working in engineering and technology at government-adjacent institutions. The WEgcc AG aims to provide support to all of its members in the form of networking, mentoring, and expanded access to SWE’s resources. Ultimately, the goal of the WEgcc AG is to build an integrated network of government-adjacent (contractors, consultants, and the like) engineering professionals committed to the growth and development of themselves, fellow members, and their broader communities. The WEgcc AG falls under the Business & Interests Affinity Group umbrella.

Society of Women Engineers posted that Student seeks survey participants! Answer this short survey to share your experiences on the supports or barriers you’ve encountered when choosing engineering as your college major or profession. This survey is open to college students and professionals! Responses are completely anonymous.