By Gissel Taveras
El Inmobiliario
Yesterday, June 23rd, a very special day was commemorated to honor those women who perform a role that has been traditionally occupied by men: “International Day of Women in Engineering”.
Its promulgation aims to raise international awareness of the importance of this profession, increasingly practiced by women, constituting a remarkable professional opportunity for future generations and contributing to the economic development of societies globally.
This year the theme "Improved by Engineering" was chosen, with the hashtag #INWED24, in order to highlight the work that women engineers do every year to improve people's lives and livelihoods, to help build a better future.
How did Women in Engineering Day originate?
International Women in Engineering Day was created by the Women's Engineering Society (WES) in the United Kingdom (year 2014), on the occasion of its 95th anniversary.
Due to the growing importance of this date, it received UNESCO sponsorship in 2016, annually recognizing 50 female engineers worldwide who have excelled in their profession.
Furthermore, this day acquired an international character starting in 2017.
Women engineers who have made history in the world
Women engineers who have distinguished themselves through their profession and their contributions to society and the world:
Rose Margarite "Margot" Taulé Casso: The first female engineer in the Dominican Republic. She was responsible for the structural design of the building that houses the Dominican National Congress. That structure was commissioned by the dictator Rafael Leonidas Trujillo in the 1960s and is still in use today.
Elisa Leonida Zamfirescu (Romania): was the first female engineer in the world to graduate with honors, in 1912. She dedicated herself to geological research and education.
Emily Roeblin (United States): was the technical leader in the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge completed in 1883, taking over her husband's work when he became paralyzed.
Helen Augusta Blanchard (United States): known as "Lady Edison" was the author of 28 sewing machine patents, most notably the zigzag sewing machine, created in 1873.
Hedy Lamarr (United States): invented a remote-controlled communications system for the United States Army, which served as the basis for the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi network connections used today.
Stephanie Louise Kwolek (United States): created a high-strength fiber, stronger than steel, known as Kevlar. It is currently used in the manufacture of bulletproof vests, radial tires, and fiber optic cables.
Pride of the Dominican Republic
Maribel Santos, a Civil Engineering graduate from the Autonomous University of Santo Domingo (UASD), emigrated to Madrid in 2004, and from there began the process of integrating into the Spanish job market. She validated her degree, updated her knowledge of European engineering standards, and approached many people.
She became the first woman to hold a government position, serving as vice-dean of the College of Technical Engineers of Public Works and Graduates in Civil Engineering of Madrid.
