COME SEE SWE: You don’t have to be an engineer or a women to benefit from the wealth of information, resources and networking at the Society of Women Engineer’s regional conference. Last year’s participants (pictured above) found the event extremely useful. The event will take place at the Berkeley campus on February 27 and 28.

SWE hosts regional conference at Berkeley

The Society of Women Engineers (SWE) have looked into infinity and beyond and they are willing to share their insights with you.

On February 27 and 28 the Berkeley student section of the SWE professional organization will host the organization’s regional conference on campus.

This year’s theme Engineering to Infinity and Beyond looks at the infinite professional possibilities a degree in engineering can offer.

“Students who study engineering go into traditional engineering jobs but they also enter law or start their own businesses or become managers. We want people to understand what you can do with an engineering degree and that the skills taught in engineering can be useful in other careers,” says the regional conference coordinator ME senior Jessica McDonald.

The conference, last hosted by Berkeley SWE in 1999, is the Berkeley student chapter’s biggest event of the year.
“It’s like a year’s worth of SWE events squeezed into an evening and a day,” adds McDonald.

The event will feature technical talks by professionals on topics such as professional licensing. It will also include a talk by one of the leading blast engineering specialists in the country. Blast engineers design buildings to withstand a major explosion without collapsing.

Personal development seminars will be offered on topics ranging from interpersonal interaction with coworkers to group management.

SWE will also put on society- related workshops that will discuss what SWE can do for you, who can fit into SWE, and where the organization is headed.

The conference will kick off on February 27 at 6 p.m. in Soda Hall’s Wozniak Lounge. Fees are $20 for members and $25 for nonmembers. The fee offsets the cost of three meals and snacks for participants and is low due to generous corporate sponsorship.

Top brass from the national organization will be in attendance, including SWE’s CEO and executive director. More than 140 students and 60 professionals from as far away as Hawaii are expected to attend.

Conference organizers stress that the conference is not just for women or engineers, but could benefit anyone who attends.

McDonald claims the event will offer powerful networking opportunities and points to an example that proves it.

Two recent engineering graduates from Philadelphia moved to California last year with no job prospects and no professional contacts. The women attended last year’s regional conference and came away with about 50 contacts each. Both students landed jobs within two weeks, says McDonald.

“Wherever you go, the SWE network is already in place and they are always willing to accept you and help in any way they can,” adds McDonald.

For more information on the conference, go to swe.coe.berkeley.edu

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