IBM Helps Kick Off National Engineers Week As 'War for Talent' Escalates
(EMAILWIRE.COM, February 22, 2001 ) Thousands of engineers from IBM and other organizations fanned out across the U.S. this week to convince youngsters in grades 7-12 that careers in engineering can be fun and rewarding, and ultimately contribute to our nation's competitiveness.
Nearly half a million information technology jobs went unfilled last year as the computer industry's "war for talent" escalated. That number is expected to surpass a million in two years. And with women accounting for less than 10 percent of the nation's engineering force, there's a pressing need to get girls interested in math and the sciences in middle school and earlier.
As the corporate sponsor of the 50th anniversary of National Engineers Week (NEW), IBM has helped rally more than 40 corporations, engineering societies and service organizations to the cause. In addition to investing in the campaign, some 40,000 volunteers from IBM and its partners are visiting schools coast-to-coast this week, describing their jobs, putting on demonstrations and serving as role models.
IBM Chairman Louis V. Gerstner, Jr., co-chairman of the NEW 2001 campaign, told an audience of youngsters participating in the Future City Competition here today that the U.S. is not turning out enough scientists and engineers to make the discoveries that will fortify and extend the nation's leadership in technical innovation over the next 25 to 50 years.
That, he said, will require thinkers, problem solvers and a new generation of people trained in the disciplines of mathematics and the sciences.
In recognition of the low number of women entering the field, a new element of this year's NEW campaign is "Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day" - a follow-on to the popular "Take Your Daughter to Work Day." Organizers say this is the first time a profession has set aside a specific day to attract girls to its ranks.
On Thursday, February 22, thousands of volunteers organized by NEW and IBM plan to communicate with a million girls nationwide, through an additional round of school visits, related publicity and other outreach activity.
About IBM
IBM is the world's largest information technology company, with 80 years of leadership in helping businesses innovate. IBM creates, develops and manufactures the industry's most advanced information technologies, including computer systems, software, networking systems, storage devices and microelectronics. The fastest way to get more information about IBM is through its home page, at www.ibm.com.
About NEW
Established by the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) in 1951, National Engineers Week is intended to increase public understanding of the profession through a variety of programs. Among them is the annual Future City Competition, in which teams of seventh- and eighth-graders design cities of the 21st Century by computer and build scale models. The fastest way to get more information about NEW is through its home page, at www.eweek.org.
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Produced for IBM Corporation
Contacts:
IBM Corporation
Catherine Kovach,
914/499-6609
kovach@us.ibm.com
-------------------
Nearly half a million information technology jobs went unfilled last year as the computer industry's "war for talent" escalated. That number is expected to surpass a million in two years. And with women accounting for less than 10 percent of the nation's engineering force, there's a pressing need to get girls interested in math and the sciences in middle school and earlier.
As the corporate sponsor of the 50th anniversary of National Engineers Week (NEW), IBM has helped rally more than 40 corporations, engineering societies and service organizations to the cause. In addition to investing in the campaign, some 40,000 volunteers from IBM and its partners are visiting schools coast-to-coast this week, describing their jobs, putting on demonstrations and serving as role models.
IBM Chairman Louis V. Gerstner, Jr., co-chairman of the NEW 2001 campaign, told an audience of youngsters participating in the Future City Competition here today that the U.S. is not turning out enough scientists and engineers to make the discoveries that will fortify and extend the nation's leadership in technical innovation over the next 25 to 50 years.
That, he said, will require thinkers, problem solvers and a new generation of people trained in the disciplines of mathematics and the sciences.
In recognition of the low number of women entering the field, a new element of this year's NEW campaign is "Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day" - a follow-on to the popular "Take Your Daughter to Work Day." Organizers say this is the first time a profession has set aside a specific day to attract girls to its ranks.
On Thursday, February 22, thousands of volunteers organized by NEW and IBM plan to communicate with a million girls nationwide, through an additional round of school visits, related publicity and other outreach activity.
About IBM
IBM is the world's largest information technology company, with 80 years of leadership in helping businesses innovate. IBM creates, develops and manufactures the industry's most advanced information technologies, including computer systems, software, networking systems, storage devices and microelectronics. The fastest way to get more information about IBM is through its home page, at www.ibm.com.
About NEW
Established by the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) in 1951, National Engineers Week is intended to increase public understanding of the profession through a variety of programs. Among them is the annual Future City Competition, in which teams of seventh- and eighth-graders design cities of the 21st Century by computer and build scale models. The fastest way to get more information about NEW is through its home page, at www.eweek.org.
-------------------
Produced for IBM Corporation
Contacts:
IBM Corporation
Catherine Kovach,
914/499-6609
kovach@us.ibm.com
-------------------
Contact Information:
IBM Corporation
Joseph Nchor
Tel:
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IBM Corporation
Joseph Nchor
Tel:
Email us
This is a press release. Press release distribution and press release services by EmailWire.Com: http://www.emailwire.com/us-press-release-distribution.php.
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