Celebrating Women Engineers from History
Celebrating Women Engineers from History
ASME celebrates the contributions of women engineers to the field of engineering—past, present, and future. Below, I’ve highlighted three of the countless women engineers whose work exemplifies ASME’s mission to advance engineering for the benefit of humanity.
Edith Clarke (1883 – 1959) was the first female electrical engineer in the U.S. She inspired future generations with her work on electrical power systems, including her invention of the Clarke calculator, an early graphing calculator that could solve equations involving electric current, voltage and impedance in power transmission lines.
Mary Jackson (1921 – 2005) was NASA's first black female engineer. After 34 years at NASA, Jackson had earned the most senior engineering title available. She co-authored around a dozen research papers, and her life story was highlighted in the movie “Hidden Figures.”
Josephine Cochrane (1839-1913) invented the first commercially successful dishwasher, improving daily life and showcasing women’s contributions to engineering. Once her patent was issued on 28 December 1886, she founded Garis-Cochrane Manufacturing Company to manufacture her machines. Cochrane showed her new machine at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (August 29, 2024), today's workforce is 53.2% men and 46.8% women. By 2033, women are expected to make up 47.6% of the workforce, and by 2035, women in engineering will rise to 20% from today's 13.7%.
ASME continues its commitment to supporting the achievements and aspirations of all engineers. This is essential to creating the engineering workforce of the future.
Thomas Costabile, P.E.
ASME Executive Director/CEO
Edith Clarke (1883 – 1959) was the first female electrical engineer in the U.S. She inspired future generations with her work on electrical power systems, including her invention of the Clarke calculator, an early graphing calculator that could solve equations involving electric current, voltage and impedance in power transmission lines.
Mary Jackson (1921 – 2005) was NASA's first black female engineer. After 34 years at NASA, Jackson had earned the most senior engineering title available. She co-authored around a dozen research papers, and her life story was highlighted in the movie “Hidden Figures.”
Josephine Cochrane (1839-1913) invented the first commercially successful dishwasher, improving daily life and showcasing women’s contributions to engineering. Once her patent was issued on 28 December 1886, she founded Garis-Cochrane Manufacturing Company to manufacture her machines. Cochrane showed her new machine at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (August 29, 2024), today's workforce is 53.2% men and 46.8% women. By 2033, women are expected to make up 47.6% of the workforce, and by 2035, women in engineering will rise to 20% from today's 13.7%.
ASME continues its commitment to supporting the achievements and aspirations of all engineers. This is essential to creating the engineering workforce of the future.
With regards,
Thomas Costabile, P.E.
ASME Executive Director/CEO
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