Lately, women have been making a push to be more included in disciplines that were traditionally dominated by men, like engineering and technology. Two recent stories have showcased this drive.

Mattel just announced Barbie’s 125th and 126th careers. The toy company, based in El Segundo, California, let voters choose the 125th career of the versatile doll. The winner was News Anchor Barbie, but when votes poured in from all over the world for Computer Engineer Barbie, Mattel couldn’t pass up the opportunity to use this as Barbie’s 126th career. Mattel designers worked with the Society of Women Engineers and the National Academy of Engineering to produce a doll that has a binary code design on her shirt and a laptop—pink, of course. The doll also comes with a special code that unlocks career-themed content online.

Another step taken to promote engineering and computer careers to young females is through the Girl Scouts. The University of Maine hosted girls from various troupes to teach them about opportunities in electrical and computer engineering. Though not for a merit badge, the day allowed the girls to consider future careers in the field.

Read more about women in engineering and technology at GraduatingEngineer.com.

For young women and girls interested in STEM subjects and careers, learning about science, technology, engineering and math opportunities can be as simple as doing an internet search.

According to today’s educational advice column in the Detroit Free Press, using a search phrase like, “science and math summer enrichment,” plus your town, is a great first step when looking to enhance your STEM credentials.

More specifically, the American Association of University Women (http://www.aauw.org/education/ngcp/NGCPresources.cfm) provide numerous resources for STEM-interested girls and young women and be sure to look into local Expanding Your Horizons (expandingyourhorizons.org) activities.

To learn more about women in STEM fields, visit GraduatingEngineer.com and for more young women and girls STEM resources, read our article, Bridging the Gap: Programs for girls in science and engineering.

This week, New York Times readers have the opportunity to interact with Colonel John R. Boulé II in a sort of comment box Q&A. Join the discussion or just peruse the comment section if you’re curious about Mr. Boulé, his command of the New York District of the Army Corps of Engineers or USACE’s various projects in the New York area.

Image: Brooklyn Bridge Panorama by Philipp Klinger.

Learn more about careers in the Army Corps of Engineers at GraduatingEngineer.com.

Given the current economic environment, it’s fair to speculate that a majority of the nation’s 2.9 million college freshman feel anxious when faced with declaring a major or choosing a career path. Although, according to data collected by The Bureau of Labor Statistics, students considering a career in Computer Science/Information Technology and Engineering may have a little less reason to stress.

With a projected growth rate of 22% from 2006 to 2016, a future career in Computer and Information Science sounds pretty bright and Network Systems and Data Communications Analysis even brighter, with an expected growth of 53% for the same period. While Engineering is forecast to grow by a rate of 11%, trend areas like biomedical, environmental, and industrial engineering are expected to exceed 20% growth by 2016…

Read the BloggingStocks article and learn more about what this year’s college freshmen can expect following graduation: http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/08/31/2-9-million-college-kids-unsure-of-career-plans/

Looking for that first job out of college? Get career advice at www.GraduatingEngineer.com.

Photo courtesy of The Library of Congress. Photo credit: Alfred T. Palmer

During his May 18 University of Pennsylvania Commencement Address, Eric Schmidt, Google Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, stressed that downturns can lead to innovation and playfully compared his generation with his more tech-savvy audience.