YWIB-Metro New York & Columbia University: Inside Engineering

YWIB-Metro New York hosted 11 young women at Columbia University's School of Engineering on September 26, 2024. The event allowed high school girls (grades 10 and up) who are curious about the fields of biomedical, mechanical, or electrical engineering to experience what it is like to work in these areas. Kathleen J. Durkin, MR Research Administrator at the Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute at Columbia University, welcomed us and provided an overview of MRI technology and research. The girls then went to see the MRI equipment and heard from researcher Grace Smotrich, who explained the COMBO (COVID-19 Mother Baby Outcomes Study) study, which sparked a lot of interest from the audience. After visiting the Zuckerman Institute, the group moved to the Mudd Building for a tour of the Biomedical Engineering Lab and Makerspace, where the students had the opportunity for hands-on experience. The event concluded with pizzas and a short presentation about the programs Columbia Engineering offers for aspiring scientists.

Submitted by Joanna Kaniewska