March 21, 2003
Engineering Societies Diversity Summit Participants:
We are looking forward to an exciting and productive meeting on April 2-3. Twenty-eight engineering organizations are currently planning to participate in the Engineering Societies Diversity Summit. Participants include both disciplinary societies and minority focused organizations. The meeting will provide an opportunity to share information about existing engineering society diversity programs, discuss ways to make those programs more effective, and explore the potential for new initiatives.
Enclosed are the following materials to help you prepare for the Engineering Societies Diversity Summit:
1. Map and directions to the National Academy of Engineering
2. Agenda
3. List of participating organizations
4. Summary of responses to the Engineering Society Diversity Questionnaire
5. Diversity data from the Commission on Professionals in Science and Technology
6. Shirley Jackson’s The Quiet Crisis
Additional information on diversity statistics and effective interventions will be distributed at the summit. If you would like to bring materials from your organization to distribute at the meeting, please let us know so that we can make appropriate space available.
In addition to informative presentations from experts, the agenda includes time for focused small group discussions and networking. A major goal of the summit is to familiarize leaders of diversity initiatives in the engineering community with what other organizations are doing to address these issues. In addition, each participant will be asked to identify critical diversity issues for their organization and for the profession as a whole and prepare an action plan to address those issues.
The cherry blossoms will be late this year, but in spite of increased security Washington is beautiful in the spring. We are monitoring the security situation closely, and if any changes in plans for the meeting become necessary, we will let you know immediately via email. If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Peggy Layne at playne@aaes.org <mailto:playne@aaes.org> or 703-351-8031.
We at AAES are looking forward to working with all of you on this important issue.
Tom Price, Executive Director