The Society of Women Engineers (SWE), a not-for-profit educational and service organization that empowers women to succeed in the field of engineering and a member of the Automation Federation, will conduct a congressional outreach event, 2-3 March 2016. The Automation Federation and its founding organization, the International Society of Automation (ISA), are proud sponsors of this important event.

The event, centered on the theme of “Diversity and Inclusion Drives Innovation in STEM,” is designed to increase awareness within the US Congress of the need for and the importance of increased diversity and inclusion in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce.

Open to other STEM-focused organizations, the event will be held on Capitol Hill and at the Washington Court Hotel, which is located next to the Capitol. Activities will begin on 1 p.m. on Wednesday, 2 March and will conclude by 4 p.m. on Thursday, 3 March.

During the two-day event, SWE members will have the chance to participate in pre-visit trainings and a reception, and meet with their representatives or congressional staff. Below is an outline of the schedule:

Wednesday, March 2
1 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. – Congressional visit training, Washington Court Hotel
5 p.m. – 7 p.m. – Congressional reception, Rayburn House Office Building

Thursday, March 3
8:30 a.m. – 10 a.m. – Congressional Breakfast, Rayburn House Office Building
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. – Congressional visits

At the training, invited representatives from the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP); the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology; the STEM Education Coalition; the House and Senate Education Committees; and the White House Office of African American Affairs will present on the federal R&D budget and the culture and environment on Capitol Hill. Attention will be given to how best to communicate with congressional leaders (both online and in person), how policy is made, and how SWE might be able to influence certain outcomes.