text: WE13, the Society for Women Engineers’ (SWE) annual conference, set record-breaking attendance numbers this year. The society’s premier event attracted more than 7,000 attendees, up from the previous year’s attendance of 6,400. The exceptional attendance makes this the most successful conference for SWE yet, marking it as a capstone event in what has already been a banner year for SWE.
  The unprecedented attendance matched SWE’s growing success and reach. This year’s conference featured expanded events, tours, outreach programs and the largest career fair for women engineers and technologists, which attracted participants from 28 countries. The conference’s opening keynote breakfast, awards banquet and the Celebrate SWE! closing ceremony also sold out this year. These events recognize the accomplishments of individuals as engineers, leaders and champions of diversity.
  Finally, Invent It. Build It. continued its trend as one of the most impactful events at the conference this year. Designed to encourage girls to learn more about engineering as a career option, Invent It. Build It. attracted more than 1,000 participants. During the event, parents, educators, students and SWE volunteers came together to explore exciting engineering projects, meet with engineering organizations and learn more about the academic path to becoming an engineer.
  For more information about the Society, please visit www.swe.org.