ASME acquires Women in 3D Printing global community
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) has finalised an agreement to assume the operations and acquire the assets of Women in 3D Printing (Wi3DP). Since 2014, Wi3DP has focused on providing promotion, support and inspiration to women using Additive Manufacturing across a variety of industries and applications. The organisation currently has over 13,000 members enrolled in its 100 global chapters.
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“Women in 3D Printing has had an incredible ten-year journey. Along the way, it became clear that additional resources were needed to sustain and expand our mission,” said Nora Toure, founder and board chair. “Joining forces with ASME ensures that the spirit and impact of Wi3DP will be preserved, while gaining the structure and support needed to grow, evolve, and reach even greater heights.”
Across the board, women are underrepresented in engineering fields. According to Wi3DP research and Diversity for Additive Manufacturing reports, only 13% of the AM workforce is currently made up of women; 11% of businesses are women-owned. In the wider sector, 16-17% of engineers are women, precise numbers varying by discipline, with women accounting for roughly 9% of mechanical engineers. Wi3DP is focused on bringing the proportions of women in Additive Manufacturing to 50%.
“An inclusive engineering community leads to more innovation,” said Stephanie Viola, executive director of the ASME Foundation and managing director of ASME Philanthropy and Programs. “Together, ASME and Women in 3D Printing can help address the workforce gap while also ensuring that engineering remains an open and welcoming field for all who have the ability and aspire to contribute toward solutions for global challenges.”
