To help dispel the stereotype that engineering is not only geeky but also only for guys, the National Academy of Engineering unveiled today a new Web site meant to entice high-school girls to study and enter the discipline.

Engineer Your Life contains sketches of about 12 young, diverse, female engineers. They explain how they’re working with their local communities to solve real problems, like designing fun toys, safe helicopters, and life-saving medical devices. Another section explains how to prepare for college engineering programs, with information on what high-school courses to take, the experience of studying engineering, and choosing an engineering program. Also provided is information about starting salaries.

The academy says it developed the Web site using research about ways to appeal to high-school girls who were qualified to enter undergraduate engineering programs but may not have considered engineering as a career. The project was assisted by more than 50 educational and engineering societies. The academy is supporting a national campaign to assist counselors and teachers and to recruit engineers to encourage girls. Today’s unveiling of the Web site fell during National Engineers Week.

The academy previously started another, similar Web site, Engineer Girl!, for middle-school girls. —Jeffrey Brainard