National Engineers Week falls during the week that encompasses George Washington’s birthday—with his birthday falling on February 22nd. This holiday is celebrated by dozens of cultural societies, engineering organizations, and educational institutions. It’s also observed by government agencies and corporations.

The purpose of this week is to highlight the importance of engineers in modern society and to emphasize the importance of math, science, and technical skills in pursuing a career in engineering. It’s the perfect week of the year for people to take the time to learn more about engineering or even consider pursuing a career in this field.

The History of National Engineers Week

This week was initially started in 1951 by the National Society of Professional Engineers. They created the week to bring attention to the field of engineering and to encourage people to join their ranks. They decided to time the week with U.S. President George Washington’s birthday because Washington was the country’s first engineer and was well known for his survey work.

Observing National Engineers Week

Depending on whether a person is currently a professional engineer, wants to be an engineer, or is simply someone interested in engineering, this week can be observed in a number of different ways. For established engineers, this week is one that can be used to acknowledge the accomplishments of their colleagues.

For those looking to pursue a career in engineering, they can use this week to learn more about what they will need to learn to do so. And for those who are interested in engineering, they can use this week to learn more about the field. Finally, for people who simply want to spread the word about this holiday, they can do so by using the hashtag #NationalEngineersWeek on their social media accounts.