One of the major tenets of precollege engineering education is to promote the viability of engineering as a potential occupation, and there are myriad of programs, both formal and informal, that are engaged in this endeavor (e.g. incorporation of engineering into state standards, marketing campaigns such as Changing the Conversation, engineering outreach events, etc.). Each program has different foci, but oftentimes the same goal - how do we get more students to consider engineering? Many programs evaluate engagement, formation of engineering identity and even persistence. However, the number of students completing degrees in engineering has seen limited growth, despite this national push. How then do we broaden participation in engineering? While it would be impossible to map all the potential pathways into engineering, we can take insights from the experts - engineers themselves - and apply lessons learned to help others become more aware of the field. By understanding the underlying phenomenon of occupational inheritance, this study aims to provide ways that parents and educators alike can aide in the development and understanding of engineering as a profession to all.
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