4th Annual PepsiCo/SWE Student Engineering Challenge Begins
PepsiCo is usually recognized for its myriad of products, which are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than two hundred countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo’s complementary food and beverage portfolio not only includes Pepsi, but also Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker and Tropicana. However, the true heart of PepsiCo is Performance with Purpose – their fundamental belief that the success of their company is inextricably linked to the sustainability of the world around us.
In this vein, they have they have partnered with the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), the world’s largest advocate and catalyst for change for women in engineering and technology, to kick off their 4th annual PepsiCo/SWE Student Engineering Challenge, according to a recent press release.
“PepsiCo is a leader in diversity and inclusion for women in STEM and SWE is thrilled to continue our partnership in 2018,” said Karen Horting, Executive Director & CEO, SWE. “The PepsiCo / SWE Student Engineering Challenge represents an empowering opportunity for SWE’s collegiate engineering students and is the highlight of our conference every year.”
To participate, teams of up to four female undergraduates are invited to research and develop a solution in response one of the following themes: efficient sensing systems, alternatives to PET beverage packaging and the recyclability of industry-standard beverage coolers.
“Given that women represent only 24 percent of the STEM workforce, and only 14 percent of engineers are women, PepsiCo is particularly committed to expanding and encouraging STEM opportunities among young girls,” said Olga Sellmann, Ph.D., R&D Project Manager, PepsiCo. “Engaging the future generation of female engineers with this annual challenge allows us to explore fresh approaches to improving our operations while engaging rising graduates with real-life engineering practicum.”
For more information about this year’s PepsiCo/SWE Student Engineering Challenge, including submission instructions and deadlines, please visit http://pepsicostudentchallenge.swe.org.