Women in Engineering

Here at Electronic Specifier we are always keen to champion female engineers and to highlight the growing skills gap in STEM related subjects, made worse by the significant gender disparity in technology, science and maths.

For years now women have had big battles to fight when it comes to equality, and have in more recent times have really been showing that everything men can do, women can too. We discuss regularly in this column, about the struggles women face in the engineering and technology industry, and it is nice to see so many events and organisations doing their bit for women.

Leading female experts in the area of new technologies are on hand at the IFA+ Summit to discuss what our future will look like. Which innovations will fundamentally change society and business? Which value will data and moral analysis have in times of blockchain and artificial intelligence? And what do we have to do today to ensure our increasingly digital world remains safe and worth living in? Pioneers like Shermin Voshmgir and Ann Cavoukian are sharing their visions for a data-based future at the convention on 8-9th September.

WISE, the campaign for gender balance in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) says this year’s A level results in STEM subjects breakdown myths about girls and science. As it releases its analysis of this year’s A level results, WISE says there is much to be excited about but urgent action needed to speed up the pace of change. The results show 1,930 more core STEM A Levels have been awarded to girls in 2019 than in 2018, while the number awarded to boys has dropped by a similar amount (1,792). 

Did you know that 25 years ago 37% of computer science degrees were held by women, but figures have shown that in 2018 that figure has dropped to just 19%? For women who do break into the tech sector, the retention rate is not very promising, with the quit rate more than twice as high for women as it is for men. Why is that, and what exactly is attributing to these decisions to completely leave technology?

Assystem has announced that Fanny Fouin, Senior Mechanical Engineer has been appointed as the first ever female to Chair the Nuclear Institute’s North East branch. Fouin, based at Assystem’s offices in Sunderland will use her new role to engage with local nuclear engineering companies, and ensuring they build a strong nuclear local network in the UK’s North East region.

As we recently celebrated International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) an important message was spread throughout the industry and beyond, but this year WES (The Women’s Engineering Society) also took it upon themselves to highlight other diversity issues the industry falls foul to. WES and She Can Engineer, hosted a panel talk titled: ‘How diversity will transform the future’ that was hosted by Mara-Tafadzwa Makoni, Senior Consultant at WSP.

As this year’s International Women in Engineering Day took a focus on apprenticeships, there was no surprise that Perdi Williams, Assistant Research Scientist at the National Physical Laboratory (NPL) was announced as one of WES’s (Women Engineering Society) Top 50 Women in Engineering. When I spoke to Williams and congratulated her, her response was: “It is a bit overwhelming, but so very exciting, I keep thinking did you get this right?”

The 23rd of June marked International Women in Engineering Day (INWED), and this year the celebrations were in full swing. This international awareness campaign aims to raise the profile of women in engineering, while focusing on the amazing career opportunities that are available to girls within the industry. This annual event celebrates the outstanding achievements of women engineers all across the world.

As we celebrated International Women in Engineering day earlier this month, She Can Engineer, a group of young female engineers, organised an evening of talks and panel discussions, in association with WES (Women’s Engineering Society), to celebrate not only women, but also diversity in the industry.