Beyonce'santhemmakes it clear that it's girls whorun the world, butInternational Women in Engineering Daycelebratesthefemale engineers who build, designand forgeit. We've asked a few amazingwomen in engineering why they decided to pursue it as a career and who inspires them.
Ifeyinwa Rita Kanu
Role:Director IntelliDigest Limited/PhD Researcher.
Favourite engineering marvel:The internet - it's an amazing concept that brings the world together at a click of a button.It haschanged and continued to change the way we live and do things.
Reason for entering engineering:The desire to do practical things that bring about lasting solutions with a global impact.
Engineering inspiration:"The ideal engineer is a composite... He is not a scientist, he is not a mathematician, he is not a sociologist or a writer; but he may use the knowledge and techniques of any or all of these disciplines in solving engineering problems." (Nathan W. Dougherty)
Elizabeth Rickard
Role:Head engineer and director at an engineering firm.
Favourite engineering marvel:The Channel Tunnel – as it tooksuch determination and time from conception in the 1800s to its completion.
Reason for entering engineering:Because engineering changes the world we live in, shaping it for the future.
Engineering inspiration:DorothéePullinger who created theGalloway car, which was designed by and made forthe women of the world(we still usethe rear view mirror every day).
Holly Jayne Goodwin
Role:Project Design Engineer for SP Energy Networks.
Favourite engineering marvel:Wind energy and the wind turbine, which has lots of history in Scotland.
Reasonfor enteringengineering:I was inspired by attending theScottish Space Schooland working with NASA astronauts and engineers.
Engineering inspiration:Tim Peakefor inspiring a generation to become involved in STEM.
Adriana Vargas
Role:Process Safety Engineer at Offshore Design Engineering.
Reason for entering engineering:I was good at maths and science subjects at school plus I was looking to get into a field which could offer me a promising career.
Engineering inspiration:I am greatly inspired by the engineering leaders Professor Dame Ann Dowling, Dame Sue Ion, and Dawn Bonfield MBE.
Maria Anzola
Role:Senior Engineer in the Engineering Design & Standards department within Scottish Power Energy Networks.
Favourite engineering marvel:Renewable energy engineering, and how it has been developed through time, from the water mills used to process corn, up to technologies such as solar-powered desalination plants.
Reason for entering engineering:Since I was a kid, I was always trying to find solutions to the problems I encountered, and used to love participating in technical projects related to chemistry, physics and maths. I remember I wanted to invent a 'superfast'underground tube to send food from country to country.
Engineering inspiration:My parents always told me I should use my imagination to create useful things, so I would say they were my biggest inspiration.
Chrissi McCarthy
Role:Formerly a Setting Out Engineer, now working to progress women in construction through Constructing Equality Ltd.
Favourite engineering marvel:Jubilee Line Extension (London Underground).
Reason for entering engineering:I worked on the Jubilee line Extension with my Dad when I was 13 and fell in love with the concrete, steel and atmosphere.
Engineering inspiration:Nikola Tesla
Emma Shavick
Role:Engineering Project Leader at Proctor & Gamble.
: The invention of the steam engine, which in turn led to all steam-generated power.
Reason for entering engineering: I’ve always enjoyed maths and design related subjects at school, and I love solving problems and working with people!
Engineering inspiration:Since watching the filmHidden Figuresrecently, I’d have to say Mary Jackson who worked at NASA as a 'human computer'. She is an inspiration for all future female engineers.
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