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Women's Engineering Society eNewsletter
 
August 2009
Greetings!
 
Welcome to this month's newsletter with lots of interesting articles on what WES members have been up to. Don't forget the annual WES conference takes place next month, the website has gone live with the programme of events. There is plenty going on over the two days and it promises to be an inspirational and interesting weekend. We do hope you can join us and we look forward to meeting you.
Don't forget you can also follow WES on twitter, WES1919.
 
from the WES eNews team
In This Issue
WES Members Connie Shirley and Phillipa Ayton visit the House of Lords
Tina Mistry explains how she benefitted from WES Lady Finniston Award
WES Vice-President Roseni Dearden represents WES at WISE Event
Women of the Future Awards 2009
Mechanical Engineering takes Emma MacLeod to Sri Lanka
WES Karen Burt Nominee Lucy Willis - the challenges of combining civil engineering and family
WES Members Connie Shirley and Phillipa Ayton visit the House of Lords
  House of Lords
Phillippa Ayton and Connie Shirley represented WES at the House of Lords All Party Parliamentary Engineering and Information Technology Group Lunch held at the House of Lords on 29 June 2009.
 
The topic under discussion was the provision of a high speed rail link between London and the Midlands with the potential to be extended further north. Lord Adonis gave the keynote speech by giving a history of investment in the railways over the 20th century (or rather the lack of it) and outlining the need for investment now. He outlined the remit for the recently formed HS2 company which is to develop proposals for a new railway line from London to the West Midlands taking into account environmental, social and economic assessments. He ended by declaring the project was just what we need to inspire the young engineers in the UK.
 
The questions which followed from other members of the House of Lords included a question about taking a leap ahead with technology which Lord Adonis answered by stressing the need for interoperability with the existing railway. Questions were taken from the younger engineers in attendance and I felt that the serious question on integrated transport was not answered satisfactorily by focussing on station access to cyclists. While Lord Adonis' response was entertaining, I'm not sure that those of us wanting to travel on Eurostar turn up on our bikes. As always on these occasions the most interesting discussion was from the side discussions and I leave a topic for WES members to debate. Why not make a lane on the motorway a high speed lane for high speed coaches travelling at 100mph at least. The technology exists to implement such a system. My own view is that technology is rarely the stumbling block these days but the definition of appropriate standards, processes and procedures plus politics tend to prolong getting a project off the drawing board. Any thoughts anyone?
 
 

Tina Mistry explains how she benefitted from WES Lady Finniston Award  
 
Women's Engineering Society. What's that all about, I thought to myself?
 
As I made arrangements for my further studies at Leeds Metropolitan University I read up more and more on WES. Could they really help me? Would I qualify even though I was not studying in the engineering field? Knowing that I had nothing to lose I filled in my form and sent it off.

It was 2001 and I was going to be moving away from home for the first time to study BSc(Hons) Multimedia Technology. I was nervous for many reasons and wondered how I would cope, especially on the financial side as only my father worked but I was not keen on taking money from him.
To my surprise I was informed from WES that I was entitled to the Lady Finiston Award. This helped me in my first year at university to get my feet on the ground and pay for equipment such as my computer. It also made me feel determined to work hard and get good grade. I graduated in 2004 gaining a 2:1. Today I work as a Graphics Designer and looking back I am very grateful to WES for all their support and help. Thank you once again. 

WES Vice-President Roseni Dearden represents WES at WISE Event
 
WISE and WES have been working together over the years in many campaigns for Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) promotion in schools and both organisation members have been active in Ambassador for STEM project.

WISE and WES were literally neighbours for many years in the SEMTA building until WES moved to IET building in Stevenage and WISE to IET building in Holborn.

WES was invited to attend WISE 25 Anniversary of WISE in W5 in Belfast.

The celebration began with W5 Deputy of W5 opening the session by explaining the history of W5 logistic of the evening. The session followed with an inspiring speech by Alison Buck, one of the role model young engineers, who got into engineering because she loved putting parts together and making it work as well as pulling apart engineering part to understand how they work and connected together.

Dr Sally Montgomery OBE, Chief Executive of W5 explained what W5 about and how she come about learning Physics. She makes a welcome speech to Her Royal Highness Princess Anne.

Terry Marsh, Chief Executive of WISE explained what WISE has achieved in the last 25 years and her own personal contribution of encouraging engineering within her own immediate family. Terry also mentioned that it is Women's Engineering Society 90th celebration this year.

Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal as a Patron of WISE praised the good work of WISE.

The opening celebration was closed with a speech from Annette Williams, director of the UK Resource Centre for Women in SET and Chair of WISE Board with her own personal touch of her unusual route to engineering.

The evening concluded with the Northern Ireland Brownies giving their engineering project demonstration to Her Royal Highness

Dates For Your Diary  

10 September - WES panel and networking event, British Science Festival, Guildford

11-12 September - WES Annual Conference, Guildford
more info 
 
17 September - Transport09: QEII Conference Centre
 
13 November - Surviving a a Woman in Science - Welwyn Garden City
 

14-15  November - Doris Gray Student Congress, Edinburgh
 
And finally....
If you have any articles you would like to have featured please contact the WES office  by clicking here.
We'd love to hear your stories of your schools outreach activities or ideas to inpsire young people that we can share across our community.
 
Don't forget to forward on our e-newsletter to your friends and contacts, male and female and help to inpsire more young women to consider engineering and technology as a career.
 
With good wishes
 
the e-News team. 
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WES 2009
ANNUAL CONFERENCE
WES logo
THE POWER OF CHANGE
 Inspiring the next 90 years 
Surrey University, Guildford
11-13th  September 2009
 
BULLETIN
 
The conference website has gone live and has details of the programme please click here for the latest news, more information and to book your place.
Quick Links
 
  
UK Universities Excel in Engineering Research
 
An ETB policy paper has shown that in terms of University research, UK engineering is "Top of the Class" with between 58 and 71% of the Research and Development taking place in UK engineering departments being rated as "World Leading" or "Internationally Excellent".  More
 
Cosmopolitan have announced that the nominations for Cosmopolitans Ultimate Women of the Year Awards 2009 are now open click here for more info
  

Membership
  News 
Our Sponsors
 
Transport 09 is proud to support the Women's Engineering Society in this August Edition.
 
The government has pledged this year to invest heavily in transport infrastructure projects across the country in an attempt to stimulate the economy. Over �6bn will be spent on Britain's motorways, with a further �35bn invested in railways over the next five years - a move designed to improve reliability, capacity and safety. Transport 09 welcomes the advancement of women in the transportation, logistics, engineering & related industries.

Now in its 6th year, Transport 09 takes 'Connections through Investment' as its key theme.
We look forward to hearing from key speakers who will outline the government's plans for Britain's transport infrastructure and how improvements across the board can improve the network for all users.
 
Transport 09: Connections through Investment on September 17 at the QEII Conference Centre. 
  
To view the full programme please click here
 
As a member of the Women's Engineering Society we would like to offer you the opportunity to attend the conference at half price. Tickets to the event are only �125 + vat (full price normally �249 + vat). Group bookings of 3 delegates can be made for just �299 + vat (inclusive).
 

These offers are open to public sector employees only. A separate private sector rate is available. Please call Amy Green on 0161 211 3028 or email [email protected] for more information, to make a group reservation or to confirm a booking.  Transport 09 is also CPD Certified. 
 

  
If you would like to sponsor our newsletter please click here for more information 
Women of the Future Awards 2009
 
The Women of the Future Awards scheme was established to recognise trailblazing women aged 35 and under, who are high achievers and exemplary role models in the UK. In the diverse worlds of the arts, business, media, science and technology, these women are the future. Created in 2006, the awards aim to acknowledge and promote the women of tomorrow, the rising female stars in the UK, honouring the rising female stars shaping Britain's Future. 
 
This year's awards take place on November 12, 2009 and nominations are now open
 
WES has some great women who should be acknowledged for their groundbreaking and incredible work within the science, technology & engineering.  

Please visit the website for further details,
 
Deadline for entry is 4 September 2009


Mechanical Engineering takes Emma MacLeod to Sri Lanka
 
Emma MacLeod 
 
After completing my 3rd year in Mechanical Engineering I have had the opportunity to work with the International Water Management Institute (IWMI) in Sri Lanka. Though I was nervous entering the country at the end of almost three decades of civil war it has been a really interesting experience. With development largely sidelined during to the conflict attention is now being turned back towards the long overdue development of the country.
 
While in Sri Lanka I am assessing a number of wastewater treatment plants to determine how to improve the management and technology that is being implemented. One issue has been the transfer of western technology to a tropical climate; though I have also had the opportunity to see some novel technologies which do not exist in the UK. I feel fortunate that engineering has taken me to this small, yet widely varied country allowing me to experience its colourful traditions and culture.
 
Emma MacLeod
Mechanical Engineering Student
University of Strathclyde
WES Karen Burt Nominee Lucy Willis - the challenges of combining civil engineering and family.
 
During my career as an engineer I have always enjoyed the challenge of applying theory and knowledge to practical situations. When studying Civil Engineering, my favourite subject was hydraulic engineering so I feel very privileged to now have a career in flood risk management.
 
I completed a PhD 'Developing a Decision Support Model for the Rehabilitation of Non-Critical Sewers'. This project was based on a water industry defined problem and equipped me with the tools and ability to question, research and propose change to current practice.
 
I have worked at Atkins for the past 10 years, as a member of the Rivers and Coastal department I have undertaken and managed a number of projects ranging from assisting the Environment Agency in producing their national flood risk map, to taking part in Planning Inquiries providing information on how flood risk will effect potential developments.
 
As Regional Framework Manager for Atkins on the Environment Agency's Strategic Flood Risk Management I was responsible for directing Atkins contribution to the EA's flood risk mapping activities in the North West and North East of England.
 
I enjoy the technical challenge my work brings and hope that it will continue to mitigate the UK's flooding problems. Taking two career breaks to produce young twins and a new baby I have certainly honed my organisational and multi-tasking skills; one of the many advantages women bring to the profession!
 
Lucy has been nominated for the Karen Burt award by CIWEM