Greetings!
Welcome to this months newsletter.
It has been another busy month for WES members and there are plenty of oppourtunites to get involved this month.
The deadline for submission of papers for the annual conference is 30th June 2010, so if you haven't already sent yours in you haven't got long.
Registration for both conferences is now open please go to the website for more information.
Don't forget to share your stories and events with us. If you have any news that you would like to see in the newsletter please contact the WES office. |
| WES Members Connie Shirley and Pam Wain attend the opening of Platform 0 at Kings Cross
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The Opening of Platform 0 at Kings Cross 20 May 2010
Pam Wain and Connie Shirley managed to forget their status as veteran members of WES and enjoyed a day out clambering up and down ladders and scaffolding, across roofs and down into underground tunnels in a tour of Kings Cross station which followed the official opening of platform 0 by the Secretary of State for Transport, Phillip Hammond, on 20 May 2010.
The completion of Platform 0 works marks the completion of a major piece of enabling works for the redevelopment of Kings Cross Station and visitors had the opportunity to see the other works in progress. This gave a great photo opportunity to see the Kings Cross and St Pancras stations from above.
Speaking at the 'Decisions at 18' Careers Conference at Royal Holloway University of London today, Paul Jackson, Chief Executive of Engineering UK, highlighted the disparity in the percentage of female engineering professionals in the UK compared to other European countries. The fact that the percentage of women working as engineering professionals in Spain, Sweden and Italy, and the vast majority of other European countries, was twice that in the UK was simply not good enough he asserted and announced plans to commission a piece of research into the reasons behind the disparity.
Addressing the conference of teachers and careers advisors on the subject of STEM opportunities and barriers to entry, Mr Jackson announced that EngineeringUK had carried out a recent review of the data relating to women in engineering and technology and identified UKRC research that showed that only 9 per cent of UK engineering professionals are women compared to 18 per cent in Spain, 26 per cent in Sweden and 20 per cent in Italy.
This continuing lack of female engineers was one of three major barriers to tackling skills shortages in the UK sector, Jackson argued. Poor take up and retention rates for Further Education engineering courses as well as a ten per cent decrease in the number of 18 year olds were also causes for concern but none more so that the fact the UK ranked worst in Europe for the number of female engineering professionals.
Paul Jackson said: "The fact that the proportion of female engineering professionals in the UK is the lowest in Europe is shocking. It's essential we get behind these figures and understand why; what is it that our European neighbours are doing differently; what can we learn from them? Over the next twelve months, EngineeringUK will be commissioning research to understand what lies beneath this disparity and what the UK must do differently in future to address it. We need a step rather than incremental change in the number of women entering the engineering profession in the UK if we are to meet the future global technological challenges that lie ahead."
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ICWES15 Conference
Call for Papers
The National Committee for Women in Engineering, Engineers Australia and the International Network of Women Engineers and Scientists (INWES) have joined forces to host the 15th International Conference for Women Engineers and Scientists (ICWES15), to be held at the Adelaide Convention Centre from 19-22 July 2011.
The Conference is held every three years, and attracts engineers and scientists from all over the world, providing a unique opportunity to exchange information on their work and environment.
The conference will provide an opportunity to discuss innovative technology in the 21st century across the engineering, science and technological professions and network with colleagues in business, academia and government.
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For more information click here |
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Rapid Response Challenge
14th July 2009
Test Valley School
Stockbridge
Would you or a colleague like to offer your time, skills, energy, experience and wisdom to the young people of Test Valley School in Stockbridge? First Partnership and Test Valley School will be hosting a very popular team building day based around an engineering challenge. The Rapid Response engineering challenge is on 14th July and 150 students from the school will be completing tasks and activities that are based on the Asian tsunami natural disaster that took place on 26th December 2004. Students will be working in teams of 6 to 8 and the event is divided into 4 main activities: Media Quiz Before embarking on the rescue operation, students will examine media articles about the disaster. Workbook Session In pairs students work either as Water and Sanitation Engineers, Transportation Engineers or Structural Engineers to address the problems facing the survivors of the Tsunami. This section of the day requires mathematical calculation PresentationsBack as a team of 6-8 (depending on the overall number), students share their findings and prepare the ideal solution for the people of Banda Aceh by planning an emergency camp and justifying their decisions. Outdoor activity (the fun part!!)Students are challenged to design, build and test shelters and water courses out of limited resources. The Rapid Response Engineering Challenge includes an activity that takes place outside. Please ensure you are correctly dressed for the weather (if you attend) as the activity also includes water. The day will close with an evaluative session and prize giving to the winning team. Facilitators will assist students in their tasks, make suggestions, act as mediators in discussion and assess, mark and judge the students work. Fundamental to the day is the opportunity for students to meet people from the world of work and discover what careers in engineering may be like. You will notice from the timetable that there is a scheduled talk from an engineer, please see the timetable for details (to be sent once confirmed). I would be grateful if these people could spend just 10 minutes talking about your own experience in engineering, as this really helps to dispel a few myths on engineering careers and will open up the possibilities in students' minds. If anyone would like to open the day by speaking about what an engineer is, please let me know as this would be best coming from an actual engineer, although I am more than happy to do this. I have attached details of the activities - if you would like a pack sent through the post (if you do not have access to publisher), please provide me with a postal address. It would also be useful if you could provide a mobile telephone number in case I need to contact you for any reason on the day of the event. The day will commence for facilitators at 8:30am for a briefing and will finish by 3pm. Lunch and refreshments will be provided. If you have any questions or queries about this event then please do not hesitate to contact me. I would be more than delighted to welcome you as a facilitator to the team, and don't worry if you have not done anything like this before - it's easy, fun and rewarding
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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 Annual Conference 2010 | |
WES Annual Conference 19th-20th November 2010
WES Doris Gray Student Conference 20th-21st November 2010
Both conferences are being held in Sheffield this year. We are overlapping the two events in order to give both student and qualified engineers an opportunity to network and learn from each other.
Deadline for papers is June 30th 2010
Registration is now open
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WES helps student find work placement
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Following a request for advice and help on studying engineering and finding a work placement from student Lanya Tawa she writes to let us know how it went.
"I am to let you know how the work experience placement went. I have just finished my two long week placement at London underground, I would like to begin by thanking you for the fantastic opportunity you found me as it was so beneficial.
Every question that had ever crossed my mind on the topic of civil engineering was answered, I had the opportunity to sit down with civil engineers who were just out of university to people with years of experience asking them anything I needed to know, they further gave me so much advice on the degree, what to do at university and even getting charted in the future.
I further had the chance to observe what they do on a daily basis and even try some of the work myself, I was taught how to use a 'slope' software that enabled them to test failure points of a slope. People took time out of their work to talk me through projects they had worked on, their role, unforeseen circumstances that came up and how they responded. It was a fascinating experience.
When I started the placement I was only considering studying civil engineering at university, now that I have finished, I have gained so much knowledge of what a civil engineer actually does and I am so motivated to work hard on my A-levels so I can study this degree as I am so enthusiastic about it.
I really enjoyed my time, the people I met were amazing and made me feel so welcome and truly inspired me, now i am sad to leave.
I would like to thank you once again, without your help I would not have been able to secure such a placement and would still be wondering what civil engineering was all about."
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300 Engineering jobs created to help deliver a better railway for Britain
Network Rail is creating more than 300 skilled engineering jobs in the next year to help deliver some of Britain's most vital rail infrastructure projects. The projects will help transform the capital's transport system and bring about massive improvements for passengers and freight users across the country.
As schemes such as Thameslink, Crossrail and Reading advance, there is a need to bring on-board more skilled specialists and project engineers to deliver these value-for-money schemes. The roles will be varied across many specialisms including civils, signalling, electrical and general project management.
Iain Coucher, Network Rail chief executive said: "Creating these jobs and bolstering our engineering talent will help us deliver the better railway that is vital for the economic prosperity of this country. The work they will do will transform how people travel across the capital and make a massive difference to passengers and freight users right across Britain."
Mr Coucher also echoed comments made earlier in the year about attracting more talented women to the industry: "We want the best to work for us - both men and women - and I hope that as we continue to show our modern business and the opportunities that we offer that we can attract exceptional women to apply for these roles and be part of something fantastic."
Liz Wilson, project manager on the Thameslink programme commented on her experience: "I'm working in a really exciting industry with tremendous opportunities to work on critical projects for the economy. Knowing that every day I'm helping to build a better railway for the people of Britain is really rewarding. There are great opportunities for both men and women in this industry and I hope by talking about my role I can persuade more exceptional women to get involved and use their skills to full advantage." | |
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BCS Lovelace Lecture
Bookings are now open for this year's lecture on Wednesday 7th July at The Cavendish Conference Centre.
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Free One year Individual memberships available to first three WES members interested in joining the Research & Development Society.
Started by Jane Palmer, Managing Director at Industrial Brushware Limited the R&D Society is the leading UK organisation for the development and promotion of R&D management. In the Society we seek to share and contrast our experiences across many industrial sectors and a range of technological and scientific fields to gain a better understanding of both the whole scene and our own position within it.As an independent, membership organisation, we assist our members in enhancing their knowledge, skills and networking contacts in R&D and innovation, and have done so since 1962. The Society is unique in covering all types of business and organisations with an interest in UK R&D, enabling common issues and solutions to be discovered, shared and solved. Our members include leading companies, Government departments, IP and tax specialists, research organisations, consultants and academics interested in innovation from experimental research through to delivery and market growth. Joining the Research and Development Society, may benefit your network by bringing you a wealth of contacts, opinion and professional development opportunities.For more information and to apply click here | |
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