Women's Engineering Society
e-newsletter February 2015
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 Sparkling Montage 
Welcome to the February edition of the WES newsletter.

 

We have plenty of news and events to tell about this month, please let us know your thoughts and any news and events that we can share with the WES Community.

 

To keep right up to date read our President, Dawn Bonfield's blog by clicking here.

 

To keep right up to date with WES Activities follow us on Twitter @wes1919


If you are reading this newsletter and are not already a member, why not make 2015 the year to join, and don't forget new members can join online.

 

  

Best wishes
the e-News team

Baroness Platt of Writtle Dies


 

WES's long standing Honorary Member and ardent supporter Baroness Platt of Writtle died on 1 February 2015 aged 91.

Baroness Platt was one of the first women to study aeronautical engineering after the Government announced a state bursary to engineering undergraduates.

Graduating in 1943, she worked for Hawker Aircraft Company, working on their Hurricane, Typhoon and Tempest fighter planes. she then went on to have a successful career in politics but was always a very strong supporter of women in engineering.

Linda Maynard, past WES President worked closely with Lady Platt "She was appointed Chair of the Equal Opportunities Commission in 1984 and was of course heavily involved in the WISE launch in the same year, working closely with the Engineering Council and WES - when Daphne Jackson was President. Her support continued during my Presidential term at numerous events. We gave a joint address to the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee in the House of Commons in April 1986 (Women in Science and Industry) - a cross house presentation attended by over 100 MP's and members of the House of Lords. She agreed to speak at a number of events I organised including a 'GASWISE' conference in December 1985 and she gave the opening address at one of my Annual WES Conferences - WISE Progress and Prospects, October 1987. I'm sure many WES Presidents and members can enumerate ways in which she has shown her support."

"Lady Platt was always friendly, supportive and approachable - for example she took me on a 'backstage'  tour at the  House of Commons/ Lords following the address and dinner - we shared a gin and tonic before boarding the sleeper back to Manchester (I was living in Manchester and she was returning to EOC HQ). We all live busy lives and I for one became very resentful of spending so much time in hotels on business - I always remember the anecdote Beryl told me - she awoke in the middle of the night and started searching in the dark for the bedside light switch - feeling for all the usual places around the hotel bed - when the light came on she found herself in her own bed at home! "

She gave so freely of her time and was tireless in her support of women on a personal and professional level - she will be sadly missed.

 

 

NWED on Google Homepage

 

As part of our 2nd Annual National Women in Engineering Day (NWED), we are hoping to expand on our success from last year and establish NWED as a bigger and better day!

 

We want NWED to be turned in a doodle and featured on Google homepage alongside their logo, as part of our promotional campaign. Not only will this bring a better awareness of NWED to the public, but will inspire and motivate more young women to consider engineering as a serious career

.

However, to achieve this, we need all WES members to submit the idea of NWED as a Google logo by emailing Google


 

The more messages we send, the more chances NWED receive of being featured on Google homepage!

 

 

NWED T-shirts

 

We're hoping to launch fabulous new T-shirts for NWED 2015 and need your help to pick the design that best represents this year's National Women in Engineering Day.

Vote for your favourite design

 

 

WES Volunteer Sought


 

The WES annual conference taking place on National Women in Engineering Day this year (23 June)  is looking for a coproducer. If any member or reader would like to consider this role please get in touch with Dawn Bonfield

 

Educating Enterprising Engineers and Scientists


 

The Nathu Puri Institute for Engineering and Enterprise is pleased to invite your company to participate in a seminar on Educating Enterprising Engineers and Scientists on 17th June 2015 at London South Bank University.

The seminar is the first in an annual series of events which the Nathu Puri Institute is organising to promote enterprise and entrepreneurship in engineers and scientists. This seminar offers a platform to exchange experience and best practice in fostering enterprise principles in engineering and science education.

We would be grateful if you could forward this invitation to relevant colleagues and hope your company is able to participate in what should be an interesting and informative event.

Key topics of the seminar and registration details are on our website. If you or a colleague would like to present a paper please send us an abstract (max 500 words) by 28th February 2015, to the institute


If you require further information, please feel free to contact us 

 

Zonta London II: Lean In Forum


 

Zonta London II would like to invite you to the latest in our 2015 Charity Events Programme in celebration of International Women's Day 2015, a forum entitled 'how do we Lean In? An insight into the challenges of creating the lives we want and being Leaders in our work, partners in our homes and champions to other women'.

We are pleased to have guest speakers that are acknowledged industry and academic opinion leaders who will draw upon their expertise and personal experience of leadership excellence and development, providing real insights. 

The guest speakers are leading women across various business sectors who will discuss common challenges, opportunities and how to change the conversation from what women can't do to what they can and the myth of "doing it all" to help build the lives we want to lead and the world we want to live in.

The event will be highly interactive, you will be able to hear the following lead speakers who will be joined by other amazing and inspiring women. with the opportunity to ask them questions and probe their messages.


 

For more information and to book tickets click here

How do I get into physics teaching?

 

First off, it's Year 8 and your challenge is to convey the size of the Universe. By ten o'clock and into lesson two, it's year 10 and you're down to discuss the size and nature of atoms. Break's over and your year 12 class want to know more about the Large Hadron Collider...  

If you get a buzz asking the big questions, have you ever imagined trying to discuss them with a class of schoolchildren?


 

That's the physics teacher's challenge and, as Government policy recognises the need for a more scientifically literate population and increasing the number of people studying physics in higher education, the value placed on inspiring physics teaching continues to rise.

Good physics teachers are becoming increasingly scarce. More than 450 schools across England do not have a teacher that has studied physics to any level at university.


 

This is why the School of Education and Lifelong Learning at the University of East Anglia (UEA) and the Institute of Physics (IOP) are working together to highlight the avenues open to those who have an interest in physics teaching.


 

As Gary Hyland, who is now in his second year of physics teaching at Wymondham High Academy, can testify, the opportunity to share his passion for physics has been well worth the time spent on the UEA PGCE teacher training programme.


 

He says, "I started the PGCE course straight after completing my degree as I was looking for an exciting challenge where I could use what I learnt during my undergraduate course in a new, exciting and rewarding way.

"The PGCE Physics course at UEA enabled me to use my knowledge and learn how to convey this to young people. Every day is a new challenge but it's an enjoyable one."


 

With his degree in Physics Gary has already gone on to take responsibility for an area of teaching and learning at Wymondham and is just one of UEA's success stories.

Helen Gourlay, one of UEA's Lecturers in Science Education, says, "Teaching is a rewarding profession offering fantastic career prospects and development opportunities. We have seen many of our students progress into successful physics teaching careers, and it is often possible for them to quickly take on additional management responsibilities in their schools."

Training to teach physics is not limited to those with a science degree either. Those with degrees that don't contain enough physics content can still train to teach by taking a Subject Knowledge Enhancement course first.

These courses, available nationwide, will help you to significantly increase your physics know-how, enabling you to enter initial teaching training. Click here for details on this successful initiative.


 

For more information about training to teach physics at the University of East Anglia, email Sue Armes, Postgraduate Admissions Administrator.


 

The university offers a Physics PGCE as well as a new Physics with Mathematics PGCE. Course profile details are available on our website


 


 


 

AF Harvey Engineering Prize


 

The IET announced Professor Eleanor Stride from the University of Oxford as the Winner of the 2014 IET A F Harvey Engineering Research Prize.  The �300,000 prize is the largest monetary prize that the IET offers.


 

Professor Stride's 'targeted drug delivery' research concerns the treatment of major diseases such as cancer and stroke, where there is a pressing need to target drugs to specific parts of the body in order to minimise exposure of healthy tissue. The key motivation is to reduce serious side effects and increase the number of patients eligible for treatment. A promising approach to this challenge is to encapsulate drugs within a carrier particle that can be transported to a target site in the body and then activated to release the drug in a highly localised manner. But for this approach to be effective, it is essential to be able to manufacture particles with a very high degree of control. The �300,000 IET A F Harvey Engineering Research Prize will be used to further this research.

 

Prof Stride's prize lecture entitled "Engineering Bubbles for Targeted Drug Delivery" will be held on the 21 May 2015 at The Royal Society of Medicine, London.  The lecture and drinks reception are free to attend.  To find out more or to register, please visit the IET website


 

Formula 1 in Schools Competition


 
The Formula 1 in schools competition is a competition which sets teams of 11-19 year olds against each other.T


 

The teams compete for various different awards and a place in the next tier of competition. "Team Velocita" a team from Prince Henrys Grammar School, Otley, won the F1 Class category and two other accolades: Fastest F1 Class car Award and Best Engineered F1 Class Car Award. And won a place in the national finals held at the Birmingham NEC which take place on the 12th and 13th of March.


 

However they are in dire need of assistance, if you are interested in sponsoring Team Velocita then please visit their website or e-mail them 


 

 

People with disabilities in tech - networking & development day

 

The BBC invites you to this free event which offers a fantastic opportunity to visit us at MediaCityUK, Salford and learn more about the different applications of technology used across the BBC.


 

Friday 6th March 2015 | 09:30 -18:00


 

BBC Future Media is the team responsible for designing, developing and running digital services like iPlayer, BBC websites and the Red Button - along with the creation of games and apps for other BBC departments such as Children's, Learning and News. 


 

This event will provide behind-the-scenes insights into the world of digital media at the BBC whilst also highlighting career opportunities within Future Media for top tech talent with disabilities.


 

Hear first-hand about the opportunities of working on a product like iPlayer in roles across User Experience and Design (UX&D), Product Management, Analytics, Software Engineering and Technical Project Management.  Meet disabled employees and find out what it's like working for the BBC and the support we provide for staff.


 

This event is open to people with disabilities who are already working in technology - or are recent disabled graduates with a relevant degree (for example Computer Science).


 

For further details and how to apply visit the website 

 

Volunteers requested for photographic project

 

I invite WES women to be part of a photographic project which champions and promotes women engineers and scientists in a creative portrait art aesthetic. I'm looking for leaders, role models, unique stories, drama, surprises, humor, great faces and camera confidence. If hard hats are the cliche, I want the opposite. I'm looking for faces and great inspiring stories which will add to the images as text and back story.


London and Manchester will occupy studio sessions in April on specific limited dates. These will be short sessions as most of my work is done in post-production. Your own clothes and make-up and/or props.

Please email me and tell me about yourself so that I can form a portrait of the whole person in my mind.

About Me: I hold a BA (Hons) in Contemporary Media Practice from the University of Westminster in London and I am based in Los Angeles with a photography studio and entertainment business. I have exhibited my work in the US, UK and France and my photography and writing has been published on both sides of the Atlantic. I spend many months in England each year for creative work and family.
 


 

Sponsor sought


 

A sponsor is sought by a group of female engineers at the University of Sheffield who are producing a children's book with a fictional story explaining what engineering is all about.


 

For more information, please contact Cath at the WES office

 

Are you tired of dressing in ill-fitting work-wear and safety shoes?


 
My name is Debbie, I've been working in engineering for the last 15 years, and  I'm on a mission to revitalise and revolutionise women's work-wear in engineering, industrial and technical environments. 


 

But I need your help to get it right. Please could you spare 10 minutes to give me some opinions on the subject? Just a short phone-call with a few simple questions, and you can help shape the future for women working in industrial environments. 


 

If you want to get involved, please drop me a line 


 

Let's get our voices heard and give ourselves the safety, comfort and look that we deserve.

 

WES Jobs Page


The WES website has a page dedicated to job vacancies.
Each month we will list the latest vacancies available. For further details and how to apply please visit the website. If you have a vacancy you wish to advertise please contact the WES Office.

 

Engineering Technician, Ocado

 

Employer: Ocado

Location: Andover

Salary: Competitive

Term: Permanent

Engineering Technicians play an important part in supporting the operation in our state of the art, automated Customer Fulfilment Centre, providing 1st response to engineering fault conditions, reactive and planned maintenance activities as well as proactive improvement works.

 

Service / Maintenance Engineer, Ocado

 

Employer: Ocado

Location: Andover

Salary: Competitive salary

Term: Permanent

Undertaking of day to day reactive and planned engineering maintenance activities and improvement works at the Customer Fulfilment Centre on MHE such as conveyor networks, lifts, cranes, belts, etc

 

Engineering Team Manager, Ocado

 

Employer:Ocado

Location: Andover

Salary: Competitive

Term: Permanent

Day to day supervision of shift engineers and technicians and maintenance shift members including prioritisation and allocation of workload.

 

 

Graduate Development Opportunites

 

Employer:BAE Systems

Location: Various

Salary: Various

Term: Competitive

We offer fantastic opportunities for anyone who is currently studying or has graduated with a relevant degree. Your skills and attributes are of interest for a variety of exciting roles across our business.

 

Technical Manager for Avionics Test Solutions, Honeywell

 

Employer: Honeywell

Location: Brno (Czech Republic)

Salary: Competitive

Term: Permanent contract under Czech law system

Honeywell Technology Solutions (HTS) dynamically expands its activities in research and development (R&D) centre in Brno, Czech Republic. Established in 2003, this is the largest R&D centre in Europe for Honeywell. Our engineers and scientists develop products and technologies that are linked to our business units: Aerospace, Automation and Controls Solutions and Transportation Systems.

This position is a part of Aerospace group, the world's leading supplier of avionics systems, products and services for commercial and business aircraft as well as for defence and space applications.

 

Principal SW Architect for Flight Controls Systems, Honeywell

 

Employer: Honeywell

Location: Brno (Czech Republic)

Salary: Competitive salary

Term: Permanent contract under Czech law system

Honeywell Technology Solutions (HTS) dynamically expands its activities in research and development (R&D) centre in Brno, Czech Republic. Established in 2003, this is the largest R&D centre in Europe for Honeywell. Our engineers and scientists develop products and technologies that are linked to our business units: Aerospace, Automation and Controls Solutions and Transportation Systems 

This position is a part of Aerospace group, the world's leading supplier of avionics systems, products and services for commercial and business aircraft as well as for defence and space applications.

 

Technical Manager for Flight Controls Systems, Honeywell

 

Employer: Honeywell

Location: Brno (Czech Republic)

Salary: Competitive salary

Term: Permanent contract under Czech law system

Honeywell Technology Solutions (HTS) dynamically expands its activities in research and development (R&D) centre in Brno, Czech Republic. Established in 2003, this is the largest R&D centre in Europe for Honeywell. Our engineers and scientists develop products and technologies that are linked to our business units: Aerospace, Automation and Controls Solutions and Transportation Systems.

This position is part of Aerospace group, the world's leading supplier of avionics systems, products and services for commercial and business aircraft as well as for defense and space applications.

 

For more details and how to apply visit the Jobs page on the WES website


 

Join Our Mailing List!
And finally....
 
If you have any articles that you would like to have featured please contact the WES Office.
We'd love to hear your stories of ideas to inspire young people, schools outreach activities and projects you are working on that we can share across the WES community.
 
Don't forget to forward our e-newsletter to your friends and contacts, male or female and help to inspire more young women to consider engineering and technology as a career.
 
With good wishes
 
the e-News team.

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Women in Energy Conference

 

The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) will be hosting its annual Women in Energy conference on March 2nd at the Royal Institution of Great Britain (London), and we would love for you to join us on the day, both as participants and advocates for your own organizations.


 

This year's theme is: Make an impact in your career - Exploring how to improve working practices for all.

The SPE Annual Women in Energy has consistently sold-out for the last five years and has proven to be very popular among the delegates who attend. The event provides a great opportunity for networking and career advancement and consistently gets excellent feedback from attendees. In addition, the event provides practical training and knowledge advancement through workshops and talks.


 

The event is not exclusive to women in the energy sector, nor in fact to only women. We would like to encourage anyone who wishes to join the conversation.  We would therefore like to invite you and to join us. A representative from the organization would be welcomed to hand out promotional material and discuss their group with other seminar delegates during the networking portions and coffee breaks. In addition, we hope you will make  your members aware of our event and invite them to attend.


 

For more information visit the website

 

Can you help French engineering student: Marie Aguillon, with a summer placement


 

My name is Marie Aguillon. I am a student at an engineering school (ITECH) in Lyon (France).


 

I have already studied chemistry for two years at the University Institute of Technology of Rennes.  My diploma permits me to work in a laboratory as a technician. I have undertaken work experience in a paint R & D laboratory.  My job was to formulate a stainless paint in aqueous phase. My internship helped me to improve my autonomy as well as my team work skills.


 

After my chemistry course, I was admitted to the engineering school where I am now. There are four specialist subjects: formulation, plastic, textile and leather materials. Students have to choose one for the second year of the course. I am interested in the textile materials option

In France when we are in an engineering school we have to spend at least two months in a foreign country. We can go anywhere we choose, but we have to undertake a project. We can't travel simply as a tourist. We have to work, paid or not.  I have chosen to go to England.  I have never been there, so it would be a great opportunity to discover a new country. I would like to work in the chemistry field to practise what I have studied for two years.  If possible I would like to be paid or at least to have accommodation provided to reduce my costs.


 

If you can help me to find a placement this summer, please contact me


 

Upcoming Events


 

National Women in Engineering Day 2015

 

Tuesday 23rd June 2015


 

Following on from the huge sucess of the first NWED in 2014 WES is proud to hold this event again.  To receive the latest information please register for the WES e-newsletter here

Rail infrastructure projects and the new technologies helping to build them

 

Thursday 5th March 2015

 

CH2M HILL would like to invite you to their new office in York to hear about the technology being used on infrastructure projects and how Building Information Modelling is being implemented on High Speed 2.

Where: 20 George Hudson Street, York, YO1 6WR

RSVP

 

Postcards from the future: Rewriting the script for Women in STEM, Oxford

 

Saturday 7th - Sunday 8th March 2015

 

Studying or working in a STEM subject?  Interested in how to close the gender gap?   Want to hear great role-models speak about their own experiences?  WES Fellow and Council Member, Sarah Peers, will be speaking at this event.

 

Then join us for the annual Oxford Females in Engineering, Science and Technology (OxFEST) conference taking place on March 7th- 8th, 2015 in Oxford.


 

Get SET for Business

 

Tuesday 10th March 2015

 

Do you dream of running your own business and being your own boss or have you got an idea for a business, but just need help in seeing your ideas come to fruition? Our workshop is designed for women with science, engineering and technology qualifications considering setting up a business. 

 

UCL Women's Guest Lecture: Telomeres telling tails

 

Tuesday 10th March 2015

 

This will be the first UCL Women's Guest Lecture.  The lecture, which is taking place in London, will be given by Nobel Laureate Elizabeth Blackburn, who will be talking about her groundbreaking work on telomeres and aging.  The lecture will be  followed by a discussion with Vivienne Parryabout her life in Science, and finish with a drinks reception.

 

Technical Forums for Engineers: LED & Lighting / RF & Wireless Design, Cambridge

 

Tuesday 24th March 2015 

 

1 day Forum, FREE of charge to attend, focusing on high growth technologies and markets. Following a proven format of short technical presentations, and workshops, supported by a networking and desktop presentations area, with key industry speakers and Engineers from leading International Manufactures and Suppliers.

Click here for further information.

 

Technical Forums for Engineers: LED & Lighting / RF & Wireless Design, Williams F1, Oxford

 

Thursday 26th March 2015 

 

1 day Forums, FREE of charge to attend, focusing on high growth technologies and markets. Following a proven format of short technical presentations, and workshops, supported by a networking and desktop presentations area, with key industry speakers and Engineers from leading International Manufactures and Suppliers.

Click here for further information.

 

 

National Engineering & Construction Recruitment Exhibition, Birmingham NEC

 

Friday 24th - Saturday 25th April 2015

 

The two day exhibition is free to attend with hundreds of exciting job opportunities from leading global recruiters, a full seminar programme, careers advice lounge, a CV and interview clinic, an engineering challenge for budding engineers and a professional development hub. 

The exhibition also features a Women in Engineering Forum on Friday 24 April which offers women at all stages of their career the chance to share experiences, make new contacts, and discuss the wide range of career paths the engineering industry has to offer. The forum will begin with presentations from two inspirational female engineers, followed by an informal lunch allowing visitors to chat to the speakers and a host of engineering professionals. 


STEMtech Conference and Showcase, London

 

Wednesday 29th April 2015

 

The Annual STEMtech conference and showcase has been designed to look at key topics in advancing STEM and technical education in the UK through the collaboration of industry, educators and policy makers. Each year our conference will consider themes affecting this important area including the role of schools, colleges, universities and careers, skills development and International perspectives, research and initiatives.

This year's speakers will be discussing and debating key topics such as industry perspectives; technical literacy in the curriculum; attracting and retaining students for technical and STEM education; teacher shortages; technical qualifications; apprenticeships; the future of degrees and gender issues. 

In addition to our full day conference programme we will be running a full seminar programme, including a seminar by WES, highlighting latest thinking, research, development and initiatives which are driving forward advancements in STEM or technical education. 

 

Technical forums for engineers: RF & Wireless Design, Williams F1 HQ, Oxford

 

Tuesday 16th June 2015

 

1 day Forums, FREE of charge to attend, focusing on high growth technologies and markets. Following a proven format of short technical presentations, and workshops, supported by a networking and desktop presentations area, with key industry speakers and Engineers from leading International Manufactures and Suppliers.

Click here for further information.

 

Technical Forums for Engineers: LED & Lighting / RF & Wireless Design, Manchester

 

Thursday 18th June 2015

 

1 day Forums, FREE of charge to attend, focusing on high growth technologies and markets. Following a proven format of short technical presentations, and workshops, supported by a networking and desktop presentations area, with key industry speakers and Engineers from leading International Manufactures and Suppliers.

Click here for further information

 

 

Engineering Women: Are they Returning to Work?


 

Tuesday 23rd June 2015


 

One day conference organised by WES on the issue of women returning to engineering after a maternity break. Venue: IMechE, London

 

Technical forums for engineers: Power Management LED & Lighting Design Forum, Williams F1 HQ, Oxford

 

Tuesday 20th October 2015

 

1 day Forums, FREE of charge to attend, focusing on high growth technologies and markets. Following a proven format of short technical presentations, and workshops, supported by a networking and desktop presentations area, with key industry speakers and Engineers from leading International Manufactures and Suppliers.

Click here for further information.

 

Technical forums for engineers: Power Management LED & Lighting Design Forum, Williams F1 HQ, Manchester

 

Thursday 22nd October 2015

 

1 day Forums, FREE of charge to attend, focusing on high growth technologies and markets. Following a proven format of short technical presentations, and workshops, supported by a networking and desktop presentations area, with key industry speakers and Engineers from leading International Manufactures and Suppliers.

Click here for further information.

 

WES rgb logo  

 

WES would like to thank its supporters and sponsors, particularly our Event Partners: The IET, BAE Systems and Selex ES.  

Our Company Members are: DP World London Gateway, Malvern Instruments, National Grid, Arup, Bam Nuttall, Edwards Vacuum, Hyder Consulting, Bureau Veritas, Matchtech, Instron, Transport for London, Sellafield and Mars.
Student conference sponsors include BAE Systems (Event Partner), Selex ES (Event Partner), Instron, Malvern Instruments and BP.  


 

 

        

    

 

 

 

   

  

IET Logo 2012

 

DP Gateway Logo

     

 

National Grid Logo 2013 

 

 

Arup Logo 2013

BAM Logo 2013