Sponsored editorial piece written by RMIT University, Principal Partner of Engineers Australia, Victoria Division.
Every year, RMIT University hosts a special event to encourage young women to consider a career in engineering during Open Day.
The ‘Inspire Possibilities: A women in engineering event’ features a panel of successful female engineering graduates sharing their personal experiences in a field that is still largely male-dominated.
Associate Professor Margaret Jollands FIEAust from RMIT’s School of Engineering said the event aims to encourage more women to pursue engineering and is designed for high school students who are looking for guidance and inspiration.
“Inspire Possibilities is an opportunity to highlight female role models to prospective students,” Associate Professor Jollands said.
“By sharing their experiences and outlining how they have carved out their own successful careers, our alumni demonstrate what’s achievable.
“They also highlight the diversity of careers in engineering with speakers working across a range of sectors spanning defence, aerospace, water and telecommunications.”
This year’s alumni speakers included Rachael Tenkaten, Senior CAE Engineer at Supacat; Elizabeth Smolinska MIEAust, Water Engineer at Jacobs; Stephanie Virgato, wireless networks graduate engineer at Telstra; and Dr Lauren Burns, Structural Analyst at Boeing Australia.
During the forum, the graduates shared their experiences – from choosing their career path to life as a RMIT student and beyond.
They also busted a few myths about the world of engineering and highlighted the benefits of being a female in their respective engineering industries.
According to a recent Engineers Australia report, the share of female engineers is low compared to the labour force as a whole and to skilled people generally. [Source: The Engineering Profession: A Statistical Overview, 12th Edition (2015)]
Alumni speaker Dr Lauren Burns said the idea that engineering is a male-only occupation is a myth.
“What I love about my field of engineering is the sense of endless possibilities,” Dr Burns said.
“My advice to girls thinking about studying engineering is just to go for it! With the skills that you learn, you’ll have a chance to build a better world.”
RMIT is offering a scholarship to women commencing engineering studies in 2017 in aerospace, mechanical, manufacturing or sustainable systems engineering, to provide financial assistance for the first year of study.
Visit the website for more information.
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Image: Inspire Possibilities: A women in engineering event speakers and guests (from left): Associate Professor Margaret Jollands FIEAust, Elizabeth Smolinska MIEAust, Rachael Tenkaten, Dr Lauren Burns (MC), Amanda Rodgers and Stephanie Virgato.