Two inspiring Queen Elizabeth Prize (QEPrize) Ambassadors recently visited schools to share their personal journeys into engineering, aiming to empower more girls to envision a future in the field. These visits, conducted last month in celebration of International Women in Engineering Day (INWED), underscored the critical role of visible role models in career choice. As stated by the Royal Academy of Engineering, the organizer of the QEPrize, "When students hear those stories from someone who looks like them, engineering becomes a realistic option, not an abstract idea."
International Women in Engineering Day, observed annually on June 23rd, serves as a global platform to raise the profile of women in engineering and to encourage young women to pursue careers in this vital sector. The day originated in the UK in 2014 through the Women’s Engineering Society (WES) and gained international recognition in 2017, highlighting the significant contributions of women engineers worldwide. Its primary goal is to address the persistent underrepresentation of women in engineering fields.
The QEPrize Ambassador Network comprises early-career engineers dedicated to inspiring the next generation. These ambassadors engage with young people by sharing their diverse experiences and demonstrating the tangible impact of engineering on daily life. Their efforts are integral to the QEPrize’s broader mission, which champions groundbreaking engineering innovations that benefit humanity and aims to inspire young minds towards engineering careers.
The emphasis on representation is a cornerstone of these outreach initiatives. By providing relatable examples, the ambassadors help demystify engineering, making it less abstract and more attainable for students. This direct engagement is crucial given that women remain significantly underrepresented in the engineering workforce, with figures indicating that only a small percentage of engineers are women in many regions.
These targeted school visits by QEPrize Ambassadors are part of ongoing efforts to foster greater diversity and inclusion within the engineering profession. By showcasing successful female engineers, such initiatives aim to break down traditional barriers and encourage a broader talent pipeline. The Royal Academy of Engineering continues to advocate for the importance of representation to build a stronger and more innovative future in engineering.