University scheme supports women in engineering

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Nov 13, 2003

A scheme aimed at supporting female students in the School of Engineering, Design and Technology has been relaunched at the University of Bradford.

A scheme aimed at supporting female students in the School of Engineering, Design and Technology has been relaunched at the University of Bradford.

FAIRER (Females Actively Involved in Rewarding Engineering Roles), the first women's engineering society at Bradford, was established last year and is again being run by the university to support women in the field.

Thirty women students and staff from across the School of Engineering, Design and Technology attended the launch on Wednesday 5th November 2003.

Students just starting out in their foundation year met professional women academics and researchers from the school and the Dean, Prof Andrew Day, talked about the success of female students in Engineering, Design and Technology.

Dr Crina Oltean-Dumbrava also spoke to the group about her career as a civil engineer.

The aim of FAIRER is to bring women engineering students together, to network, meet other women students and professional women engineers.

Future events will include team-building activities such as "Fun in the Forest" (where the group ride around off road in a six-wheel amphibious landing vehicle), visits, activity events, visiting speakers and network meetings designed to give an insight into what makes a successful engineering career.

One such speaker will be Director of the WISE (Women Into Science and Engineering) campaign, Marie Noelle Barton MBE, who will visit the university to meet FAIRER during National Science Week next March.

FAIRER Co-ordinator, Joanne Crowther, said: "From donning wellies for a 'fun in the forest' event to discussing the art of power-dressing for professional female engineers, the programme has something for everyone.

We are very pleased that Marie-Noelle has agreed to visit us and speak to the group next March".

Over the last few years, the University's School of Engineering, Design and Technology has worked proactively to encourage women into engineering, design and technology with schemes such as WISE (Women into Science and Engineering) and GETSET (Girls Entering Tomorrow's Science, Engineering and Technology).

Crowther added: "FAIRER is another great scheme which offers women the chance to meet other young and professional women in engineering, design and technology and which provides a support network for its members.

Last year, the group became firm friends as well so FAIRER can be a good way to meet like-minded people and have fun at the same time".

"It is particularly useful to international students who arrive in the UK not knowing anyone as FAIRER gives them an opportunity to meet other women students.

This year's group includes students from Africa, Malaysia, Greece and China".

FAIRER is affiliated to the Women's Engineering Society (WES), which is a charitable organisation founded in 1919 to promote and support women undertaking careers in engineering and technology.

FAIRER receives funding from WES to support its activities and support from the School of Engineering, Design and Technology.