Celebrating International Women in Engineering Day

International Women in Engineering Day (23 June) is a global awareness campaign celebrating the brilliant work that women engineers are doing around the world.

Women are still hugely under-represented in the sector, with figures indicating that only 16.5% of engineers in the UK are women.

To mark IWIED, we spoke to a couple of our early career academics to find out how they came to work in engineering, why they think the sector needs more women, plus much more.

How did you come to work in Engineering? Has it always been a passion from a young age?

Jinning: From a young age, I was fascinated by aircrafts and how they worked. In secondary school, I joined an aerospace club, building model airplanes and learning about different types of aircraft, which fuelled my interest in aviation. This passion led me to pursue a BSc, MSc, and PhD in aerospace engineering.

After completing my PhD in aerospace propulsion at Cranfield University in 2022, I joined the School of Engineering at Leicester to continue my research on development and integration of renewable and sustainable energy sources (battery, hydrogen) in aerospace propulsion systems, addressing the energy and environmental aspects of future sustainable aviation. Now I am dedicated to developing novel aircraft propulsion for a sustainable future of air travel that is more clean, efficient, and affordable.

Emine: I’ve always been passionate about STEM, but I didn’t actually start out in engineering; my undergraduate, masters and PhD were all in mathematics. After completing my PhD, I worked on computational engineering projects and this led me to the field, giving me a chance to use my mathematical skills to analyse interesting engineering problems. At the moment, I’m working as part of the biomedical engineering research group within the School of Engineering, looking at the mathematical modelling of various hearing systems.

What is your favourite part of working in engineering?

Jinning: What I love most about aerospace engineering, and electric aircraft in particular, is the thrill of pioneering new technology. It’s exciting facing lots of unique challenges and to know that our work contributes to a more sustainable future for aviation. It’s also rewarding to collaborate with a team of passionate engineers to solve complex problems and see our ideas come to fruition. Every successful innovation feels like an important step in the transformation of aviation.

Emine: My research is in computational engineering and I find it fascinating to bring the solution of a set of mathematical equations representing a mechanical system to life by simulating the solution, as you get to see a set of ideas materialise in front of your eyes.

How does it feel to be a woman in such a male-dominated sector?

Jinning: It is both challenging and rewarding. There are often stereotypes and biases to overcome, and we often feel like we have to work harder to prove our competence and be taken seriously. However, there's a great sense of achievement in breaking barriers and contributing to pioneering technologies. The support from colleagues, mentors, and networks for women engineers provides valuable mentorship and guidance. Inspiring the next generation of female engineers and knowing we’re making a real impact makes the challenges worthwhile.

Emine: It is common knowledge that women have historically had to work very hard to earn a place within the engineering community. It’s getting easier these days but only thanks to all the hard work and dedication of women in the past, and I feel proud to walk in their footsteps. At times I do feel outnumbered by men but I’m lucky to be surrounded by supportive and welcoming male colleagues. I do feel as though times are changing for the better, but of course there is a long way to go.

Has there been challenges on your road to becoming an engineer? How have you overcome these?

Jinning: I sometimes feel lonely due to the lack of female colleagues and lack confidence in my career development. To overcome this, I seek out mentors and support networks, both within the School and through groups like IEEE Women in Engineering and EPSRC Women's Engineering Society. These connections have been invaluable for advice, encouragement, and a sense of community.

Emine: The main challenge is the stereotype that engineering is a male-oriented subject, which I felt particularly during my training years. In the past I’ve also felt like my opinion hasn’t been taken seriously because of my gender, which is quite disheartening and demoralising. However, I’m pleased I was determined to pursue my passion and push through as engineering is a very fulfilling career.

Why does engineering need more women?

Jinning: Women bring different viewpoints to the table and it is so important to have this broader range of perspectives and experiences, as diverse teams are more creative and productive. Products designed by diverse teams are more likely to address the needs of a wider range of people, helping to ensure that engineering solutions are inclusive and accessible.

Emine: As it is a male-dominated sector, many women may not feel comfortable to pursue their passion. This is where I think representation becomes really important. If aspiring young girls and women see other women in engineering positions, they will feel more welcome and thus more motivated to pursue a career in the field.

What advice would you give to girls and women who want to work in the sector?

Jinning: My advice would be to remember to keep your passion alive; find good mentors and join professional groups to build a supportive network along the way, and in turn, support others in the field; and finally, believe in your abilities, stay resilient, be confident in your ideas and thoughts and be brave in making your voice heard. 

Emine: I would say absolutely go for it and believe in yourself – it’s an amazing career. I would encourage you to reach out to women engineers, as you can really benefit from their experiences and insights. It can be a difficult road, but you are not alone.

Professor Sarah Davies, Pro Vice-Chancellor and Head of the College of Science and Engineering, said: “International Women in Engineering Day provides a great opportunity to highlight the experience and excellent work of our women engineers at Leicester. As the Head of the College, I am passionate about encouraging more women to take up studies, opportunities and careers in science and engineering. When I was considering my future it was invaluable to be able see and hear from women with a range of experiences. That visibility is still so important today.

“Jinning and Emine are just two examples of the many outstanding engineers we have here at the University of Leicester, and I’m pleased they have shared some of their own thoughts and experiences to demonstrate what you can accomplish with a career in STEM.”

Dr Ljiljana Marjanovic-Halburd, Head of the School of Engineering, said: “As a female Head of School, I feel especially proud of both Jinning and Emine, and all other female academics in the School of Engineering. Their words about the importance of having a support network and a role model resonate with me, both as someone who still needs that support, but also as someone who is striving to offer it not only to my female colleagues but to all the girls interested in pursuing an engineering career via University of Leicester outreach activities. 

“When talking to a wider audience, I often remind people that engineering saves lives not only through playing an important part in medicine but through providing essentials such as electricity and drinking water that we all take for granted.”