Engineer – thefemalengineer

Be an engineer! If that’s what you want…

April 28, 2016 No Comments

Inspire. That’s what this blog has been created to do.

Being a female engineer was never really something that I thought of as unusual in anyway. Maybe this is because of the way I was brought up – hands on, problem-solving solutions, trying out anything that I had an interest for. Looking back now, I suppose gender wasn’t something that drove me to do any activities, or away from anything that was apparently for boys. I was never driven towards or away from activities based on my gender. I immersed myself in things that interested me, regardless of who they were ‘supposed’ to be for. Kind of like Billy Elliot who tried out and loved ballet despite it typically being for girls.

I would play football during the day, then netball at night. Cross-stitch before school followed by quad biking when school was out. Bake cupcakes on a Saturday and lay concrete on a Sunday. To me, anybody could do any activity, regardless of your gender. I think that’s why I found it so surprising when someone would reply with “You’re an engineer!?!” with the same disbelief than that the last person. This is a response I had on numerous occasions, equally from both men and women.

Now that I think about it, it’s no surprise that people are shocked about what I do. In the past, it really was only men that were engineers but things are changing, slowly. More and more women enrol on Engineering courses – my course at university was surprisingly split fifty-fifty between genders. However, comparing this to straight Mechanical Engineering, the class seen about four girls in comparison to 100+ boys.

When someone says “You’re a mechanical engineer?” I feel delight that I baffle them. To me, its natural, its something that I love and its a quality that I am proud off. Being an engineer is hard work, demanding but ultimately, rewarding. Things are always changing and improving. Who wouldn’t want to be involved in the forefront of that?

TV shows also tend to suggest certain jobs that are ‘cool’ for girls. Girls grow up watching programmes such as 90210, How I meet your Mother and Pretty Little Liars. The girls in these shows want to be journalists, models, actresses and psychiatrists. What about physicists, architects, mathematicians and engineers?

“I want to be an Engineer, but nobody in TV shows want to be an Engineer!?! Maybe I actually want to be a journalist because they seem ‘cool’. Yes, thats right! … But I’m not passionate about that. I’m passionate about design for the future!”

These ideas would haunt my teenage years. Conflicting me for who I truly wanted to be. The Big Bang Theory has been great for opening other potential career options. However, this focuses on guys. Even in this show, ‘normal’, non-geeky Penny wants to be an actress. Typical.

Inspire. I want girls to read this blog and think, actually, its ‘cool’ to be an engineer. You don’t need to be a certain type of person to be one – geeky and non-geeky. You just need a passion for innovation, eye for designing the future and drive to make things a reality. Does that not sound ‘cool’ enough?

The Female Engineer

TRAVEL

Sun-Soaked in Spanish Heaven

August 8, 2015 No Comments

After a long, wet British summer, a couple of friends and I decided to fly off to a sun-soaked destination. Our requirements? Intense heat, crystal clear waters, golden sands, palm trees and amazing food!

Palm trees in Majorca — Clear blue skies of Majorca

Of course, relaxation was in order. A week of sun, sea, sand, sangria and culture made so many memories. Some we will chat and laugh about for years to come, and some will be soaked up in the sun, only recalled by the pictures that we remembered to take.

Whilst out wandering, we came across a ceramics shop that sold everything you could imagine. Most of which was tacky but none-the-less it made for a great explosion of colour inside and out. Majorca is a placed well known for its ceramics, pearls, olive wood and watermills.

One of my favourite things to do whilst visiting new places is to find the cutest little cafe in the most out-of-the-way places. We found this great little cafe that, when you walked inside, looked like someone’s house. Out the back was a lovely little haven of island culture, of which served the most delicious food.

Our getaway required a boat trip, like all breaks away to the Balearics! It was truly beautiful. People-watching couples sailing the sun-drenched sea, divers exploring the coves and rock faces and fishermen catching the freshest that the sea can offer.

Our trip included a visit to the Caves of Drach, close to Porto Cristo. The caves were fascinating and contain one of the world’s largest subterranean lakes. AND they put on classical concerts on the lake which was an amazing experience!

Our visit to Palma deserves its own post, so check it out! But I’ll leave you with a little Sangria cheers!

TRAVEL

The Heart of Venice

April 20, 2015 No Comments

Venice is an incredible place. The tiny streets or ‘calle’ that link together in a maze, the sense of having no idea where you are and the aroma of the laguna that hits you as you step onto the floating city. I’ve never been anywhere quite like it.

One of the unique things about Venice is its use of boats and gondolas. Around every corner is a waterway, another bridge, two more gondoliers. There are gondolas everywhere, and you don’t even have to be near them to hear “Gondola, Gondola” being shouted as each person walks past. We didn’t actually travel by gondola as passengers are repeatedly photographed as they pass every bridge – not as romantic as you might think. Despite this, we opted for a boat trip down the Grand Canal, twice in fact – during the day and after the sun had set. This was a highlight to our time spent in Venice. We got to use the mode of transport that Venice is synonymous for and it passed by the majority of the main sights, which we could take in from the water. The architecture is incredible with entrances right on the water, colourful facades, gold-lined buildings and the sense of disbelief that this place actually exists.

My boyfriend was shortlisted as a finalist in the Digital and Virtual Arts category in the Arte Laguna Prize 2015. We travelled to Venice to setup his installation in the Telecom Italia Future Centre where this section of the Prize was being shown. It was a great opportunity for him to showcase his work, and a great opportunity to knock another place off my bucket list!

Every guide book you read and every person you speak to will say that the one thing you must do when you go to Venice is to get lost wandering the streets. And it’s true. Walking the streets without looking at a map and finding a lovely new area of Venice, or a quaint little restaurant is the perfect way to find out about the city. It was through wandering the streets that we found this incredible restaurant that had the best ravoli I have ever tasted, and fish that was impeccable. We walked until the light began to fall and watched the sun set over mainland Italy.

We took a boat to the island of Murano, the home of Murano glass. It was fascinating to watch it being made and the final designs were beautiful. The vivid colours, simple patterns and clean lines attracted me to everything. Despite Murano being a great destination, if you want to pick up a unique item of glass, Venice itself has a huge amount to offer.

San Marco Plaza is a must stop destination when you visit. A large open square, it is full of people feeding pigeons, al fresco dining and tourists capturing and immersing themselves in the magic of Venice. The Plaza is encompassed by numerous museums with the amazing Basilica de San Marco proudly overlooking the square in all its glory.

Venice has captured a part of my heart. It is a city that I cannot wait to explore more and discover even more of its magic. I hope that I will be able to return to this beautiful city soon, and maybe next time I’ll actually go on a gondola!

See more about my Venice trip on my next post.