Jivanthika Venkatakrishnan is a 2nd year Computer Science student. She clearly remembers what pushed her to pursue this course at the University of Sheffield a few years ago.
“I was in an engineering work experience programme in year 10 and this guy in my class said the reason why there aren’t many women in engineering is because women can’t do engineering.”
“I knew then and there. I don’t care if I struggle. I just want to prove him wrong. I will do engineering.”
Despite an increase in the number of women working in engineering, at 16.5%, the statistics are still disconcerting, which is why the work of groups like the Women in Engineering Society are critical in diversifying the field.
The University of Sheffield’s Women in Engineering (WIE) society was created in 2012 with the intention of inspiring women and other minority groups to navigate the male-dominant world of STEM. 11 years later, the society continues to fulfil this, inside & outside of the university.
As well as supporting other universities with their own WIE societies, taking part in STEM events such as New Scientist Live and the Big Bang Fair and connecting students with mentors, WIE Sheffield also engages with aspiring engineers in their school outreach programmes.
“We reach out to three local schools in Sheffield to introduce children, especially girls, to engineering,” explains Flora Hippisley-Cox, president of WIE.
Out of these outreach programmes was born the group’s successful children’s book series, Suzie and Ricky.
“It’s about two kids that use engineering and science to go on adventures and solve problems,” says Flora.
“One day we set up a writer’s group, wrote it and the Faculty of Engineering funded it. We’ve got two out currently and we’re hoping to get a third out this year.”
“We give it out free at events; once we gave out 1,200 copies over a weekend. We’ve also had a school say they love it so much and that they’d even added it to their curriculum.”
It’s these sorts of things that Jivanthika wishes she had had growing up.
“I need an environment where I can have other people to relate to, a space where we can support each other,” says Jivanthika.
As someone who had only been to an all girls’ school until A Levels, Flora was taken aback by the lack of diversity in her STEM classes.
“I was the only girl out of 9 students in Further Maths and one of 3 girls out of 20 or so students taking Physics.”
“On open days I went to, universities would proudly advertise that they had 15% of women in their courses. So I wasn’t so shocked by the numbers when I came to university either.”
Flora wanted to turn that around, so she decided to join the WIE in her first year and is hopeful about things changing.
“It will not be in the next five years, maybe in the next 10. But we’re definitely on our way to being more inclusive, not just in regards to women but other minorities outside of gender as well.”