STEM Careers Showcase
Our STEM trip to Sandhurst, led by Dr Brooks and Miss Allen-Mirehouse began with an exercise to get two red survival boxes from one side of a ‘chasm’ (a square in tape between each half of our 12 girl group), which we did via a pulley system and passed in the shortest time of the day.
We went on to do a short exercise where we had to build a model communication tower and this lead to us being on BBC radio Berkshire! After entering a jam packed auditorium and taking our seats, RT. Hon Tobias Ellwood MP spoke to us about Sandhurst and how all people wanting to join any part of the army or air force spend at least their first year there.
He told us about how at school, he was not a model student but his physics teacher got through to him, and inspired him to study engineering. He is proud to fight for such a dutybound nation in which we are now equal. Coding, the Spitfire engine, bullet proof vests were all invented by women in a time where they were oppressed. He asked: ‘how much further would our world be if we had all been equal?’.
After walking to the main building of Sandhurst, we split into groups and went around different companies which have something to do with STEM – science, technology, engineering and maths – but the main focus was engineering. Most had some kind of interactive exhibit, some having VR goggles, some having hair-dryers and ping pong balls, that we spent a bit too much time on! It encouraged us to look at and potentially pursue something that we have not considered before and all said the same thing – there should be more women in engineering. Sharon Duffy, the Head of Transport and Infrastructure Engineering for Transport for London taught us about how there is a shortage of women engineers, only 9% of engineers are female.
Going out and trying on bomb suits and RAF uniform was an experience, and driving a mini car is always fun, as well as getting to sit (and take photos) in an actual plane used by the air force was a highlight of the day. During lunch, we listened to a presentation called ‘what’s a woman like you doing here?’ by three of the most important women in engineering in England. They explained how psychological factors affect work, it being proven that gender diverse companies have 15% better productivity and ethnically diverse companies, 35% better productivity. The line, which I think, summed up her entire presentation was; ‘when other women support each other, incredible things happen.’
Next up, Shahid Barick, whose absolute dream from the age of fourteen was to be a jet pilot was told she was too small. She went to the University of London to studying Engineering and met Al Gordon, a rocket scientist who worked on spaceships and shuttles, and was making a real difference in the development of science. Despite being one of only three girls in her class, through self-belief she reached her goal.
After some more stalls about different jobs on offer, we drove back to school, bags laden with notebooks and pens and brochures for lots of different companies and careers.
What did I take from the day? That engineering is not spanners and cogs, it is not burley men with orange safety caps, it is not buildings or constructions or hammers. It is the foundation of our society, how change is made, how we can all develop our world. We do not need to be good at physical labour or have an Einstein-level IQ,- anyone can try and do something good for the world.
Lara
