so last year around about this time some members of femen’s decided to plant some
members of femen’s decided to plant some
members of femen’s decided to plant some small little facts around about the
small little facts around about the
small little facts around about the engineering buildings on campus one of
engineering buildings on campus one of
engineering buildings on campus one of these particular facts noted that only
these particular facts noted that only
these particular facts noted that only 9% of the UK workforce in engineering
9% of the UK workforce in engineering
9% of the UK workforce in engineering were females and I came across this
were females and I came across this
were females and I came across this again quite recently there’s still not
again quite recently there’s still not
again quite recently there’s still not been taken down but I found a small
been taken down but I found a small
been taken down but I found a small piece of vandalism and this person had
piece of vandalism and this person had
piece of vandalism and this person had written this and I don’t feel that it’s
written this and I don’t feel that it’s
written this and I don’t feel that it’s something meaningless because it
something meaningless because it
something meaningless because it actually portrays a frustration that I
actually portrays a frustration that I
actually portrays a frustration that I have felt by a number of my peers in
have felt by a number of my peers in
have felt by a number of my peers in engineering because they see these facts
engineering because they see these facts
engineering because they see these facts and they understand that people are
and they understand that people are
and they understand that people are bothered but they don’t feel it
bothered but they don’t feel it
bothered but they don’t feel it themselves they don’t experience sexism
themselves they don’t experience sexism
themselves they don’t experience sexism in their everyday lives as engineering
in their everyday lives as engineering
in their everyday lives as engineering students and especially the girls they
students and especially the girls they
students and especially the girls they don’t feel as if they’re being
don’t feel as if they’re being
don’t feel as if they’re being disempowered by any sort of system or by
disempowered by any sort of system or by
disempowered by any sort of system or by their male student friends so this is a
their male student friends so this is a
their male student friends so this is a problem because there is obviously an
problem because there is obviously an
problem because there is obviously an issue but people don’t see it for
issue but people don’t see it for
issue but people don’t see it for themselves and they don’t really
themselves and they don’t really
themselves and they don’t really understand why it’s an issue for the
understand why it’s an issue for the
understand why it’s an issue for the world so today I really don’t want to
world so today I really don’t want to
world so today I really don’t want to dismantle this particular discussion
dismantle this particular discussion
dismantle this particular discussion because it’s quite complicated it’s
because it’s quite complicated it’s
because it’s quite complicated it’s quite sensitive but what I would really
quite sensitive but what I would really
quite sensitive but what I would really like to discuss is ways that we can work
like to discuss is ways that we can work
like to discuss is ways that we can work towards making a more diverse workforce
towards making a more diverse workforce
towards making a more diverse workforce and why I believe that’s really
and why I believe that’s really
and why I believe that’s really important especially in engineering a
important especially in engineering a
important especially in engineering a lot of companies right now are working
lot of companies right now are working
lot of companies right now are working on initiatives that enable them to have
on initiatives that enable them to have
on initiatives that enable them to have more women coming into their workforces
more women coming into their workforces
more women coming into their workforces some of you may know the term positive
some of you may know the term positive
some of you may know the term positive discrimination a positive action and in
discrimination a positive action and in
discrimination a positive action and in some cases this is heralded as a great
some cases this is heralded as a great
some cases this is heralded as a great way to get women into companies but this
way to get women into companies but this
way to get women into companies but this isn’t always the best way to do this and
isn’t always the best way to do this and
isn’t always the best way to do this and I’ll illustrate this with a little story
I’ll illustrate this with a little story
I’ll illustrate this with a little story about myself so this year well last year
about myself so this year well last year
about myself so this year well last year I won my first ever trophy and this is a
I won my first ever trophy and this is a
I won my first ever trophy and this is a really big deal as a big shiny trophy
really big deal as a big shiny trophy
really big deal as a big shiny trophy and I had got that because I had applied
and I had got that because I had applied
and I had got that because I had applied myself I had told them about the things
myself I had told them about the things
myself I had told them about the things I had done and that I was passionate
I had done and that I was passionate
I had done and that I was passionate about and I felt so proud of myself when
about and I felt so proud of myself when
about and I felt so proud of myself when I got that award and it was a big
I got that award and it was a big
I got that award and it was a big ceremony and I remember standing up in
ceremony and I remember standing up in
ceremony and I remember standing up in front of all those people and they were
front of all those people and they were
front of all those people and they were all clapping and then just before we
all clapping and then just before we
all clapping and then just before we left the person who was speaking on the
left the person who was speaking on the
left the person who was speaking on the microphone said as you can see all the
microphone said as you can see all the
microphone said as you can see all the award winners today were women so no one
award winners today were women so no one
award winners today were women so no one can say we’re not doing our bit and so
can say we’re not doing our bit and so
can say we’re not doing our bit and so that really changed the nature of what
that really changed the nature of what
that really changed the nature of what that award meant for me because it went
that award meant for me because it went
that award meant for me because it went from being something I had earned
from being something I had earned
from being something I had earned because I deserved it to being something
because I deserved it to being something
because I deserved it to being something that these this organization had decided
that these this organization had decided
that these this organization had decided to give me as a sort of pat on the back
to give me as a sort of pat on the back
to give me as a sort of pat on the back there you go isn’t that nice of us to
there you go isn’t that nice of us to
there you go isn’t that nice of us to give you that and so this isn’t a very
give you that and so this isn’t a very
give you that and so this isn’t a very helpful thing I find that so upsetting
helpful thing I find that so upsetting
helpful thing I find that so upsetting so how can we look at different ways to
so how can we look at different ways to
so how can we look at different ways to try and address the issues that women
try and address the issues that women
try and address the issues that women are saying hold them back but do it in a
are saying hold them back but do it in a
are saying hold them back but do it in a way that’s not going to cause them to be
way that’s not going to cause them to be
way that’s not going to cause them to be devalued in their workplaces so if we
devalued in their workplaces so if we
devalued in their workplaces so if we think about what engineers do their
think about what engineers do their
think about what engineers do their designers their creators they make
designers their creators they make
designers their creators they make everything from the tray that you’re
everything from the tray that you’re
everything from the tray that you’re sitting on the phone that you’re
sitting on the phone that you’re
sitting on the phone that you’re pretending you’re not looking at and
pretending you’re not looking at and
pretending you’re not looking at and maybe the instilling pen that you had to
maybe the instilling pen that you had to
maybe the instilling pen that you had to use at lunchtime okay so who does that
use at lunchtime okay so who does that
use at lunchtime okay so who does that cover you can’t limit that to one
cover you can’t limit that to one
cover you can’t limit that to one particular demographic we have such a
particular demographic we have such a
particular demographic we have such a diverse world population you know it’s
diverse world population you know it’s
diverse world population you know it’s Half Men half women 10% lgbtq+ and why
Half Men half women 10% lgbtq+ and why
Half Men half women 10% lgbtq+ and why is that not represented in the people
is that not represented in the people
is that not represented in the people that are making all these objects that
that are making all these objects that
that are making all these objects that we use every day so not even just this
we use every day so not even just this
we use every day so not even just this aspect of it is important because
aspect of it is important because
aspect of it is important because there’s statistics to back this up this
there’s statistics to back this up this
there’s statistics to back this up this economic data for instance if you look
economic data for instance if you look
economic data for instance if you look through the Harvard Business Review
through the Harvard Business Review
through the Harvard Business Review there’s so many studies done into the
there’s so many studies done into the
there’s so many studies done into the effects of gender and racial diversity
effects of gender and racial diversity
effects of gender and racial diversity in the workplace and one particular
in the workplace and one particular
in the workplace and one particular study that
study that
study that stood out for me was from Credit Suisse
stood out for me was from Credit Suisse
stood out for me was from Credit Suisse and they found that when they assessed
and they found that when they assessed
and they found that when they assessed over 2000 companies the ones that had
over 2000 companies the ones that had
over 2000 companies the ones that had one woman on the board as opposed to
one woman on the board as opposed to
one woman on the board as opposed to none and more women always had higher
none and more women always had higher
none and more women always had higher financial returns they had higher net
financial returns they had higher net
financial returns they had higher net growth and if you think about it
growth and if you think about it
growth and if you think about it non-homogeneous teams should be smarter
non-homogeneous teams should be smarter
non-homogeneous teams should be smarter and there’s so much interesting facts
and there’s so much interesting facts
and there’s so much interesting facts about this that I really encourage you
about this that I really encourage you
about this that I really encourage you to go and look at and so reading them it
to go and look at and so reading them it
to go and look at and so reading them it really did make sense for me that this
really did make sense for me that this
really did make sense for me that this is a good thing that diversity is
is a good thing that diversity is
is a good thing that diversity is important so how can we apply that what
important so how can we apply that what
important so how can we apply that what can we do to create more diverse
can we do to create more diverse
can we do to create more diverse workplaces so I’ll tell you about myself
workplaces so I’ll tell you about myself
workplaces so I’ll tell you about myself and how I got into engineering
and how I got into engineering
and how I got into engineering so from quite a young age I was quite
so from quite a young age I was quite
so from quite a young age I was quite interested in biology I was like very
interested in biology I was like very
interested in biology I was like very into medicine and I thought that’s the
into medicine and I thought that’s the
into medicine and I thought that’s the route I’m gonna take and you know I
route I’m gonna take and you know I
route I’m gonna take and you know I thought I was smart enough I could get
thought I was smart enough I could get
thought I was smart enough I could get in no problem but then at age 13 I was
in no problem but then at age 13 I was
in no problem but then at age 13 I was fit with a devastating blow where I
fit with a devastating blow where I
fit with a devastating blow where I couldn’t take biology from my standard
couldn’t take biology from my standard
couldn’t take biology from my standard grades and the only option I could take
grades and the only option I could take
grades and the only option I could take was physics and I was very upset about
was physics and I was very upset about
was physics and I was very upset about this and made very big fuss but as you
this and made very big fuss but as you
this and made very big fuss but as you can imagine a 13 year old making a big
can imagine a 13 year old making a big
can imagine a 13 year old making a big fuss about having to take biology
fuss about having to take biology
fuss about having to take biology standard grade isn’t going to make much
standard grade isn’t going to make much
standard grade isn’t going to make much of a change to the school so I ended up
of a change to the school so I ended up
of a change to the school so I ended up having to take physics however this
having to take physics however this
having to take physics however this turned out to be a very impactful
turned out to be a very impactful
turned out to be a very impactful turning point in my life because it
turning point in my life because it
turning point in my life because it turned out that actually I was quite
turned out that actually I was quite
turned out that actually I was quite good at physics and I quite liked
good at physics and I quite liked
good at physics and I quite liked physics I had an extremely encouraging
physics I had an extremely encouraging
physics I had an extremely encouraging teacher who made sure that everyone in
teacher who made sure that everyone in
teacher who made sure that everyone in that class felt very valued and
that class felt very valued and
that class felt very valued and encouraged all of them even the ones
encouraged all of them even the ones
encouraged all of them even the ones that clearly were struggling and
that clearly were struggling and
that clearly were struggling and probably wouldn’t progress with it so
probably wouldn’t progress with it so
probably wouldn’t progress with it so then I suddenly had to incorporate
then I suddenly had to incorporate
then I suddenly had to incorporate physics into my idea of what I was
physics into my idea of what I was
physics into my idea of what I was interested in and then you come to your
interested in and then you come to your
interested in and then you come to your fifth year which in Scotland is the most
fifth year which in Scotland is the most
fifth year which in Scotland is the most important year for getting into
important year for getting into
important year for getting into University and I ended up being one of
University and I ended up being one of
University and I ended up being one of the best in the class for our math and
the best in the class for our math and
the best in the class for our math and that really surprised me I never thought
that really surprised me I never thought
that really surprised me I never thought I fit into the very very top category of
I fit into the very very top category of
I fit into the very very top category of maths so then I was having a lot of
maths so then I was having a lot of
maths so then I was having a lot of turmoil because I really really loved
turmoil because I really really loved
turmoil because I really really loved physics and math suddenly and I realized
physics and math suddenly and I realized
physics and math suddenly and I realized that I didn’t really want to leave them
that I didn’t really want to leave them
that I didn’t really want to leave them behind
behind
behind but how could I still pursue my
but how could I still pursue my
but how could I still pursue my interests in medicine and human biology
interests in medicine and human biology
interests in medicine and human biology with that in mind so spent a long time
with that in mind so spent a long time
with that in mind so spent a long time thinking about it trying to talk to
thinking about it trying to talk to
thinking about it trying to talk to people and it wasn’t until one day my
people and it wasn’t until one day my
people and it wasn’t until one day my dad got an email from his university
dad got an email from his university
dad got an email from his university about this mysterious new subject called
about this mysterious new subject called
about this mysterious new subject called biomedical engineering and the minute I
biomedical engineering and the minute I
biomedical engineering and the minute I heard it I just thought that’s it that’s
heard it I just thought that’s it that’s
heard it I just thought that’s it that’s exactly what I need to do I didn’t
exactly what I need to do I didn’t
exactly what I need to do I didn’t really know what it was but I just knew
really know what it was but I just knew
really know what it was but I just knew that fit what I was interested in and
that fit what I was interested in and
that fit what I was interested in and sure enough it did and I’m so thankful
sure enough it did and I’m so thankful
sure enough it did and I’m so thankful that that email came at that time and
that that email came at that time and
that that email came at that time and that I was forced to take that physics
that I was forced to take that physics
that I was forced to take that physics class but isn’t it just so sad that
class but isn’t it just so sad that
class but isn’t it just so sad that that’s what my future was depending on
that’s what my future was depending on
that’s what my future was depending on my future was depending on an awkward
my future was depending on an awkward
my future was depending on an awkward timetable and a difficult guidance
timetable and a difficult guidance
timetable and a difficult guidance teacher and eventually dependent on a
teacher and eventually dependent on a
teacher and eventually dependent on a random email my dad’s very very full
random email my dad’s very very full
random email my dad’s very very full inbox so really there’s an issue here
inbox so really there’s an issue here
inbox so really there’s an issue here because my entire life after that point
because my entire life after that point
because my entire life after that point would have been very very different had
would have been very very different had
would have been very very different had those things not fallen into place and
those things not fallen into place and
those things not fallen into place and I’m not an exception here because this
I’m not an exception here because this
I’m not an exception here because this is very true for so many of my friends
is very true for so many of my friends
is very true for so many of my friends who are girls and engineering they came
who are girls and engineering they came
who are girls and engineering they came into it because either their dad was an
into it because either their dad was an
into it because either their dad was an engineer or because they stumbled upon
engineer or because they stumbled upon
engineer or because they stumbled upon it when they were looking for the other
it when they were looking for the other
it when they were looking for the other subject that they thought they were
subject that they thought they were
subject that they thought they were supposed to do and it’s not necessarily
supposed to do and it’s not necessarily
supposed to do and it’s not necessarily that if I had done medicine I would
that if I had done medicine I would
that if I had done medicine I would never have achieved something good but
never have achieved something good but
never have achieved something good but maybe it wasn’t the best thing for me
maybe it wasn’t the best thing for me
maybe it wasn’t the best thing for me and I didn’t know what else I could have
and I didn’t know what else I could have
and I didn’t know what else I could have found so this is something that is
found so this is something that is
found so this is something that is really important and we need to make
really important and we need to make
really important and we need to make sure that this isn’t going to happen to
sure that this isn’t going to happen to
sure that this isn’t going to happen to any other girls in the future or boys so
any other girls in the future or boys so
any other girls in the future or boys so the FEMEN Society was started in 2013 a
the FEMEN Society was started in 2013 a
the FEMEN Society was started in 2013 a bunch of naive first-years all gathered
bunch of naive first-years all gathered
bunch of naive first-years all gathered together and we just thought we want to
together and we just thought we want to
together and we just thought we want to do something girly for the girls
do something girly for the girls
do something girly for the girls we’ll have bake sales and I don’t know
we’ll have bake sales and I don’t know
we’ll have bake sales and I don’t know make a calendar or something and just
make a calendar or something and just
make a calendar or something and just bring all the all the sort of lone women
bring all the all the sort of lone women
bring all the all the sort of lone women in the different engineering courses
in the different engineering courses
in the different engineering courses together and we thought that’s what they
together and we thought that’s what they
together and we thought that’s what they need it we thought that will help them
need it we thought that will help them
need it we thought that will help them that will make them feel happy and will
that will make them feel happy and will
that will make them feel happy and will encourage more people to come to
encourage more people to come to
encourage more people to come to engineering because they see that they
engineering because they see that they
engineering because they see that they can still have a great social life with
can still have a great social life with
can still have a great social life with women in engine
women in engine
women in engine but actually we ended up getting a bit
but actually we ended up getting a bit
but actually we ended up getting a bit more interest from school teachers than
more interest from school teachers than
more interest from school teachers than we did from other female students and it
we did from other female students and it
we did from other female students and it turned out that the teachers also
turned out that the teachers also
turned out that the teachers also recognized that there was a gap in their
recognized that there was a gap in their
recognized that there was a gap in their education in terms of the careers
education in terms of the careers
education in terms of the careers guidance they really wanted to have
guidance they really wanted to have
guidance they really wanted to have women in engineering coming to their
women in engineering coming to their
women in engineering coming to their school because they felt that we could
school because they felt that we could
school because they felt that we could offer something very valuable as being
offer something very valuable as being
offer something very valuable as being role models so this became quite a
role models so this became quite a
role models so this became quite a common theme we would go to school
common theme we would go to school
common theme we would go to school events we would round up different
events we would round up different
events we would round up different disciplines and we would go and
disciplines and we would go and
disciplines and we would go and demonstrate something or just talk to
demonstrate something or just talk to
demonstrate something or just talk to school children but then as ferment
school children but then as ferment
school children but then as ferment evolved we realized that actually it
evolved we realized that actually it
evolved we realized that actually it wasn’t just school children that needed
wasn’t just school children that needed
wasn’t just school children that needed role models that actually university
role models that actually university
role models that actually university students really wanted role models as
students really wanted role models as
students really wanted role models as well and it doesn’t stop the minute that
well and it doesn’t stop the minute that
well and it doesn’t stop the minute that you come to university so we started
you come to university so we started
you come to university so we started holding events where we got alumni in
holding events where we got alumni in
holding events where we got alumni in and we would have recent graduates come
and we would have recent graduates come
and we would have recent graduates come and they would just talk about their
and they would just talk about their
and they would just talk about their experience at Glasgow uni and then how
experience at Glasgow uni and then how
experience at Glasgow uni and then how they got into the career that they are
they got into the career that they are
they got into the career that they are in and maybe the issues they had along
in and maybe the issues they had along
in and maybe the issues they had along the way or the fact that they had no
the way or the fact that they had no
the way or the fact that they had no issues which was very common and that
issues which was very common and that
issues which was very common and that was great to hear other women say
was great to hear other women say
was great to hear other women say actually I had no problem I didn’t
actually I had no problem I didn’t
actually I had no problem I didn’t experience any discrimination and that
experience any discrimination and that
experience any discrimination and that means that maybe for you this won’t be
means that maybe for you this won’t be
means that maybe for you this won’t be an issue either and that in itself was
an issue either and that in itself was
an issue either and that in itself was quite empowering and then again this
quite empowering and then again this
quite empowering and then again this year we recently launched a mentoring
year we recently launched a mentoring
year we recently launched a mentoring scheme because we realized that there’s
scheme because we realized that there’s
scheme because we realized that there’s such a plethora of information held in
such a plethora of information held in
such a plethora of information held in the people who are in the higher levels
the people who are in the higher levels
the people who are in the higher levels of these degrees so we linked out 4th
of these degrees so we linked out 4th
of these degrees so we linked out 4th and 5th years with first and second
and 5th years with first and second
and 5th years with first and second years and their discipline and this is
years and their discipline and this is
years and their discipline and this is something that we’ve got the guys in our
something that we’ve got the guys in our
something that we’ve got the guys in our course to engage with as well so it’s
course to engage with as well so it’s
course to engage with as well so it’s not just women are like talking to women
not just women are like talking to women
not just women are like talking to women it’s boys talking to women and all these
it’s boys talking to women and all these
it’s boys talking to women and all these different mixtures of personalities and
different mixtures of personalities and
different mixtures of personalities and people but the whole point is we’re
people but the whole point is we’re
people but the whole point is we’re saying there needs to be more
saying there needs to be more
saying there needs to be more information exchange from the upper
information exchange from the upper
information exchange from the upper levels at every stage of your career so
levels at every stage of your career so
levels at every stage of your career so another issue that you may have heard
another issue that you may have heard
another issue that you may have heard about about why women feel that they
about about why women feel that they
about about why women feel that they can’t really progress in engineering
can’t really progress in engineering
can’t really progress in engineering industry is because they’re not given
industry is because they’re not given
industry is because they’re not given challenging enough jobs they’re not
challenging enough jobs they’re not
challenging enough jobs they’re not given the opportunity to really
given the opportunity to really
given the opportunity to really demonstrate their skill
demonstrate their skill
demonstrate their skill and sure what they can do so my salt a
and sure what they can do so my salt a
and sure what they can do so my salt a couple of years ago how could we make a
couple of years ago how could we make a
couple of years ago how could we make a really big high-profile project that
really big high-profile project that
really big high-profile project that just showed off what women in
just showed off what women in
just showed off what women in engineering could do on their own
engineering could do on their own
engineering could do on their own hence famines in Rwanda okay so
hence famines in Rwanda okay so
hence famines in Rwanda okay so basically what this was the idea is that
basically what this was the idea is that
basically what this was the idea is that we were going to collaborate with the
we were going to collaborate with the
we were going to collaborate with the University of Rwanda and we were going
University of Rwanda and we were going
University of Rwanda and we were going to try and help them to see where they
to try and help them to see where they
to try and help them to see where they could use some of what fermenters done
could use some of what fermenters done
could use some of what fermenters done in the University of Glasgow and could
in the University of Glasgow and could
in the University of Glasgow and could that be helpful for them and hopefully
that be helpful for them and hopefully
that be helpful for them and hopefully learn something interesting along the
learn something interesting along the
learn something interesting along the way as well
way as well
way as well what this turned into was three weeks
what this turned into was three weeks
what this turned into was three weeks spent in the capital city of Rwanda we
spent in the capital city of Rwanda we
spent in the capital city of Rwanda we worked with a group of students all
worked with a group of students all
worked with a group of students all female students from the College of
female students from the College of
female students from the College of Science and Technology in the University
Science and Technology in the University
Science and Technology in the University of Rwanda and we also worked with eight
of Rwanda and we also worked with eight
of Rwanda and we also worked with eight high school graduates from various high
high school graduates from various high
high school graduates from various high schools around Rwanda as well and what
schools around Rwanda as well and what
schools around Rwanda as well and what we did was we split into groups we made
we did was we split into groups we made
we did was we split into groups we made eight different workshops demonstrating
eight different workshops demonstrating
eight different workshops demonstrating engineering concepts everything from
engineering concepts everything from
engineering concepts everything from low-cost Diagnostics to water control to
low-cost Diagnostics to water control to
low-cost Diagnostics to water control to renewable energy and what we did was we
renewable energy and what we did was we
renewable energy and what we did was we we then went to schools or we had
we then went to schools or we had
we then went to schools or we had schools come and visit us at the
schools come and visit us at the
schools come and visit us at the University and then we showed them what
University and then we showed them what
University and then we showed them what engineering really was we would give
engineering really was we would give
engineering really was we would give them a small presentation and we would
them a small presentation and we would
them a small presentation and we would tell them this is aerospace engineering
tell them this is aerospace engineering
tell them this is aerospace engineering and these are the subjects you need to
and these are the subjects you need to
and these are the subjects you need to study in order to go there and this is
study in order to go there and this is
study in order to go there and this is the career that you could have
the career that you could have
the career that you could have afterwards and that information in
afterwards and that information in
afterwards and that information in itself is something that they all really
itself is something that they all really
itself is something that they all really wanted to tell but then we also gave
wanted to tell but then we also gave
wanted to tell but then we also gave them the chance to experience that
them the chance to experience that
them the chance to experience that engineering mind for themselves we gave
engineering mind for themselves we gave
engineering mind for themselves we gave them design problems we showed them a
them design problems we showed them a
them design problems we showed them a blind person going around a supermarket
blind person going around a supermarket
blind person going around a supermarket trying to figure out the prices of the
trying to figure out the prices of the
trying to figure out the prices of the foods and we asked them to design
foods and we asked them to design
foods and we asked them to design something out of cardboard and foil and
something out of cardboard and foil and
something out of cardboard and foil and it was incredible what these outputs
it was incredible what these outputs
it was incredible what these outputs were and we were all blown away by the
were and we were all blown away by the
were and we were all blown away by the enthusiasm and the confidence that these
enthusiasm and the confidence that these
enthusiasm and the confidence that these girls had and it was really reassuring
girls had and it was really reassuring
girls had and it was really reassuring because we thought maybe this is it
because we thought maybe this is it
because we thought maybe this is it maybe this is all that you need
maybe this is all that you need
maybe this is all that you need do all you need to do is just show them
do all you need to do is just show them
do all you need to do is just show them what engineering is give them some
what engineering is give them some
what engineering is give them some information and then let them get on
information and then let them get on
information and then let them get on with it and if that’s what they want to
with it and if that’s what they want to
with it and if that’s what they want to do then they will have nothing in their
do then they will have nothing in their
do then they will have nothing in their past stopping them from doing it and
past stopping them from doing it and
past stopping them from doing it and that was achieved bear in mind we saw
that was achieved bear in mind we saw
that was achieved bear in mind we saw only we saw over five hundred
only we saw over five hundred
only we saw over five hundred schoolgirls in those three weeks that
schoolgirls in those three weeks that
schoolgirls in those three weeks that was with only two hours maximum with
was with only two hours maximum with
was with only two hours maximum with each group of skilled children and one
each group of skilled children and one
each group of skilled children and one week of preparation and we managed to
week of preparation and we managed to
week of preparation and we managed to make almost all of them say afterwards
make almost all of them say afterwards
make almost all of them say afterwards that they wanted to be engineers okay
that they wanted to be engineers okay
that they wanted to be engineers okay and whether that was just to make us
and whether that was just to make us
and whether that was just to make us feel happy or not we don’t know
feel happy or not we don’t know
feel happy or not we don’t know but the point is that that wasn’t so
but the point is that that wasn’t so
but the point is that that wasn’t so much effort to just give them that
much effort to just give them that
much effort to just give them that little bit of insight into their future
little bit of insight into their future
little bit of insight into their future and that could be life-changing for some
and that could be life-changing for some
and that could be life-changing for some of them and in terms of the students who
of them and in terms of the students who
of them and in terms of the students who were involved in this they gained a
were involved in this they gained a
were involved in this they gained a really valuable life experience as well
really valuable life experience as well
really valuable life experience as well because not only are they planning a
because not only are they planning a
because not only are they planning a project raising money talking to
project raising money talking to
project raising money talking to companies talking at the Scottish
companies talking at the Scottish
companies talking at the Scottish Parliament about this but they’re also
Parliament about this but they’re also
Parliament about this but they’re also getting to demonstrate that they’re
getting to demonstrate that they’re
getting to demonstrate that they’re experts in something that they are
experts in something that they are
experts in something that they are valued and they’re disciplined enough
valued and they’re disciplined enough
valued and they’re disciplined enough that they can talk to children from
that they can talk to children from
that they can talk to children from another country about it and have an
another country about it and have an
another country about it and have an impact and that’s so important
impact and that’s so important
impact and that’s so important especially for girls who are maybe in
especially for girls who are maybe in
especially for girls who are maybe in the earlier stages of their career to
the earlier stages of their career to
the earlier stages of their career to really feel that ownership over their
really feel that ownership over their
really feel that ownership over their work and their skills so what this leads
work and their skills so what this leads
work and their skills so what this leads to I believe is that we’re just gonna
to I believe is that we’re just gonna
to I believe is that we’re just gonna eliminate that obstacle that obstacle of
eliminate that obstacle that obstacle of
eliminate that obstacle that obstacle of women feeling like there is nothing
women feeling like there is nothing
women feeling like there is nothing holding them back just because they’re
holding them back just because they’re
holding them back just because they’re women and ultimately I think that’s the
women and ultimately I think that’s the
women and ultimately I think that’s the key thing we need to do just show them
key thing we need to do just show them
key thing we need to do just show them that they can do it show them that we
that they can do it show them that we
that they can do it show them that we doing it show them that other people
doing it show them that other people
doing it show them that other people have done it and I think that will
have done it and I think that will
have done it and I think that will really solve a lot of the issues that we
really solve a lot of the issues that we
really solve a lot of the issues that we have so just thinking about what I’m
have so just thinking about what I’m
have so just thinking about what I’m saying today first of all in terms of
saying today first of all in terms of
saying today first of all in terms of your workplace the societies you’re a
your workplace the societies you’re a
your workplace the societies you’re a part of your project teams at work I
part of your project teams at work I
part of your project teams at work I know things that are potentially holding
know things that are potentially holding
know things that are potentially holding it back from being as diverse a
it back from being as diverse a
it back from being as diverse a workplace as it could be do you have
workplace as it could be do you have
workplace as it could be do you have unconscious biases that are potentially
unconscious biases that are potentially
unconscious biases that are potentially getting in the way of you having a more
getting in the way of you having a more
getting in the way of you having a more diverse team
diverse team
diverse team and I myself have unconscious biases oh
and I myself have unconscious biases oh
and I myself have unconscious biases oh I will maybe initially prefer to have
I will maybe initially prefer to have
I will maybe initially prefer to have someone on a team with me because I feel
someone on a team with me because I feel
someone on a team with me because I feel that they relate to me more but that’s
that they relate to me more but that’s
that they relate to me more but that’s not actually the key to progression I
not actually the key to progression I
not actually the key to progression I don’t believe so maybe think about that
don’t believe so maybe think about that
don’t believe so maybe think about that for yourself and in terms of your
for yourself and in terms of your
for yourself and in terms of your children I know that maybe right now the
children I know that maybe right now the
children I know that maybe right now the little girls in your life might all want
little girls in your life might all want
little girls in your life might all want to be princesses okay but that does not
to be princesses okay but that does not
to be princesses okay but that does not mean that that is it and that does not
mean that that is it and that does not
mean that that is it and that does not mean that she’s not capable of doing
mean that she’s not capable of doing
mean that she’s not capable of doing something completely at the other end of
something completely at the other end of
something completely at the other end of the scale in her later life I still want
the scale in her later life I still want
the scale in her later life I still want to be a princess but I’m very very happy
to be a princess but I’m very very happy
to be a princess but I’m very very happy that I’m an engineer so just think about
that I’m an engineer so just think about
that I’m an engineer so just think about changing these attitudes and giving this
changing these attitudes and giving this
changing these attitudes and giving this education in the earliest stages what
education in the earliest stages what
education in the earliest stages what this could do for the world thank you
this could do for the world thank you
this could do for the world thank you [Applause]
”
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