Engineering: Where I Can Be Myself

I love my job, because I get to solve problems. People often don’t seem to know what engineers do. In truth, it can be confusing, because there are so many different types of engineers. There are chemical engineers, software engineers, electrical engineers, biological engineers, mechanical engineers, aeronautical engineers, civil engineers, and environmental engineers, to name a few. These fields of engineering are critical in many different industries, such as energy, medical, travel, technology, and the military. And while each field makes different contributions the one thing they have in common is using math and science to develop innovative solutions to some of the worlds largest and most pressing problems. I am a problem solver by nature, which is why I love engineering.

Engineers have paved the way for life today as we know it, taking things from an idea to a reality. They have run calculations and simulations to put a human-being on the moon. They have design buildings and bridges allowing for urban areas to flourish. They have developed prosthetic limbs and pacemakers, changing the way of life for thousands. They have even developed the communication technology that has proved essential for allowing families and friends to stay in touch over the past year with the pandemic. I am honoured to find myself in the same profession, because it means that, in my lifetime, I have the potential to be part of equivalent positive contributions to the world.

Now, as a woman, I have read many statistics about women in engineering, and, depending on the source, the statistics vary. What I can share with you, is what I have experienced so far in my life. In college, there were other women in my class, but not very many. If I had to estimate, I would say there was maybe 20-30 women in a class of 400. That means roughly 7.5% of the class was women. This percentage may seem small, and that’s because it is. But most of the time, I didn’t feel that I was treated differently by my peers because of my gender. However, I did, and still sometimes do, feel treated differently by those who aren’t engineers. People will say things like “good for you for going into a man’s profession.” While their intentions are good, this kind of compliment doesn’t sit well with me. I believing engineering is a profession meant for everyone. However, the engineering profession does need more women, but what I don’t think many people understand, is why.

Remember all those different industries I mentioned a little while back. Those industries impact people of all diverse backgrounds. Diversity includes gender, but it also includes race and age, amongst other things. The more diversity that contributes to making design decision in those industries, the better the outcome will be for the end user. For example, we need people of different ages, sizes, shapes, races, and genders involved with designing space shuttles, because we are sending people of different ages, sizes, shapes, races, and genders to space. Having diversity in our global engineering workforce, allows for problems to be thought about through different societal points of view, which can help to identify problems or areas for improvement early on. This is something that can be an asset to everyone, and can result in a better design and a better final product.

My contribution that I make to the engineering profession is do my job. I contribute my knowledge gained through my engineering degree and work experience, but also the knowledge that I have gained through my life experience to date. And yes, some of that knowledge comes from my being female, and it is something of value I can offer to the profession, and in turn the world. I also love serving as a mentor for younger girls who are wanting to become engineers, because they are interested in math and science, and want to make a difference in the world. I like to encourage them that they can make contributions to the world based on their own merit, and that each one in turn can offer life experience that can serve to diversify the engineering profession.

Engineering is wonderful profession. It pushes you to think creatively and to always keep learning. It's a profession where diversity is an incredible gift, that can serve to make the world a better place. It is a profession where you get to solve problems and create. I love my job, because it allows for me to be myself.