National Subsea Centre researcher secures role to help improve diversity in engineering
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A research assistant from the National Subsea Centre in Aberdeen has landed a key position to improve diversity in engineering.
Jemma Reynolds has been selected by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Reach Council (EPSRC) as a Women in Engineering Ambassador.
It came as female engineers from across the world marked International Women in Engineering (INWED) with Robert Gordon University hosting the first ever inter University INWED in Scotland.
EPSRC and the Women’s Engineering Society (WES) are partnering to support researchers with strong motivation to foster equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in the engineering research and innovation landscape.
The initiative aims to promote understanding of gender inequalities and intersectionality in engineering, and support researchers who wish to become EDI advocates in their networks.
Ambassadors are expected to work independently and as a cohort to set an agenda for their personal and collective goals as members of WES. EPSRC will fund up to 15 WES memberships.
Applicants must be based at a UK research organisation eligible for UKRI funding.
To become a Women in Engineering Ambassador applicants must have an interest in EDI and describe how the benefits of the ambassador opportunity will help develop their career and networks.
They should be able to describe how they intend to use this opportunity to creatively advocate for gender inclusivity and equality in engineering as a discipline, and attempt to address some of the issues and challenges women encounter.
Jemma said: “This is a tremendous opportunity to help more young women enter engineering and make sure I give the right support throughout their journey.
“It is important that we break down any kinds of barriers that stop people coming into engineering as it is a wide and varied sector.
“Embedding EDI throughout opportunities in engineering is something I believe in, and I hope that throughout my time as a Women in Engineering Ambassador I can inspire people to move into engineering.”
