All systems go for women engineers
SOPHIE HarkEr wants to encourage more young women to pursue a career in engineering.
The 27-year-old, from the Fylde Coast, Lancashire, was named the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) Young Woman Engineer of the Year in 2018.
The prestigious industry awards aim to challenge the perception that engineering is predominantly a career for men, by banishing outdated stereotypes of hard hats and overalls.
Sophie is now employed as an aerodynamics and performance engineer for BaE Systems, working on combat jet concepts, including developing technologies to open up the possibilities for hypersonic flight and space.
Sophie first became interested in engineering after meeting Dr Helen Sharman, the first Briton in space, after entering a competition while studying maths at the University of Nottingham.
ASPIRING astronaut Sophie says: ‘Prior to meeting Dr Sharman, I genuinely thought an engineer was someone who came to fix your boiler or install your satellite dish.
‘ I don’t come from a scientific background, and had never had exposure to engineers or engineering, so to meet my ultimate role model was something very special to me. Dr Sharman explained that many astronauts are engineers, too, and described which doors engineering could open for me as a career.
‘To have her open my eyes to something that could help me get to space — that I’d never considered before — was life-changing.’
Sophie tailored her degree towards applied mathematics, to prepare her for entering the engineering world upon graduation.
She joined BaE Systems on its graduate scheme in 2014, rotating around four engineering placements.
This included creating and submitting upgrade designs for the cockpit of the Eurofighter Typhoon.
Sophie is now an active STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) ambassador, which sees her visiting schools in the Uk and abroad and running aero dynamics themed workshops.
She is also setting up a non- profit organisation to enable schools and institutions to video- call engineers and scientists, to ensure no child misses out on the opportunity of a STEM career due to their geographical location.
Sophie says: ‘We need to ensure schools are helping us to bring through the next generation of engineers, so that we can continue to drive Uk innovation.
‘The more outreach I do, the more I find that girls stop believing in themselves as they get to their teens and become almost embarrassed to be interested in anything STEM-based.
‘ It’s heartbreaking to see. We must change that narrative and show everyone that a curiosity or talent in STEM is something to be praised, and that the women who work in these industries are just like them, with personality and other interests, too.
‘ I hope my successes will inspire the future generation, thus becoming their successes, too.’
For more information about engineering jobs at BAE Systems, visit baesystems.com/en/careers/ careers-in-the-uk