BY GEORGIANA MARIAN

As we celebrate National STEM Day, which recognises and promotes female achievement the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), it’s important to acknowledge that, despite women consistently proving their capabilities in various engineering disciplines, their representation remains disproportionately low. This gender disparity is even more pronounced at senior levels, where leadership roles are overwhelmingly occupied by men.

According to Engineering UK, in 2021 there were 936,000 women working in engineering roles, equating to 16.5 per cent of the total engineering workforce.

Across the channel, there were 7.3 million female scientists and engineers in the EU, accounting for 41 per cent of total employment in this industry. Among the EU countries, the proportion of female scientists and engineers varied widely in 2022, from 31 per cent in Hungary to 59.4 in in Romania.

Despite an increase of 374,000 women in engineering and science since 2010, a striking gender divide remains across Europe. For instance, on average, in the UK, women earn 11 per cent less than men.

One strategy engineering companies can pursue to improve gender diversity and empower women to choose careers in this industry is to support communications campaigns and implement inclusive business practices. PR campaigns can spotlight the contributions of women in engineering, challenge entrenched stereotypes, and promote a more balanced representation of genders in the field.

CELEBRATING WOMEN IN ENGINEERING

Highlighting success stories of women engineers can be done through media features, interviews, and social media campaigns. These narratives not only inspire the next generation but also challenge stereotypes.

For example, media campaigns like She Can STEM are aimed at showcasing the work of successful women in STEM, such as Tiera Fletcher, structural analysis engineer at Boeing and Lucianne Walkowicz, astronomer at Adler Planetarium, and encouraging females to pursue careers in this field. The campaign has nearly 20,000 followers on Instagram, and the hashtag #SheCanSTEM has been used over 5,000 times on the platform.

Engineering companies are encouraged to use the hashtag and promote the work of their female employees. In the case of Siemens, the company created a thread on Instagram called Inventors of the Year, featuring advice from their female employees on the best business practices that inspired them.

By leveraging the power of social media, engineering businesses can create dynamic and impactful campaigns that not only celebrate the achievements of women in the field but also encourage broader societal change towards gender diversity and inclusion.

SUPPORTING ENGINEERING EDUCATION

Promoting engineering education is crucial for encouraging young girls to consider and pursue careers in engineering. Early exposure to STEM subjects can ignite a passion for these fields, dismantle stereotypes, and build a pipeline of future female engineers.

Programs likes Women Engineers for a Day, organised by the European Commission aim to combat stereotypes about engineering. Providing young women with opportunities to explore engineering through hands-on experiences and connecting them with female role models in the industry can make a significant difference.

Since its creation, in 2017, it has already reached 12,554 young people, from primary and secondary education, through practical laboratory activities, role model and mentoring sessions.

Engineering companies can support similar programs by partnering with educational institutions to create programs that introduce girls to engineering. This can include sponsoring engineering clubs, providing funding for laboratory equipment, or supporting extracurricular activities focused on engineering and technology.

Similarly, engineering businesses can create educational resources through their website and organise webinars and virtual workshops to reach a global female audience.
At Stone Junction, we are committed to creating a more diverse industry and promoting a more inclusive environment. In our agency, four out of six people on the agency’s management team are women, while three out of four meeting rooms at our headquarters are named after historically significant but under recognised female engineers and scientists; Ada Lovelace, Rosalind Franklin and Edith Clarke.

In case you are curious, the fourth is named after Alan Turing, to help recognise LGBTQ+ contributions to scientific endeavour and history and to encourage our people to see themselves in the visual culture we’ve created no matter who they are. Other artwork in our workplace celebrates contributions to creativity and STEM from Asian, black ethnic and other global majority groups from multiple religious, cultural, sexual and gender environments.

We are committed to helping STEM companies change narratives in engineering by strategically promoting diversity, highlighting achievements, and creating engaging content that reshapes public perception.

As we celebrate National STEM day on November 8 , it’s important to recognise the strides that have been made and the work that still needs to be done. By highlighting role models in the industry and supporting educational initiatives, we can make engineering an inclusive field where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.