In this blog, IChemE Trustee Macsene Isles-Ahite shares her vision for ED&I in IChemE and across the chemical engineering community.
Continue reading GUEST BLOG: Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (ED&I) and IChemE
Category: Equality
Creating a culture for everyone – IChemE Diversity & Inclusion Award Winner 2019
As an organisation, Costain have been implementing various initiatives to “create a culture where everyone can be their best.” At the IChemE Global Awards 2019, Costain won the Diversity and Inclusion Award, for their commitment to become a diverse employer.
In this video, Clara Wicks shares more about Costain’s strategy to recruit, attract and retain a diverse workforce and hopes this will encourage more women to consider a career in a chemical engineering industry.
Is your organisation best demonstrating a commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion within its workforce, sector or business practices? You can enter for this category in the IChemE Global Awards 2020.
Entries are now open until 26 June 2020. Visit: https://www.icheme.org/globalawards
This video was produced by CMA Video.
Bringing diversity to the forefront of chemical engineering – IChemE Diversity & Inclusion Award Winner 2018
Leading the way for becoming the number one employer for equality, diversity and inclusion, the Environment Agency took home the Diversity & Inclusion Award at the IChemE Global Awards 2018.
The Environment Agency employs chemical engineers from all different backgrounds and strongly believe in creating a life-enhancing workplace for their employees. Watch this video to find out more:
Is your organisation best demonstrating a commitment to promoting diversity and inclusion within its workforce, sector or business practices? You can enter for this category in the IChemE Global Awards 2019.
Enter by 12 July 2019 at: www.icheme.org/awards.
This video was produced by CMA Video.
How do you feel female chemical engineers are contributing to #TransformTheFuture?
Every year on 23 June we celebrate the accomplishments of female engineers for International Women in Engineering Day (INWED).
This year is even more special as the Women’s Engineering Society (WES) – who founded INWED – are celebrating 100 years of inspiring women engineers, scientists and technologists. Happy birthday WES!
#TransformTheFuture is the theme this year for #INWED19. Female chemical engineers are playing a vital part in helping to transform the future.
Continue reading How do you feel female chemical engineers are contributing to #TransformTheFuture?
GUEST BLOG: Celebrating International Day of Women and Girls in Science
Today marks the UN’s International Day of Women and Girls in Science. Gender equality in all STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering and maths) is vital for achieving the UN’s sustainable development goals, which is why this year’s theme is Investment in Women and Girls in Science for Inclusive Green Growth.
Continue reading GUEST BLOG: Celebrating International Day of Women and Girls in Science
GUEST BLOG: Celebrating the achievements of black chemical engineers for Black History Month
Today, 1 October 2018, marks the start of Black History Month. The achievements and events of black people are being celebrated across the world throughout October.
Members of BBSTEM, a non-profit organisation campaigning for balance and presentation of black individuals working in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM), will be marking achievements of prominent figures in STEM – past and present – with a social media campaign. You can join in using the hashtag #BBSTEMBHM18
Chemical engineer Kayisha Payne founded BBSTEM earlier this year. Subsequently, Eniola Fujamade, who works at KBR, and Paula Nkuli, who works at Johnson Matthey, joined the team. Kayisha tells us more about their campaign and the importance of celebrating diversity in all engineering disciplines, including chemical engineering. Continue reading GUEST BLOG: Celebrating the achievements of black chemical engineers for Black History Month
Flying the flag for LGBT engineers – London Pride 2018
In today’s blog John Bradbury, Vice Chair of InterEngineering and Continuous Improvement Manager at Amcor, gives his perspective on the recent London Pride celebrations and why inclusivity in engineering is so important in the 21st century. Continue reading Flying the flag for LGBT engineers – London Pride 2018
Why do we need female engineers? #INWED17
Why do we need female engineers?
It’s a simple, in some ways controversial question, that we put out to IChemE members a couple of weeks ago to mark today’s International Women In Engineering Day.
We received a fantastic response from chemical engineers working all over the world – take a look at them below and stay tuned on Twitter where we will be sharing them throughout the day.
How will you or your organisation be celebrating gender diversity today?
KBR are #RaisingProfiles for International Women in Engineering Day
Tomorrow is International Women In Engineering Day (INWED), and it’s been great to see an overwhelmingly positive response from our community in the form of events and activities.
The INWED website has some fantastic ideas for organisations to improve their diversity agenda, from organising networking events to completing an equal pay audit. It isn’t too late for your company to get involved, visit the website for more ideas.
Global engineering services provider KBR, a Gold Corporate Partner with the IChemE, is already ahead of the curve. Aspire, an employee-driven resources group committed to female engineers and promoting gender parity, was launched in Houston, US in 2016. In January it was rolled-out across the pond, and Aspire UK was born.
To celebrate #INWED2017 the Aspire UK team joined with KBR’s graduate network, Impact, to host students from a local school. They attended the KBR Campus in Leatherhead today (Thursday 22 June) and inspired to take a career path in engineering.
The students were immersed in a working engineering environment and given several interactive workshop presentations about engineering, the opportunities the profession presents, and the pathways into an engineering career. They attended a networking lunch where they were able to meet with more engineers from KBR, including the business leaders.
The final activity was a team building game, where the students had to use their problem solving skills to build an Oil Rig Jacket Structure (oil platform) out of paper.
We caught up with the engineers who spoke at the event.
Continue reading KBR are #RaisingProfiles for International Women in Engineering Day
10 female engineers on how to #BeBoldForChange #IWD2017
Today is International Women’s Day.
Celebrating the achievements of women, and various successes in gender parity, it provides us with the perfect opportunity to shine a light on the important issue of diversity in our profession.
The percentage of female undergraduates studying chemical engineering in UK is just above 25%. It’s higher than any other engineering discipline, but there’s still more to be done.
The theme for International Women’s Day 2017 is #BeBoldForChange. To celebrate, our member-led diversity network has shared ten inspiring quotes from their popular ‘Women in Engineering’ webinar series on changing attitudes, highlighting how the engineers featured #BeBoldForChange in their careers.
These women (and one man!) are all at different stages of their fulfilling careers. Their words should inspire you to be #BeBoldForChange too.
Continue reading 10 female engineers on how to #BeBoldForChange #IWD2017
Top 5 UK Women in Chemical Engineering #NWED2016
The Top 50 Women in UK Engineering was published today by the Daily Telegraph, in partnership with the Women’s Engineering Society (WES). It celebrates female engineers across a broad range of sectors and disciplines to mark National Women in Engineering Day – 23 June. Over 800 nominations were received, so to make the Top 50 is a huge achievement.
But which chemical engineers made the list?
1. Dame Judith Hackitt
The first chemical engineer to make the list (coming in at number 18), Dame Judith Hackitt, spent 23 years in industry before moving on to represent various professional institutions and boards. She was the Chair of the Health and Safety Executive for 8 years, and has recently become Chair of the EEF.
Judith was IChemE President 2013-2014, is an IChemE Fellow and an active member of the Institution. She is passionate about valuing diversity, and is strongly opposed to positive discrimination and tokenism. An interview we did with Judith for International Women’s Day is available here.
TOP QUOTE: “Teachers are ill-informed about engineering. They don’t know what it is and they have pre-conceived notions that it’s dirty, its greasy, it’s all these things which it’s not. And they say ‘No, that’s not for girls.’ You still find that even now, forty years later.”
Continue reading Top 5 UK Women in Chemical Engineering #NWED2016
“It’s about valuing diversity”, an interview with Dame Judith Hackitt for #InternationalWomensDay #IWD2016
Today is International Women’s Day, and to celebrate we decided to put a chemical engineering leading lady in the spotlight – Dame Judith Hackitt.
Judith Hackitt, who was IChemE’s second female president (2013-2014), has had an eventful 2016 so far. The Chair of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), was made Dame in the New Year Honours, and has recently announced her new appointment as Chair at the EEF, the manufacturers organisation.
We sat down with her to look back on her career so far, and get her perspective on the gender debate, and the future of chemical engineering.
Thanks for joining me today Judith. You have had quite an impressive career. I’m sure you’re a bit sick of this question but what was it like to be made a Dame in the New Year’s Honours List?
Well on a day-to-day basis it doesn’t make any difference, I’m not using the title anywhere and everywhere and insisting people call me Dame Judith! I was at home on the day the letter arrived, it was first of all a big surprise but also a massive honour. It’s hard to describe but you feel like it’s something special. I really am genuinely honoured to be offered this, and it was a delight to write back and say yes, of course I’d accept.
Chemical engineer develops sanitary towels to help girls stay in school (Day 335)
Here in the UK and other developed countries, it’s all too easy to take some things for granted, such as access to education, to clean water and to sanitary facilities.
When we look at the developing world, it can be difficult to comprehend the challenges people face on a daily basis.
In Ethiopia, as many as 18 million young girls and women have no access to sanitary towels. This forces many young girls to drop out of school. But the good news is that one chemical engineer is trying to change that.
For most girls, their first menstrual cycle is awkward and embarrassing, but seen as a natural transition towards womanhood. However, in Ethiopia it can be an incredibly taboo subject. As a consequence, misinformation, negative beliefs and myths hold sway.
In the rural Tigray region of Ethiopia, where chemical engineer Freweini Mebrahtu grew up, young girls found out about their menstrual cycle through overheard rumour and myth; often leaving them shocked, confused and afraid.
Continue reading Chemical engineer develops sanitary towels to help girls stay in school (Day 335)
Differences make us stronger – International Women’s Day (Day 285)
Diversity encompasses acceptance and respect. It means that each individual is unique and that there is a need to recognise our individual differences. These can be along the dimensions of age, sexuality, disability, race, religion, social background or gender.
It can be a very sensitive topic. On the political landscape there are issues around immigration and skills. At a more personal level, many people are conscious of the need to avoid discriminatory behavior and to avoid causing offence. Yes, it’s a tricky business, but I firmly believe that diversity is something that should underpin everything we do. And I am reminded of the quote attributed to the leading business thinker and author, Stephen R, Covey, who once remarked: “Strength lies in differences, not in similarities”.
During my career, I have encountered many senior figures from industry and academia. The overwhelming majority have shared my view that diversity is essential; not just because it fosters innovation and growth, but because it right.
Gender, culture, age, background and life experience bring different perspectives to the table, enriching us all in the process.
Today is International Women’s Day, and on this day we will focus on the achievements of women and the drive for equality. This year’s theme is ‘Make it happen’.
I believe, as I’m sure you do, that chemical engineers make it happen. I am proud that, relative to many other engineering disciplines, chemical engineering is a diverse profession, but I am also aware that there is more to be done.
Continue reading Differences make us stronger – International Women’s Day (Day 285)
In the spotlight (Day 204)
As we approach the year end, lots of chemical engineers around the world are picking up their accolades for a year of hard work.
I’ve selected two stories for today’s blog from Malaysia and New Zealand – countries with very active and enthusiastic IChemE members.
On 2 December in Miri, Malaysia, ten projects were showcased by final-year chemical engineering students of Curtin University, Sarawak Malaysia at their annual Design Project Award presentation ceremony.
Congratulations to Team ‘Innovazione’ who claimed the Best Design Project Award for its project: ‘Design of an offshore prelude floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG)’.
Gender’s not the only issue (Day 97)
Like most of the science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) disciplines, the chemical engineering profession can suffer from a lack of diversity.
The most common diversity angle is the gender balance issue. While there is plenty of room for improvement, we can be proud of the fact that around 35 per cent of IChemE’s global student members are women.
A closer look at IChemE’s membership data shows how the chemical engineering profession is thriving, from a gender perspective, in some countries.
Malaysia tops the list with women accounting for 49 per cent of chemical engineering student members. New Zealand (40 per cent), Australia (35 per cent) and Singapore (31 per cent) also post strong performances for gender balance.
‘Beeting’ down the barriers (Day 63)
When you’re responsible for processing 7.5 million tonnes of sugar beet each year to make one million tonnes of sugar annually, you’re always on the look out for engineering talent – regardless of their gender.
Elephants in the room? (Day 8)
I had an interesting message from IChemE member and MediaEnvoy Keith Plumb overnight.
It covers a sensitive and sometimes controversial issue – the growth of human population – but he also points out the power of individuals to make a difference.
Using Keith’s words he says: “The elephant in the room with respect to climate change is the growth of the human population. I used to think that chemical engineers could do little until I read an article about a man in India who developed a simple machine for making sanitary towels.”
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