In this morning's Irish Times Supplement 'The Future of
Engineering' Taoiseach Enda Kenny tells us 'We are surrounded by great Irish
engineers everyday. Engineering is for everyone. The creativity and problem
solving that form the core of engineering benefit society as a whole'.
Its great to hear this appreciation from our head of
government and that's why yesterday's launch of our EGA Report 'Towards Gender
Balance in Engineering' was such an important national event. I found the
occasion a hugely optimistic and uplifting event thanks to our three
outstanding Speakers Michael Loughnane Main Author of EGA Report, Regina Moran
President of Engineers Ireland and Professor Orla Feely UCD Vice President of
Research Innovation and Impact.
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| At the launch of UCD EGA Report on Gender Balance in Engineering were front row: PJ Rudden, UCD EGA President, Regina Moran, President Engineers Ireland, back row: John Power, Director General Engineers Ireland, Professor Orla Feely, Vice President UCD, Michael Loughnane, Author EGA Report and Professor David Fitzpatrick, UCD Dean of Engineering |
Each speaker laid the challenges and the opportunities in
the current gender issue in engineering firmly on the line for the large
attendance at our Business Breakfast in the UCD Engineering and Materials
Centre.
Michael Loughnane outlined the stark facts in the Report
of his EGA Board Subcommittee. He quoted Warren Buffett business guru in the US
'The key to America's future success lies in helping women achieve as much as
their male counterparts'.
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| Senior Water Engineers with RPS Roisin Doherty and Fionnuala Coonan |
In UCD we have the international norm of approx 20%
females which we know drops to slightly less than 10% in professional career
roles. In the US research has shown that female engineers leave their
professional role at a rate four times that of doctors, three and half times
that of lawyers and judges and 15 - 30% more than nurses and college teachers.
30 - 35% is the critical tipping point which if reached in an organisation can
be more easily built upon. Motivation appears to be the primary factor that
determines entry by females into and indeed exit from the profession.
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| PJ Rudden EGA President with Roisin Bradford Irish Water, AnnMarie McCague, Commission for Energy Regulation and Robyn Kelly, Murphy Group |
Michael's recommendations are wide ranging incl working in
close cooperation with Engineers Ireland, awarding engineering student highest
Leaving Cert marks in Maths Physics and Chemistry with UCD EGA Gold Medals,
presentations to secondary schools to create better subject choice and
broadening the appeal of engineering as a rewarding career. He also recommended
creation of a new "Getting More Women into Engineering @ UCD"
initiative by the UCD EGA supported by a poster campaign around schools.
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| Dr Patricia Kieran, UCD Chemical and Bioprocess Engineering responds to a question on female engineer internships |
Regina Moran stated 'Girls can change the world through
engineering' and instanced all of the global challenges we face that females
engineers could assist in resolving incl water, energy and biomedical
engineering. 'We need to run an unyielding campaign' she said 'at least until
we reach the 35% tippling point and we are a long way off currently'. There was
also until now at least a lack of female role models to whom young girls can
aspire, she added.
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| The three Speakers with EGA President |
Orla Feely was equally inspiring 'with more female
engineers we need to capture the social dimension for the good of society - we
are losing out on what can be achieved. Women are not properly represented in
areas of engineering that are so important to our economy. It comes down to
fairness - if we don't convey the
attractiveness and importance of engineering, we are failing young girls. We
are also failing women if they are not being supported to stay with the
sector'.
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| Catherine Lynch, UCD Gender Equality Officer and Jilli Reilly, UCD Engineering |
Feely pointed out current role models like Regina Moran,
Ann Kelleher of Intel and Dr Patricia Kieran of Chemical Engineering in UCD who
are now in a position to influence and inspire young women. 'We have a window
of opportunity just now. Even over the past 12 months we have an extraordinary
array of Irish women appointed to senior positions in Ireland and
internationally. I think we should be able to make considerable headway' she
concluded.
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| UCD Dean of Engineering, Professor David Fitzpatrick responds to the discussion |
UCD Dean of Engineering then committed UCD Engineering to
addressing the issues raised to explore how best to raise gender balance and to
work with the EGA and Engineers Ireland towards that goal.
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| Deputy Mary Mitchell O'Connor TD, Professor David Fitzpatrick UCD Dean of Engineering and Tina Pittock, ESBI Senior Consultant |
It was a fanastic event with an impressive turnout.
Though it was not held at an ideal time for second level schools I spotted the
Principal of Loreto Abbey Dalkey Robert Dunne as was the newly appointed UCD
Gender Equality Officer Catherine Lynch. Local TD former Principal of Harold NS
Glasthule and educationalist Mary Mitchell O'Connor attended and showed huge
interest in the subject. Also present was Director General of Engineers Ireland
John Power Editor of the Engineers Journal Mary Anne Carrigan and Kelley
Cousins Press and PR Officer.
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| Kelley Cousins and Mary Anne Carrigan of Engineers Ireland with Cormac Bradley, RPS |
In the midst of all the youthful faces I felt deeply
honoured to see the attendance of Dr Tom Hardiman former Director General of
RTE who was the first President of UCD Engineering Graduates Association in
1983 - 1985. Tom was and still is a high profile figure obviously carefully
chosen at the time by the EGA Founder Professor John Kelly. I won't hazard a
guess at Tom's age but was very impressed to see that he recently addressed the
Asia Pacific Ireland Business Forum in Dublin last year!
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| Engineers Ireland Director General, John Power and President Regina Moran |
