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engSPIRATIONAL

No more of this cheesy “inspirational quote of the day” business. These women and ideas are the real deal. We dare you to not be inspired by them (it’s impossible).

engHERO: Zarana Bavishi

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Q#1: What are you doing these days?

I work as a stress analyst in a landing gear place — it’s called Heroux Devtek. Basically, my job is to make sure that the landing gear we design is structurally strong, and it’s good for any kind of landing. I’m not sure if you remember the time the aircraft had to land on the Hudson River in the United States? So, we have to make sure the landing gear is intact and that it doesn’t cause any problems. 

Q#2: When did you know you wanted to be an engineer?

I actually knew in around grade 10. I was a part of this team that was called Formula 1 in school where we had to design tiny wooden cars that were propelled using carbon dioxide canisters. It would have to propel down 20 metres of track, and the challenge was to complete that in less than a second. Obviously, we couldn’t finish it in less than a second, but we were pretty good. We went through nationals, even an international competition [after] that. So, that was an eye opener, and I absolutely loved my time working on it, so I wanted to be an engineer. 

Q#3: How does your work contribute to society? 

I think it helps make sure that people are traveling safely, because these days it’s not just a car or a train; there’s more to that then traveling. I also think it’s very important that engineers know what they’re doing because if a doctor messes up, I mean I’m sure it happens, but that is one life. If an engineer messes up, there [are] millions of lives at stake. I think me doing my job would really benefit society in that way. 

Q#4: Why do we need more women in engineering?

Honestly, I just think that shouldn’t be a question to be asked these days because women should be everywhere. We’re in no comparison to guys, we’re equal! We’re in a world where everything [has equal value], where equality is something we shouldn’t have to fight for. So, honestly, if a woman wants to be in engineering, she should be! 

Q#5: Do you have any hobbies/passions that give you a unique perspective in engineering?

I do some puzzles here and there, but I don’t really have a specific kind of hobby that gives me an edge to engineering. Engineering is my passion and my job but I do things outside of that as well to make myself a little bit well rounded — still not there yet.

Q#6: What advice would you give to young girls who are thinking about pursuing a career in the STEM field?

Don’t get overwhelmed by who you talk to or who you see. Just think, what’s going to make you happy. [What] if 20 years from now, your fear stopped you from doing something, or actually enjoying what you do? If you want to delve into [engineering], try different things like solving puzzles or playing games that stimulate your mind. And if that still inspires you, you should go into engineering! Don’t get scared or overwhelmed by anybody you talk to who sounds like they know everything. No, we don’t know everything!

3 Super Cool Engineering Traditions

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Engineering has a very rich history with many fun traditions that have been performed by engineers all around the world for decades. Many of these traditions are still alive and well and are practiced regularly by engineering students in Canada and many other countries. Today we are going to learn about the history of three notable traditions that all engineers-to-be can look forward to participating in one day! 

Iron Ring Ceremony

  • The Iron Ring is presented to graduating engineering students as a symbol of their dedication to holding up ethical standards in the profession once they are practicing engineers
  • The Iron Ring ceremony is primarily a Canadian Engineering tradition although there are some similar ceremonies in the United States
  • The first Iron Ring ceremony was performed in 1925 in Montreal 
  • The idea was created in 1922 by a University of Toronto professor, H.E.T Haultain
  • Now this ceremony happens annually at school across Canada! 

Purple!

  • This was probably the strangest sight to see during the first week of university! Engineering students walking around with purple skin! 
  • Purple is a very significant colour for all engineering students. The origin of the purple traditions is not verified but it is said that this colour is used because it was the colour worn by the marine engineers on the Titanic, it is also speculated that it is because purple was the colour of the engineering corp in the British Miltary. 
  • During orientation week, new engineering students dye their skin purple in this super funny tradition!

Boiler Suits/ Patches 

  • Boiler suits are another very fun engineering tradition to look forward to! 
  • This tradition started in Sweden in the late 1960s and spread to Finland, Canada and other countries after that
  • Engineering students would write all over their boiler suits and attach different patches to their suits. They also trade patches with other students and collect as many as they can!

enghero: Natalie Shears

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Who inspired you to be an engineer?

Shows like Mythbuster or MacGyver inspired me when I was a kid. I just thought it was so cool to see someone make something so incredible with just their imagination and some tools.

Why did you choose to be an engineer?

I always loved figuring out how things work. I was always taking things apart and putting them back together, it’s one of the first ways that I got interested in engineering. From there, I fell in love with physics and the type of math that you can see, like projectile motion, stress calculations, etc. just seeing how cool the world is and how it relates to math has always fascinated me.

What have you found is the difference between being a female and a male engineer?

I find the biggest difference is the surprise when I tell people. Whenever I say I’m studying engineering, they assume that I was in a different program, looking at me like I have 3 eyes. 

What’s one thing you wish you knew about engineering in high school?

I wish I knew that math and physics are the same thing. It sounds obvious, but I’m more talking about calculus and physics combining fully. Be good at both kids! (and don’t forget integrals end in +C)

Does anything in your life (ex. A hobby, experience or passion) give you a unique perspective to engineering?

Last year, I served as VP Student Life on Ontario Tech’s Engineering Society. Being in that position allowed me to not only set up fun, educational, or de-stressing events for the engineering students at our school, but it also allowed me to create networking opportunities and meet other leaders in Universities across Canada. It showed me the many diverse opportunities that engineering has to offer and helped me find my path after graduation.

How does your work contribute to society?

The saying “engineers rule the world” is not an understatement by any means. We help design your websites, buildings, phones, planes, cars… you name it. Specifically, mechanical engineering is about making sure any device that moves (or has moving parts) is properly designed, as cheap as possible, and is safe for people to use. The amount of thought that goes into designing even the most basic tools that we use every day is baffling, and I can’t wait to be one of the people that get to do that!

Strutting the STEM Runway

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Photo Credit: Kelly Hofer

We all know that a lot goes into engineering, and there are endless possibilities in the field. But, with all of these options, it’s easy to overlook some of the most exciting ones. Have you ever been interested in fashion, and love STEM just as much? Well, there is a new community and event just for it, that will satisfy your creative hobby with the exciting world of STEM. MakeFashion is an amazing company that showcases the combination of high fashion and the newest tech to create an unforgettable experience. This organization takes engineers, designers, and creators alike and brings them together, to create clothing that is both wearable and decked out with the latest tech as accessories and materials. Let’s take a closer look at this exciting collaboration of professionals!

MakeFashion has an annual gala that takes place in Calgary, Canada and is the largest event this organization holds. Every year at this gala hundreds of creatives gather and are paired with tech whizzes and engineers to create jaw-dropping pieces. Some of these fashion inventions amaze audiences by glowing, and some by moving. All that is guaranteed when taking part in this event is,  you will never see anything else like it. Some of the tech that has walked this runway include; fashion pieces that regulate your body temperature, accessories that monitor your vital signs, and a necklace that begins to glow when the sun goes down.

MakeFashion also runs year wide shows around the world, in North America, and across Europe! Each event takes inspiration from local talent, and local fashion trends to create a unique experience. The best part of these showcases is that technology is involved, however, fashion and aesthetics are weighted equally. Therefore, engineers and designers must work together in perfect harmony to execute pieces that are fit to walk this runway. This sets a great example that other designers and engineers should follow, to collaborate and create together.

MakeFashion doesn’t just hold show-stopping fashion exhibits, but they also run a series of workshops and leadership events meant to inspire the minds of tomorrow. This includes offering in-class lectures for age groups ranging from kindergarten to grade 12! This is an amazing opportunity because it gives the knowledge and power to kids that may not have the opportunity to travel to these fashion shows. The message of STEM and creativity being combined is one that is truly worth spreading to young students. The more collaboration that we encourage, the more discoveries that will be made in the future.

MakeFashion also hosts a series of maker events, that provide kids with hands-on experience creating new and exciting creations that fuse creativity with technology. In these workshops kids are instructed on how to build new tools and creations with every lesson, that will give everyone something wonderful to take home.

Overall MakeFashion’s message is clear through every initiative they have, we need to keep creating and collaborating across every industry. The reasoning behind this is simple, collaboration is beautiful and can lead to amazing products and even fashion pieces. The world of STEM needs more out of the box thinkers, who can create inventions that are suited for the runway and the world!

Have you gotten WISE?

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Being a woman in technology comes with a lot of barriers given the lack of representation. However, that hasn’t stopped women from pursuing their dreams and passions by joining STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) related fields. In fact, society and culture are changing for the better, and more people are creating an inclusive landscape. This change and inclusion are long overdue. Given this struggle and perseverance, it’s always helpful and vital to have support systems in place to aid women in breaking into STEM. WISE is a fantastic organization and resource for women around the world who are breaking into STEM as a career. Learning about resources like WISE can help you no matter what stage of your career or education you are at.

What is WISE?

The great thing about WISE is they aim to spread awareness and change across the board. This means they have programs and events in place to reach; employers, educators, students, professionals, research institutions and the general public. This is fantastic because each of these groups has something to learn when it comes to women in this industry. More importantly, real change happens when a high percentage of the population understands and welcomes the change, and that is exactly what WISE’s goal is. This organization reaches these groups by hosting local events across the world, reaching schools by providing educators with in-class workshops and creating videos and other promotional media online.

WISE’s Goals?

Every organization concerning women in STEM has the implied goal of spreading awareness and representation for women in science and engineering. However, this group has specific goals laid along with their course of action. WISE’s long term goal is a balanced representation of men and women in STEM both in classrooms and out in the workplace. Their short term goal is one million more women working in core STEM occupations by 2020. Having these goals is so important because it means this organization is moving towards reachable and tangible targets that will make real change.

Events

Events are a great way to bring like-minded people together to share their interests and skills. These events can in particular help young aspiring engineers to network, and learn from successful women in their field. WISE holds several webinars that connect professionals, students and curious people around the world. Having the advantages and skills of the internet at our disposable is connecting people like we have never seen before. What better way to use this connection than spreading skills and knowledge? These events allow professional women in STEM to speak on their experiences, and teach new skills to all that attend. WISE also hosts events to track the progress of women’s inclusion within post-secondary institutions. This is very important because it keeps these institutions accountable and on track. When striving to reach such important goals accountability is everything. These events are also great for problem-solving and sharing success stories.

Where Can You Find WISE?

Several colleges and universities that offer engineering programs have a WISE institution inside of their school, connecting students to this powerful organization. An example is the University of Toronto, located in Ontario. These in-school programs allow students to have hands-on leadership experiences within this community of females. It is a great opportunity to apply what you are learning in the classroom to invoke real change. Much like the original organization, these in-school groups host several events. These events all take place at their school to spread WISE’s goals locally.

I hope the discovery of this organization inspires you to seek education and community within these STEM-related groups. They are a great way to learn from professionals and find much-needed support. Education and success is not a solo journey, and having a strong community by your side is always an asset.

ENGHERO: Baraa Daher

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What is one thing you wish you knew about engineering when you were in high school?

I wish I knew about the different engineering disciplines and research opportunities available within this field. Engineering was not something I knew a lot about in high school, so I did not consider applying to Engineering at Western. I thought it was only about building towers and bridges. However, being a lab member of the Human Biomechanics Laboratory team and taking undergraduate engineering courses, I learned that engineering is a vast and diverse field with disciplines, including electrical, mechanical, chemical, civil, industrial and biomedical engineering.

It was interesting to see the application of engineering concepts to different settings such as healthcare. As I discovered the field during my undergraduate studies, I became interested in the biomechanics of the musculoskeletal system, which led me to pursue a Master’s Degree in Biomedical Engineering.

What made you want to pursue engineering? 

Engineering is a broad field that allows for tons of creativity and discoveries. It has many hands-on experiments and projects that enable students to express their skills and strengths in different ways. It feeds my curiosity about how the world and technology work together, and challenges me to solve complex problems in our society. For example, engineers create solutions by designing devices to create reusable energy or detect diseases like cancer. They are always changing the world by coming up with new solutions and inventions, and I want to be part of this field and improve everyone’s life.

I see engineering concepts applied in daily living activities, like how airbags know when to inflate or how television screens make a colorful image. With engineering, I can combine different skills and knowledge to make people’s dreams come true. Engineers are the wizards of our society; everyone needs them to solve their problems. Being an engineer is exciting as I would get to use magic to create and invent something new every day. I believe that I can make a difference and a change in our society, and for these reasons and more, I wanted to pursue engineering.

What branch of engineering is your major and how did you decide on it?

I did my undergraduate studies in science, and I am now pursuing a Master’s Degree in Biomedical Engineering. Biomedical engineers play an essential role in our healthcare system. During my undergraduate studies and past volunteering at the Human Biomechanics Lab, I learned how to apply mechanical engineering concepts to understand how muscles and bones work when exercising and why our knee or hip breaks.

This subdiscipline of biomedical engineering, known as biomechanics, helps surgeons develop treatment plans after an injury to restore function and mobility. It also helps us understand how the human body moves to design reliable medical devices, such as orthopedic implants. Orthopedic implants are manufactured to restore function by reinforcing or replacing a damaged bone or joint. I find this very interesting because the structure and chemical properties of implants require the application of biomedical engineering principles. Biomedical engineers combine their diverse skills and knowledge to play an essential role in our healthcare system. I decided to pursue a master’s degree in biomedical engineering as I want to play a role in our healthcare system and contribute to the biomechanics discipline.

What do you plan on doing with your engineering degree?

After I graduate, I plan on working in the industry for a couple of years, hopefully, in a consulting firm designing joint implants or prosthetics. Later in my career, I plan to have my own company that will include designing, developing, testing and modifying products, equipment and medical devices.

What advice would you give to a young female who is considering the field of engineering, but isn’t sure if it’s right for them?

Imagine yourself in 5 years from where you are at right now. Where and how do you see yourself? If you see yourself as an engineer, this is the right field for you, and it is worth all the hard work, and I promise you the ride will be rewarding. Ask questions, reach out for help, and be a resource to others who might be struggling or need encouragement. Do not be overwhelmed by a room full of men or people who do not look like you. Follow your passion, learn as much as you can, and do your best. As long as you believe that engineering will light you up, everything else will follow.

What do you recommend doing outside of school?

I recommend looking for an engineering undergraduate club on campus and getting involved in your university’s community by volunteering for different events. I loved working with Western Engineering Outreach program, where I had the chance to learn more about engineering and its various disciplines. I worked with many people from different backgrounds and learned from their expertise. I also had the opportunity to teach children at different ages about engineering through a wide range of activities and events. I would recommend getting involved in similar initiatives. They are always looking for an extra set of hands and will make your study break worthwhile and fun!