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Tireless work, over decades, has been invested in increasing the number of women in technology disciplines. While things have improved, the statistics for areas like engineering and computing remain stubbornly and frustratingly poor.
Great organisations, such as WITS, iWish and Engineers Ireland, have focused on explaining how exciting and interesting STEM careers are, demystifying them and showcasing role models. That has had an impact, and it is so important that this work continues (with industry support).
I’m convinced a step change in female participation will only come about if we acknowledge that many school leavers, at 18 years of age, very sensibly do not know what they want to do in life. Despite all of the hype about particular courses, most young adults leaving school pick what they understand to be broad-based degrees, such as those in business, arts or humanities. What differs between young men and women, is how they consider a technology degree in the context of their very reasonable uncertainty.
Speaker // Lisa Looney
Executive Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Computing in Dublin City University, Ireland
Prof Looney is Executive Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Computing in Dublin City University, and a member of the senior management group of the university. Her disciplinary background is mechanical engineering. She undertaken her PhD in the Netherlands, and also has worked as a researcher in New Zealand. Her research expertise includes areas of materials processing, particularly biomaterials. She has a strong publication record, and is a very experienced doctoral supervisor and research examiner. Lisa was Dean of Graduate Studies in DCU from 2011-2016, during which time she was active in the European Universities Association Council for Doctoral Education, and took a leadership role in drafting the Irish National Framework for Doctoral Education. Prof. Looney has specific expertise in collaborative provision of academic programmes, internationalisation of programmes, and has a long track record of activity relating to attracting, retaining, and examining the career experience of women in technology based professions.