Dear Editor,

Globally, only 16.5 per cent of engineers are women. Historically, the field of engineering has been typically male-dominated.

STEM subjects (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) at school were viewed more as male subjects, while females gravitated towards the humanities. It can be argued that females were encouraged to study non-STEM subjects. The humanities are more a collection of disciplines than a single discipline that focus on the human condition, from a philosophical or artistic perspective. These include fine arts, performing arts, literature, philosophy, religion, and history.

This gender-biased perspective and reality must be interrogated. Engineering is about innovation and problem solving. The field of engineering requires multiple perspectives and as such women and girls should be encouraged to pursue careers in engineering.

International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) is celebrated annually on June 23 to honour the outstanding achievements of women engineers and to encourage more girls and women to pursue careers in engineering. The day also promotes gender diversity in STEM.

This year’s theme is ‘Together We Engineer’ and is perfectly aligned with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal #5 that speaks to achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls.

INWED was launched for the first time in the United Kingdom in 2014 by the Women’s Engineering Society (WES) to celebrate its 95th anniversary. Since that launch, the day has grown enormously over the subsequent years to the point that it received the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) patronage in 2016. In 2017, it was recognised internationally for the first time due to the interest and enthusiasm of international participants in the previous years.

Global education systems have a vital role to play in fostering a culture that is supportive of girls pursing STEM subjects. Unfortunately, many counties only pay lip service to girls in STEM.

Female mentors are crucial for encouraging women to pursue careers in STEM fields. Mentorship programmes can provide valuable support, guidance, and role models, helping women navigate the challenges and build confidence in these traditionally male-dominated areas.

It is critical to encourage girls to consider careers in the field of engineering and to help fill the substantial future job opportunities predicted for the engineering sector.

Wayne Campbell

waykam@yahoo.com