Mechanical Engineering student hosts successful ‘Diversity in Engineering’ event on campus
A Mechanical Engineering student has helped to promote the importance of diversity in the engineering industry, after helping to organise an industry panel event on the Glasgow Caledonian University campus.
5th year MEng Mechanical Systems Engineering student Erin Rooney recently hosted the Diversity in Engineering event alongside the IMechE Glasgow Young Members Panel, which featured speakers from across the industry such as Scottish engineering firm Howden and the Association for Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers.
The speaker event, which took place on 1 March in the Students’ Association Re:Union Bar, invited guests to hear a range of perspectives in relation to the importance of encouraging wider diversity in the engineering field.
Erin, who is a secretary for the IMechE Glasgow Young Members Panel, wanted to host an event on campus that would help benefit other students looking to develop a career in engineering. She explained: “The event aimed to start conversations about diversity in the engineering industry. An awareness of equality, diversity and inclusion is now one of the requirements for professional registration with the IMechE and other organisations, so this can set students up well for their careers.
Supporting events such as this one is only a fraction of the work that our University, local companies and organisations are doing in this area, and it’s been great to see this event being supported.”
Erin decided to host the event on campus to allow more students to access the event; with accessibility being an important factor in improving opportunities for those looking to go into engineering. She said: “When it came to organising this event, hosting it GCU was my ideal venue, as a current engineering student here I feel it very important to support my fellow students in making events easily accessible.
I was lucky to gain support from the GCU IMechE Formula Student society, GCU Racing, which helped make this possible.”
Find out more about the IMechE Glasgow Young Members Panel on their website
By Rachael McAlonan
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