December 2002
News

Bradford's First Women's Engineering Society Launched

A new scheme aimed at supporting female students in the School of Engineering, Design & Technology has been launched at the University.

FAIRER (Females Actively Involved in Rewarding Engineering Roles) is the first women's engineering society at the University.

The School of Engineering, Design & Technology has received funding from the Balance Project, a national project aimed at supporting women in engineering, based at Loughborough University, to support its women students.

The society will disseminate useful information to its members such as special grants, awards and prizes. It will also arrange a programme of social events for all members including visits, activity events, visiting speakers, network meetings and a communication network to support all students during their time at University.

Left: FAIRER members were given the opportunity to rise around in a six-wheel amphibious landing vehicle as part of one of the events organised by the Society.

Over the last few years, the School has worked proactively to encourage women into Engineering, Design and Technology with schemes such as WISE (Women into Science and Engineering) and GETSET (Girls Entering Tomorrow's Science, Engineering and Technology).

FAIRER Co-ordinator Joanne Crowther said: "We have been committed to encouraging women to study science and engineering in the past. Now with this funding we will be able to support them throughout their time at University."

Final Year Medical Engineering student Rachel Joyce said: "I didn't realise there were so many women in the School. I'm looking forward to getting to know them and taking part in the events."

One of the first events organised for the students was a teambuilding exercise that took place in Tong woods, where the group rode around in a six-wheel amphibious landing vehicle. The group also tested their teambuilding skills by taking part in an orienteering event, fire and water design and build tasks and navigating their way across a mini-assault course.

• So far, around 30 students have joined the society. Any students wishing to join FAIRER should contact Joanne Crowther on 01274 (23)3871 or 0796 8095132 or email j.crowther@bradford.ac.uk

3 December 2002

next

top of page