Discovery
The Life Scientific - Dawn Bonfield
Nov 18, 2024
Dawn Bonfield, a Professor of Practice in Engineering for Sustainable Development at King’s College London, champions diversity in engineering. She revitalized the Women in Engineering Society and founded International Women in Engineering Day, tackling the industry's gender gap. Dawn highlights the need for representation and role models. She shares her journey from materials engineer to advocating for inclusive engineering as a means to address pressing global challenges, emphasizing optimism for a more diverse future in the field.
26:28
Episode guests
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- Dawn Bonfield emphasizes the need for educational reforms and engaging career guidance to attract young women into engineering careers.
- The success of initiatives like International Women in Engineering Day illustrates how celebrating diversity enhances representation and innovation in engineering.
Deep dives
Challenges for Women in Engineering
The engineering sector faces significant challenges in retaining and attracting women, largely due to a lack of interest from young girls and inadequate retention strategies for women already in the field. Many girls do not see engineering as a viable career option due to traditional male dominance in the industry and an insufficient understanding of engineering’s various disciplines. This leads to a situation where women who do enter engineering often leave due to a lack of role models and support within the workplace. Addressing these challenges requires a multifaceted approach, including educational reforms and more engaging career guidance to encourage young women to pursue engineering careers.
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
