Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) celebrated Engineer’s Week and International Women’s Day with a “Women in Engineering” event aimed at inspiring young girls to pursue careers in engineering.
Hosted by TUS Athlone Campus, the event drew 90 students and their teachers from schools across the Midlands region, highlighting the university’s commitment to fostering gender diversity in STEM fields.
The event featured 10 female speakers from diverse engineering backgrounds who shared their personal stories to encourage young girls to consider engineering as a viable career option.
Among the speakers were Katherine Larkin, a lecturer in technology education, and Catherine Collins of First Polymer Training Skillnet, whose stories underscored the diversity of career paths within engineering and the opportunities for women to excel in traditionally male-dominated industries.
Key themes of the event included in the importance of mentorship and networking for aspiring female engineers, with speakers emphasising the need for young women to “reach forward” for guidance and support, while established professionals “reach back” to uplift the next generation of talent.
Breda Lynch, Head of Department for Polymer and Mechanical Engineering, expressed her pride in the event’s impact, stating, “By amplifying the voices of female engineers and providing tangible pathways for success, we are not just inspiring future generations, we are reshaping the landscape of engineering to be more inclusive and representative of our diverse society. Congratulations to lecturer Colette Breheny and team from putting together this hugely successful event.”
The event also marked the official launch of the TUS Athlone Campus Women in Engineering Society, providing a supportive community for female student engineers and fostering peer-led initiatives.
In addition, new student awards were announced, sponsored by leading polymer company Ultra Polymers, aimed at recognising the achievements of female students in TUS Athlone Campus’s polymer and mechanical engineering programmes.
With ongoing outreach efforts such as the TY taster days targeting secondary school students, TUS is dedicated to encouraging more young women to pursue careers in engineering.
Looking ahead, the university aims to double the number of female students enrolled on its polymer and mechanical engineering programmes in Athlone over the next three years, a field with historically low female participation.
Dr Sean Lyons, Dean of Faculty, Engineering and Informatics, emphasised TUS’s commitment to encouraging diversity in STEM: “Events like the Women in Engineering initiative epitomize our commitment to fostering inclusivity and diversity within STEM. Through mentorship, networking opportunities, and outreach efforts, we are paving the way for a more diverse and inclusive future in engineering, where every aspiring engineer, regardless of gender, feels empowered to pursue their dreams.”