27 May 2019 (?)
Hydro Tasmania continues to build its commitment to workplace diversity with the sponsorship of two scholarships to support women in engineering.
The winners of Engineers Australia’s Driving Diversity Scholarships were announced today. This year’s winners of the scholarships sponsored by Hydro Tasmania are Emma Calvert, from Sandfly, a former St Michael’s Collegiate student; and Hannah Price, from Taroona, a former Elizabeth College student.
Both are first year engineering students at the University of Tasmania.
They will each receive $5,000 to help fund text books, study fees, and other services that support their study.
They were presented with their scholarships by Hydro Tasmania CEO Steve Davy.
Mr Davy said Hydro Tasmania was proud to be a sponsor and congratulated the two successful scholarship recipients.
He said the energy industry, and particularly engineering roles, had traditionally been very male-dominated. Recent data indicated only 18 per cent of engineering graduates nationally were female.
Of Hydro Tasmania’s current crop of 21 graduates, only two are female engineers. Of the more than 300 people who expressed an interest in joining Hydro Tasmania’s 2020 graduate intake, only 33 were women.
Mr Davy said while these figures were disappointing, they are not a surprise to those who know the industry well.
“The national figures show the engineering profession has an image problem when it comes to attracting women,” he said.
“Engineers Australia is a strong advocate for change and the scholarships are one way we can show our support for young women who choose to make engineering their career.
“However, there is a lot more we all need to do, both through universities and in the school system, to introduce the idea of engineering as a career to young women early in their education.”
Hydro Tasmania has created an Education Outreach program that includes encouraging students to consider a STEM career.
Quotes from the two winners of the Hydro Tasmania scholarships.
Emma Calvert said:
“The study of engineering has always seemed to be a natural fit for my skills from an early obsession with Lego, building blocks and puzzles to a strong preference for mathematics and science subjects throughout my schooling.
“I was also lucky enough to have a number of inspirational mathematics and science teachers who had a strong commitment to encouraging girls to embrace STEM subjects from an early age.
“As I progress through my degree and hopefully go on to a successful career in engineering, I consider that I can act as an effective role model and mentor to other young women and hopefully dispel some of the myths around engineering.”
Hannah Price said:
“Engineering will give me a unique opportunity to make an impact on many areas of life through one career.
“The application of sciences to real world problems and the ability to make a difference in our world is my main attraction to engineering.
“In the future I would like to be involved in work that can inspire others to follow their interests in the sciences and hope that I can promote women in engineering by being a confident, successful role model for other young women.”
Ends.
Released for Hydro Tasmania by Cassandra Leigh / 0409 722359 / media@hydro.com.au.
For media enquiries please contact: media@hydro.com.au