Last week we celebrated International Women in Engineering Day at Diggerland! The day highlighted a profession that keeps on building. Engineering is a profession that fills roles across many sectors – not just construction! Now, more than ever, we are seeing women taking on what once were considered male-orientated careers.
Despite this, women still only fill a fraction of engineering positions within the UK and across the globe. Figures in the USA show that just under 13% of women work in engineering, However, this does jumps to 14.5% in the UK! Here at Diggerland, we want to celebrate women in engineering, and encourage more young people to follow in their footsteps.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO HAVE WOMEN IN ENGINEERING?
It’s 2022 – this shouldn’t even be a question! STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) subjects being taught in schools for decades. Yet, women and young girls still do not find themselves in engineering and construction-based careers. We believe this is because some young people may not be aware of these jobs.
Diggerland offers a construction-based theme park where many of our rides and drives are actually built from real-size JCB and Komatsu machines. Since opening in the early 2000s, we’ve heard so many times that Diggerland is strictly for boys. However, this is not true! Thankfully, we do have thousands of girls who visit our parks. And, they have just as much (or more) fun than their brothers do.
It’s true, Diggerland, and engineering in general, is no longer just for the boys. That’s why today we wanted to share some of the most inspirational women in engineering, in hope that your little ones will feel inspired to choose their own paths!
WOMEN WHO PAVED THE WAY
First up is Alice Perry who graduated from Queen’s College Galway, an Irish University, back in 1906! It’s believed she was the first woman ever to graduate with an engineering degree in Ireland or Great Britain. In fact, some say it is possible she was the first woman in the world to carry a civil engineering degree!
Speaking of firsts, Victoria Drummond was the first woman marine engineer in the UK. During World War 2 she served at sea as an engineering officer in the British Navy. Throughout her career, Victoria noted that she faced great hardship and discrimination from some of her fellow colleagues and superiors. However, she won their support and decided to retire after a 40 year career and 49 ocean-going voyages.
Last, but certainly not least, is Beatrice Shilling who was best known for her work at the Royal Aircraft Establishment during the second world war. She worked on a serious problem which affected the Rolls Royce Merlin engines causing them to misfire or cut out while driving. Shilling designed a brilliant solution to the problem which none of her other team members could solve!
LEARN MORE ABOUT WOMEN IN ENGINEERING
If you’d like to learn more about women in engineering, or fancy yourself a career change, we’d recommend having a look at the Women’s Engineering Society website here. They are a charitable organisation focused on creating and maintaining a professional network of women engineers, scientists and technologists.
You can also get involved by participating in STEM lessons and projects or by visiting engineering and construction sites! Okay, we’re not suggesting that you delve into a working construction site. But, a trip to Diggerland could be the perfect place for your little one to express their love of engineering, technology and construction.
Alternatively, why not make an educational trip to the National History or Science Museums in London? Both of these are free to enter and provide an academic insight into the world of engineering in a fun, kid-friendly way.
BOOK YOUR VISIT TO DIGGERLAND
For those of you who fancy buckets of fun, why not visit one of our Diggerland parks in Kent, Devon, Durham and Yorkshire?! We would always recommend pre-booking your visit to Diggerland as our parks can get full up very quickly. You’ll also benefit from our discounted rate online, compared to paying for your tickets on the day!
You can find out more about our ticket prices and book online here. If you do need any further support, feel free to give our friendly team a call on 01634 711 711.
PURCHASE YOUR DIGGERLAND TICKETS HERE!*All information and prices correct as of 01/07/2022