More women engineers at UQ this year

UQ Engineering has welcomed its largest cohort of female undergraduate engineering students in time for the 2009 academic year.

Jasmine Roberts, a UQ Excellence Scholarship recipient, is part of the cohort and is looking forward to the rewarding opportunities on offer to future engineers.

The Queensland Minerals and Energy Academy, a joint venture between the Queensland Resources Council and the Queensland Government, worked with Ms Roberts to find a suitable scholarship and convert her passion for maths and science towards a successful career in engineering.

"It wasn't until late year 10 that this foreign word 'engineering' started to open my eyes to the amazing opportunities I had to do something which I loved," Ms Roberts said.

"The idea of becoming a successful female in a typically male-dominated field was definitely a catalyst in making my decision.

"I think this current increase is fantastic and hopefully it will encourage even more girls to consider studying engineering."

Ms Roberts will join 200 female undergraduate students in the UQ Bachelor of Engineering's foundation course this semester, making up more than one fifth of the course’s enrolment.

Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology Associate Dean (Academic) Professor Caroline Crosthwaite said the increase in enrolments was inspiring for both the university and industry.

"This is the first time in a number of years that our female enrolments have exceeded 20 per cent and it's very pleasing to see," she said.

"Female engineers bring different perspectives to their work which is beneficial to all areas of the engineering profession, whether in the established civil and mechanical fields or emerging biomedical and environmental areas."

Media: Alice Walker at the Faculty of Engineering, Architecture and Information Technology (07 3346 7696, a.walker1@uq.edu.au) or Trent Leggatt at UQ School of Engineering (07 3346 9976 or t.leggatt@uq.edu.au)