Mar
UK Resource Centre for Women in Science, Engineering & Technology
Filed Under (General) by elearning4bradford on 13-03-2009
On Thursday I attended the UK Resource Centre for Women in Science, Engineering & Technology Annual Conference in London. The UKRC is located in Bradford and has close links with Bradford College.
Lord Drayson, Minister for State for Science & Innovation was one of the keynotes and he spoke well despite being interrupted by the fire alarm. He managed, just, to win over his audience with a mixture of personal anecdote and political insight despite appearing slightly uncomfortable with the gender imbalance of the audience. His passionate call for “more modern women science heroines” was greeted enthusiastically. I assume he meant more as in a “heightened awareness of” rather than more modern.
Dr. Wendy Schulz Director of Infinite Futures: Foresight Research, Training and Facilitation impressed me greatly not just with some of her inspired views of what the future holds but also her ability to pose the right questions. Her blog is available through www.ukrc4setwomen.org
Dr. Maggie Aderin-Pocock, possibly the most enthusiastic astronomer ever, launched the “She is an Astronomer” International Year of Astronomy 2009
The highlight of the day for me however was the workshop event “Visions for 2030”. What impressed me hugely was one of the speakers Emily Cummins 21 years of age from Keighley, West Yorkshire and a part-time student at Leeds University. Her creative achievements however are remarkable she has won:
Merchant Adventurers Award for Enterprise Winner, 2006
Technology Women Of The Future, 2006
Female Innovator of the Year , 2007
Diamond Award for Exceptional Creativity, 2007
Appointed ‘Girls make your Mark Ambassador’ , 2007
Appointed ‘Women of Achievement Ambassador’ – 2007-2008
Cosmopolitan Magazine featured her as Ultimate Woman of the Year in its December 2008 issue.
Emily who has some interesting views on the education system has offered to come and give her talk at Bradford College – an offer I will certainly be taking up.
Maggie Philbin from the telly chaired the over-subscribed event with great skill and the venue, the Hotel Andaz, Liverpool Street, was architecturally quite stunning.
