Nigeria's Becky George-David's journey as a Software Engineer breaking into Investment Banking

[sidebar_widget sidebar_id="sidebar-1" width="1/1" el_position="first last"] [spb_text_block pb_margin_bottom="no" pb_border_bottom="no" width="1/1" el_position="first last"]Engineering is considered to be one of the most challenging and demanding careers, but for many good reasons. Over the years, the skill-sets that this discipline encompasses have assisted many engineers to successfully make a smooth transition into the world of finance; specifically in investment banking.Investment banking is a highly enterprising environment, sensitive to the delivery and management of information and data processing. Technology plays a major role in managing all aspects of investment banking; which includes trading, security or research. One of the benefits any business in the investment banking industry can have is faster access to information.This is where Software Engineering can provide a competitive advantage for businesses in this field.In this month's edition of Women of Impact, we interviewed Nigerian-born and raised Becky George-David, as she opens up her experience as a Software Engineer with one of the world's leading financial institutions - the Royal Bank of Scotland. Becky is also co-founder of TheBusyBodi, an online platform that seeks to tap into the informal economy by creating a market place for service providers (sellers) and customers (buyers), particularly in the blue-collar job market.

"Post my primary education, I attended two schools in my junior secondary years before my dad identified that I'd be better suited at a science-only school for my senior secondary education. I spent the final three years of secondary school with the sole aim of becoming a doctor, as I’d been brought up to believe was my career of choice. I loved Physics, Mathematics, Biology and Literature (surprisingly), but just struggled to find love with Chemistry.  In all, I'm a STEM girl by upbringing, but most importantly, by passion!"

• What inspired your transition to the world of investment banking?

"When I decided to pursue a degree in Computing, I knew the range of career options would be wide. However, I did not anticipate, nor fully comprehend, the many applications of technology. In my first year at the University of East London, I began investigating internships to tie in my theoretical knowledge to real world applications. I got paired with a mentor who worked for Barclays Capital at the time, and that's how my curiosity and career within the financial markets, in the financial capital of the world, was birthed. I've spent a better part of my career as a Software Engineer with a global team spanning the US, Europe and Asia - building bespoke front end automated electronic trading applications for both trading with clients (brokers, other banking institutions) and exchanges such as LSE, NYSE etc."

• Tell us about the project you are currently working on?

"I currently work at the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) as a Technical Delivery Manager where I manage and ensure the end to end delivery of mobile banking products and services to our 6.2 million customers.  In this fin tech era, customers expect to have a hassle-free mobile experience that enables them to manage their finances on the go. I work alongside Product Owners, Developers, Testers and a change team to ensure that our customers have an app that is personalised to them, enables full control of their finances and provides all these services at their fingertips 24/7."

• Tell us about TheBusyBodi. What was the motivation behind this?

"I came around this idea whilst discussing the frustration of a typical Nigerian undergraduate or graduate student trying to find a placement or job. We realised that in Nigeria, a lot of people relied not just on their '9 to 5' but also on their '5 to 9' AKA the 'side hustle'. These side hustles in some cases, were even worth more than a 'full time job'. We sought to solve this problem by creating a platform for these service providers to engage with a wider customer base, and for consumers of this services to receive competitive prices and verified services alike. My co-founder and I are currently exploring new ways of solving the challenge of capturing/on-boarding service providers who happen to mostly be offline."

• Do you have any plans of transferring your expertise to Nigeria?

"My passion is and always will be seeing Africa's economy finally emerge. I've wanted to return home ever since I graduated. But I understand that I need to learn from my current environment, through the opportunities that I've been fortunate to have. It's particularly important that I spend my time here in the UK tech space, curating a tailored experience that leans on the exploration of successes and pitfalls, and the real-world impact and role that technology is playing in disrupting various industries. Within the next 5 years, I should have a solid experience, as well as strategic, technical and tactical expertise to go back home and be part of our success story."

• What’s your advice for young girls who wish to take up STEM roles, particularly in Software Engineering?

"Be intentional with your time and with activities that you lend yourself to. Have an 'idea' of what you want and why. I'm a firm believer in the ability of a strong 'why’ to propel you through tough times when your 'what' becomes more difficult to pursue. This is applicable when as a software engineer, you hit a code block that even stack overflow can't help you get over.  I believe that it is also applicable in all other areas of one's life for one to become a well-rounded individual."[/spb_text_block]

Bih Janet Shufor Fofang on developing pedagogic tools to enhance STEM education in Cameroon

[sidebar_widget sidebar_id="sidebar-1" width="1/1" el_position="first last"] [spb_text_block pb_margin_bottom="no" pb_border_bottom="no" width="1/1" el_position="first last"]Bih Janet Shufor Fofang, an electrical engineer by training, has been teaching for more than 15 years at the largest government technical institute in Cameroon – the College D’enseignement Technique Industriel et Commerciale. While supporting a strong female presence at the institute, she continues to teach technical subjects including mechanical and electrical engineering.In 2009, Bih Jane founded the private K-12 Tassah Academy in Cameroon, with 600 students currently enrolled – 60 percent of whom are female.Bih Janet’s goal is to increase the numbers of women in technology in Cameroon, and to give them more decision-making power in STEM. After her visit to Silicon Valley in 2013 through the U.S. State Department’s TechWomen program, Bih Janet initiated the "STEM Boxes" project to equip her students with technology equipment used to teach and learn innovative technologies. Bih Janet’s efforts to drive computer literacy in West Africa are laudable. In 2016, she received the A. Richard Newton Educator ABIE Award which recognises educators for developing innovative teaching practices and approaches that attract female students to computing, engineering, and maths in K-12 or undergraduate education. Recipients are honoured by the technical women’s community at the Grace Hopper Celebration. The Award honours the life and career of A. Richard Newton (1951-2007), who was a professor and dean of the College of Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, a pioneer in electronic design automation and integrated circuit design, and a visionary leader in the technology industry.

"I grew up in a large family from humble roots, in the North West Region of Cameroon. I had an interesting childhood, and did the things most children in my neighbourhood did. I sold foodstuff in the markets, and went to farm with my parents."

• What was your first impression of STEM as a young woman?

"I have never thought of STEM as something that had a gender assigned connotation tagged to it. As a matter of fact, I happened to grow up having many brothers and mimicked and competed with them at every level without paying attention to gender. It was only until I started work that I realised workplace ethics seemed to identify role plays with gender. I have always known what I have to do without fear of stigma or stereotype. I grew up free, and no one reminded me of what I could or could not do."

• You have been teaching electrical engineering for over 15 years at the College D’enseignement Technique Industriel et Commercial. What has this experience been like for you?

"It's been 18 years, and I now develop pedagogic tools to enhance the teaching and learning of STEM in our educational system. It has been an enriching experience; one where I have had to exchange skills with bright young minds and grown my own competence. Not only have I developed the ability to analyse and think things through, I have learnt the art of giving back selflessly as I see my students grow and appreciate what they have acquired. I learnt to be patient and humble to learn new things while accepting the possibility of exploring other options in my career."

• What inspired your STEM Boxes project?

"'STEM boxes' was borne out of a need to reach out to students in underprivileged areas with little resources. Given that most of the technology equipment used to teach and learn artificial intelligence and innovative technologies are not made in Cameroon, I knew I had to figure out how to reach as many students as possible with a few boxes. Even though I taught different things to different groups of girls, I knew we can not accept the excuse of lack of resources and not do something to overcome these challenges. We need to work beyond obstacles. Miniaturised labs are now the order of the day, and as technology is changing and offering the ability to bypass challenges, we have to take advantage of these opportunities."

• You have had the opportunity to visit Silicon Valley. How did this experience change your general outlook on technology and culture?

"My experience at the Silicon Valley was life changing. I realised there was something I needed to fix as soon as possible. That was my mind! I had to make a tremendous mind-shift to transpose the thought process of the inventors and innovators of Silicon Valley into my own space with its own realities...because we all shared one thing in common. We are all simply focused on solving a problem in our communities, and we are doing so with all the conviction and passion we have possible. They believe in their dreams, they have the conviction that everything they do, no matter how small, contributes to the well being of their society. That was a big lesson for me. Believing in one's self, one’s ability and one's worth."

"What if we stopped waiting for someone to provide solutions, and focused instead on also making change happen in our communities by solving everyday problems through our own inventions?"

• If you could change one thing about Cameroon now, what would it be, and why?

"I would change the educational curriculum, and the way lessons are delivered, because there is a disconnect between what is taught in school and everyday life. Students finish school and lack the skills and aptitude to solve even the most basic problems around them. The education they receive sometimes seems to mislead them into thinking that earning certificates is what matters more than owning a skill."[/spb_text_block]

Meet Giewee Giah, a leading Data Scientist revolutionising STEM education in Liberia

[sidebar_widget sidebar_id="sidebar-1" width="1/1" el_position="first last"] [spb_text_block pb_margin_bottom="no" pb_border_bottom="no" width="1/1" el_position="first last"]Giewee Giah is a leading Liberian Data Scientist and Mathematician currently working in the Oil and Gas industry in the United States. She works with petroleum engineers, geophysicists and geologists, leveraging their knowledge to interpret outcomes derived from models that reveal certain behaviours and trends in Oil and Gas data. 

"My mother is one of the daughters of Paramount Chief Barsi Giah, elected by the people of the Bassa Community. He invited North American missionaries to his town,  Barsi Giah Town, where a mission school was established in the 1960s for the community’s children. Additionally, he constructed roads leading into Barsi Giah Town and worked with Liberia’s government to set up government schools and a health care system within the town.  In the 1970s an election was pending for his seat as representative for Bassa County before he passed away. Though I have lived in the USA for all of my life, I plan to continue my grandfather’s legacy by helping all of Liberia’s middle school children gain access to modern science, technology, engineering and mathematics education."

Giewee earned her bachelor’s degree in Mathematics from Abilene Christian University and later obtained two graduate degrees in Actuarial Science (Boston University) and Predictive Analytics (Texas A&M).

• Tell us about your initiative ‘Wahjay-STEM’. What inspired this, and what are some of the activities you run?

"Wahjay-STEM was birthed out of my aching feelings of powerlessness for the unheard and the helpless. I wanted to alleviate the burden of complaints stemming from low unemployment for underrepresented students in the professional workforce around the world. I wanted for Liberian students, specifically, to have a fighting chance at securing professional roles in their society that would offer them a living or even thriving wage compared to the labour wage that caused them to call overseas to ask for more financial support for their necessary, yet ordinary day-to-day living expenses. I wanted to make sure that more individuals could afford the opportunities that I have been able to experience. After asking my mother for a name that would make it clear that I was building an organisation that will serve people, she suggested 'Wahjay', meaning, for the sake of others, for the sake of the people'.We provide training and are a third-party affiliate of the VEX Robotics curriculum for 4-8^th grade students. We provide lessons in:

• Computer coding and navigation (teachers and students)
• Numeracy
• Literacy
• Critical Thinking
• Public Speaking
• Robot development
• Lesson plan execution (teachers)"

• What is it like being a Data Scientist in the Oil and Gas industry?

"I enjoy working as a Data Scientist and I am learning to navigate all of the professional lessons that are required to deliver dependable and cost saving projects. I have to think strategically as I work with people who are extensively experienced (over 20 years) in professions that I have to complement with the analytics applications. I work with primarily petroleum engineers, geophysicists and geologists. I leverage their knowledge to interpret outcomes derived from models that reveal certain behavior and trends in our Oil and Gas data. I have to continue to foster trust and showcase my competency in my craft since it is one that is still not clear to my industry. I lead a small team and I am young. I have contractors that play cyclical roles in my team and a steady PhD in Geophysics. I have to be quick in my leadership, flexible in my approach, but confident in my final decisions. Being young and having a leadership role is a circus. I must play ringmaster in my own approach. You want to show respect and gain respect at the same time. I have found that sticking to the tasks at hand and listening is key to getting the information that is needed to do my job well.  When I speak on facts, consistently and frequently, I notice that I start to gain the respect of my colleagues and it is easier to get information and stronger collaboration for newer data science projects."

• What is it like for women in Liberia to pursue STEM?

"We, the Liberian diaspora and resident Liberians have to foster more confidence in women in Liberia regarding the area of STEM. Unfortunately, women do not have much opportunity to pursue STEM because STEM is a recent phenomenon in Liberia. Before 2016, a developed concept of what STEM is had not yet been materialised. School children, both boys and girls do not have access to STEM programs due to electricity issues, minimal access to school books, lack of internet access, and lack of funding for modern computer equipment in schools. A majority of Liberian students are intimidated by STEM topics because of a poor educational foundation that resulted from Liberia’s 20+ year war, and because teachers do not have the complete training that will allow them to introduce it in schools. Girls in Liberia deal with familiar issues that keep them from school, such as limited finances. This results in the girl child getting pulled out of school before their elder or youngest brother is pulled out of school. The best part about STEM programs is that the best ones require one to be tactical and detailed. Women typically thrive in the area of detail and generally outperform the boys once introduced to the concept! STEM requires students to be more verbally descriptive, which I find to be difficult for young girls. Wahjay-STEM is fostering that ability in young girls so they can become the women that can use their voice to thrive in their careers as women. A majority of Liberia's employment opportunity is limited to manual labour, work in the street market, and there are few office jobs available for their academic/training experience in STEM. Therefore, it is difficult for women, and even men, to pursue careers in STEM in Liberia. Women in Liberia need more confidence."

• What difference would you like to make in Liberia?

"I would like for robotics to be the foundational tool for all students in all levels of education. All over the world. I am excited for Wahjay-STEM because the work that we have been doing has been featured in front of the current Vice President of Liberia, Jewel and the First Lady, Clar Weah.I would like for the Ministry of Education to adopt the curriculum and make it standard for all middle school students so that I can move the program into Liberian High Schools. We are currently in talks with countries such as Jamaica and Senegal to have Wahjay-STEM appear there. What I would like to see are confident students that are competent in reading, writing and STEM topics. This will only happen when we start to implement a standard in teacher training and stay consistent in encouraging critical thinking in the classroom. I would like to see Liberia’s educated be able to compete with the best educated in the world for job creation, product invention, and professional careers."

• Any advice for young women looking up to you?

“Stop waiting for your hero. You have what it takes to be your own hero. Make sure that when you ask for help, you position yourself as an investment and not a charity. Prioritize building confidence when no one is watching, so that when you are on stage, you have the confidence you need to conquer all your fears.” [/spb_text_block]

Dr. Adeola Olubamiji makes history as the first African person to graduate with a PhD in Biomedical Engineering at the University of Saskatchewan

[sidebar_widget sidebar_id="sidebar-1" width="1/1" el_position="first last"] [spb_text_block pb_margin_bottom="no" pb_border_bottom="no" width="1/1" el_position="first last"]Dr. Adeola Olubamiji is a Nigerian Biomedical Engineer, and the lead Metallurgist/Material Engineer at Burloak Technologies, Canada's prime partner for highly engineered additive metal and plastic components for demanding applications.She is also the founder of the STEMHUB foundation, an initiative that showcases and teaches challenging STEM concepts through hands-on and fun-filled experimental activities. STEMHUB organises industrial tours for youth in Ontario’s black communities.

"Besides being a child hawker when I was about 10 years old and having two parents who had no education, life made me ‘THE LAST'”. I am the last of five children, and being last in a home with very little funding did not make me the "princess" like in other homes."

In June 2017, Adeola made history as the first African person to obtain a PhD in the field of Biomedical Engineering at 110-year-old University of Saskatchewan in Canada.

• What inspired you to pursue Biomedical Engineering? And why the switch to Material / Metallurgical Engineering?

"Several health impairments and issues of failed diagnosis that faced Nigeria and Nigerians were my motivation to pursue a degree in Biomedical Engineering. With a BSc in Physics with Electronics, several pathways were possible, including Biomedical Engineering. Some of the areas that I am currently experienced in are medical physics and imaging, clinical engineering, tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, material science and engineering, material research, and e-health and telemedicine. I am a Biomedical Engineer by training with majors in Physics and Imaging, and Material Science. Physics is the most fundamental of all sciences and engineering principles. Therefore, obtaining a BSc in Physics offered me the fundamentals needed to diversify into any branch of engineering. My Physics and Imaging majors provided me with roots in non-destructive testing (specifically radiography and computed tomography), while my Material Science major enabled me to explore conventional and novel manufacturing techniques."

• Tell us about your current job. What does it feel like being a female in a largely male dominated profession?

"I am currently the Lead Metallurgist / Material Engineer at Burloak Technologies (the advanced Additive Manufacturing division of Samuel Sons & Co) in Ontario, Canada. I am also a consultant and the founder of 3D-Tech Centrix, Ontario, Canada: A consulting firm specialising in the development of 3D-printing technology and related manufacturing solutions for use in different industries.I was raised alongside my 3 brothers who happened to be my first mentors. Therefore, I was a “Tom boy” and competition was the way of life. How you see this issue is up to you, half full or half empty. For instance, sexism and racism are real, but you can decide to use these to your advantage. Being a visible minority (female, black and young) is one of my many advantages in life, especially in engineering. As a black female, if you know your onions, you will stand out, become a change agent, and you will thrive."

• You were the first African person to graduate with a PhD in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Saskatchewan, Canada. How has this experience, and the challenges you’ve gone through in your career path, shaped you as an individual?

"First, this has gone into the history books for my unborn children and I am thankful to be their worthy role model in life and in death. When you are a trailblazer of innovation, there is no blueprint and mentorship, and you must keep explaining yourself as everyone thinks you have gone insane. In my case, it was expected that I should focus on oil and gas related fields to land jobs. But I saw beyond this early in life. I had an opportunity to intern at an Oil and Gas servicing company in Lagos during my BSc, but I knew that that was not my future. I was sure that I must proceed to focus on Computer Science or Biomedical Engineering as my Physics degree opened the doors for both. Despite its capability to bring us closer to huge healthcare-related innovations and inventions, Biomedical Engineering is just gaining traction within the African continent, and 3D-printing is just recently being talked about, especially in West Africa. I was featured as the 5th out of 150 black women making Canada better through my contributions to 3D printing and Biomedical Engineering by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, during the Canada at 150 celebrations.This journey has so far made me realize the urgent need for STEM advocacy and to further educate African children about what is available to them in this millennium aside the usual. Since parents can only offer advice based on their level of understanding, I am pushing to join hands with these parents in raising these children. My aim is to provide African children with role models in STEM that look like them and educate them about the opportunities STEM can offer them. As a result, I have recently founded STEMHUB foundation, an initiative that provides hands-on experiments, excursions to companies, mentorship and scholarship opportunities for African youth in Ontario, Canada. I want to raise an army of young African girls and boys who will bring STEM innovation to life."

• In our current world, would you say organisations/industries are more receptive to women in STEM?

"There are organisations such as the Society of Women Engineers that provide support and enable the advancement of our careers as women. I also believe that several organisations mention inclusion and diversity as part of their mandates. Since you can’t be loved by everyone, we must give life a fight and always ignore the background noise."

• In a perfect world, you go to school, graduate and get a job. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case, especially for most young people in Nigeria. What piece of advice do you have for people in this position?

"Let’s talk about skill acquisition / mentorship problems here. Unfortunately, it has become evident that there is a disconnect between what is acquired in African universities and what is required in the work-force to launch your career. Therefore, most students graduate with good grades but lack the right practical skills required to land them the jobs of their dreams.  Mentorship is a key solution to this problem and I encourage our youth to stop looking for older and successful mentors and stop paying the money they don’t have to attend seminars by wealthy personalities, but rather seek mentorship from young averagely successful folks who are in the next phase that they aspire to get to. These young mentors will be able to provide the needed guidance and very accurate and timely information about the skills that are required for that moment in time to break into the industry.Self-education is also a solution. It has also been clarified that the critical-thinking, problem-solving and business development skills required to become entrepreneurs are not acquired in the four walls of our universities. Therefore, despite being full of ideas, graduates do not have the right knowledge on how to develop a business case to sustain and scale-up their start-ups. Although I obtained two Biomedical Engineering degrees, I was able to break into the Aerospace manufacturing space through self-education.  If you aspire to go far in life, you must invest in yourself through skill acquisition. Through online platforms such as Coursera, EDx, Udemy or even by watching YouTube videos, you can acquire the skills that you need to be attractive to employers, or educate yourself about artificial intelligence, business development, topology optimisation or whatever skill you need. Quit whining and start self-educating yourself as information is power."[/spb_text_block]

Nigerian Electrical Engineer, Dr. Ozak Esu, named the IET Young Woman Engineer of 2017 in the UK

[sidebar_widget sidebar_id="sidebar-1" width="1/1" el_position="first last"] [spb_text_block pb_margin_bottom="no" pb_border_bottom="no" width="1/1" el_position="first last"]Dr. Ozak Esu is an Electrical Engineer at Cundall, a multidisciplinary engineering consultancy in the UK. Her current role involves designing buildings’ electrical services.

"I grew up in Nigeria, the second of four children, and the first daughter of three. I would describe my upbringing as happy, disciplined and structured. It had to be, to keep my siblings and I engaged. Both of my parents worked full-time - my mum was an administrator in civil service, and my dad was a lecturer (Professor of Pedology). They both encouraged my siblings and I to excel and give our best in our education. Supplementary tutoring after school, and during school breaks were a common theme throughout each stage of our education."

Ozak completed her primary education at Hillcrest Junior Special Needs School, and secondary education at Access High Schools both in Calabar, Nigeria. She went on to complete her Accelerated Advanced Level examinations in Mathematics, Physics and Geography, at Oxbridge Tutorial College, Lagos, Nigeria. In 2008, she moved to the UK and completed her Bachelor’s degree in Electronic and Electrical Engineering with First Class Honours from Loughborough University. Subsequently, she was awarded a Loughborough University Research Studentship worth £54, 000 for a three-year period to pursue her PhD in the same field.

"Aged 20, I began my PhD in October 2011, within the areas of advanced signal processing, and wind energy. In my research, I proposed an autonomous low-cost condition monitoring system for wind turbine blades, to reduce downtime, operations, maintenance, and capital costs associated with wind energy projects. I passed my PhD in October 2015, and graduated in July 2016."

In 2017, Ozak was named on the "The Telegraph’s Top 50 Women in Engineering under 35" list, and as The Institute of Engineering and Technology's (IET) Young Woman Engineer of the Year.

• Did you always know you would be interested in pursuing Electronic and Electrical Engineering?

"No, I did not always know that I was going to pursue a career in Electronic and Electrical Engineering. I went through phases in my childhood. There was the phase where I wanted to be a Professional Athlete and Footballer because I was good at it and it was fun. In my next phase, I wanted to become a Pilot, so that I could travel and explore the world. I moved on to the idea of becoming a Medical Doctor / Surgeon so that I could save lives and help people. However, my phobia for seeing blood in large quantities quickly dismissed this ambition. Also, I struggled in the sciences, especially Chemistry. I found Chemistry particularly difficult, and it was no further help that I disliked my Chemistry teacher. I loved Mathematics and excelled in it easily, so I knew I would end up in a career that was calculation based. It was frequent power cuts which I experienced that made me decide to take a keen interest in Physics, and led to my ultimate decision to study Electronic and Electrical Engineering. It is my ambition to work with other engineers to address this issue in Nigeria."

• What is the most important project you have worked on, and why?

"I work at Cundall, a multi-disciplinary engineering consultancy within the built environment. I joined as a Graduate Engineer in 2015, while I was completing my PhD and I was promoted to Electrical Engineer in 2017. I have enjoyed every project I have been involved in and deem all thirty-eight of them to be important projects, so it is particularly difficult to choose the most important one. I design electrical services such as lighting, power, life safety systems, security and access control for new buildings, and I also survey existing buildings to ensure that the installed electrical services comply with regulations and standards. These buildings include schools, offices, apartments, retail outlets, leisure centres and data centres. I generally enjoy projects where I am the lead engineer, responsible for driving all aspects of the coordinated design. I also enjoy projects where the client is keen, and matches my level of enthusiasm for implementing sustainable practices such as reducing waste and energy consumption."

• What was it like finding industry experience after your PhD?

"As most international students will agree, it is extremely problematic to secure employment within the UK. It was very difficult for me back then in 2014 when I began applying and it still is for others, as international students require work permits / visa sponsorships to undertake employment in the UK. I kept hearing of, and reading about the huge demand for engineers which the UK was facing, so I found it frustrating that engineering companies were unwilling to give me an opportunity to demonstrate my competence, and enthusiasm to contribute to the industry solely because of the inconvenience of visa sponsorship. It also did not help matters that I was on the verge of completing a PhD without any industry experience. After a long trail of rejected and unsuccessful applications, I was given an opportunity by Cundall to demonstrate my competence at an assessment day, which I passed, and I was offered a position and visa sponsorship which I accepted."

• What do your family and friends think about your career? Are they supportive?

"My family and friends are overly supportive of my career as I am of theirs. 65% of my family and 90% of my friends are pursuing careers in STEM. My sister is a Chemical Engineer, and my brother and father are both scientists and researchers. I do know that they are all very proud of me and my achievements thus far in my career."

• What has been your greatest disappointment as an engineer? And what would you change about this?

"Fortunately, I have not experienced any personal disappointments in my career. It has been a fantastic journey so far which I am grateful for. However, I am disappointed that fewer young people are taking up engineering as a career, based on newly published statistics in the UK. I do what I can within my abilities to engage with pupils, through specially designed activities or by talking about the work I do with a view to inspire them to take an interest in STEM subjects, and hopefully pursue careers in engineering in the future. Another issue that disappoints me, is that there are not enough Returnship Programmes available for engineers who return from career breaks. With the accelerated pace, and advancements in technology within the industry, I sometimes worry about what it would be like for me in the future when I decide to take a career break. Would it be much easier than it is at present to get back into work, with the necessary support to update my skills?"

• As an engineer, what do you suggest can be done about Nigeria’s energy supply crisis?

"It is my opinion that the energy crisis in Nigeria is hampered by combinations of inadequate policies, financing strategies, infrastructure, and its management. The large population means that the demand for electricity significantly outweighs the supply, leading to low reliability. Financing within the sector is ambiguous, with generating and transmission companies selling electricity in US Dollars to distribution companies who then charge bills in Nigerian Naira. Forex (FX) fluctuations mean that the distribution companies are therefore always running at a loss. I believe over-dependence on crude oil needs to be scaled back, and there needs to be greater emphases and support for the uptake of renewable energy systems such as solar power, and energy from waste.The existing transmission infrastructure and grid systems need upgrading, and further investment. The government needs to increase its efforts towards decentralising energy within the country. This will encourage new entrants to the energy market, create good competition, and diversity, and will improve energy supply. There should also be incentives for private individuals willing to contribute electricity to the national grid."

• In 2017 you were named one of the top female UK engineers under 35, and as The Institution of Engineering and Technology's (IET) Young Woman Engineer of the Year. How did you make this happen? And what piece of advice would you give to young women aspiring to be engineers?

"I was nominated for The Telegraph’s Top 50 Women in Engineering under 35 lists and I put myself forward by applying for The Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) Young Woman Engineer of the Year Award. My application was followed by a stellar endorsement letter, which secured me an interview spot which I successfully passed, and led to my receipt of the award in December 2017.If you are a young woman aspiring to be an engineer, I think that’s fantastic. Work hard to achieve success in your studies and don’t be put off by failure. Learn from your failures where they occur, and try not to repeat them.  Seek work experience opportunities in engineering, and speak to professionals within the industry you are interested in. Make sure you have fun exploring your interests, and don’t be afraid to put yourself forward for opportunities."[/spb_text_block]

Rwandan genocide survivor - Claudine Humure on changing prosthetics for the developing world

[sidebar_widget sidebar_id="sidebar-1" width="1/1" el_position="first last"] [spb_text_block pb_margin_bottom="no" pb_border_bottom="no" width="1/1" el_position="first last"]Claudine Humure is a remarkable Rwandan genocide survivor whose story includes losing a leg to cancer and falling in love with prosthetic design.Claudine attended Sonrise School in Rwanda for her primary and part of her secondary education. She moved to the U.S.  for the rest of her education thanks to the support of an organization called Partners In Health (PIH) and its worldwide mission "to bring the benefits of modern medical science to those most in need of them and to serve as an antidote to despair." In June 2013, she graduated from Dana Hall High School in Wellesley, MA.

"During my senior year of high school, I did a senior project with a prosthetic company called Next Step Bionics & Prosthetics. My time with Next Step introduced me to a different side of prosthesis that I had never seen before as an amputee who used a prosthetic leg on a daily basis. While at Next Step, I was able to observe how the prosthetists interacted with amputees, how they made prosthetic sockets in their workshop and I was even given a chance to build a below the knee prosthetic socket under supervision. With this amazing experience, I left Next Step inspired."

Claudine started looking into programs that would help teach her more about prosthetic limbs and how they work. She was offered an internship at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital where she worked as a comprehensive rehabilitation intern.

"While there I interacted with different new amputees, especially those who were victims of the Boston Marathon Bombing."

During her second year at Wheaton College, Claudine was offered another internship with the Biomechatronics group at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)'s Media Lab through the MIT Summer Research Program (MSRP). While at MIT, she came up with the idea of designing an adjustable prosthetic socket for above the knee amputees using Autodesk software, Fusion 360, and Autodesk took interest.Claudine is currently a senior at Wheaton College in Norton Massachusetts studying biology and business.

• Tell us about your desire for designing prosthetics for the developing world and what this means for you.

"It means prosperity, a growing economy, a rebirth both for the individual and his/her family and most importantly a chance at a better life. Sadly, many people with disabilities in developing countries are looked down on and considered incapable of accomplishing various important tasks such as attending school or holding jobs at certain organizations. Designing prosthetic limbs for amputees in developing countries is about creating awareness in the society. It is not only about providing the individuals with the independence they deserve, but it is also about healing them and educating the communities in which they live. In many developing countries, people with disabilities are most often discriminated against and are forced to live in isolated areas. With great technology that can allow us to digitally design assistive devices like prosthetic limbs, amputees and other physically handicapped people will be able to regain their independence which will hopefully help reduce the stigma surrounding disability."

• What are some of the challenges you have had to face as an African woman in STEM, and how did you deal with them?

"My days as an African woman in STEM are mostly spent on the Wheaton College, MA campus. As a scientist, I have also worked with many engineers. The more I dive into science and engineering, the more I realize how there are very few African Women who pursue these fields. Fortunately, I have not met many challenges in terms of finding an internship or finding the resources I need to get my work done as an African woman. However, not seeing many people in this field who share the same background as me is a bit discouraging and at the same time a driving factor to work hard and show the world that although not often seen, African women can excel in any STEM field."

• What was it like working for Autodesk?

"Working for Autodesk was an enriching experience. I learned a lot and made many wonderful connections that I believe will last a lifetime. It’s been a great way for me to be exposed to the best and new technology in the world. Sitting in an office at Autodesk feels like sitting in the future. There are many amazing things that are being created at this company and I am not sure if the world is ready for what’s coming next."

• How do you think the field of prosthetics can transform Rwanda?

"As a person who grew up in Rwanda where prostheses are almost nonexistent, to say that the field of prosthetics is needed in the country would be an understatement. The field of prosthetics has a great potential to transform Rwanda in a positive way both economically and socially. With prosthetic limbs, the country can gain more independent people which for Rwanda will mean more individuals who can easily go to school and therefore help contribute to the economic development of the country. Considering the 1994 Genocide that left a large number of the Rwandan population handicapped, the country has many amputees and handicapped people in general who spend their days on the streets begging for a living. For a continued prosperous future, Rwanda needs prosthetic limbs now more than ever before as one way to support their handicapped population. Rwanda’s amputee population continues to increase today due to accidents and infectious diseases that lead to amputations and various other tragedies. In addition, the field of prosthetics can transform Rwanda by creating awareness and helping the current leaders of the country realize the importance of investing in their handicapped communities."

• What is the most important thing you are working on right now, and how are you making this happen?

"Right now, I am working on developing an adjustable prosthetic socket for above the knee amputees in developing countries. I am doing this with the support from Autodesk and MIT Media Lab."

• There are many young women looking up to you right now. What’s your advice for them?

"Find what you love to do and give it all you can give. This might require some changes in your life style and prioritizing. You might have to give up time for one habit so you can adapt another. Perhaps, my other greatest advice would be to not let your socioeconomic status or the failures in your life keep you from dreaming and working towards your goals. Dreams can come true, and I believe that in dreaming our passions reveal themselves."[/spb_text_block]