Emily Reed, Engineering student

What lead you to study at Flinders University?

There were several reasons that I chose to study Civil Engineering at Flinders University. Firstly, the Civil Engineering degree at Flinders University stood out to me because of the emphasis on practical, real-world applications throughout the degree.

The Tonsley campus is tailored for innovation and STEM students, providing a learning environment that supports our passions and interests and provides us with the correct tools to excel in our degree. Tonsley provides the perfect space for students to apply their skills and knowledge in the laboratories, or software skills in the computer suites.

The degree offered hands-on experiences and real-world applications, ensuring that the students develop the necessary skills and knowledge for the industry. Along with this, the degree focuses on the career development of the students. There is a full semester of placement offered in the third year of the degree which provides the opportunity to gain industry experience and form connections with professionals.

Flinders University is also my local university, which made it convenient and accessible for me to study.

What is your current favourite memory at Flinders, or your favourite lecturer, and why?

My favourite memories at Flinders relates to the opportunities provided to gain practical, hands-on experience. These memories include creating and testing concrete in the lab at Tonsley, completing geotechnical engineering tests on various soils, using lab equipment to replicate real-world scenarios (including hydraulics and structural scenarios) and using software (including 12D, AutoCAD, Strand7, SIDRA and SPACEGASS).

Each of these memories has provided me with technical knowledge that I was able to apply in the real-world when I completed my placement semester at BMD. This was exciting because I could see an immediate relationship between the knowledge and skills I have learnt at uni, and how important they are for real-world applications.

What three key messages would you tell a high school student who maybe thinking about studying Engineering in the future?

1. Embrace your passions for problem solving and innovation. Engineering provides you with problem solving skills that allow you to think critically, analyse issues and develop creative solutions that are valuable in all aspects of life.
2. Study and work in a discipline that creates a positive impact on society providing solutions to global problems. This could include infrastructure developments, sustainability, renewable energies, improvement in technology, global connectivity, communication or medical technologies (just to list a few!)
3. Engineering opens the door to a never ending list of career opportunities. There is a wide range of disciplines to explore, and the engineering field is constantly changing. Studying engineering provides you with the tools, skills and knowledge to lead you to a variety of rewarding and exciting career paths.

How do you think Engineering has changed over the last 10-15 years, particularly with more women now being employed as Engineers?

I think over the last 10-15 years, there has been more focus around encouraging women to pursue a career in Engineering and employing female engineers. I believe there has been an increase in the number of women working as engineers and studying engineering, however I still believe there are improvements to be made. 

With approximately only 14% of the engineering workforce being female (2016 Census), I believe that there is a long way to go in improving gender equality, especially for women at senior, management and executive levels. I hope that the changes made over the last 10-15 years continue to improve the outlook for women in engineering and provide the foundation for improvements into the future.

Where do you think Engineering will be in 30 years’ time?

In 30 years time, I hope that there will be an increase in diversity and inclusion in engineering, particularly an improvement in the number of women employed as engineers. I also hope that there is an increased representation of women in leadership positions, making more significant contributions to the industry. I hope that the increased representation of women in engineering drives a positive, sustainable change to the industry, creating a more balanced workforce.

I hope that engineers can continue to work towards sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions with a large focus on sustainable infrastructure, clean energy technologies, renewable resources and an increased focus on the circular economy.

I believe engineering will become more efficient and automated, leading to increased productivity and optimisation of processes. Through the development of new technology, there will be new fields and areas where problem solving, critical thinking and adaptability is required. Engineers are well equipped with both technical skills and soft skills to adapt to these ever-changing technologies.

Tell us a little about your role with the BMD group

I am currently working as an undergraduate engineer at BMD. I have been working at the company as an undergraduate for 2 years and have gained a passion for the construction industry. I spend most of my time working on site on various infrastructure projects including intersections, roundabouts and buildings.

Since commencing my role at BMD I have been involved in a wide range of activities on site including subcontractor & material procurement, quality management, solving design issues, client meetings, programme management, inspections, productivity tracking, financial reporting and daily management of works (materials, surveyors, geotechnical engineers, subcontractors, safety).

I have developed various new skills, expanded my technical knowledge in civil engineering and learnt to apply my current understanding of mathematical and engineering design to solve problems that arise daily on site. Flinders University have helped me to apply systematic approaches and critical thinking to civil engineering in a real-life situation.

I have also overcome the challenges of being one of the few females working on site. I have found a new passion for encouraging young women to become involved in the construction industry and to choose engineering as a career path.