South African woman encourages women to become engineers

Summary of story from: LEADSA, August 20, 2011

Naadiya Moosajee studied Civil Engineering at the University of Cape Town and together with Mabohlale Mampuru, she founded South African Women in Engineering (SAWomEng) in 2005.

SAWomEng is a dynamic non-profit organisation that seeks to provide opportunities for young girls and women to pursue careers in engineering and develop the crucial skills needed to succeed in this industry.

The importance of being able to interact, network and learn from others, in any industry, cannot be stated strongly enough.

The role of the female engineer is the same as that of a male engineer – to ‘engineer’ new paths and solutions where there are none, branching into science that is yet to be discovered and subverting the current scientific paradigms to allow for the development of more progressive technologies which improve the quality of life of all members of society.

Given the relatively recent arrival of women on the engineering scene, the female engineer also has the additional role of proving that gender equality, especially in science and technology, is not a fanciful myth, and that, regardless of sex, race and religion, anyone is capable of pursuing a career in engineering.

SAWomEng provides an invaluable platform and network for women to come together to share their ideas and experiences, and to motivate one another.

WVoN comment: Ms Moosajee is a very accomplished woman as the much longer original article details.  Meanwhile, having a female sensibility involved in engineering decisions can only be to the greater good.