Women in engineering are seldom heard about within South Asian families. Women as mechanical engineers further tend to raise eyebrows among the community. But, Dr. Shini Somara is determined to break all stigma and prejudice associated with women pursuing a career in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects. Through her upcoming book ‘An Engineer Like Me’, Dr. Somara is encouraging kids to try their own engineering experiments such as constructing the perfect paper aeroplane or safely dropping an egg.
She is widely acclaimed for presenting TechKnow on Al Jazeera America and similar science programmes on the BBC and Discovery Channel. Now, the British mechanical engineer who also teaches Crash Course Physics on YouTube has taken a step further in her pursuit of of empowering women and children in STEM subjects.
1. What inspired you to write a book about engineering for kids considering the subject is often deemed unconventional as opposed to comics or fiction?
Engineering is all around us, yet most people don’t really know what engineering is. I grew up highly influenced by my dad, an engineer himself. Since studying mechanical engineering, I've always wanted to inspire kids into doing the same.
Engineers have massively improved the quality of our lives, yet we tend to take their work for granted. From the clean water we brush our teeth with; to the fabrics we wear and the speeds at which we can travel the world. The label 'engineer’ can be very broad. I wanted to start introducing the idea of engineering into young people’s lives, the way they are introduced to astronauts, firemen, doctors or footballers.
2. Can you give a brief about the scientific concepts and personalities that you have illustrated in the book?
The personalities in the book aim to smash through stereotypes. Through my work in television, I tend to meet people in STEM who do not fit the typical stereotypes of scientists, engineers, technologists and mathematicians. I think it is important to highlight that anyone can have a career in STEM.
I have picked relatable topics and accessible themes that provoke similar questions that I had when I was little. Complex science subjects can often feel unreachable or even intimidating, but the greatest scientists and engineers started by asking the most basic of questions. Let’s encourage our kids to do the same.
3. How would you describe your journey into engineering and science given that female engineers within the Asian community are few and far in between?
There are so many different pathways into engineering today, including apprenticeships, which were not obvious to me when I was starting out. I chose a very academic route, which wasn't easy for me, because mathematics was not my strongest subject - I was more of a creative child. Through sheer hard work and determination, the lightbulb switched on for me in maths at the age of about 15 when it stopped being scary and stressful and started to become a fun subject. Supportive and encouraging teachers at the time, made a big difference. I think it is essential for children to understand that maths is not essential for engineering, but is a very useful and brilliant life skill to have.
In order to succeed in something, it really helps to have, encouraging and supportive role models and mentors (of any gender and ethnicity), who believe in you. There are still too few women in STEM, but the women who do exist in these fields, continue to inspire me, because they have fought hard and worked hard against the pressures of being in a minority.
4. Reports indicate that women especially from BAME backgrounds are not proportionally represented in the publishing world. What are your thoughts and experiences on the diversity front?
BAME women are not proportionally represented in most industries. Statistics in the engineering industry are particularly bad on this front, which is why I was inspired to create this series of children's books. I was one of 9 girls in a class of 136 mechanical engineers. Of those 136 students, I was one of a handful from BAME groups in my year group. Sadly, these ratios have not changed much in a couple of decades, since I was at university.
In the publishing world, recent movements such as 'black lives matter' have given rise to BAME voices, like never before - it is an exciting time for a series like this to be out in the world. Hopefully as a result, more female BAME voices will eventually be heard across STEM industries too.
5. Research has also substantiated that funding for female scientists is often paltry. What are your observations?
I think funding for female scientists is low, because at higher academic levels, fewer women exist. The ‘leaky pipeline’ in academia sees women drop out for a variety of reasons, including a lack of self-belief and/or support.
Funding does exist, but more women must be encouraged to stay in higher academia, whilst being able to juggle motherhood, for example. On a positive note, I do hear more stories of women speaking up for what they want and need in order to balance both motherhood and career.
6. Coming back to the book, is this a one-off or are you looking to publish a series of similar literature for children?
I am keen to see more engineering and science delivered in a more accessible and unintimidating way. Through my work in media, I want to humanise STEM. I started with children's books, because curiosity and wonder for stem needs to be nurtured early. My next literature goal is to draw attention to and explain everyday engineering for a slightly older audience.
Developing emotional intelligence has also been a major part of my stem journey, so at some point I would like to write a handbook for teenagers, to share what I have learned, as a woman in engineering.
7. What is your message to both the parents and aspiring daughters who envision themselves breaking ground in this industry?
As a South East Asian woman, there was considerable pressure to pursue the sciences. My cultural background expected all children to become either doctors or engineers. Conversely, some Asian communities, still expect their daughters to follow more traditional female roles. I feel lucky to have had a childhood rich in cultural diversity. I had opportunities to travel and see the world which broadened my outlook on life and figure out my place in the world - all of which helped me to learn more about my own passions and purpose.
This series of books aims to allow children to further explore their innate curiosities and will make a difference to how they apply themselves to their careers.
