University of Northampton’s School of Science and Technology win National Science and Engineering Week award

The ‘Any Way, Any How, Any Time, Any Place – Girls Can Do it Too’ event saw more than 100 Year 8 girls from schools across the county spending a day at Avenue Campus exploring science through drama, workshops and keynote speakers.

The University event has been awarded the coveted Best Engineering Event Award from National Science and Engineering Week – a huge achievement given the hundreds of events held up and down the country during the week.

This event was designed to change the perception and the image of the ‘grease-covered male engineer’ with overalls, spanner and head under the bonnet of a car. We wanted girls to realise that women are able to contribute a great deal to the economy by using the skills they have and that, with the right qualifications, they can enter this male dominated world and reach great heights.

I am absolutely over the moon with this award; it reinforces my belief that the events we are running here are aimed at the right audience and contain the right information.

Tricia Goodchid, the University’s Champion for Girls into Engineering & Science

We are committed to making a difference in addressing the gender imbalance in Science and Technology and this award is another accolade that highlights the high quality of the work that the team is putting together in this respect.

Professor Kamal Bechkoum, Dean of the School of Science & Technology

This award comes hot on the heels of the WISE Outreach Award, which was awarded to The University of Northampton by the Engineering UK and the British Science Association in 2010, in recognition for the University’s work in promoting higher education in the areas of science and engineering to girls and young women.