What is WISE?
Women in Science & Engineering (WISE) was established in 1984 when the Engineering Council collaborated with the Equal Opportunities Commission to launch the WISE year to highlight the career opportunities for girls and women in science and engineering professions.
WISE enables and energises people in business, industry and education to increase the participation, contribution and success of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. They work with stakeholders to boost the talent pool from classroom to boardroom and drive economic growth.
The WISE Ten Steps
The Ten Steps is an ambitious, industry-led campaign to ensure that women in science, technology, engineering and manufacturing have the same opportunities to progress in their career as their male counterparts.
Unique in its focus on sectors where women are still very much in a minority, it has been signed by business leaders with a significant workforce in the UK.
My Skills, My Life!
To meet WISE’s commitment to engage more girls to consider studies and careers in STEM – and reach 200,000 girls in the next 4 years – WISE has created an interactive resource to help girls find rewarding careers in STEM, where girls will be happy and successful.
Complete the quiz to discover your personality type, and see how your skills match up to Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) careers. Connect with real people in STEM careers who have the same personality as you. What do they do? What do they earn? How did they get there? It’s all about your skills, and how you can make them work for your life.
WISE Ambassadors
WISE has launched a new Ambassador programme – a network of inspirational, influential and diverse women working in science, technology and engineering, to act as role models and to work together to promote gender balance at the highest levels within the UK.
It will build real momentum on creating gender balance in UK STEM by driving the message through organisations across both public and private sectors.
There are currently three WISE Ambassadors in Northern Ireland:
Professor Eileen Harkin-Jones OBE
Bombardier-Royal Academy of Engineering Chair in Composites Engineering, The University of Ulster
I bring a passion and commitment to promoting gender equality in STEM from early years education through to industry plus over 20 years of experience in this field. Top of my priority list is to determine and implement measures to positively influence girls perceptions of their abilities in STEM in pre-school and key stage 1 years.
Emer Murnaghan OBE
Vice-President of Institute of Civil Engineers & Head of Sustainable Development at GRAHAM
I bring authenticity and resilience to the role of WISE Ambassador. The challenge is relentless, but there is a huge disruption currently in society.
I think the timing is right, the tipping point is within reach.
Professor Tara Moore
Research and Teaching Chair in Ulster University and Chief of Research and Development Officer Avellino Labs
With over 25 years of research and teaching experience within numerous academic institutions and industry worldwide I have gained a breadth and depth of experience and skills. As a working mother of seven children I hope I can help mentor others interesting in pursuing careers in science, technology or engineering.
Want to get involved?
WISE is looking for Northern Ireland organisations who want to get involved and women in STEM careers who would be interested in acting as role models. If you’d like to take part, just fill in the form and we’ll get back to you.