The professional conference for geoscientists and engineers in BC, held in beautiful Whistler, was educational, informative and engaging. Geoscientists abounded! It seemed as if every second person I spoke to was in geoscience — that couldn’t have been true, but it felt that way!

As councillor, I was busy at divisional meetings and so did not have the opportunity to attend the workshops and lectures (more than poking in my head, that is, and snapping a photo!). I heard from others, however, that the sessions were fantastic and each person I spoke with told me they learned something valuable to their work as a geoscientist or engineer.

Most of my time was spent networking and attending those meetings. I enjoyed hearing from student representatives about their branch experiences and their unanimous interest in becoming more involved in the association. That was encouraging and speaks well for future association growth. Surprisingly, most of the student reps were women, which gave the impression that more women are studying applied science; although the engineering students reported similar numbers to those I experienced in the ’80s, it appears that geoscience classes are approaching gender balance. I look forward to confirming these numbers in the near future!

I will add the link to more AGM photos when available…

From the ASEE aggregator:

On its website, WIHI-TV Milwaukee (10/24, Kacner) reports more than 100 Milwaukee-area middle school students attended an event at Saint Joan Antida High School on Thursday where they learned about engineering. The focus of the event “was on women as engineers.” The students heard from an employee of “GE Healthcare Manufacturing Engineer about what it was like being” an engineer.

I look forward to hearing if this event results in an increase in engineering applications and registrations by women in the future.

It is with great gratitude that I announce my election to the Council of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia (APEGBC council). From the first conversations with peers as I was considering running in the election, through to the wonderful response by colleagues and connections within the Victoria branch as I was collecting nominating signatures, and finally in the overwhelming votes of confidence by members, I am aware of the support within the profession for women and diversity in engineering.

We will have six women on council this year! What an amazing representation of our future vision for engineering.

The call for increased fairness has been heard. It is time for us to respond.

How nice, too, that the election closed the Friday before the Canadian Thanksgiving weekend. How considerate that all candidates were personally contacted and informed before making the results public. For the kindness and support of engineers throughout BC, again, I thank you.

Happy Thanksgiving!

As reported on the ASEE aggregator

On its website, KXAN-TV Austin, TX (10/11, Schwaller) reports twenty-nine percent of the freshman engineering class at The University of Texas are women. University officials say the “increases have become more rapid in the last five years.” According to Tricia Berry, director of the Cockrell School’s Women in Engineering Program, “the increase reflects a national trend to put an emphasis on” STEM.

I must find out what they are doing…