Smurfit Kappa Newman Fellowship on Women in STEM
Research
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- Research Themes
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- 2024 STEM Symposium
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- Wall of Frames 2024
To understand the experiences of women in engineering and science-based roles, Smurfit Kappa are supporting a two-year research project at UCD. The Smurfit Kappa Newman Fellowship on Women in STEM will explore the reasons women leave engineering careers, the barriers that exist to staying in engineering, and determine what changes might be implemented by employers, professional bodies and governments in order to retain women in engineering careers.
The rates of women entering under-graduate programmes in engineering and sciences has steadily increased, however, there is a gap in research on these women’s experiences as they enter the Irish workforce. While research in other regions suggests that women leave engineering and science professions at much higher rates to men, the Smurfit Kappa Newman Fellowship is the first large-scale study to investigate this phenomenon in Ireland. Understanding whether, and if so why, there are higher attrition rates of women leaving these professions in Ireland is important as industries make strides toward greater diversity and inclusion. Diverse workforces tackling complex questions, like climate change, are important as they more accurately reflect and address the multifaceted needs of a diverse Irish society.
Become a Research Participant
The data collection stage of the research project will be carried out across two phases, first with the launch of the Women in Engineering Survey in early 2024, followed by online focus groups with women who work, or previously worked, in engineering in Ireland. If you would like to take part in our research, or stay informed on the progress of the project, contact Deirdre Brennan: (opens in a new window)deirdre.brennan3@ucdconnect.ie
Research Team
- Prof Aoife Ahern, Dean of Engineering and College Principal in UCD College of Engineering and Architecture.
- Assoc Prof Aideen Quilty, Associate Dean of Social Sciences and Associate Professor of Gender Studies and Social Justice UCD.
- Dr Deirdre Brennan, Smurfit Kappa Newman Fellow on Women in STEM.
Women in Engineering Survey 2024 Participant Information Leaflet
Women in Engineering Focus Group 2024 Participant Information Leaflet.