©Copyright Devon Education Business Partnership, 2010
STEM Ambassador Case Study
1. Dick Beardsall
Helping young people to appreciate how rewarding and stimulating careers in engineering can be.
Tell us about your career in STEM
I’m a Chartered Civil Engineer with wide experience, much of it in senior management positions, concerned primarily with the planning and management of large capital programmes in the water industry. My job has taken me on a number of institutional strengthening assignments around the world in Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, China, Greece, Jamaica, Poland and Romania.
Why did you decide to become a STEM Ambassador?
I can’t remember exactly how I decided – I’ve been a STEM Ambassador for more than 10 years. Through this role I want to show school students, particularly the high performing ones, what a satisfying, worthwhile and rewarding a career they can have in engineering. Good careers are achievable for people across the ability range in engineering, but often the most gifted students are attracted by the high salaries in finance and in other professions. I want to help students appreciate that people with an engineering background can reach the top – many big companies have CEOs who are engineers or scientists.
What activities do you do with schools?
Over the years I’ve engaged with many different schools across Devon. Recently, I’ve provided support to Work Preparation Days, a Maths Property Development Day, a Languages Day, a Maths at Work Day, and a Careers Talk, as well as helping with a STEM Club Celebration day and an Engineering Diploma Training Workshop. Recently I judged the STEM Travel Challenge at Torquay Boys School, and the winning team went on to win the national final.
When I first started working as a STEM Ambassador, I was surprised at how much schools had changed since I was in education, but now I’ve got used to it, and I very much enjoy meeting and getting to know the school students. I’m also impressed by the standards and commitment of the teachers, who do a terrific job.
How much time do you give to your Ambassador role?
As I’m now semi-retired, I can give between 5 and 10 days a year to being a STEM Ambassador.
2. Sally Walters
Young Woman Engineer of the Year Award 2009
WINNER - Devon STEM Ambassador Sally Walters
The 2009 winners were awarded their prizes at the 2009 awards ceremony in London on 1 December 2009. Sally is a STEM Ambassador who, along with colleagues from Pell Frischmann, works with schools in the Exeter area promoting careers in civil engineering. She supported the launch of The Engineering Education Scheme for 2009/10 at Plymouth University and was filmed for the IET awards ceremony. She has supported a number of activities organised by the Devon Education Business Partnership which delivers the STEM Ambassadors programme on behalf of STEMNET in Devon & Cornwall.
Sally Walters, a Senior Civil Engineer with Pell Frischmann Consulting Engineers in Exeter, was named Young Woman Engineer of the Year at an awards ceremony held at Savoy Place in London on 1 December 2009.
Sally Walters gained her MEng 1st class Honours degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Nottingham and an MPhil in Engineering from Exeter University in 2008.
Sally brings a high level of professionalism to her role, from specific project work to managing her progression to ICE chartered status and mentoring colleagues.
Sally enjoys working in engineering, actively managing her progression and mentoring colleagues. She is committed to doing a thorough and complete job whilst balancing the requirements of several ongoing projects. She is passionate about the profession and enjoys "helping others see the delights of engineering and fulfilling their potential and achieving the best they possibly can." This passion will undoubtedly help her fulfil her new responsibilities in being an ambassador and spokesperson for the profession.
Sally said," It is a privilege to win this award and I am excited about the opportunities that the title and award will bring for me in promoting engineering as a valuable, rewarding and exciting career".
"The award will also enable me to highlight the achievements of women within the Industry across all the engineering sectors".
"I hope through winning this award that my enthusiasm and passion for engineering will inspire others to seek careers in engineering."
In her spare time, Sally is very active, enjoying skiing, squash, rock-climbing and even running marathons as well as socialising, reading, travelling and getting involved with International Development projects.