Imperial inspires future engineers for International Women in Engineering Day 2026

Imperial College London marked International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) 2026 by welcoming school-aged girls to campus for a day of hands-on STEM activities designed to inspire future engineers.

Celebrated annually on 23 June, INWED recognises the achievements of women engineers worldwide. This year’s theme, Engineering Intelligence, highlights the creativity and problem-solving skills engineers bring to society’s biggest challenges while encouraging the next generation to consider careers in the field. 

Organised by Imperial’s Departments of Computing in partnership with charity She Can Engineer and invited researchers from Chemical Engineering, the event brought together 87 students from 10 schools. 

Engineering comes in many different forms, and we wanted to convey this through a wide range of activities involving creativity, technical skills, collaboration, and real-world impact." Dr Lavinia Marina Paola Ghilardi Research Associate in Imperial’s Department of Computing

Dr Lavinia Marina Paola Ghilardi, Research Associate in Imperial’s Department of Computing and coordinator of the event, said the day was designed to help students see the breadth of engineering and the different ways they might contribute to the field. “Engineering comes in many different forms, and we wanted to convey this through a wide range of activities involving creativity, technical skills, collaboration, and real-world impact. What really surprised me is that what we aimed to convey through the activities was actually amplified by bringing together different organisations and people. Students, teachers, volunteers, researchers, and industry professionals all contributed in their own unique ways, and I found this very special. This really demonstrated how there's space for everyone to find (and contribute with) their own identity within STEM! I am really grateful to everyone who supported this event.” 

Through hands-on workshops, talks and interactive sessions, school students explored the wide range of opportunities within engineering and built confidence in pursuing STEM pathways. The initiative also highlighted the importance of representation, giving participants the chance to meet role models and learn from women working in engineering. 

Throughout the day, students took part in practical activities that brought engineering to life. They explored how artificial intelligence is used to identify malignant blood cells associated with leukaemia and to ensure safety in rover missions, designed their own space stations, and developed coding skills and creativity using BBC micro:bits. 

Olamide Olabode, STEM Lead, SheCanEngineer, said: "The INWED STEM Day is one of SheCanEngineer's flagship outreach events, and it was a privilege to have hosted it at Imperial College London to inspire the next generation of engineers. The event had a clear impact, with 73% of students leaving with a positive view of engineering and 88% seeing it as a desirable career. We're grateful for Imperial's support in hosting such a successful day and to all the volunteers, teachers and students who made it possible. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Imperial to inspire even more young people into Engineering.”

The programme also included a mini lecture from Imperial researchers sharing their work and personal experience, offering insight into academic life and real-world career pathways. Lubna Khan, Research Associate at Imperial’s CHEDDAR Hub, said the event was a valuable reminder of the importance of outreach. "It was a joy to spend the day with young minds. Seeing them engage with such confidence and curiosity was a powerful reminder of why events like INWED matter. Engineering needs more of their ideas, energy, and creativity. I was pleased to volunteer, and I hope it helped them see the field as inclusive and full of future possibilities. I wish them all the best." 

Drs Beatriz Felices Rando and Daniel Cristiu, Research Associates in Chemical Engineering at Imperial, said the event provided an opportunity to show how engineering connects to real-world challenges. “It was very rewarding to see so many young girls interested in engineering and asking questions about our work.  We hope this experience showed them that engineering is a field where they can belong and where they can make a difference in shaping a better world and addressing global challenges in chemical engineering and beyond” 

By creating an engaging and supportive environment, the event helped students connect with peers, explore new ideas, and discover the many paths a future in engineering can offer. 

Find out what some of the students who attended the event had to say about their experience, the insights they gained, and what they enjoyed most here. 

The event formed part of Imperial’s wider outreach work to encourage participation in STEM and give school students the opportunity to see engineering in action. To find out more about the Department of Computing’s outreach activities, click here.