Think of an engineer. Think again.
#CelebratingEngagement with the Women in Mechanical Engineering Society
“We wanted to show that women can do engineering, and we can be great at it” says Lucy Di, former President of the Women in Mechanical Engineering Society.
Lucy, now pursuing a PhD at Cambridge, and students Mary Sowter and Nishka Mathur, each held instrumental roles in the Outreach Division of the Women in Mechanical Engineering Society 2024-25. Their undeniable passion for engineering is what drove the outstanding outreach work that led to the society receiving the Student Award at the 2025 President’s Awards for Excellence in Societal Engagement.
So, what drew them to the Women in Mechanical Engineering Society? The simple but urgent reality: the alarmingly low number of women in STEM.
Beginning with a love of maths and physics, their journey to engineering at Imperial was not without moments of self-doubt and imposter syndrome. “When I was at school, I never had the confidence to say I wanted to study engineering. I felt judged and overwhelmed in what seemed like a male-dominated environment,” says Lucy. That experience led her to consider how she could inspire confidence in young women wanting to pursue STEM, offering the support she once needed herself.
“We saw another society give a talk at a school and thought it was a fantastic idea,” she continues. After becoming society President in 2024, Lucy decided to try and establish a similar programme.
“I spent a lot of time over the summer before my final year thinking specifically how I wanted the outreach activities to operate,” she explains, “At the beginning it was very intense because I was determined to fulfil my vision for it.”
And she did. By the end of 2024-25, the Outreach Division of the society had delivered 17 events to various schools. These included institutions ranging from primary schools to sixth forms, starting with sessions for young women and non-binary students and gradually expanding to more diverse audiences. The outreach activities consisted of workshops or presentations, including an egg-drop crumple-zone workshop.
In their presentations, the team seized the opportunity to address topics that are typically swept under the rug. They would speak on certain experiences that most women share: imposter syndrome, low confidence, and microaggressions. “We openly discussed these topics with the students, and explained that feeling down about them is, unfortunately, normal,” said Lucy. However, they were careful to frame it in a way that made it clear, “We can overcome it, and it shouldn’t stop us from pursuing engineering or any other topic in STEM.”
Their outreach presentations were unique in challenging these barriers and actively dismantling the outdated stereotypes of what an engineer looks like. Mary Sowter explains, “We were cautious of balancing being somewhat negative, while simultaneously giving the female students a heads up on the challenges they may face.” Lucy continues, “These barriers can play a big role in what you choose to do, so we really wanted to speak about them so that the students who may already feel them know they are not alone.”
Since winning the President’s Award, they have continued their momentum and delivered 21 outreach events throughout 2025-26. They have expanded beyond their initial workshop or presentation format, now doing everything from careers fairs, Dragon’s Den, judging robotics competitions and even incorporating their own course projects into the engagement activities.
Despite their success, the gender imbalance remains. “Women only make up 20% of my cohort,” shares Nishka. “Not everyone wants to have to be the first, or one of few, and that is why outreach is so important to make sure that we do our best to get a 50-50 gender balance,” she says.
“If you don't see anyone like you doing something you aspire to, it’s easy to believe that path isn’t for you,” says Lucy, highlighting why visibility and exposure matters, especially for students from minoritised backgrounds.
Their message to aspiring female and non-binary engineers is clear. “If you put your mind to it, you can do anything. If that’s engineering, then definitely go for it,” says Lucy.
To find out more about the Women in Mechanical Engineering Society, visit their webpage or follow them on Instagram (@ic_mechengwomen). If you’re interested in volunteering or hosting a workshop, contact them at me.women@ic.ac.uk.
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