Edinburgh Napier University

Edinburgh Napier has celebrated the achievements of women in STEM with an afternoon of tech fun and inspirational talks to mark Ada Lovelace Day.

The University welcomed a host of female primary and secondary school pupils to its Craiglockhart campus to take part in a range of tech-inspired activities. 

The event also saw alumna Sheila Lauchlan, a fellow of the Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers and director of Perfect Dimensions, speak about her career to date alongside what she’s doing to help people reimagine what an engineer looks like in today’s society. 

Founded in 2009, Ada Lovelace Day is an annual event which aims to increase the profile of women in STEM and, in doing so, create new role models who will encourage more girls in STEM careers and support women already working in STEM.

The afternoon of tech fun saw pupils participate in a variety of activities – from controlling robots, learning about computer game creation and more. 

Those pupils then came together with members of the public to attend a short lecture from Sheila Lauchlan. 

Sheila spoke about her unique route into engineering, her inspirational grandfather and explained more about some of the major projects that she has recently worked on, including the construction of a new two-kilometre gas pipeline under the River Clyde.  

Aileen O’Hagan from Equate Scotland also gave an overview of the work of the organisation alongside sharing more about the importance of equality in STEM.

This year’s Ada Lovelace Day was the biggest yet and saw people from all over the world come together to celebrate the achievements of women in science, technology, engineering and maths.

Diversity and gender equality is at the heart of Edinburgh Napier. It currently holds an Athena SWAN bronze award which recognises its work on gender equality and supporting women’s careers in STEM.

The University is also a parent organisation and partner of Girl Geek Scotland (GGS); an organisation which enables women to develop a career-long mutual support network through dinners, fundraisers, business breakfasts, research projects and skills workshops.