Do you know how many women design engines for the top Formula 1 teams?

Two: Hannah Schmitz, chief strategy engineer at Red Bull, and from Spain, Marga Torres Díez, responsible for the engine of Lewis Hamilton’s car at Mercedes. There are a few other teams… 

Speaking of Formula 1, this is how Sara Gómez, director of the Women and Engineering Program at the Royal Academy of Engineering, began her speech during the event held at the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities on the occasion of the 10th International Day of Women in Engineering.  

“These and all inspiring women must be used as an example,” she said, “until they reach all girls and young women so that, at the speed of Formula 1, they choose to become engineers.” In a very motivating speech, Sara encouraged all women to overcome their insecurities and fight to be what they want to be in life; and all institutions and administrations to promote these studies and ensure that “the new generations of young people choose this beautiful profession and, from their practice, lead the change that the world needs”.

The core of the event was led by a group of 4 young female engineers (biomedical, sustainability, aerospace and civil) who met in a round table moderated by our colleague Dolores Sanz (telecommunications engineer).

Maria Dolón, Inés López (mentee at IDOM), Cecilia López-Cotarelo (also a colleague at IDOM) and Gloria Ghinea emphasized that “anyone can study engineering, you just have to want to”. And that the career is not as hard as it is made out to be: “You have to study, yes, but the subjects are very interesting and there is time for other things”. And they concluded: “We have come a long way, but we need to keep going so that all girls know that they have just as much place in engineering as boys and are just as qualified to take it on”.  

Currently, less than 30% of engineering students are women (agricultural/agronomic 34%, roads/civil 24%, industrial 19%, computer science 16%, telecommunications 12%, others 24%), however, 50% of the talent is female, “talent that we are losing and that we need”, emphasized Jaime Domínguez, President of the RAI, and José Bayón, general director of the School of Industrial Organization. 

Elena Salgado, former vice-president of the government, industrial engineer and president of the strategic council of Women and Engineering, added that diversity enriches engineering and in this diversity women bring a great practical sense and curiosity. 

In conclusion, the words of Teresa Riesgo, PhD in industrial engineering and secretary general of Innovation, can be used as a conclusion: “engineering changes the world”, which means that “we can in no way allow women to be a clear minority” among the CEOs of the major engineering companies.  

How can this be achieved? With policies that support female talent.