During the summer holidays I had the opportunity to attend the 2021 WiE CAN, Women in Engineering Residential Programme, at the University of Canterbury in Christchurch. This program was especially designed to promote women in engineering and to help us explore the different paths that can be taken. During these five days we explored the different disciplines of engineering through workshops. Some workshop activities were: building a solar cell out of blueberries, building a finger exoskeleton and programming it, building a structure that could withstand an earthquake and many more. We also partook in challenges sponsored by industries which tested our innovation, creativity and teamwork. Throughout the program we heard from inspirational speakers from all over the engineering industry, sharing their stories of how they became engineers and essentially what life is like as an engineer. Overall it was a truly enlightening and unforgettable experience, and I can’t recommend it enough.

Megan Erasmus, Year 13