From diversity STEMs brilliance

Want an innovative, dynamic workplace? Diversify! Imagination shapes experience – lack of diversity means that we’re not imagining, nor engineering, a future that includes everybody. And how can we, when engineering and computer science employees don’t reflect the diversity of the societies we live in? Systemic barriers, stereotypes that repel, feeling excluded. Our guests explore the barriers to women and other diverse groups entering and remaining in STEM; why this means everyone misses out; and how we can diversify our way to a brilliant future.   Guests Cathy Ayres is the Senior Project Officer – Diversity & Inclusion at the ANU College of Engineering and Computer Science. She describes the barriers such as time, mobility and stereotypes that stop the demographic make-up of engineering and computer science disciplines reflecting the society they exist in. CC (Celeste Carnegie) is a Birrigubba South Sea Islander woman and program producer at Geek Girls Academy, among other talents. She explains the barriers that come with isolation and the need to change that. She argues that we shouldn’t burden women and other diverse groups with doing all the hard, often unrecognised and unrecompensed, work to make these changes happen. Elanor Huntington is Dean of the ANU College of Engineering and Computer Science. She encourages women and other diverse groups to bring their whole selves to the workplace, and to question if what you are being asked to do serves you: “Do you have the time? Are you learning anything? Say, strategically, yes or no.” Francesca Maclean is a Senior Consultant at Arup, public speaker and co-founder of fifty/50. She speaks of the social justice case for diversity and questions how engineers can lift their game.  Emily Gentilini is a Graduate Engineer at Arup. Together with Francesca, she founded the student organisation Fifty/50 at ANU, which works to promote gender equity in STEM. Using a range of activities, mentorship programs and advocating for policy change, their organisation is making STEM more inclusive for all students. Euan Lindsay is the Director of Engineering at Charles Sturt University. He describes how people want to help, but often don’t do it well. If in doubt, ask!   Further reading Advancing women in STEM strategy – Australian Government The Fortem project – gender equity in STEM   Music credits Our theme music, Anders by Blue Dot Sessions, is licensed under an attribution non-commercial licence.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.