Women in Engineering: Yasmin Zanker
We talk about the future of engineering, the importance of female role models and more with Yasmin Zanker, Strategy Intern at the Aerospace Technology Institute.
Yasmin is a Mechanical Engineering student at the University of Bristol. In July 2020, she joined the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI) for a placement year as a Strategy Intern, which has involved working in both the Strategy and Technology department as well as with the ATI Boeing Accelerator team. She shares her thoughts on the future of engineering, what it’s like to grow up near Toulouse, famous for being the hub of the aerospace industry, and her experience at the ATI so far.
How and when did you decide to pursue a degree in engineering?
There was no lightbulb moment in my degree choice, rather the more prosaic path of narrowing down the possibilities to the one that suited me best. If you fed my profile into a career machine — natural curiosity, love of STEM-related subjects (except biology!), problem-solving and logic puzzles, a desire to create some sort of order, or process, whenever there is a challenge — you would end up with an engineer. There was also some friendly sibling rivalry as my elder brother was studying engineering!
Our generation has seen scientific progress accelerate in so many domains — renewable energy, artificial intelligence, aerospace, and it is almost instinctive to want to actively participate in this progress. This seems especially relevant now, as we deal with large problems that affect everyone, such as climate change and the ongoing pandemic. Despite all of these sometimes overwhelming issues, I remain enthusiastic about the engineering possibilities our future holds.
What sparked your interest in aerospace?
Growing up near Toulouse meant that there was always a variety of aircraft in the skies overhead. There would be a shout in the house and we would be out in the garden watching a Beluga circling or an amazing A380, or even a Dreamlifter flying from the States to Italy, which left my younger curious self wondering about how this metal cylinder in the sky flies. This questioning opened the door to a whole new area of discovery as I realised the sheer complexity of an aircraft yet the way we have simplified the creation process.
It’s fair to say that my interest in the sector has only grown further since starting at the ATI; the more you learn the more you realise how much there is left to discover!
Besides supporting William McClintock, you’re also working with the ATI Whole Aircraft team. What are some of the most exciting developments in this space?
It’s incredibly exciting to see all the developments happening in the sustainability sector. From sustainable aviation fuels to hybrid or even fully electric planes, it’s a constantly evolving situation. Hydrogen fuelled aircraft are currently receiving a lot of media coverage. This technology comes with its own set of challenges to overcome: you cannot store hydrogen in the wings, so where and how do you store it? How do you deal with safety issues? Where do you get the hydrogen from — and how do you get it to the aircraft? There are infinitely more questions to answer and hurdles to overcome, but it’s great to see all the solutions people are coming up with.
Then there’s the new sector of eVTOLs (electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft). Given the vast number of different designs and companies testing them out, there’s plenty to get excited about. They resemble what 10-year-old Yasmin thought transport would be like in 2020!
What are your thoughts on diversity in engineering? What can we do to make it better?
I think it’s getting better, but there is still a long way to go!
The issue isn’t simply that there are fewer female engineers but extends from fewer women on engineering courses right up to a lack of women in senior roles in engineering firms. Unfortunately, some people still look down on female engineers which pushes many away from the field.
That being said, it is improving and there are numerous projects and events aimed at making the engineering sector more diverse in all forms. I feel that creating a welcoming space is incredibly important. It can be intimidating to be the only woman in the room.
Additionally, highlighting women who have succeeded and women in senior positions is crucial. It makes you think “If they can do it, so can I”.
Did you have any role models in STEM growing up? Are there any female engineers who inspired you during your career?
To be completely honest, I didn’t have that many female role models growing up; not many were pushed to the forefront and in my early years I wasn’t aware of the achievements made by women in STEM. In more recent years, efforts have been made to make these women more well known, with events such as Ada Lovelace Day and media like the film Hidden Figures, which is great!
A lot of my inspiration, especially in engineering, comes from people who are maybe out of the limelight but still making an impact. Last year I attended the IET Women in Engineering Conference and the impressive achievements of the delegates working across various sectors were a further inspiration to become part of this industry. More recently, the Amy Johnson Named Lecture given by Grazia Vittadini (CTO at Airbus) and the ATI Boeing Accelerator Creating a Sustainable Aerospace Industry event with a panel of four accomplished women have been a motivation to continue along this path and push through any barriers.
What advice would you share with young people looking for work opportunities?
Do not be too narrow in anything you apply for but, equally, be prepared to invest the time to do your research and hone the individual applications! I sent out many applications, and not only does that increase your chances, but it also is a great way to practice writing applications and answering questions. There will inevitably be disappointments and obstacles but so much can be learned from these. In hindsight, without the setbacks I’ve encountered, I wouldn’t be here at the ATI, which I now consider to be the perfect internship for me.
Importantly, make the most of all the opportunities you get: sign up for events, join webinars, talk to people at conferences, and step outside of your comfort zone. Especially relevant for students is that all of these are free.
Also, don’t be apprehensive about applying to smaller companies. Everyone wants to get an internship with the well-known multinationals, but there are many more out there that provide just as good, if not, better opportunities. Working with a smaller team at the ATI has allowed me to meet and learn from everyone, as well as take part in so many exciting and diverse projects.
Returning to the University of Bristol in September 2021, what will be some of your biggest takeaways from this internship? How has this experience shaped your future plans?
Gosh! I have already been learning so much that it’s difficult to narrow it down to a few and I’m still only three months in!
I think a major takeaway is being able to adapt and learn. I have been lucky enough to be involved in many different projects here, all of which have their own challenges. Another learning experience has been working independently on a project which you shape as you go along. When given targets and deadlines, you are the one who decides when, and how to work on it, how to best tackle it, who to go to for more information. It’s different from university where there tends to be a more rigid structure and way of doing things.
Thanks to the great support from Will and the ATI team, I’m overcoming the natural fear of posing lots of questions and asking for help. Each issue that you come across has probably already been encountered and solved by someone else, and if not, there is someone who can point you in the right direction. Colleagues who have been in the field for a while have so much expertise and advice to offer, so I’ve been learning a lot from the people I work with.
This experience has led to me taking more interest in the strategy side of engineering. Engineers don’t just work on new technology in a bubble; you need to be aware of what market opportunities there are, what people want and many different organisations need to work together for major progress to occur. It’s helped me see the wider picture of the aerospace industry and how so much of it is interlinked.
Finally, the experience has also opened my eyes to all the huge resources out there: newsletters, webinars, live streams, and panels, all of which I will definitely be continuing to make the most of.
Thank you Yasmin for taking part in Ada Lovelace Week and sharing your advice for young women interested in the world of engineering!
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For more information about the programme, please contact the Aerospace Xelerated team:
Gabi Matic — gm@xelerated.aero | linkedin.com/in/gabrielamatic
Wil Benton — wb@xelerated.aero | linkedin.com/in/fatkidonfire
Ksenia Kurileva — kk@xelerated.aero | linkedin.com/in/kseniakurileva
Dana Zou — dz@xelerated.aero |linkedin.com/in/dana-zou/
