Students and staff celebrate International Women’s Day
17 Mar 2011
Among The University of Manchester’s week-long festivities in celebrating the 100th International Women’s Day last week, WiSET (Women in Science and Engineering) hosted an inspirational networking event, reaching students and staff throughout the Faculty.
The event kicked off with an ice-breaking session of human bingo, followed by a well-earned tea and cake break.
A presentation by Romanian student Simona followed, where she told of how the day was celebrated in her native country. “They really celebrate it”, she said. “Men buy flowers and give them to women on the street and everyone says ‘Happy Women’s Day!’”
“I heard a story,” she continued, “about a woman that got stopped by the police in her car. She panicked, wondering what she had done wrong, or whether she had been speeding and not noticed. But the policeman just wanted to give her flowers and tell her to have a nice day.”
Bringing a little slice of Romanian culture to The University of Manchester, Simona unveiled a bouquet of flowers, which she handed out individually to those in attendance.
Up next was the inspirational Professor Sabine Flitsch, who gave an overview of her interesting academic career, spanning four countries and including a scholarship at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a lectureship at Oxford. She talked on how she has maintained her work-life balance, and achieved academic success alongside raising her children.
Zartasha Mustansar, who is currently working towards a PhD in the School of Earth, Atmospheric and Environmental Sciences, spoke about how she became interested in science while she was growing up in Pakistan: “Everyone in my country wondered why in the world I wanted to be a scientist, when no one else wanted to.”
Zartasha went on to win the Dorothy Hodgkin Scholarship to study at Manchester, where she became the WISET student co-ordinator for her School.
Closing talks included students representing Robogals, which is an international student-led organisation that encourages more schoolgirls into science, engineering and technology by leading fun activities in primary and secondary schools; and a short presentation from students representing Engineers without Borders, who offer students and graduates placements to work with international development organisations.
Alison McMurray, who organised the celebration on behalf of WiSET and the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences in liaison with Equality and Diversity, said: "The event was both enjoyable and thought provoking.
"It was fascinating to hear about different people’s experiences and ways in which students could get involved. Thank you to everyone who supported the event, by attending or speaking, and to those who made a donation to Oxfam. The International Women’s Day 100th Anniversary was certainly celebrated in style!”
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