Sophie always had dreams of building something that makes the world a better place. As a mechanical engineering student at UTS, she’s achieving this not just through her studies, but also through her efforts to make engineering a profession where everyone can thrive.
Sophie was told that mechanical engineering is a man’s job.
As a self-described ‘nerd’, she was always drawn to maths and science subjects. In school, she participated in competitive bridge building and even attended Space Camp with NASA in the United States. She’s also been a big gearhead her whole life, and fascinated with mechanics and learning how things work.
The signs were always there that engineering would be a perfect fit, but it wasn’t until she was well into her high school studies that she learned there was a whole profession dedicated to her interests.
When she enrolled in engineering studies as one of her Year 11 subjects, she knew she’d found her calling. Now, Sophie is almost finished with her Bachelor of Engineering degree majoring in mechanical engineering at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS).
Finding the perfect fit
As Sophie explored her options for where to study, she looked for universities that would not only give her the skills she needed to be an engineer, but also help her build a community where women in engineering can thrive. She was excited to learn about the practical approach UTS takes to engineering education, as well as the university’s efforts to support women in STEM professions.
She applied for a Women in Engineering Scholarship and received an offer. After some conversations with practicing engineers, she landed on mechanical engineering as the specialty for her because of the breadth of the discipline and how it aligned with her interests.
Practical experience has formed a cornerstone of her education. She currently interns for two companies – Sydney Water and a private engineering consultancy – and feels both are giving her the skills and connections she needs to succeed once she graduates.
Even her coursework helps her get hands-on with engineering concepts. She recalls a recent class where she worked as part of a team to create a piece of a satellite. The team designed everything in CAD, and UTS’s 3D-printing facility Protospace helped them make their idea into a reality.
“Those subjects are quite memorable for me, because you’re in a lab or a fabrication space, and you’re working on a project that you own for the whole semester,” she says.
“It forces you to think outside your comfort zone, but also reach your full potential based on what your skillsets are because it pushes you to want to achieve more.”
Beyond the classroom, she has big plans for her future.
“I’m specialising in hydraulic engineering for water, and that’s something I really enjoy because I see it as giving back to the community,” Sophie says.
Long term, I’d love to open my own engineering consultancy. It’s a big dream of mine. I want to lead innovative projects and make a difference by focusing on sustainability.
Why role models matter
Sophie is also passionate about making sure other women have opportunities to see themselves in engineering. She fully believes that role models are important to getting more girls interested in the profession, and sees it as her responsibility to share her experience and inspire the next generation of engineers.
To illustrate this point, she recalls an event held at UTS where an engineer came in to help with a bridge-building workshop. She and Sophie got to chatting, and it was a lightbulb moment for Sophie.
“I was like, ‘She’s a woman, she does engineering and she’s also Vietnamese like me’. I thought, ‘If she’s doing it, why can’t I do it?’,” Sophie says.
“That inspired me to get more involved in women in engineering programs because I think they make an impact, especially seeing someone who looks like you in a role that you want.”
Since then, Sophie has made it her mission to serve as a role model for other women in engineering. She’s thrown her energy into groups and internships that aim to get more girls interested in STEM from a young age. This includes fostering communities of women in engineering at her internships, visiting high schools to raise awareness about the profession, and participating in mentorship and engineering programs at UTS such as the Lucy Mentoring Program, Women in Engineering and IT (WiEIT) and Engineering Society.
These efforts culminated in a ‘pinch me’ moment during a recent engineering camp held on campus. A first-year student came up to Sophie and shared how she was inspired to study engineering after Sophie did a presentation at her high school.
“She said, ‘You’re the reason why I picked engineering’, and I just couldn’t believe it,” Sophie says.
You might not think anything of it, but it makes a big impact. Doing these activities is so important for getting more girls and women involved in male-dominated fields.
At UTS, Sophie joins a revolution.
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