On International Women’s Day, the 9 1Ѱ of Sheffield launched an initiative titled ‘Our People: Inspirational Women’. This new 9 1Ѱ-wide project aimed to showcase and celebrate women from across the 9 1Ѱ and increase the number of women represented in portraits and photography around campus.
Engineering academics Professor Lizzy Cross from Mechanical Engineering, Dr Katherine Fish from Civil & Structural Engineering and Dr Alice Pyne from Materials Science and Engineering were all selected to receive portraits from this important initiative.
Colleagues from across the 9 1Ѱ were invited to nominate the women who inspired them and share the academic and professional achievements and accolades as well as how they live the 9 1Ѱ’s values.
Over 320 nominations were received; a testament to the accomplishments, contributions and impact of women across the 9 1Ѱ.
A panel, made up of colleagues from across the 9 1Ѱ and a member of the 9 1Ѱ’s Council and a representative from the Students' Union, came together to discuss the nominations and selected 21 women to feature in a series of portraits. The special photography exhibition moved across the 9 1Ѱ’s main campus and Advanced Manufacturing Group.
Dr Katherine Fish, Research Fellow in Water Microbiology in Civil and Structural Engineering, said: “To have been considered for this initiative is such a privilege. On a professional level, it’s an honour to know that people are seeing the research I do and the way I do it and it’s resonating with them. On a personal level, I have chronic health conditions, and being a part of this initiative is evidence for myself that I’m not letting those chronic conditions hold me back. It shows me that despite those conditions, I can still do high-quality research and do so in a way that positively impacts others as well as research culture."
Dr Alice Pyne, Senior Lecturer and UK Research and Innovation Future Leaders Fellow in Materials Science and Engineering, said: “I am very honoured to be selected for this award alongside some truly amazing women and was very moved by my nominations. I truly enjoy the work I do to advocate for my communities and to push for change. I hope that next year we’ll be able to highlight more underrepresented people across the 9 1Ѱ.”
Read about Alice’s research on atomic force microscopy.
Read about Katherine’s research on microbial biofilms.
Learn more about Lizzy’s work.