In celebration of Women and Girls in Science Day, we caught up with Lucy Jackson, a graduate engineer at Strata Geotechnics, Van Elle’s specialist ground investigation business.
Last year, Lucy shared insights into her role, what inspired her to join the industry, and her experiences as a woman in a traditionally male-dominated field. She also highlighted ways to encourage greater female participation in STEM.
This year, we reconnected with Lucy to discuss the progress made so far. She reflected on the challenges she has faced, shared valuable advice for young women pursuing STEM careers, and emphasised the need for industry-wide collaboration to accelerate progress for women in STEM, particularly within our sector.
Catching up with Lucy
Catching up with Lucy, she’s been busy balancing site-based and office roles as a graduate engineer. Recently, she’s worked on logging and report writing in Toronto for Van Elle Canada, overseen water monitoring on the A428 for Skanska, and contributed to the RS4-6 electrification scheme.
The reality of being a woman in Engineering
Working on construction sites presents unique challenges for women. Lucy often finds herself as the only woman on-site and noted, “Sometimes when I speak, my voice cuts through the crowd, drawing attention. People sometimes question why I’m on-site, assuming I’ve wandered onto the site rather than being a professional in the field.”
Inadequate welfare provisions also add to the difficulty. There are often no sanitary bins, separate toilets, or accessible restrooms for women. Men sometimes use the women’s facilities, or they remain locked because they aren’t frequently used.
For Lucy, on-site interactions can be a mixed experience. While some colleagues are hesitant to engage for fear of saying the wrong thing, others make inappropriate jokes. However, she has also had positive experiences, with many colleagues being supportive. These contrasting behaviours reflect the industry’s ongoing struggle to integrate women in a way that is both inclusive and respectful.
Advice for aspiring women in STEM
For young girls considering a career in STEM, particularly in geology or engineering, Lucy’s advice is clear: “Do not let the male-dominated nature of the industry deter you.”
While she experienced a fairly even gender split during her studies in physical geography and geology at Plymouth University, Lucy noticed a stark difference once she entered the industry.
She believes that if women allow the gender imbalance to discourage them, change will never come. “The presence of more women in these fields is crucial to shifting industry norms and attitudes,” Lucy emphasised.
Has anything changed for you in the last year?
In the past year, I’ve gained more experience and taken on a wider range of responsibilities.
Unfortunately, progress regarding women in the industry remains slow. Little has improved in terms of gender balance on-site. I still find myself as the only woman 99% of the time and often struggle to access proper restroom facilities during long shifts.
While change won’t happen overnight, it can only begin when more women step into these roles and continue pushing for progress.
Moving Forward
Women and Girls in Science Day reminds us of the barriers still facing women in STEM, but also the great opportunities the industry offers. Encouraging more women to enter STEM fields is the first step in creating lasting change. By sharing experiences and advocating for better conditions, we can pave the way for future generations of women in engineering and beyond.
At Van Elle, we are committed to empowering and welcoming women like Lucy into our industry. With greater female representation in engineering and geology, industries like ours can evolve into more inclusive and supportive environments for everyone.