UWE Bristol professor wins prestigious engineering award
UWE Bristol’s Head of Engineering Design and Mathematics has been recognised for her work to increase diversity in engineering.
Professor Lisa Brodie collected an Enginuity Skills Awards at a ceremony in London, seeing off competition from two shortlisted entrants in the Diversity in Engineering category.
The award recognises organisations, individuals or a team that has delivered a specific scheme, project, or initiative, that significantly contributes to shifting the dial of equality, diversity, and inclusion within the engineering and manufacturing industries.
Professor Brodie has overseen the development of the new School of Engineering building to ensure it has been designed with neurodiverse students in mind. The facility was co-designed in conjunction with a new engineering curriculum, to create a supportive environment for students from under-represented backgrounds. The building is equipped with individual study spaces designed to support students with sensory issues, such as people with autism who can benefit from features including white noise bubble tubes and adjustable, muted lighting.
In addition, Professor Brodie leads the Digital Engineering Technology and Innovation (DETI) Skills programme, which aims to improve diversity in recruitment into STEM industries (particularly engineering) while also enhancing retention of skilled engineers in the industry.
The Inspire programme has had particular success, reaching over 7,000 children in the South West so far. Some 42 per cent of the schools participating in face-to-face activities have been from the most deprived 20% of the country. The children have been exposed to innovative engineering workshops that connect them with real-life, diverse engineering role models to widen participation and aspirations for STEM careers.
Professor Brodie said: “It's just phenomenal to get this award. I'm really excited and proud. We’ve been working hard at the university to really make a change in engineering, particularly around autism and engineers and diversity. We need different minds. If we don't have a diversity of minds, then we're not going to get all the solutions we need.”
Tod Burton, Deputy Dean for the Faculty of Environment and Technology, said: “We are all very proud of Professor Brodie and the work her team have tirelessly carried out developing an inclusive Engineering community here at UWE. This prestigious award from Enginuity justly recognises her efforts and the influence Lisa is having across the sector — a true reflection of UWE values.”
Related news
25 July 2024
Extraordinary community work recognised with honorary doctorate
Rosa Hui MBE DL, founder of the Chinese Community Wellbeing Society (CCWS), has been awarded an honorary doctorate by UWE Bristol.
23 July 2024
Honorary doctorate for Bristol changemaker and civil rights hero
Guy Bailey OBE, a civil rights activist instrumental in the Bristol Bus Boycott, has been awarded an honorary doctorate by UWE Bristol.
23 July 2024
Honorary degree for TV channel founder offering prisoners in-cell access to training and education
Jezz Wright, founder of a range of in-cell channels that aim to help prisoners with their rehabilitation, has been awarded an Honorary Degree by UWE Bristol.
11 July 2024
UWE Bristol completes largest low carbon student accommodation development in UK
New student accommodation at UWE Bristol which is the largest low carbon development of its kind in the UK has been completed.
07 June 2024
Academic selected as Design Council Expert
Dr Matthew Jones has been selected to join the new cohort of Design Council Experts.
05 February 2024
Universities unite for joint pledge to tackle sexual violence and harassment
Universities in the west of England have pledged together for the first time to take a collective approach in tackling sexual violence and harassment.
06 December 2023
Internationally renowned architect joins UWE Bristol
UWE Bristol has appointed Piers Taylor as Professor of Knowledge Exchange in Architecture.
16 October 2023
UWE statement on Israel and Gaza – supporting students and staff
UWE Bristol statement on Israel and Gaza.
28 September 2023
Building a School of Health and Social Wellbeing for the future
UWE Bristol is developing proposals to relocate its School of Health and Social Wellbeing from Glenside campus to Frenchay campus.
28 September 2023
Teaching Excellence Framework: UWE Bristol provides an outstanding student experience
The student experience UWE Bristol provides has been judged to be outstanding in a new sector-wide assessment of teaching quality.
08 September 2023
Statement – Maddy Lawrence
UWE Bristol statement following the inquest into the death of Maddy Lawrence.
31 July 2023
UWE Bristol awards seven recipients with honorary degrees
Seven people have been presented with honorary degrees during UWE Bristol’s summer graduation ceremonies at Bristol Cathedral.