13:00 Welcome

13:10: Gail Mattson, President of INWES

Status of Women in STEM and Recent Efforts to Enhance Diversity & Inclusion

Gail Mattson is a registered professional engineer with over 35 years’ experience in environmental engineering, safety, radiological control, project management, and corporate relations.. For the past 5 years, she was responsible for the operations of the ES&H Directorate with 130 personnel and a $30M budget at Brookhaven National Laboratory, one of the US Department of Energy’s multipurpose research institutions that operates cutting-edge large-scale facilities for scientific studies and a wide range of advanced technologies.

She is a founding member of the International Network of Women Engineers and Scientists (INWES) and currently is serving as the President for 2018-2020.

Gail will provide an overview on the recent work of INWES to enhance diversity and inclusion in STEM.

13:40: Dr Jayshree Seth, Corporate Scientist, 3M

The State of Science: On the Global Perception of Science and the Need for STEM Advocacy

Dr Jayshree Seth is a Corporate Scientist at 3M and leads Applied Technology Development for Industrial Adhesives and Tapes Division. She has a PhD in Chemical Engineering from Clarkson University, New York and holds 67 patents for a variety of innovations. Jayshree is currently working on identifying new growth opportunities, and, is engaged in development and commercialisation for sustainable industrial products across various markets.

Jayshree will provide an overview of the 3M State of Science Index, a global survey of more than 14,000 people in 14 countries to uncover what people think of science, and how they perceive its impact on their daily lives. Many of the survey findings highlight the importance of reducing real and perceived barriers to science appreciation and STEM education, not only to ensure that we have a healthy pipeline of future scientists and engineers to solve the complex and global humanitarian challenges we face, but also for society to accept the solutions. She will also provide her reflections on the year so far and perspective on the path forward.

14:10: Professor Raffaella Ocone, Professor of Chemical Engineering, Heriot-Watt University

Engineering Diversity and Inclusion: Reflections and Perspectives 

Raffaella Ocone is Professor at Heriot-Watt University. She was the first female professor of chemical engineering in Scotland and was named as one of the top 100 Most Influential Women in Engineering in 2019 by Inclusive Boards in partnership with the Financial Times. Raffaella has worked in France, Germany, Italy and the US and her main area of research is in the field of modelling complex (multi-phase) reactive systems and she has taken a leading role in promoting ethics in engineering.

In this talk Professor Raffaella Ocone will reflect on her journey in engineering and how diversity and inclusion have affected her career. Her talk will explore barriers and opportunities and discuss how diversity and inclusion can play a relevant role helping the post-COVID recovery.

14:40 Professor Georgia Kremmyda, Chair of ICWES18, University of Warwick

Update on the Shape and Scope of ICWES18, September 2021

Professor Georgia Kremmyda is a Director of Studies Civil and Environmental Engineering and Director of Student Recruitment at the University of Warwick.

Her teaching and research interests are oriented but not limited to Interdisciplinary teaching and learning; Problem-based learning; Learning tools in resource-constrained environments, Earthquake engineering; Concrete structures; Precast concrete structures; Structural dynamics, Non-linear finite element methods; and Static and dynamic analysis of structures with the Finite Element Method.

Georgia is the chairperson for the 18th International Conference of Women Engineers and Scientists (ICWES18) being held at The University of Warwick and will provide an overview and update on the preparations for ICWES18, taking place 1 - 4 September 2021.