Young Member Visionary 2019
“It still hasn’t really sunk in yet, but it’s a real pleasure to have my work recognised” says Nicola Grahamslaw, on being named IMechE’s Young Member Visionary for 2019.
The award is presented to an engineer who demonstrates all-round excellence both in engineering and in volunteering, and the judges were impressed by Nicola’s strong application.
“A big challenge for engineering is that people still don’t really understand what it is that we do” says Nicola. However, through her dedication to education, she serves as an outstanding representative for the profession. “I am proud to call myself an engineer” she explains, “and to work as an ambassador” helping wider society learn more about engineering and the problems that engineers solve.
Nicola currently works as a conservation engineer at the SS Great Britain Trust. Her role involves optimising conditions to conserve Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s 176-year-old iron steamship the SS Great Britain to prevent degradation, while also implementing systems to reduce the museum’s carbon footprint. Besides the complexities of conserving the ship and other museum artefacts, she also helps to educate the public on how engineers can make a difference in society, via both Brunel's impact on the Victorian world, and the role of engineering in conserving the ship today. Nicola is the sole engineer at the museum, and works in a multi-disciplinary environment – a factor which impressed the Young Member Visionary award’s judges.
Nicola’s job requires her to work with people from a variety of backgrounds to help maintain the iconic ship. She has been invited to speak at several conferences about issues relating to conservation and transferable skills and has also begun an initiative to help smaller heritage organisations reduce their carbon footprint. All of which makes her a genuine ambassador for the profession, helping increase exposure for engineering while encouraging collaboration with different fields.
Besides her job, Nicola has also dedicated time to a variety of volunteering roles. She is a STEM ambassador and helps run STEM events aimed at students and the public. She also works as a mentor with early career engineers through the IMechE’s independent mentor scheme and spent a year in a STEM teaching role, educating children aged seven to 12 about coding.
Nicola was also invited to relaunch a chapter of the Women’s Engineering Society in Bristol. She sends out a newsletter which goes to members, coordinates with similar organisations in the city and meets members at various events to help build the network.
She notes that one of the biggest challenges for engineers today is the sheer speed at which the industry is changing, and so she really values the IMechE as a source of up to date information on trends and developments. Nicola initially joined the Institution as a means of becoming chartered, but appreciates the many other opportunities it offers such as further CPD, networking and volunteering.
Dr Rachel Roberts, Director of Education and STEM at the museum praises Nicola’s “enthusiasm for inspiring others, and ability to help students and visitors of all backgrounds connect with the engineering of the SS Great Britain”. This means “she is a strong role model for young and aspiring engineers”, making her a natural fit for the award.
The Young Member Visionary award aims to recognise the Institution’s best young members who are really promoting engineering. Through her professional involvement in multi-disciplinary work and her volunteering in a variety of environments, Nicola exemplifies what the prize is all about. She is a deserving winner of the Young Member Visionary award and a fantastic ambassador for the engineering profession.