Because we need engineers from all walks of life
IET awards can help people from a wide range of backgrounds access career-progressing opportunities.
Zahra D’Souza is currently in the second year of her master’s degree in systems engineering at Warwick University.
As an IET Future Talent Award winner, she’s seen the benefits of this scheme first-hand, and believes it can greatly improve the diversity of the engineering industry by helping a wider range of young people access opportunities and higher education.
Both are key to nurturing the next generation of engineers, she notes.
“Thanks to the financial element of my Launch scholarship, I have the opportunity to apply for a wider range of internships,” she explains. “I also have the chance to establish and grow my network at special events that give me the chance to meet other female engineers as well as professionals from the industry I wish to go into – biomedical engineering.”
A future career in the biomedical industry
Zahra has always been interested in a career that revolved around helping others and was drawn to the healthcare sector through family ties, but her decision to specialise in biomedical engineering was clinched after seeing the 2017 Royal Institution Christmas Lecture entitled ‘the Language of Life’.
“Since attending, I’ve had a particular interest in how engineering can help advance the medical profession,” she says. “This lecture led me to writing an article for the Young Reporters Scheme, where I discussed the brain’s function as an electrical system, akin to electrical circuits in engineering. This can be exploited to produce devices enabling people with disabilities to regain and augment lost bodily functions – a testament to how engineering can change human lives.
“I’ve been able to further explore this topic by participating in engineering projects at university such as helping write a detection code for patients with locked-in syndrome.”
Motivating the next generation
Zahra first heard about the IET and its awards via LinkedIn, when she noticed a contact extolling the benefits of an IET scholarship. After some research she decided to apply and as the saying goes, “the rest is history!”.
Initially she focused on the financial benefits of the award, funds she plans to use to pay for additional courses as well as undertake industry internships both in the UK and abroad.
“Receiving the Launch scholarship is motivating me to push myself even more,” she says. “It will allow me to attend a range of courses to further my interest in the practical and academic aspects of engineering and develop skills that are needed for me to excel in both my degree and my career.
“The funds will enable me to undertake internships here and abroad, and access resources that help me to excel in my chosen career.”
Networking opportunities
Zahra has been an active member of the engineering community for many years, as noted by her engagement with the EDT and Smallpiece Trust, her involvement in the University of Warwick’s Formula Student team, and membership of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).
As an IET scholar she also became a member of this organisation, and is now learning about all the IET has to offer students and engineers in their early career.
The first IET event she attended was the Future Talent Awards celebration in March 2024, which gave her the chance to meet fellow award winners and also some of the sponsors of the IET Futures Fund.
“It was a great opportunity to meet other award holders, and in a way, it gave me a bit of a confidence boost, helping me to be surer of what I’m doing,” she says.
“At the moment, the biggest benefit of IET membership is the chance to meet people that are already working in the biomedical industry,” she continues. “That will be really helpful, especially meeting more young women, as we’re severely outnumbered by men. I believe it will be really useful for me to meet other people working in this space, hear about their projects and potentially get some kind of work experience or mentorship from them,” she enthuses.
Giving back – the impact of your donation
Equally, Zahra wants to give back to the engineering community, and hopes to use her award to encourage others to pursue a career in engineering. “This is something I’ve already started to do through several of my current roles, such as student representative for Warwick’s School of Engineering.
“For me, engineers are responsible for transforming the world as they drive innovation, solving complex problems, and advancing technology. Whether designing lifesaving medical devices, creating sustainable energy solutions, or developing efficient transportation systems, they play a pivotal role in shaping a better future.
“Engineers are here to solve problems for people from all different backgrounds, which is why I think award schemes like the IET’s are so important,” she goes on. “We need engineers from all walks of life: across all genders, socio-economic backgrounds and abilities. Causes like this can help younger engineers who might not have the funds or family ties to get a head start in this industry.
“At the end of the day, donations to the IET Futures Fund not only impact the engineering community, but also the much wider community, as they help to create a diverse, inclusive community of engineers that have the experience and understanding to solve challenges that affect us all.”