Behind the career: Materials Engineering | UBC Applied Science – UBC Applied Science
After taking an introductory materials engineering course, Andaman was inspired by the new way of viewing life that the specialization provided. “Graduating with a materials degree, you look at fractures of surfaces with a different eye” Andaman shares. “You could just look at steel, and you are able to understand what it looks like on a micro-structural level.”
Another perspective that changed for Andaman after graduation is how she viewed her studies. As a working engineer, she discovered that there are so much more you need to know than just what you learn in class. Being an engineer takes collaboration, critical thinking and organizational skills, and above all, a determined mindset. “I think that is why they make you take so many courses” Andaman laughs, reflecting on the workload as an engineering student. “It is really good training, [and teaches you] the motivation to do really well.”
Now, Andaman is translating her skills as a Process Leader at Proctor & Gamble, making feminine care products. However, it was not before long before she noticed the irony of the process being predominantly male. “I make sanitary pads for a living, and there is something interesting I noticed. In the manufacturing facilities where they make these feminine care products, most people there are dudes. Think about it: your pads are made by a bunch of dudes and not that many girls.”
By elevating the representation of woman engineers like Andaman, other young girls interested in the field can reimagine the world of engineering as we know it today and see that they too deserve a place in the industry of the products they use.
What’s it made of and why? If you ask these questions about the products that surround you or dream about creating the building blocks for substances that haven’t yet been invented, you should explore materials engineering.
Graham MacDonald
BASc
Materials Engineering
Matthew Paulino
BASc
Materials Engineering
Nadine Te
BASc 2020
Materials Engineering
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