After a trip to New York in the winter of 1903, Mary Anderson<\/strong> invented the windshield wiper.\u00a0 She was granted her first patent for this invention in November of the same year, and this patent lasted until 1920.\u00a0 Once this patent expired, auto-manufactuers adopted Anderson\u2019s design into standard equipment in the automobile market.<\/p>\n Lillian Gilbreth <\/strong>studied workplace patterns and ergonomics, laying the foundation for human factors engineering and ergonomic design.\u00a0 Known as the \u2018mother of modern management\u2019, Gilbreth became the first female member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in 1926.<\/p>\n Credited with being at the helm of one of the biggest feats of engineering for her time, Emily Roebling<\/strong> is best known for her role as Chief Engineering during the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge.\u00a0 Although she never planned on becoming an engineer, Roebling assumed the role of \u2018first woman field engineer\u2019 when her husband (who was in charge of the bridge\u2019s construction) became ill.\u00a0 She took this role seriously, carrying out her own studies of technical issues, stress analysis, construction, materials and calculations.<\/p>\n Mary Fergusson<\/strong> is thought to be the first women in the UK to have had a full-time career as an engineer.\u00a0 She was the first female fellow of the Institution of Civil Engineers, having been elected in 1957.\u00a0 Fergusson broke a lot of new ground for women in engineering; she was also the first woman to have held the position of Senior Partner in a civil engineering company.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n According to EngineeringUK in 2017, the UK had the lowest percentage of female engineering professionals in Europe, at less than 10%.\u00a0 With the percentage being so low, the Women\u2019s Engineering Society (a charity formed in 1919) support women to achieve their potential as engineers, applied scientists and leaders.\u00a0 They reward excellence, encourage and promote the education, study and application of engineering.<\/p>\n Throughout history there have been incredible women working in STEM, making contributions which have changed the world. It is important that women continue to work in STEM, having equitable access to subjects and careers as their male counterparts.<\/p>\n Apprenticeships are a great way to access STEM subjects and establish yourself in a rewarding career. If you are interested in one of our STEM apprenticeships, find out more\u00a0here<\/a>\u00a0or contact us by emailing\u00a0apprenticeships@kent.ac.uk<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"![\"international](\"http:\/\/blogs.kent.ac.uk\/chda\/files\/2019\/06\/Untitled-design-1024x311.png\")