Aerospace engineer Krystina Pearson-Rampeearee from Liverpool has been working hard over the last few years to break down the stereotypes in the world of engineering.
This incredible local woman making waves in the world of STEM both for herself and for the younger generation. STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths although the term can also be expanded to STEAM to include the Arts.
Krystina went into aerospace engineering despite being told not to because of the stereotypes surrounding the profession. “I always loved to solve problems and excelled in creative subjects in school, so I knew that I wanted to do something in engineering from an early age,” said Krystina. She adds: “I remember visiting an airshow with my family during the school holidays, and once I saw the flying displays, it clicked that aerospace engineering was where I wanted to be. I’ve now been in the industry for 15 years and want to inspire more young people to consider engineering as a career option.”
Krystina recalls the industry as she was growing up and training to not have any role models in the engineering world who were relatable. Krystina adds: “This is why it’s really important to me to be visible, explain what engineering actually is to young people, fully answer their questions, be real and address those misconceptions that almost stopped me from pursuing my career. By going into schools and using social media, I can share career advice and the lessons that I’ve learned along the way (because it’s not always been smooth sailing!) to help young people succeed, and I want to be the best positive role model for my kids, where gender or race should never stop them or anyone pursuing their dreams”.
With International Women in Engineering Day taking place next month (23rd June), Krystina is currently trying to engage with local schools to support and encourage them to spend a bit of time showcasing more women in the industry, ‘once young girls can see women in engineering, then they will know that they can do it too.
I would also love to see more awareness of what engineering actually involves and how it impacts our everyday lives. Engineering is everywhere! The clothes that we wear, our phones, transport, roads, buildings, the food we eat, pretty much everything is engineered. This means there are many different areas that you can work in depending on what you’re interested in, engineers aren’t just people on building sites wearing hard hats”. Comments Krystina.
If you would like to learn more about the work Krystina does, follow her on Instagram @aviateher
