Leeds academic named finalist for Young Woman Engineer of the Year Award
Salma Al Arefi, a lecturer in Engineering Education at the University of Leeds, has been selected as a finalist in the prestigious Young Woman Engineer of the Year (YWE) Award.
The accolade, which honours the remarkable contributions of women engineers under the age of 35, places Dr Al Arefi among five finalists, who were chosen from a pool of over 100 talented candidates nationwide.
As an expert in renewable energy systems, Dr Al Arefi was recognised for her teaching as well as her dedication to supporting and inspiring the next generation of engineers. Her work extends beyond the classroom, as she actively supervises technical projects and conducts research focused on inclusive engineering pedagogy, ensuring that underrepresented, disadvantaged, and minoritised students thrive in the field.
The YWE Award shortlisted Dr Al Arefi for her efforts to promote a sense of belonging, and helping students – particularly women and other underrepresented groups – to develop strong engineering identities. Her work aims to tackle gaps in the industry, emphasising recruitment but also the progression and retention of women in engineering – developmental focuses that often receive less attention.
She said: “I am deeply passionate about empowering the next generations of women engineers beyond the spark of interest into engineering education.
“The YWE award is a key platform to advocate for the need to empower women in engineering throughout the life cycle of their engineering journey, so that women are not just promoted to study or practice engineering but are most importantly enabled to be among the key drivers of engineering innovation solutions and policies.”
Dr Al Arefi holds a PhD in Computing and Electronic Systems and has already been recognised by several accolades, including the Women’s Engineering Society (WES) Fellowship in 2020, which recognised her exceptional contributions to breaking down barriers for women in STEM both nationally and internationally. Her work also earned her a special commendation at the 2020 Water Woman Awards.
The YWE Award, launched in 1978, has evolved over the decades, originally known as the Girl Technician of the Year before transitioning to the Young Woman Engineer of the Year in 1988. Sponsored initially by the Caroline Haslett Memorial Trust, it continues to be supported by the IET in honor of Dame Caroline Haslett, a pioneer in promoting women's participation in engineering.
The winner of the Young Woman Engineer of the Year Award will be announced on 9 December at IET London: Savoy Place.
