[Women in Engineering #3] [Women in Engineering #2] [Women in Engineering #1]
During Women’s Month, we spotlight a few remarkable women who have made significant strides in engineering since graduating from the Faculty of Engineering at Stellenbosch University (SU). In the final article of our three-series Q&A campaign, we highlight how these inspiring women showcase the profound impact engineering can have on society and the world. A set of questions was sent to several alumnae, and they have graciously shared their insights. In the first series, we feature the responses from three of these exceptional women. Their dedication, innovation, and passion continue to enhance lives and contribute to a better, more sustainable future.
The questions that were asked are:
- What inspired you to pursue a career in engineering, and how has your journey been since graduating from Stellenbosch University?
- Can you share a project or experience you are particularly proud of in your current job?
- How do you believe your work as an engineer enhances the lives of others and contributes to a better world?
- What unique challenges do you face in your engineering field, and how do you overcome them?
Dr Humaira Fataar (Civil Engineering)
Dr Humaira Fataar’s journey in engineering began with her inherent curiosity and a deep love for understanding how things work. She never accepted answers at face value and was driven to dig deeper. “During high school, my older sister decided to pursue a career in Mechatronic Engineering. Our favourite TV shows were Engineering Marvels and MegaStructures, which sparked my interest in Civil Engineering. And the rest is history,” she explains her decision to pursue this field.
Dr Fataar is particularly proud of completing her PhD in three years while working full-time as a junior lecturer. Starting her PhD in 2019 and facing numerous challenges, including load shedding that disrupted her experiments and the Covid-19 pandemic that closed labs, she persevered with the support of her husband, family, friends and supervisors. “I had to persevere through all the work and personal challenges, but it was worth all the effort,” she says.
As a lecturer in civil engineering, she firmly believes in the twofold impact of her work. She elaborates: “In academia, I can contribute to all the future engineers in my classroom, who can then go on further to contribute to society in their capacity. As a researcher, I can contribute to the most pressing and challenging real-life problems from a research perspective and aid in solving problems with the skillset that I have, which can have a global impact through publications.”
Dr Fataar attributes her success to perseverance through both good and bad times. “Nothing gets handed out for free in life, and we need to put in the effort and persevere to see the fruits of our labour,” she says.
Omofolasewa Hillary Jayeola (Chemical Engineer)
From an early age, Omofolasewa Hillary Jayeola’s deep passion for mathematics and sciences led her to pursue engineering. This childhood dream of being involved in science has only grown stronger. Since graduating from SU in December 2023, her journey has been incredible. She has quickly found herself at one of Europe’s leading engineering universities, the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), where she is now engaged in research focused on Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). She says her master’s supervisor at SU, Prof Cara Schwarz, has been “a mentor and source of inspiration for my current career path”.
Currently pursuing her PhD in Chemical Engineering at DTU, Hillary has also experienced exciting opportunities, including presenting her research ideas at the Chemical Engineering Consortium. This event allowed her to connect with like-minded individuals and share her experiences. Her work with state-of-the-art equipment used in separation techniques has enabled her to apply her skills and knowledge.
The ultimate goal of her work in CCS is to develop alternative, more eco-friendly approaches to industrial and energy production processes. “This contributes towards mitigating the impact of climate change to moving the world towards a greener industry by reducing industrial carbon footprint,” she explains how her work as an engineer contributes to a better world.
For Hillary, the most crucial skills for success in chemical engineering are grit, endurance, and resilience – especially in a male-dominated field. She says: “Resilience in the face of hurdles and obstacles of various kinds, and perseverance to break through and earn a place in a male-dominated field are great assets to success. Above all, analytical and critical thinking skills to solve intricate problems and effective written and verbal communication to facilitate collaboration and knowledge sharing are great assets to success.”
Photograph:
(left) Dr Humaira Fataar in one of our climate-controlled rooms within the concrete laboratory at the Deparment of Civil Engineering, where concrete samples undergo short and long-term testing under precisely controlled temperature and humidity conditions.
(right) Omofolasewa Hillary Jayeola presents her poster at The Danish CCUS Summit, showcasing her innovative research
