Inspiring girls to pursue a career in engineering

Emily Qiao | Bachelor of Engineering and Bachelor of Commerce

Emily is leading the very organisation that first sparked her interest in engineering and robotics, Monash Robogals. Passionate about engineering and committed to increasing gender diversity, she hopes to inspire the next generation of future engineers.

When I was in Year 10, I did an engineering workshop with Robogals where we learnt how to program and build robots. That’s when I fell in love with robotics, and just knew that I wanted to be an engineer – I wanted a rewarding degree where I could learn something new every day. As an electrical engineering student, I’m constantly gaining new skills and knowledge related to computer systems and robotics.

If you’re a girl who wants to be an engineer, I really urge you to go for it. At first, I was discouraged from doing engineering by many of my family members and friends. However, I enjoy engineering so much and there’s an incredible amount of support from the faculty. I’ve also gained a lot out of my degree, and I'm really glad I followed my heart and pursued the path I was genuinely interested in. Taking the first step might be hard but once you’re in, it’s such an amazingly rewarding experience. #YeahTheGals

When I started university, I joined a few student teams like Nova Rover, Precious Plastics, and even the Monash chapter of Robogals! Being in a student team is a great way to be a part of a community where everyone is working towards the same mission. They’ve helped me develop a lot of technical skills, and there’s plenty of opportunity for leadership and developing soft skills, as well as for making friends. I’ve really grown and gained so much experience since that first Robogals workshop, and now I’m the Monash Robogals President! It’s so fulfilling to be leading the very organisation that first sparked my interest in engineering and robotics, and I hope I can also help inspire the future engineers of the next generation.

Through university, I’ve met so many like-minded students and professors who are passionate about changing the world with their work. I’ve learnt that you should always follow your passions. If you’re really interested in something, it’s time to take a shot. Enjoy your time at Monash. Don’t be in a hurry to graduate, you’re only a student once.

Find out more about Bachelor of Engineering and Robogals