Encouraging the Next Generation of Scientists, Engineers: A Q&A with Sonya Pemberton

Pictured above: Sonya attending ICG-EAC technical meeting in Finland with Jacobs colleagues and standing in front of a mock-up corrosion test rig such as those used in Jacobs laboratories (in this case a Cormet set-up rather than a Jacobs set-up.)

What inspired you to pursue a career in STEAM?

My parents always encouraged me to be interested in the world around me and ask questions. When I was a teenager, I read Bill Bryson's book A Short History of Nearly Everything and found the story of scientific development fascinating. Originally, I was interested in space and pursuing a career in physics since I enjoyed studying math and physics at school. Once at university, I was inspired by two of my professors to study materials science and pursue a scientific career.

Tell us about a memorable project you've worked on that has helped build a brighter future.

I'm involved in Jacobs STEAM activities, and one memorable one has been setting up a year in industry placement program in collaboration with Manchester Metropolitan University (MMU). MMU is a local university where students studying for a degree in Chemistry tend to come from a diverse range of backgrounds.

We designed a presentation to introduce the students to the work at Jacobs for their Careers Week and worked with academics to develop a suitable job advert. We had a large number of applicants and were able to give them all an opportunity to have their resume and cover letter reviewed and have an online job interview with a member of our team, giving them valuable experience for future job applications.

This led to us placing students in our laboratories and we hope they will continue to have a fruitful career in STEAM and build a bright future as part of the next generation of scientists and engineers. I enjoy working on projects at Jacobs where I can encourage diversity in the industry and help employees or prospective employees develop their technical careers.

What's the most important lesson you've learned in your career to date?

I've learnt to never be afraid to ask questions. My experience is that there are no silly questions, and it's the fastest way to learn information. In a group environment, if you have a question, it's likely that someone else is thinking the same thing, so having the courage to ask helps the team as a whole.

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