News

STEM shapes our world: Arup inspires the next generation at I Wish 2020

Get in touch
Clare O'Loughlin Clare O'Loughlin Europe Press Office, Ireland
28 January 2020

Arup is once again supporting the I Wish conference in Ireland, inspiring students – tomorrow’s leaders and changemakers – to consider how they could use STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) to make a positive impact on the future of our planet.

Through a mixture of talks, panel discussions and engagement with the students at the Arup stand, we will encourage the girls to explore careers in STEM. 7,000 students will attend this year’s event in Cork on 30-31 January and in Dublin on 3-4 February. 

Arup experts have looked ahead and developed four potential scenarios that describe what the world might look like in 2050. These futures hinge on whether we prioritise social and economic development over environmental health, or vice versa. At I Wish, we will show the students that they will be instrumental in addressing the challenges of future infrastructure, designing sustainable cities and tackling the climate emergency.

“

We want to encourage the girls to look ahead and consider how they could shape a better world through their work. By sharing my story, I hope to empower the next generation to choose careers that they enjoy, enabling them to influence the future of our planet.

”

Arup’s keynote speakers include Moira Walsh, Ireland Offshore Wind Lead; Aoife Hayes, Wellness Advisor; Claire FitzGerald, Senior Consultant in Advanced Digital Engineering; and Victoria Janssens, Senior Structural Engineer. Moira leads Arup’s offshore wind offering in Ireland, delivering renewable energy projects which play a major role in helping the country to achieve the 2030 climate change targets.

Aoife will share examples of implementing health and wellness design interventions into buildings, showing the girls the human impact of working in STEM. “My role didn’t exist when I was in school. I'm looking forward to telling the girls that by following my interest in gaining a better understanding of people’s needs for the spaces we design, I now get to work with clients to achieve the highest standards in user health and wellness in buildings,” said Aoife.

Claire is an expert in geospatial data analytics, working to turn data into meaningful insights to aid decision makers in various sectors, from maritime to renewable energy to disaster response. “By speaking about the impacts of STEM innovations – from supporting our economy to helping us understand and combat climate change – I hope to show the girls that there are endless possibilities for them to change the world by working in STEM,” said Claire.

Victoria will share her experience working on projects ranging from iconic transport buildings, stadia and high-rise developments, to seismic upgrades and unique pavilions in locations around the world. “I’m eager to highlight the significant impact engineering solutions can have on people and communities all over the world. I want every girl to know that she can make a difference,” said Victoria.

Arup staff at stand at I Wish in 2019. Arup staff at stand at I Wish in 2019.
Arup is the Conference Zone - National Sponsor at I Wish 2020. Across the four days, the students will have the opportunity to visit the Arup stand to find out more about careers in STEM.

Several Arup staff members will take part in panel discussions centred on how they chose their career paths. Across the four days, the students will have the opportunity to visit the Arup stand to find out how a career in STEM could enable them to make a positive impact on the future of our planet.

Arup is proud to have supported I Wish since it began in 2015 and remains committed to creating a diverse working environment. We are involved in many other initiatives which promote STEM, including our Transition Year programme in our Dublin and Cork offices, STEPS to Engineering and UrbanPlan.

Find out more about careers at Arup.