“Being a woman is so fascinating… It is an adventure that requires such courage, such a challenge, that never ends”
Oriana Fallaci
8 March is International Women’s Day, a day to fight for the equality, participation and empowerment of women in all sectors of society.
However, there are still stereotypes to overcome, one for example is trying to understand why if women make up 50% of the population the percentage of female students in engineering classrooms is less than 25%.
One of the possible answers could lie in the lack of female role models or in prejudices that are transferred from one generation to the next.
Women have more than proved that this is not a closed field for them and many have become prestigious aerospace engineers.
The truth is that talent, algorithms and science do not distinguish between genders.
Our PhD students, with their answers, want to contribute and bear witness to what has just been said by trying to convey their enthusiasm and sending out a message to all girls and women who want to approach this type of career: “be free to be what you want to be, without fear, without prejudice and above all without hesitation!”
Pink Week: Interview with Sadaf Shahsavani
Briefly describe the topic of your doctoral thesis My thesis title is "Modeling and mission analysis of Low Work-function tethers" and it is simply about using a specific type of electrodynamic tethers in space missions. We investigate the physics behind the plasma-tether interactions. Then we propose algorithms to optimize the size of the tether system and finally, the performance of the system will be determined and the mission analysis will be carried out.
Why did you choose to study engineering? Engineering has shown its application in life and for me, it is as beautiful as art. Personally, I have always wanted to be innovative and creative and I realized that it may come true by studying engineering, although I am interested in many fields of study because each field has its own beauty.
What would you say to a teenager who wants to pursue an engineering degree? As engineering covers a wide range of studies, I would say find the area you are interested in more.
How do you think it is possible to make girls more aware that engineering studies are for everyone (without gender exclusion). I think in schools they should learn more about the engineering fields of study. Then they will realize that engineering means solving mathematical problems using computer programs which is not related to gender.
Thank you very much Sadaf for being part of our team and allowing us to enter your world!
PhD in Aerospace Engineering UC3M 