Blog: Stepping outside the nuclear bubble
Early-career researcher, Charlotte Brown, reflects on attending the Royal Academy of Engineering鈥檚 International Women in Engineering Day Leadership Lunch, a chance for women across the sector to connect beyond the pace of everyday work. The event reinforced the importance of embracing difficulty as an inherent part of the discipline.
I had the fantastic opportunity to attend the Royal Academy of Engineering鈥檚 International Women in Engineering Day Leadership Lunch as a guest of Professor Zara Hodgson, alongside Dame Fiona Rayment and Sim Bhaker. It was a rare moment where women from across the engineering sector could step away from the fast pace of everyday work and engage in honest, meaningful conversation.
What struck me most was how valuable it is to have dedicated time and space for women to share experiences that often get lost in the noise of day to day life. Hearing perspectives across all fields of engineering was refreshing and grounding. It reminded me how easy it is to become siloed within a specialist field and that it is incredibly rewarding to deliberately step outside the 'nuclear bubble'.
One of the most powerful moments of the day came from Dame Polina Bayvel, who said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 hard because it is difficult, not because you are stupid.鈥� As I approach the final year of my PhD, this message resonated deeply. It鈥檚 a reminder that engineering is inherently challenging and that difficulty is not a reflection of personal inadequacy. Within the fusion community, where progress often feels slow and complex, this mindset is especially important.
Another theme that surfaced repeatedly was the idea of reframing engineering to be outcomes focused. Instead of defining ourselves by the technical hurdles, we should focus on the impact we create, whether that is enabling net zero technologies, improving healthcare, or designing safer infrastructure.
Overall, the event was a joy to attend. The food was excellent, but the real highlight was the meaningful conversations with women from such varied backgrounds. I made connections I wouldn't have made otherwise, some of whom have already offered future chats and informal mentorship.
I鈥檓 grateful to the Royal Academy of Engineering for organising such an impactful event, and to the Dalton Nuclear Institute for supporting my attendance. I left feeling inspired, connected, and more confident about the road ahead. If anything could have improved the day, it would have simply been more time to talk, listen, and build the relationships that help women in engineering thrive.
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