{"id":103,"date":"2026-06-24T12:40:15","date_gmt":"2026-06-24T11:40:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/schools.stem.open.ac.uk\/engineering-and-innovation\/?page_id=103"},"modified":"2026-09-22T09:49:08","modified_gmt":"2026-09-22T08:49:08","slug":"wide-women-in-innovation-design-and-engineering-student-conference-boundless-engineering","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/schools.stem.open.ac.uk\/engineering-and-innovation\/people\/women-in-engineering\/wide-women-in-innovation-design-and-engineering-student-conference-boundless-engineering\/","title":{"rendered":"WIDE (Women in Innovation, Design and Engineering) Student Conference \u2013 Boundless Engineering"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"WIDE<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

After 3 years of online events, the Women in Engineering Student Conference comes back face-to-face, this time widened to Women in Innovation, Design and Engineering (WIDE) and with the theme Boundless Engineering<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Nobel Laureate Herb Simon: \u201c\u2026 to design is to devise courses of action aimed at changing existing situations into preferred ones\u201d<\/strong>. In the world as it is, many changes are needed to achieve a fairer and more sustainable planet. Much of this transformation will be enabled by designers and engineers. This conference explores how to make a difference as an engineer or designer. The possibilities are boundless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conference starts with a keynote from \u201cEngineers without borders\u201d, who will speak about their international work and how students can be part of these projects. Then, an employers\u2019 panel will be open for questions and there will be several workshops and presentations from engineers, all at different points in their careers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The conference is designed to give you as much opportunity as possible to meet other students, Associate Lecturers and other members of OU staff. The conference starts on Saturday, 1 July, with an evening dinner and networking opportunities, followed by a complete programme on Sunday. Participants can choose to join the event on both days or only on the Sunday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Important dates<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Conference:<\/strong> 1st and 2nd July 2023<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Registration deadline<\/strong>: 20th June 2023<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bursary applications<\/strong> will be considered up until the registration deadline and successful applicants notified as soon as possible<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We have 50 accommodation bursaries of up to \u00a375 and 25 travel bursaries of up to \u00a3100 available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To apply for a bursary please complete the form at this link: Bursary Application Form<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We aim to widen participation as much as possible and offer support to as many students as we can. Please consider sharing travel or looking for other types of accommodation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Venue<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Open University
Walton Hall
Milton Keynes
MK7 6AA<\/p>\n\n\n\n

map<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Travel to the Milton Keynes campus can be found at:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

http:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/about\/estates\/travel-advice\/directions-walton-hall-campus<\/a> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The map of the campus can be found at:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

https:\/\/www.open.ac.uk\/about\/estates\/travel-advice\/map-venues-walton-hall<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

More information will be sent to the participants prior to the conference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Registration<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Conference fee:<\/strong> \u00a329<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meals:<\/strong> The evening social dinner on Saturday, lunch on Sunday and refreshments at tea\/coffee breaks during the conference are all included.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Register here:\u00a0Conference Attendance<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Accommodation<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Please make your own arrangements for accommodation. There are many hotels in Milton Keynes within walking distance of the OU. There is ample car parking on campus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conference Programme<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
 <\/td>Saturday 1st July<\/strong><\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
17:00     <\/td>Arrival and registration<\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
18:30<\/td>Dinner<\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>Talks and activity with Faye Banks<\/a> and Phebe Mann<\/a><\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>Networking with students, staff and guests<\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>Sunday 2nd July<\/strong><\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
09:45<\/td>Arrival & Registration (day-only delegates) <\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
10:00<\/td>Welcome from Claudia Eckert<\/a> and Diane Butler<\/a><\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
10:15<\/td>Keynote speech:  Engineers without borders<\/a> (Emma Crichton<\/a> \u2013 Head of Engineering)<\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
11:15<\/td>Workshops<\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>Planning your T452 Project – Andrea Patel<\/a><\/strong><\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>The workshops targets UG students planning for T452 in 2024 or 2025.<\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>The workshop provides an introduction to T452 the Engineering Project and includes tips for preparing and completing T452.<\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>The workshop closes with a Q&A session where participants can raise any questions they might have in relation to T452 The Engineering Project.<\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>Supporting female students at the OU – Daphne Chang<\/a><\/strong><\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>The workshop targets all students.<\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>This workshop explores barriers experienced by female Engineering students in the work place and how the OU can help to increase resilience and\/or overcome these barriers.<\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>Lab Tour<\/a> – Open Stem Lab, Materials Lab, Parry D Lab<\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
12:15<\/td>Lunch<\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
13:00<\/td>Workshops<\/td> <\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>Planning your T452 Project – Andrea Patel<\/a><\/strong>The workshops targets UG students planning for T452 in 2024 or 2025The workshop provides an introduction to T452 the Engineering Project and includes tips for preparing and completing T452.The workshop closes with a Q&A session where participants can raise any questions they might have in relation to T452 The Engineering Project.<\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>Choosing your Engineering route – Jan Kowal<\/a><\/strong>The workshops targets UG students at Level 1 and 2This question and answer session, will give you the opportunity to ask any questions you may have about the qualification and pathway options in your design or engineering studies at the OU<\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>Supporting female students at the OU – Daphne Chang<\/a><\/strong>The workshop targets all students.This workshop explores barriers experienced by female Engineering students in the work place and how the OU can help to increase resilience and\/or overcome these barriers.<\/td> <\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>Lab Tour<\/a> – Open Stem Lab, Materials Lab, Parry D Lab<\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
14:00<\/td>Panel discussion and Q&A : Making a difference as an engineer<\/a><\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>Tamara Monti<\/a> – EuroNorth Education Sales Manager<\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>Ramona Mihailescu \u2013 Network Rail \u2013 Engineer<\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>Jodie Bowman<\/a> \u2013 Leonardo \u2013 Senior Microwave Engineer<\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>Professor Fiona Clark<\/a> \u2013 Leonardo \u2013 Head of Capability for EW Sensors<\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
15:00 <\/td>Coffee break<\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
15:30<\/td>Early career engineer talks:<\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>Lois Damptey<\/a>, PhD student, Open University<\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>Tiffany Roberts<\/a>, Nextbase, Test manager <\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
 <\/td>Tamara Monti<\/a>, EuroNorth, Education Sales Manager<\/td> <\/td><\/tr>
16:30 <\/td>Closing remarks \u2013 Claudia Eckert<\/td> <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Past and future events<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Year<\/td>Event<\/td>Venue<\/td><\/tr>
2016<\/td>Conference \u2013 Making connections \u2013 Celebrating Women in Engineering<\/td>Walton Hall campus in Milton Keynes<\/td><\/tr>
2017<\/td>Conference \u2013 Creating supportive environments<\/td>Walton Hall campus in Milton Keynes<\/td><\/tr>
2018<\/td>Conference \u2013 Levelling the playing field<\/td>Walton Hall campus in Milton Keynes<\/td><\/tr>
2019<\/td>Conference – Transforming the future \u2013 engineering for all<\/td>Birmingham<\/td><\/tr>
2021<\/td>Conference \u2013 Engineering heroes<\/td>Online<\/td><\/tr>
2022<\/td>November webinar series<\/td>Online<\/td><\/tr>
2023<\/td>Conference \u2013 Boundless engineering<\/td>Walton Hall campus in Milton Keynes<\/td><\/tr>
2024<\/td>Conference – TBC<\/td>Online<\/td><\/tr>
2025<\/td>Conference – TBC<\/td>Scotland<\/td><\/tr>
2026<\/td>Conference – TBC<\/td>Online<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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