Golnaz Shahrestani, who is based at the University’s College of Engineering and Physical Sciences won the regional heat of the IMechE SOfE 2023 (Speak Out for Engineering) challenge.
The competition was established in 1964 by the Young Members Institution of Mechanical Engineers to challenge young professionals to prove that they can communicate effectively.
Competitors must give a 20-minute oral presentation on a subject relating to mechanical engineering, and 90% of the total marks are given for the delivery, with only 10% for the technical content.
Golnaz, a second-year mechanical engineering student at Aston University, gave a talk about the importance of aerodynamics and her design work for the Formula Student team. Formula Student is Europe’s most established educational engineering competition, which has been running since 1998.
Golnaz said: “I’m thrilled to have won this award.
“The competition proves the importance of good communication skills in a professional setting. Engineers need more than just technical skills because we have to communicate and work with people from other backgrounds. They may not understand the technical aspects of a situation, which is why it’s important that we can explain highly technical information in an easier to understand way.
“It was quite nerve-wracking to give the talk to a panel of experts, but it was certainly worth it.”
She will now represent the Midlands in the UK & Ireland 2023 final in autumn 2024.
Senior lecturer in engineering and technology, Dr Jean-Baptiste Souppez, said: “As a department, we are delighted to see students from mechanical, biomedical and design engineering actively participate in events such as Speak out for Engineering, which is testimony to their passion and ambition to engage with wider audiences.”
The awards were held in Birmingham on 30 November, and on the night, another Aston University student received an accolade.
Fatima Khanom, a quantum biophotonics research student, was given the special encouragement prize for her presentation. Based in both the University’s Mechanical, Biomedical and Design Engineering department and Aston Institute of Photonic Technologies, she gave a talk about a new imaging technique for the diagnosis and potential treatment of conditions leading to blindness.
Previously, both Golnaz and Fatima took part in the Mercedes High Performance Powertrains Scholarship Programme, which helps students from under-represented groups enter careers in motorsports.
Dr Souppez added: “The achievements of Golnaz and Fatima also reflect their hard work and dedication to their studies, and we are extremely proud of them. Both were also part of our latest cohort of summer internships funded and supported by the Mercedes High Performance Powertrains Scholarship Programme, thereby demonstrating the value of this scheme.”
In 2022, Aston University’s College of Engineering and Physical Sciences received Athena Swan gold – the highest accolade for higher education equality, becoming the second UK university to have an engineering department awarded the title.
