A striking new statue has been unveiled in central London of a Macclesfield-based woman engineer.
Not encased in traditional bronze or marble but in a modern and vibrant style, the statue of manufacturing engineer Alice Kan has been specially designed by visual artist and designer Kelly Anna to mark National Engineering Day 2024.
This year, the Royal Academy of Engineering aims to inspire a new generation to see themselves reflected in engineering by honouring Kan as a contemporary engineer who played a pivotal role in the manufacture of the COVID-19 vaccine and is now working on vaccines for Ebola.
The initiative comes at a pivotal moment for the engineering profession. With women still making up only 15.7% of the UK engineering workforce – down from 16.5% in 2022 – the lack of visible role models is seen as a key factor in why fewer women are considering a career in engineering.
New research commissioned for National Engineering Day shows the crucial role of representation in inspiring the next generation, with 80% of respondents aged 12-15 naming the importance of having a role model to look up to for personal and career goals. However, almost half (44%) struggled to remember an engineer featured in popular culture and more than half could not name a famous engineer.
With statues being named among the top three reasons to stop and take notice over other public displays, engineers – especially women – are almost absent from public monuments. While historical figures like Mary Seacole and Millicent Fawcett have been celebrated with statues in recent years, historical engineers like Beatrice Shilling (known for her ground-breaking work to improve Spitfire performance) and Dame Caroline Haslett (pioneer of household electrification, as a way to ease household labour) still lack this public recognition.
Dr Hayaatun Sillem CBE, CEO of the Royal Academy of Engineering, said: “Engineering is driven by countless unsung heroes and teams who shape our world in profound ways every day. Across the UK, modern engineers – despite their remarkable contributions to our society – remain noticeably absent from public statues and monuments. Their achievements deserve to be celebrated more publicly, which is why, on National Engineering Day, we are using digital art and sculpture to bring their work – and their stories – to the wider public, and especially to those considering their future careers. We hope this will encourage more people from all backgrounds to join this creative, rewarding profession which improves lives every day.”
The collaboration with the artist Kelly Anna is particularly meaningful, as her distinctive style celebrates positivity, confidence and leadership – ideals that resonate with 54% of young adults when choosing role models.
Kelly Anna has also designed a new digital artwork entitled Engineering Role Models. Alongside Alice Kan, it features four other inspiring engineers – Navjot Singh, Meg Ginsburg, Dr Shini Somara, and Laura Hoang – who each bring unique contributions and diverse backgrounds to their fields. All five featured role models were nominated by the public – over 150 nominations were received in total.
Artist Kelly Anna’s collaboration blends art and engineering to shine a light on five engineers whose achievements and career paths tell an inspirational story that’s relatable and accessible to young people seeking creativity and purpose in their careers.
“I’m thrilled to work with the Royal Academy of Engineering on this initiative,” said Kelly Anna. “These engineers are making a tangible impact on the world, and it’s exciting to translate their achievements into art that can inspire others. I hope that through these pieces, people will see how creative and fulfilling engineering can be.”
Alice Kan said about her statue: “Being honoured in statue form is a very unique experience and not something many people can say. I really hope my statue encourages people to understand more about engineering, what engineers do and why it is a great career for anyone who’s got a curiosity for wanting to make things work better.”
The government’s mission to drive economic growth and make Britain a clean energy superpower will rely heavily on the skills of engineers and technicians. Yet, engineering is often seen as a hidden profession, with fewer opportunities for public visibility compared to careers like medicine or law. This year’s National Engineering Day is a bold step toward changing that perception and encouraging more young people from diverse backgrounds to pursue a career in engineering.
The public (and especially school-aged children) are invited to engage with the inspiring stories of this year’s featured engineers by visiting the Academy’s offices in Central London, where Kelly Anna’s sculpture of Alice Kan will be on display from 13 until 20 November, as well as exploring the Engineering Role Models digital artwork that will be on display across the UK on 13 November.
These displays showcase the incredible diversity and creativity of modern engineering and are intended to spark curiosity and excitement in those considering their future career paths.
