Karen Burt
Karen Burt | |
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Alma mater | University of Cambridge University of Reading |
Organization | Women's Engineering Society |
Known for | Advocacy Engineering |
Karen Ann Hilsum Burt (née Hilsum) CPhys MInstP (died 20 June 1997) was a British engineer and campaigner for the recruitment and retention of women in engineering.
Early life and education
Burt studied at Newnham College, Cambridge.[1] She completed a PhD in electron microscopy at the University of Reading.[1]
Career
Burt joined British Aerospace as a project engineer for scientific satellites[2], and was eventually promoted to senior systems engineer.[1] Subsequently, she developed an interest in management, becoming a Business Acquisition Manager. [2]
Burt left British Aerospace and set up her own consultancy [2]. In addition she helped University College London establish the Centre for Advanced Instrumentation Systems.[1][3] She contributed to the Women's Engineering Society, Institute of Physics and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.[4] In 1983 and 1984 Burt presented a Faraday Lecture, Let's Build A Satellite, on behalf of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and British Aerospace.[5]
She was appointed to the London Branch Committee of the Women's Engineering Society in 1987.[6] She was a campaigner for career breaks and gave advice to members of the Women's Engineering Society in how to manage returning to work.[7] Burt was appointed to the Women's Engineering Society Council in 1991.[7] She presented at the 1991 International Conference of Women Engineers and Scientists.[5] Having just accepted a faculty position at University College London, Burt suffered a fatal stroke in June 1997 [1][8] aged only 42.[9]
Legacy
Since 1999 the Women's Engineering Society have celebrated Karen Burt with a memorial award for newly chartered women in engineering, applied science or information technology.[1][10] Each year the Women's Engineering Society requests one nomination from each participating Professional Engineering Institution, and from these a winner is chosen. The award recognises significant potential in engineering [1][11] and it was originally set up to encourage a greater number of women to aim for, and to celebrate, the achievement of Chartered Engineer status[2]. Winners receive £1,000, at the bequest of her father, Cyril Hilsum.[4]
Karen Burt Award Winners[12]
- 2019: Mandy Lester, Institution of Chemical Engineers
- 2018: Dr Susan Deeny, Institution of Fire Engineers
- 2017: Madeleine Jones, Institution of Chemical Engineers
- 2016: Clare Lavelle, Energy Institute
- 2015: Helen Randell, Institution of Civil Engineers
- 2014: Elaine Greaney, Institute of Engineering and Technology
- 2013: Professor Molly Stevens, Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining
- 2012: Kate Cooksey, Institution of Civil Engineers
- 2011: Dr Gemma Whatling, Institution of Mechanical Engineers
- 2010: Julie Templeton, Institution of Civil Engineers
- 2009: Katy Deacon, Institution of Engineering & Technology
- 2008: Emily Spearman, Energy Institute
- 2007: Jane Hunter, Institute of Highway Engineers
- 2006: Louise Dougan (née McDevitt), Institute of Highway Engineers
- 2005: Katy Roelich, Institution of Water and Environmental Management
- 2004: Suzanne Bland, Institution of Civil Engineers
- 2003: Jane Wild, Institution of Mechanical Engineers
- 2002: Helen Marson, Institution of Chemical Engineers
- 2001: Beth Hutchison, British Computer Society
- 2000: Una McQuaid, Institution of Civil Engineers
- 1999: Rebecca Dowsett, Institution of Electrical Engineers
References
- ^ a b c d e f g "The Karen Burt Memorial Award | Women's Engineering Society". www.wes.org.uk. Retrieved 2018-07-12.
- ^ a b c d "The Karen Burt Memorial Award | Women's Engineering Society". www.wes.org.uk. Retrieved 2019-05-18.
- ^ Tunnicliffe, Helen. "IChemE Member Madeleine Jones wins Karen Burt Award". www.thechemicalengineer.com. Retrieved 2018-07-13.
- ^ a b "About the Award | Karen Burt Award | Awards and competitions | Events | BCS - The Chartered Institute for IT". www.bcs.org. Retrieved 2018-07-12.
- ^ a b "The Woman Engineer Volume 15". www.theiet.org. Archived from the original on 2019-05-10. Retrieved 2019-06-20.
- ^ "The Woman Engineer Volume 13". www.theiet.org. Archived from the original on 2019-05-10. Retrieved 2019-06-20.
- ^ a b "The Woman Engineer Volume 14". www.theiet.org. Archived from the original on 2019-05-10. Retrieved 2019-06-20.
- ^ "The Woman Engineer". www.theiet.org. Retrieved 2018-07-12.
- ^ "United Kingdom Obituary Archive - 1997 - Page 2". www.genlookups.com. Retrieved 2019-06-20.
- ^ "The Woman Engineer Volume 16". www.theiet.org. Retrieved 2018-07-12.
- ^ "Karen Burt Award". www.bcs.org. BCS - The Chartered Institute for IT. Retrieved 2018-07-13.
- ^ "Previous Karen Burt Award Winners | Women's Engineering Society". www.wes.org.uk. Retrieved 2018-07-17.