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Penny's an inspiration
Penny Rathbone, from Sellafield Ltd's Technical directorate, has become an 'Inspirational Woman' for the Women into Science Engineering and Construction (WISE) website.
The WISE campaign collaborates with industry and education to encourage girls in the UK of school age to value and pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) or construction related courses in school or college, and to move into related careers.
Penny said: “Having been contacted by the Women's Engineering Society as a person who had been on a WISE course in the past, I gave some feedback on my career since attending the course and they have since invited me to become an 'Inspirational Woman' for the WISE website.”
Penny attended a WISE week course when she was 16 and it inspired her to study science, eventually reading Materials Science and Engineering at Liverpool University.
Penny later did a PhD in Materials before joining the Company Research Laboratory at Springfields as a research associate in the Advanced Materials Group. She transferred to Sellafield in 2000 and her current role is lead for a centre of expertise in polymeric materials within the Technical directorate.
Penny said: “I am honoured to be named as an inspirational woman and keen to promote science as a career.
“Always interesting and sometimes challenging, materials science uses a broad range of science, engineering and problem solving skills - especially in an environment such as we have here at Sellafield.”
Debbie Keighley, head of technical capability, added: "Penny is a highly committed materials scientist who is enthusiastic about sharing her knowledge and experience with the next generation. She is especially keen to encourage more girls to take up careers in science and engineering subjects, and during the last 10 years has been involved in numerous education days and events as a science and engineering ambassador.”
