UN International Day of Women and Girls in Science 2022: Naked Energy in conversation with Maria Zagorulko
In celebration of International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we interviewed Maria Zagorulko, Process Engineer at Naked Energy, to celebrate the vital role of women in the energy transition.
What is the purpose of the UN International Day of Women and Girls in Science?
According to the UN, “the Day focuses on the reality that science and gender equality are both vital for the achievement of internationally agreed development goals, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”
In the concise words of UN Women: “the world needs science, and science needs women and girls.”
February 11th offers an opportunity to support a movement towards “full and equal access to and participation in science for women and girls” (UN).
Did you know? In the UK, in 2021:
65% of the STEM workforce consisted of white men, with women making up only 27%
12% of the STEM workforce were from ethnic minorities; 11% were people with a disability
There are far fewer women working in engineering in the UK than in STEM overall: 11% of the engineering workforce in the UK are women (which is the lowest % of female engineering professionals in the whole of Europe!)
For many, these statistics are shocking and indicate that more needs to be done to achieve equality in the sciences.
At Naked Energy, we envisage a world in which we meet our social needs, within the limits of our planetary boundaries. This involves a future in which solar thermal and solar PVT are installed on the roofs and facades of every building with a constant heat demand, turning them into energy independent, self-sufficient, zero-carbon heat and power stations.
We also are working towards a future in which we are able to flourish in an equitable society, reaping the rewards of collaborating with a diverse range of perspectives. We see diversity of backgrounds and experience as key to designing a future that meets the needs of everyone. With women only accounting for 32% of the renewable energy workforce globally, we are proud to showcase the perspectives of a diverse community at our company.
Author Caroline Criado Perez articulates the inequity that results from designing our world in an echo chamber: “your phone is too big for your hand…your doctor prescribes you a drug that is wrong for your body…in a car accident, you are 47% more likely to be seriously injured…if any of this sounds familiar, chances are that you’re a woman.” Furthermore, Caroline’s reflections are amplified when considering the intersection of identities. Engineering, technology, science and mathematics (known as ‘STEM’ subjects) have for too long been deprived of a diverse academic and professional workforce.
We’re over the moon to introduce Maria Zagorulko, a fascinating young woman working in the engineering sector, who is bringing her enthusiasm, drive and knowledge to Naked Energy’s mission to change energy for good.
1. What career did you dream of doing when you were younger? How does that compare to what you’re doing now?
I wish I could say something phenomenal like ‘astronaut’, ‘ballerina’ or ‘Santa’s helper’, yet when I was a child I always dreamt of being an English teacher. My love for languages has indeed stayed, even though it is polar opposite to what I am doing now.
2. Can you tell us the “backstory” about how you came to work in engineering?
This is a traditional love story. Back in October 2012 a smiley woman enters the room and proclaims : ‘Good morning, class! Welcome to your first Chemistry lesson’. With that phrase I knew there was no going back to the world of humanities. I simply fell in love with the subject!
Then I started thinking about how can I apply chemistry to my future profession.. Maximalist urge to change the world for the better lead me to choose Chemical Engineering as a subject at university and renewable technologies as my main focus for a career path.
3. Do you have any strong female leader role models in the engineering sector? Who inspires you?
I don’t, no.. I try not to idealise people in general. That being said, of course I celebrate female achievements and success! In my opinion, when a woman gets to the top positions in any industry, one has to recognise that to get there she had jump through many more loops than a man.
4. What do you like most about your current role?
1) Dynamic environment – being able to get involved in a range of activities that are far broader than your job description. Start-up environment nurtures your skills yet also gives creative freedom.
2) The team – the team!! I have never seen such a delicately balanced team of magnetic individuals. It is an honour to work alongside professionals in the field.
3) Limitless support – Naked energy has given me an immense amount of support as I joined, making me feel comfortable in the role but also gave me tools to navigate my understanding of the business and a full-time job!
5. If you could invent something new, what would you create?
Perpetual motion machine that produces energy, of course. (Solar panels are close 😉)
6. What do you wish you had known before starting a career in engineering?
I wish I’d known that I will not become an engineer the moment I step out of the university doors. It’s a career choice where it can take years before you master a skill or be able to call yourself a professional. I am up for that challenge!
7. What’s an exciting project you have on the cards for 2022?
A lot of things are planned for the next 12 months but a project that I am tenderly nursing now is an educational media piece – so stay tuned!
8. Can you tell us about an amusing or challenging experience that has happened in your career so far? What’s the best takeaway of this story?
I can definitely tell you the amusing one.. As I became acquainted with the world renewables and sustainable policy-making, I have started closely following global conferences on climate change e.g. UN COP. I was drawn to these by the idea of global leaders and main industry minds working together to reduce the impact of the climate change. A few years later….
In November 2021, by virtue of unpredictable events, Naked Energy has given me the opportunity to represent the company at COP26 in Glasgow and to have a first-hand glance at the conference of my dreams! It felt and still feels surreal.. The takeaway is clearly to never stop dreaming, believing and working towards your goals! As cheesy as that 😊
9.What’s the best thing about being a woman working for an engineering firm?
I will not be original here and say being able to provide a different perspective on engineering solutions. It is a great feeling when your ideas are considered and approved of, the feeling that I experience everyday working for Naked Energy.
Top podcast recommendation:
‘How I Built This’ with Guy Raz – generally great podcast from inspiring, successful businessmen and businesswomen. Definitely worth giving it a listen!
Top book recommendation:
‘Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close’ by Jonathan Safran Foer – a novel to open your eyes on the world through the eyes of 9 year old boy.
A note from Naked Energy’s Head of People, Priya Thakar: “In economics, there is an argument to say that the theories on which our financial system were built missed female perspectives. In a similar guise, we ask; which female and other diverse perspectives have we missed in engineering? Only by having a workforce that reflects and consults the society that we operate for can we design products that best serve all of our needs. The 2019 book ‘Invisible Women’ by Caroline Criado Perez offers examples of design bias in a world that has not accounted for the way we all use it – something we can all contribute to changing by building more inclusive teams.”