The online event will take place on June 23.
Dr Katsikogianni will be joining women engineers from, technology universities in Bahrain, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand to discuss topics from a wide range of engineering disciplines, including regenerative medicine, architectural engineering and environmental and wastewater management as part of a celebration of 10 years of International Women in Engineering Day (INWED).
This year’s theme is women engineers who are engaged in safety and security and who #MakeSafetySeen
Dr Katsikogianni will talk about how butterfly wings inspired her to create new surface for medical devices.
"At Bradford, using surface engineering approaches, we have produced a structured surface that prevents bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation but enhances eukaryotic [cells that have a nucleus and a membrane] cell adhesion and integration, towards the development of novel biomaterial surfaces.
“I look forward to communicating the outcomes of this research to other members of the World Technology University Network and explore collaborations with an emphasis on using technology to solve real world challenges."
WTUN development manager Denise Whitehead, who organised the event, said: “As a network of 19 universities spanning five continents, with a focus on science and technology, it was important to the World Technology Universities Network that we mark International Women in Engineering Day.
"The Network is committed to supporting research and activities that align with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, with SDG 5, ‘Gender Equality’, a core focus for our members.
“It’s wonderful that the University of Bradford is hosting this event. We are able to highlight the work of a wide and diverse range of women, all of whom are engaged in cutting edge, challenge led research at WTUN member institutions across the world. Dr Elaine Brown and Dr Cristina Tuninea-Bobe were so committed to marking this occasion and hosting this event.”
Dr Elaine Brown, Associate Dean for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI), said:
“The role of engineers is to solve technical problems for the benefit of society, and to do that effectively requires the ever-changing needs of people to be fully understood and met. For this we need a greater diversity in engineering teams. In the UK, women are underrepresented in engineering careers, but we know that visibility of positive role models will encourage more girls and young women to enter the profession.
“International Women in Engineering Day is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the technical achievements of women and to provide those role models.
“At the University of Bradford, our EDI Strategy includes work to understand and close gender gaps, so opportunities to influence and inspire young women are embraced and this is why we are delighted to mark International Women in Engineering Day.”
She added: “The day is not only for women – the voices of any minority groups can and should be amplified by allies, working in partnership to transform an unequal landscape, and so International Women in Engineering Day welcomes people of any gender to join the celebration, hear women’s voices and work together to make positive change and this year to #makesafetyseen.”
Women in Engineering Day began in the UK in 2014 as a national campaign from the Women’s Engineering Society as part of the society’s 95th anniversary. Since then, National Women in Engineering Day (NWED) has grown enormously, receiving UNESCO patronage in 2016.
In 2017, NWED became international for the first time due to the interest and enthusiasm developed by the international audience and participants in the previous years. International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) was born to enable the celebration of women in engineering to become global. https://www.wes.org.uk/
Registration Form: click HERE