'Write to your MP' to change status of the profession
Shadow science and innovation minister Chi Onwurah says Parliamentarians have a poor understanding of engineering
- Published in News.
Chi Onwurah is also a qualified electrical engineer
A prominent politician has urged engineers to write to their local MP in an attempt to bolster the status of the profession within Parliament.
Shadow science and innovation minister Chi Onwurah, a qualified electrical engineer, said that very few politicians had an engineering background, and that this ignorance led to a poor understanding of the profession within political circles. She said that engineers needed to combat this lack of knowledge by corresponding with their local MPs on engineering-related matters.
Onwurah said: “Engineers need to bang the drum more for engineering. We don't speak up enough. As engineers we think that our work should speak for itself. I'm afraid that isn't the case anymore in today's environment.”
She went on: “Few parliamentarians have an understanding of engineering and the fact that engineers do not speak with a loud and strong voice means that that continues to be the case. But if every engineer wrote a long, detailed, technical letter to their MP demanding a long, detailed response in reference to engineering issues in their constituency, be assured the level of understanding of engineering among MPs would change over night.”
Onwurah said that unless engineers took it upon themselves to help change perceptions of the profession, they should not complain if things didn't change. “Whether its lobbying your local MP, or promoting engineering and manufacturing in schools, I would urge all engineers to be more active as engineers. Engineers need to engage more with the world. The world is a sorrier place for the lack of a strong voice for engineering.
“I truly believe that we cannot moan on about how little engineering is reflected in our culture – moaning isn't enough. It's up to us to make sure government, the civil service and media understands and reflects the importance of engineering.”
Onwurah said that as shadow science and innovation minister, she was determined to play her part in promoting the profession. “It's one of my key objectives, as an engineer, but also as shadow minister, to ensure that engineering is back where it belongs at the heart of our economy, our society and our culture.”