Rebecca Leith chats to us about how joining Monash University's Nova Rover team pivoted her into an engineering degree and the impact the Pink Rover campaign is making on young women in STEM.
What inspired you to join the Nova Rover team?
I really wanted my university experience to live up to what I imagined from when I was in school. When the COVID-19 lockdowns began, I found myself studying from home with no friends and no real sense of belonging at university. My boyfriend was applying to an engineering student team and told me some teams take on science students and that I should apply. I saw Nova Rover did experiments on board the rover and I thought I could apply my chemistry skills on the team.
Can you tell us more about your goals for the future and how the experience in the team will help you along?
My career aspirations have completely changed since I joined the team. I wanted to be a chemist, conducting research in the lab and producing papers. Once I joined the team, I fell in love with engineering. I decided to add a Bachelor of Mechatronics Engineering to my science degree and saw a life for myself in the aerospace/robotics sector as an engineer. To give back to the team, and improve my professional skills, I took on the team lead role. I learnt a lot about running an organisation and am now inspired to become a CEO one day, leading an engineering company in the aerospace and robotics Industry.
Can you tell us more about the Pink Rover campaign and what that means to you?
The Pink Rover campaign has been so successful and beneficial in many ways. I have met many young girls and women who have been inspired to participate in STEM or to be more confident in their STEM careers. It makes me feel so proud of the work we've done. I have also met many amazing professionals who have championed my work on the campaign and made me feel like there's a place for me in STEM. I did not receive an introduction to engineering while in school and I am glad to be able to give that opportunity to others.
What advice can you give young engineers interested in the space engineering sector?
You are much more capable than you think. And those you believe to be brilliant are just as self-conscious as you are. I have battled with imposter syndrome and see other amazing engineers around me with the same worries. Once you have that understanding, you can get on with your career with a confident mindset.