Karen Ann Hilsum Burt (née Hilsum) CPhys MInstP (26 November 1954 - 20 June 1997) was a British engineer and campaigner for the recruitment and retention of women in engineering.
Karen Burt | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | Karen Ann Hilsum 26 November 1954 |
| Died | 20 June 1997 (aged 42) Islington, London, England |
| Alma mater | University of Cambridge University of Reading |
| Organization | Women's Engineering Society |
| Known for | Advocacy Engineering |
Early life and education
editBurt attended Hillside School, Malvern and Worcester Girl's Grammar School.[1] She studied at Newnham College, Cambridge[2] and completed a PhD in electron microscopy at the University of Reading.[2]
Career
editBurt joined British Aerospace as a project engineer for scientific satellites,[3] and was eventually promoted to senior systems engineer.[2] Subsequently, she developed an interest in management, becoming a Business Acquisition Manager.[3]
Burt left British Aerospace and established her own consultancy.[3] In addition, she helped University College London establish the Centre for Advanced Instrumentation Systems.[2][4] She contributed to the Women's Engineering Society, Institute of Physics and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.[5] In 1983 and 1984 Burt presented a Faraday Lecture, Let's Build A Satellite, on behalf of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and British Aerospace.[6]
She was appointed to the London Branch Committee of the Women's Engineering Society in 1987.[7] She was a campaigner for career breaks and gave advice to members of the Women's Engineering Society in how to manage returning to work.[8] Burt was appointed to the Women's Engineering Society Council in 1991.[8] She presented at the 1991 International Conference of Women Engineers and Scientists.[6] Having just accepted a faculty position at University College London, Burt suffered a fatal stroke in June 1997.[2][9] aged only 42.[10]
Legacy
editSince 1999, the Women's Engineering Society have celebrated Karen Burt with a memorial award for newly chartered women in engineering, applied science or information technology.[2][11] Each year the Women's Engineering Society requests one nomination from each participating Professional Engineering Institution, and from these a winner is chosen. The award recognises significant potential in engineering[2][12] and it was originally set up to encourage a greater number of women to aim for, and to celebrate, the achievement of Chartered Engineer status.[3] Winners receive £1,000, at the bequest of her father, Cyril Hilsum.[5]
Karen Burt Award Winners
editSource:[13]
- 1999: Rebecca Dowsett, Institution of Electrical Engineers
- 2000: Una McQuaid, Institution of Civil Engineers
- 2001: Beth Hutchison, British Computer Society
- 2002: Helen Marson, Institution of Chemical Engineers
- 2003: Jane Wild, Institution of Mechanical Engineers
- 2004: Suzanne Bland, Institution of Civil Engineers
- 2005: Katy Roelich, Institution of Water and Environmental Management
- 2006: Louise Dougan (née McDevitt), Institute of Highway Engineers
- 2007: Jane Hunter, Institute of Highway Engineers
- 2008: Emily Spearman, Energy Institute
- 2009: Katy Deacon, Institution of Engineering & Technology
- 2010: Julie Templeton, Institution of Civil Engineers
- 2011: Dr Gemma Whatling, Institution of Mechanical Engineers
- 2012: Kate Cooksey, Institution of Civil Engineers
- 2013: Professor Molly Stevens, Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining
- 2014: Elaine Greaney, Institute of Engineering and Technology
- 2015: Helen Randell, Institution of Civil Engineers
- 2016: Clare Lavelle, Energy Institute
- 2017: Madeleine Jones, Institution of Chemical Engineers
- 2018: Dr Susan Deeny, Institution of Fire Engineers
- 2019: Mandy Lester, Institution of Chemical Engineers
- 2020: Tina Gunnarrsson, Institution of Civil Engineers
- 2021: Eleanor Earl, Institution of Civil Engineers
- 2022: Dr Emma Walton, Institute of Physics
- 2023: Dr Angeliki (Kelly) Loukatou, Institution of Engineering & Technology
References
edit- ^ "Karen Burt (Nee Hilsum) – Brilliant Boffin". 25 February 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g "The Karen Burt Memorial Award | Women's Engineering Society". www.wes.org.uk. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
- ^ a b c d "The Karen Burt Memorial Award | Women's Engineering Society". www.wes.org.uk. Retrieved 18 May 2019.
- ^ Tunnicliffe, Helen. "IChemE Member Madeleine Jones wins Karen Burt Award". www.thechemicalengineer.com. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
- ^ a b "About the Award | Karen Burt Award | Awards and competitions | Events | BCS - The Chartered Institute for IT". www.bcs.org. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
- ^ a b "The Woman Engineer Volume 15". www.theiet.org. Archived from the original on 10 May 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
- ^ "The Woman Engineer Volume 13". www.theiet.org. Archived from the original on 10 May 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
- ^ a b "The Woman Engineer Volume 14". www.theiet.org. Archived from the original on 10 May 2019. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
- ^ "The Woman Engineer". www.theiet.org. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
- ^ "United Kingdom Obituary Archive - 1997 - Page 2". www.genlookups.com. Retrieved 20 June 2019.
- ^ "The Woman Engineer Volume 16". www.theiet.org. Retrieved 12 July 2018.
- ^ "Karen Burt Award". www.bcs.org. BCS - The Chartered Institute for IT. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
- ^ "Previous Karen Burt Award Winners | Women's Engineering Society". www.wes.org.uk. Retrieved 17 July 2018.