In our latest student blog, Daisy (second year MEng Civil Engineering) writes about the Women in Engineering netball team that was set up this year.

The ‘WinE’ netball team was created as a part of the Women in Engineering group that’s being set up at Newcastle University. It was suggest that sport is one way for all Engineering students to meet, have fun and get to know each other as well as including a social aspect where students can talk to other like-minded students.

This has proved to be true with the netball team consisting of women from all year groups and most engineering subjects (civil / mechanical / electrical / chemical / marine). We have had the chance to give advice and discuss our courses in a less formal and more relaxed setting.

One thing I have enjoyed most about the netball group is being able to spend time with other girls who have similar interests to me. With the engineering sector currently consisting mainly of men, the opportunity to talk to other females interested in the industry is rare and so it’s nice to be able to do this in the early stages of my career.

We are currently third in our league, with the top four teams progressing to the next stages of the competition. For a new team with little training we are doing well and improving with every match. Hopefully next year we can hold trials and possibly have more than one team.

As well as meeting up for netball training the team also meets outside of university to relax and get away from the pressures of our course. Currently we have been on a cocktail social and are planning more now that the exam season is over.

I have thoroughly enjoyed being a part of the ‘Women in Engineering’ netball team this year and hopefully we will progress to the final stages of the competition.