ASK OUR STEM AMBASSADORS: FOCUS ON NOUR KHALED

Miss Nour Khaled is an undergraduate student at the Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering (UCL EEE) at UCL. Nour is originally from Palestine. She has worked as a United Nations Relief and Work Agency school tutor and has a true passion for inspiring young people to be the future engineers and innovators that shape and change the world.

How would you describe your area of study or work? 

Electronic and electrical engineering is a dynamic field integrated almost in all life aspects, targeted to solve todays and the future’s global challenges and improve the quality of life. It associates with a very wide range of different domains such as renewable energy, communication systems, electric circuits, programming and many more, which makes this filed active and high-powered.

 How did you decide to study in your chosen field?

During my high school years, when I had to decide what degree I want to study at university, I was definitely sure it’s either mechanical or electrical engineering. But it is my interest and passion to all the variety of topics in the field of Electronic and Electrical Engineering that stemmed and developed while I was doing my foundation year at UCL; meeting with academic, researchers and visiting the laboratories at UCL Engineering was what made me certain and decisive to choose Electronic and Electrical Engineering. I found the future revolves around technology and I am thrilled to be among the people shaping the future with all other engineers.

What attracted you to participating in outreach and engagement activities?

Engaging with society helps build a strong personality and it teaches me how to communicate with people of different ages, backgrounds and vision and also learn from them. What attracted me to participate in outreach activities is the service I will be giving to younger people that makes me involved in helping, teaching, inspiring and motivating them in order to make a difference and bring the best out of them. Being a part of outreach activities is being part of the society which makes me feel existent.

 What are the best things about being a STEM Ambassador?

Being a STEM Ambassador offers me the opportunity to contribute in teaching STEM subjects in an interesting way and clear any misconception students might have about STEM careers so bright students don’t drift away from this field, especially girls. It is very delightful for me to add-on knowledge to school students who have interest in STEM subjects and support them.

What type of activities or programmes have you led / run as a STEM Ambassador?

As a new STEM Ambassador I joined the ELUTEC Scholarship Mentoring Program which is based at UCL, tutoring mathematics for two high school students who are preparing themselves to pursue a degree in engineering.

What are the benefits of volunteering as a STEM Ambassador?

 Volunteering as a STEM Ambassador deepened my responsibility of encouraging young people to engage in the STEM field. It made me responsible for delivering the right information using the right approach. It also helped me sharpen my skills in delivering an idea and making it clearer to students who find it challenging.

What was the reaction of the young people you worked with?

Before volunteering with STEM I volunteered in teaching mathematics and English in a UN Relief and Work Agency School in Lebanon, a school for refugee students, most of these students had no passion, interest or excitement in education and only around 5 out of 47 students enjoyed Math, most of the problem was based on introducing math as an obligatory and tough subject and not introducing the importance and relevance of this subject to future careers. However, after discussing the importance of math and showing them how physics is a translation language of math, I believe they became more interested knowing mathematics is applicable and not just an exam paper that they should pass.

Dealing with students who already enjoy STEM subjects was not as challenging because they know they want to work in a STEM-related career, they even got more excited about their degree choices after visiting UCL and meeting with engineering students, these students are concerned about their studies and they show a will to excel further by asking questions about unclear ideas they have in STEM subjects or about the engineering degree and showing dedication.

What advice would you give young people wanting to study or work in STEM-related fields?

 Dedication and practice is the key to success in STEM fields. STEM careers are widely opened to all domains and the opportunities people find in this field are unlimited.