International Day of Women and Girls in Science is celebrated each year on February 11. A day to promote full and equal access and participation of women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields.
At Chemring we work hard to promote the STEM fields to the younger generations, highlighting all the possibilities available to them.
To mark International Day of Women and Girls in Science, we caught up with a few of our colleagues across the business to hear about their experiences and what attracted them to a career in science.
Karoline Primdahl, Scientist, Chemring Nobel
I work as a scientist in the research and development department at Chemring Nobel, in Norway. My work includes the development of new technology to encounter new and existing challenges, optimisation of our products, and investigating new potential synthetic routes.
My curiosity attracted me to a career in science from an early age. I enjoyed and did well in the science courses at school and have always been eager to understand the underlying mechanism of how the world works.
I gained a Master’s degree in chemistry and biotechnology from the Norwegian University of Life Sciences and a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the Department of Pharmacy at the University of Oslo.
We were quite a small group enrolled in the Master’s program where both genders were equally represented. When I started my Ph.D. at the University of Oslo, I was the only female Ph.D. student in the group at that time, but over the years the share of female Ph.D. students increased drastically.
I started with Chemring Nobel in September 2022. I had spent many years in academia and was now interested in working in industry. Chemring Nobel was expanding and still is, and the opportunity to be a part of this journey was too exciting not to grab.
I love that I have a variety in the tasks that I have been working on and that no day is the same. As I’m new to the industry the learning curve has been quite steep, but so far it has been a very intriguing and engaging journey. I also have many passionate colleagues whom I enjoy working with.
The company is very focused on circular economy and conservation of the environment, and we are continuously working on developing and testing new/existing technology to preserve these values. I am very proud to be a part of these conversations and excited how we can develop them further.
If you are curious by nature and passionate about solving problems of different kinds this will be a great career path. Science is everywhere we look so there is a wealth of possibilities when it comes to work.
Jessica Crowe, Quality Engineering Technician, Chemring Countermeasures USA
I am currently a Quality Engineering Technician at Chemring Countermeasures USA in Tennessee. I work within the engineering department on the quality aspect of the many projects that are currently underway or in the pipeline. I also assist the other quality engineers by helping to compile and review the data to give to management. On the occasion that the quality technicians are off, I will also assist in covering the program they are assigned to.
I have always enjoyed maths and working with computers. I like being able to troubleshoot to find out what the root cause is in a problem and help solve the issue. Having a career in science gives me a chance to get creative in my job as well as in my life outside of work. Science is a great field if you like thinking outside of the box.
I am currently attending school to get my associate's degree in Computer Programming and Engineering Systems Technology. Most of my classes have been online but I will start on-campus classes at night this month. In the classes that I have taken so far, there have not been many women that I have interacted with who are getting their degree in science. At previous employment, I achieved a Level 1 PC-DMIS CAD++ at the Hexagon Metrology in Nashville, TN in 2016.
I have been at Chemring for 11 years and I was attracted to Chemring because I like how the company I work for helps protect our military. The most rewarding part for me is knowing our warfighters get to come home safe to their families. My proudest moment to date was being promoted to an engineering position in the quality department.
There are plenty of job opportunities for careers in science, and there is also job security in this field. Plus, it can also be fun!
Valerie Wilson, Research Chemist, Chemring Energetics UK
As a Research Chemist at Chemring Energetics in Scotland, I specialise in the research and development of energetic materials. Health and safety constitute a critical aspect of my role. I am tasked with conducting rigorous risk assessments and hazard studies to ensure strict adherence to industry legislation and health and safety protocols.
Other responsibilities involve formulating experimental designs, selecting analytical techniques, and compiling data into comprehensive technical reports, facilitating effective communication of results to our stakeholders.
Finding innovative solutions, enhancing performance, and prioritising a culture of safety are integral to the successful execution of my responsibilities at Chemring Energetics.
Science is an attractive field as it is so diverse and constantly progressing, which allows for exploration, discovery, and expansion of knowledge.
I hold a desire to contribute to advancements in knowledge and technology, and also have a passion for troubleshooting and finding innovate solutions by applying analytical thinking.
Previous job roles I have held have focused on the biomedical area of science. Therefore this role provided another opportunity to engage in problem-solving, critical thinking, and continuous learning in a different field of science.
I have successfully attained a Bachelor of Science with Honors (BSc Hons) in Pharmacology with Industrial Placement from Strathclyde University. This academic endeavour provided me with comprehensive knowledge in the field of pharmacology, integrating theoretical understanding with practical experience gained during an industrial placement.
Throughout the course, I observed and appreciated a balanced representation of gender diversity, with a 50/50 split. This equitable distribution promoted an inclusive and collaborative learning environment.
My educational journey has equipped me with a solid foundation in scientific principles and practical applications, which I have been able to apply and develop through my professional career in industry.
As a recent addition to Chemring, I have proudly been a member of the organisation for five months since August 2023. My decision to pursue a career change was driven by an interest in the field of research chemistry, coupled with a passion for the exploration and understanding of energetic materials.
As my career progress I anticipate the rewards of being a research chemist will grow simultaneously. I am eager to embrace and navigate the challenges that lie ahead.
Crystal Philips, Control Technician, Chemring Countermeasures USA
I work as a Controls Technician, at Chemring Countermeasures USA in Tennessee. I have been learning with Allen Bradley PLC programming to help with troubleshooting and configuration of the program with each building.
I was attracted to a career in science because at the time I was in a maintenance role and had to know some of the programs to be able to test each machine, so I wanted to learn and develop more than my maintenance position.
I have experience in industrial maintenance and am currently enrolled in an Industrial Maintenance educational apprenticeship program. I’m learning something new every day from my co-workers and I have been studying on my own too. As far as I know, I was the first female in maintenance and now the first in control engineering for our company.
I have been with Chemring Countermeasures for two and a half years now and the fact I get to learn something new every day is the most rewarding part for me. The company is also great in helping me expand my education, benefiting myself and the business.
The best encouragement I can give other women and girls is to always take a chance to better yourself, and a great company will help you get the experience that you deserve or need. It doesn’t matter if you’re the only female in that field, prove that you are worthy of that position just like any man!