If the annual scholarships offered by the Canadian Mineral Industry Education Foundation (CMIEF) are any indication, more women than ever before are entering mine engineering.
Of the 54 CMIEF scholarships awarded in 1992, 11 were granted to women. It represents about 20% of the total, the same percentage as in 1991 when 11 of the 53 scholarships went to women. In previous years, the figure was never higher than 15% and usually around 10%.
“Increasing numbers of women are applying,” confirmed Klaus Konigsmann, CMIEF chairman. As well, the scholarship awards committee is “favorably inclined” toward women applicants. If there are two applicants of equal calibre and one is female, then the vote will fall to the distaff side, he explained. “We do that to make mining more representative of the general public,” he said.
Scholarships are available to engineering undergraduates in mining, mineral processing and metallurgical programs and in geology, engineering geology, electrical, mechanical and process controls disciplines. In addition, three postgraduates are awarded $5,000 each for work in rock mechanics, robotics and automation, and computerization.
Established in 1965 by senior mining executives of major mining companies, CMIEF is now supported by more than 20 mining companies and the J.P. Bickell Foundation.
Be the first to comment on "Women applicants on the increase"