May/June 2017

Variables
The Right Formula

Female engineering students solve for speed

SARAH CICCAGLIONE (ON LEFT) AND KATHERINE JOHNSTON (ON RIGHT) ARE TWO OF THE FIVE FEMALE MEMBERS OF THE SOONER RACING TEAM AT THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA. THIS 2016 CAR, SOPHIA, PLACED 18TH OUT OF 80 CARS AND 3RD IN FUEL EFFICIENCY. CREDIT: MATTHEW PARROTT

Female students at the University of Oklahoma are showing that not only is the engineering classroom a place for women, but so are the machine shop and the racetrack.

They are members of the university’s Sooner Racing Team (Motto:“Crossing the Finish Line Sooner”), which designs, manufactures, and races a small Formula-style race car each year for the Formula SAE competition sponsored by SAE International.

Out of about 40 members of the team, five are women—including mechanical engineering students Sarah Ciccaglione and Katherine Johnston. Ciccaglione is the cooling system lead and Johnston is the electronics co-lead. Both women, class of 2019, are also sponsorship coordinators.

The students are part of a team of engineering students from a wide variety of disciplines as well as a business student and a neuroscience doctoral student.

Both women were recruited from an activity fair. Ciccaglione was drawn to the team aspect after a back injury ended her rowing career; she loves working on a large project with engineers from every discipline and a variety of classroom experiences. “It’s impressive to see all 40 members work together so closely and integrate all our systems in a way that results in the car not only running but also winning,” she says.

Ciccaglione explains that the male teammates have been supportive of the women, although sometimes extra explanation of the female perspective—or the courage to address inappropriate joking—is necessary.

She enjoys being a role model to younger female engineers and has noticed that each year the numbers of women on both the OU team and within the overall competition have increased. “It’s important for women to see they can do the same things men can in engineering,” she notes, including feeling at home in the machine shop.

The hands-on experience earned on the team and the ability to gain such skills prior to graduation helped Ciccaglione score a summer internship at Pratt & Whitney. Now she’s also considering opportunities in the automotive sector due to her involvement.

Prior to joining the team, Johnston knew she liked engineering, but she wasn’t sure yet if she loved it. The experience helped her realize that she did. Engineering can be simple if you’re just designing a part, she explains, but “it also can be intricate at the same time, like a puzzle.”

In addition, her participation helped her realize the true importance of teamwork. It “can be the thing that slows you down if it’s not strong,” she notes.

Johnston says that the team has been a welcoming community, but she originally brought some insecurity that she didn’t know as much about cars as her male teammates. However, she realized just having the passion to learn is enough.

“It’s very important for women to be able to try new things,” she says. “Go off the well-beaten path.” Women may feel intimidated in certain areas, she says, but “that shouldn’t stop your drive to know something. You’ll end up learning more and [others] will probably end up feeling intimidated by you.”

Learn more at http://sae.ou.edu.