Mairi Dean

"I have been identified as a campaigner, communicator and innovator in the role model quiz. I am a passionate campaigner for positive change; in climate change, in politics, and in my work. It is important to me that I can make a positive difference to the world we live in, especially for the most vulnerable and excluded in our societies. In terms of communication, I enjoy translating big, complex ideas to a narrative that can be easily understood, and useful to the listener. It is important to me that everyone is included, and good communication is key to achieving that. I love to be creative and tackle challenges with an open mind, collaborating with others. "

"I am a Water Engineer. A key element of my job is Water Resource Management. This involves making sure that developments (e.g. schools, houses, cities) have enough water. Before you turn your tap on, water has been extracted from a natural source, been treated and stored, and been delivered to you via a network of pipes. Another element of my job is Flood Risk Management. This involves developing designs so that buildings are resilient to flooding, and that people are kept safe during storms. This involves protection from coastal flooding, river flooding, and surface water (rain) flooding. An example of surface water drainage, which is used to drain rainwater so that it doesn't pond on the streets, is Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SuDS - google it!) which promote natural solutions, bio diversity, and are more aesthetic for the public. My favourite thing about my job is making my designs more sustainable; for example, recycling treated sewage water (I know - don't worry it is clean!) instead of potable water to flush toilets and use in industry. This reduces the demand on the natural water source which is important as water is becoming scarce as sources are depleting. The starting salary varies, typically between 25-30k. "

"I am not one of those engineers who used to take things apart to figure out how they are made and therefore knew from the get go what I wanted to be (a lot of us seem to be..!). I am a practical problem solver, with a passion for justice so I toyed with the idea of studying law, languages, or mathematics. I learned about engineering when I was 18 and discovered that this career offered an opportunity to solve real world problems by being creative. Once I started to study, I organised some internships during summer, one of which took the form of a research placement at a university in Chile. During this time, I discovered my passion for water engineering. This stems from the knowledge that access to clean water is a fundamental human right; a right that not everybody is able to exercise. Water also links with my passion for equity and justice, as women are disproportionately affected by the absence of clean running water... So here I am! "

"In my spare time I love to read, swim, and dance. I read a lot of fiction, in addition to non-fiction focused around gender, racial, and social injustice. My favourite fiction book that I read this year is called '10 Minutes and 38 Seconds in this Strange World' by Elif Shafak, a Turkish author. A book that I read a few years ago which had a significant impact on me is called 'Why I'm no Longer Talking to White People About Race' by Reni Eddo-Lodge. I think everyone in the world should read this book! I love to swim, and I swim a lot outdoors - if there is a clear and sparkling natural water body, be sure that I am jumping in! In Scotland I have spent lots of my holidays jumping in lochs, waterfalls, and the sea. "

"A typical work day varies, but a good example to use is 'Mondays', as there are usually more routine meetings built into my Mondays. Firstly, on a Monday I will start by recalling where I left off on Friday, to figure out what my week is going to look like, setting priorities and noting deadlines coming up. As an engineer, we work as part of a team and so it is important that we collaborate and communicate with one another. Every Monday, we have a team call to talk through our plans for the week, which gives us an opportunity to ask for help or to pass work around the team. I will usually spend some time replying to emails or setting up calls with different clients or colleagues to talk through project progress. Then, depending on what I am working on, I will be looking at design proposals and assessing them with respect to flood risk or water resource; I spend some time on excel running calculations; I may make some drawings to depict our proposals; and I also spend time writing up reports outlining our designs. Mondays go very quickly!"

"After my GCSE level qualifications, I undertook Scottish Highers (similar to AS/A-level) in Maths, Physics, Spanish, English, and French. I then studied Civil Engineering (MEng) at the University of Edinburgh."