A Chartered Engineer and Fellow of both the Institution of Mechanical Engineers and the Women’s Engineering Society, Alex is the founder of STEMAZING, a social enterprise dedicated to transforming the face of science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) by empowering women to become visible role models for the next generation.
Through STEMAZING’s innovative training and outreach programmes, over 600 women in STEM have been equipped to deliver engaging sessions in primary schools, leading multiple STEM projects with over 45,000 children aged 7 to 9. They aim to make sure children get hands-on experience of STEM experiments and can take home what they made, to show their families. It can spark curiosity, break down stereotypes, and show children – especially girls – that engineering is a space where they belong.
“Watching a young girl’s eyes light up with recognition – ‘She’s like me!’ – is a moment of connection that stays with the person,” Alex says. “But this isn’t just about girls. Boys need to see engineers who are women too. They need to grow up recognising that technical brilliance isn’t gendered, that leadership doesn’t look one way.”
TV presenter Dr Shini Somara, who nominated Alex for this award, cited feedback from teachers, that shows this intervention has a powerful impact: 70% said it increased STEM career aspirations and awareness of these career pathways and 94% of teachers said it challenged gender stereotypes.
Alex’s work is grounded in the belief that visibility is power. She believes her approach has a symbiotic effect, it not only inspires young minds but also empowers women doing the outreach work, to embrace their leadership potential, build confidence, and find purpose connected with, but also beyond their day jobs.
Dr Somara, herself a previous recipient of the Rooke Award, points out that 90% of the women who have taken part in this scheme said it helped them to see themselves as role models, adding: “I can safely say that there is nothing more important than encouraging women who are already in the industry to speak up about the positive experience in engineering, in order to encourage the next generation of role models.”
With only 16% of engineering and technology roles in the UK currently held by women, Alex feels her mission is more urgent than ever. She wants engineering businesses to actively encourage their female staff to engage with schools as a core part of their personal development. She sees this as an act of corporate responsibility, that companies need to put time and training into it and celebrate these workers as a strategic asset in their company. This is a core message in her recent TEDx Talk “Why Visibility, Courage and Sex Matter in Engineering” that has now had over 350,000 views on YouTube.
Despite all these challenges, she remains optimistic: “16% still equates to nearly a million women working in engineering and technology in the UK today. We have around 20,000 primary schools, so that is 50 women as engineering role models for every primary school who can start a ripple effect right now!”
The Rooke Award celebrates individuals who have made a significant contribution to the public promotion of engineering. Alex Knight joins a distinguished list of past recipients who have helped shape the public’s understanding of engineering’s role in society. She will receive the award – named after the late industrial leader Sir Denis Rooke – at the Academy Awards Dinner in London on 8 July.
Contact Lorrie Fay, Communications Manager at [email protected] if you would like further information.
Notes for editors
1. The Rooke Award for the public promotion of engineering is awarded to an individual, small team or organisation who have contributed to the Academy's aims and work through their initiative in promoting engineering to the public. The award is named in honour of the late Sir Denis Rooke OM CBE FRS FREng, a former President of the Royal Academy of Engineering and one of the UK's most distinguished engineers, who actively supported public outreach in engineering. As Chairman of British Gas, his legacy was to build the UK's gas distribution network and unite the gas industry, making domestic gas a cheap and convenient fuel source for millions of people. He later became Chancellor of Loughborough University and served on many national advisory committees on both energy policy and education.
2. Annual Awards Dinner 2025. This year’s Royal Academy of Engineering Awards Dinner takes place on 8 July. The event will also celebrate the winners of other awards and prizes including the Princess Royal Silver Medals and the MacRobert Award for UK engineering innovation.
3. The Royal Academy of Engineering creates and leads a community of outstanding experts and innovators to engineer better lives. As a charity and a Fellowship, we deliver public benefit from excellence in engineering and technology and convene leading businesspeople, entrepreneurs, innovators and academics across engineering and technology. As a National Academy, we provide leadership for engineering and technology, and independent, expert advice to policymakers in the UK and beyond.