The Common Room

Welcome to Our Voices, an oral history podcast by The Common Room in association with Dr Andy Clark, a research associate with Newcasle's Oral Hisotry collective. Chandra tells Andy about how a popular role model was the reason he move from India to Dundee to pursue a master’s degree in engineering, along with life settling in to a new city and finding new communities. Also, Chandra shares persona...

Welcome to Our Voices, an oral history podcast by The Common Room in association with Dr Andy Clark, a research associate with Newcasle's Oral Hisotry collective. Andy asks Bob about how he got involved in engineering, after leaving school at 14 with no qualifications. Bob shares his experiences at C.A Parsons after securing an intense internship, such as being given files to harden his hands. The...

Welcome to Our Voices, an oral history podcast by The Common Room in association with Dr Andy Clark, a research associate with Newcasle's Oral Hisotry collective. Andy asks David about his early interest in engineering through LEGO, and taking his own initiative to find engineering-based vocational training opportunities, when schools career advice offered him lacklustre support. He shares his exp...

Welcome to Our Voices, an oral history podcast by The Common Room in association with Dr Andy Clark, a research associate with Newcasle's Oral Hisotry collective. John tells Andy about his family’s migration from Ireland to Seaham Harbour in the 1880s, and his family history in the northern coalfields. John outlines his early experiences in the collieries, to working for British Coal Research and...

Welcome to Our Voices, an oral history podcast by The Common Room in association with Dr Andy Clark, a research associate with Newcasle's Oral Hisotry collective. Andy chats to Ruth about the gender expectations she faced when making career choices at school. Ruth shares her career progression from truck garage receptionist to designing umbilical pipelines. Ruth recalls being a woman engineer navi...

Welcome to Our Voices, an oral history podcast by The Common Room in association with Dr Andy Clark, a research associate with Newcasle's Oral Hisotry collective.  Andy asks James about his engineering career overseeing the Tyne Bridge and lesser-known historic mining or rail bridges across the city. They reminisce the impressive installation of the Millenium Bridge. Also, they chat about shifting...

Welcome to series two of our podcast. The face of engineering is forever changing and evolving, but who are the faces behind it and more specifically, the women? Let us take you on a journey exploring careers within the engineering sector. Join our host Ngunan Adamu as we bring you, The Face of Engineering podcast series. 'There’s an engineering for you, you just need to find the right one. So don...

Welcome to series two of our podcast. The face of engineering is forever changing and evolving, but who are the faces behind it and more specifically, the women? Let us take you on a journey exploring careers within the engineering sector. Join our host Ngunan Adamu as we bring you, The Face of Engineering podcast series. ‘I wanted to inspire more young girls and the next generation into engineeri...

Welcome to series two of our podcast. The face of engineering is forever changing and evolving, but who are the faces behind it and more specifically, the women? Let us take you on a journey exploring careers within the engineering sector. Join our host Ngunan Adamu as we bring you, The Face of Engineering podcast series. “I think for anyone who’s thinking of going into engineering, it will bring...

Welcome to series two of our podcast. The face of engineering is forever changing and evolving, but who are the faces behind it and more specifically, the women? Let us take you on a journey exploring careers within the engineering sector. Join our host Ngunan Adamu as we bring you, The Face of Engineering podcast series. “They need people like me at the table” – Introducing Gina Baker In episode...

Welcome to series two of our podcast. The face of engineering is forever changing and evolving, but who are the faces behind it and more specifically, the women? Let us take you on a journey exploring careers within the engineering sector. Join our host Ngunan Adamu as we bring you, The Face of Engineering podcast series. “When they look at me and go, ‘you’re an engineer?’, I’m like, ‘yeah, but no...

Welcome to series two of our podcast. The face of engineering is forever changing and evolving, but who are the faces behind it and more specifically, the women? Let us take you on a journey exploring careers within the engineering sector. Join our host Ngunan Adamu as we bring you, The Face of Engineering podcast series. “Once I overcome a problem, I am very committed to making sure that the next...

Welcome to series two of our podcast. The face of engineering is forever changing and evolving, but who are the faces behind it and more specifically, the women? Let us take you on a journey exploring careers within the engineering sector. Join our host Ngunan Adamu as we bring you, The Face of Engineering podcast series. 'It’s a beautiful field and so complex, and I really encourage the younger g...

Welcome to series two of our podcast. The face of engineering is forever changing and evolving, but who are the faces behind it and more specifically, the women? Let us take you on a journey exploring careers within the engineering sector. Join our host Ngunan Adamu as we bring you, The Face of Engineering podcast series. ‘What makes me an artist, makes me into a better engineer and what makes me...

Welcome to series two of our podcast. The face of engineering is forever changing and evolving, but who are the faces behind it and more specifically, the women? Let us take you on a journey exploring careers within the engineering sector. Join our host Ngunan Adamu as we bring you, The Face of Engineering podcast series. ‘Embrace unexpected outcomes because they are as important as your successfu...

Welcome to series two of our podcast. The face of engineering is forever changing and evolving, but who are the faces behind it and more specifically, the women? Let us take you on a journey exploring careers within the engineering sector. Join our host Ngunan Adamu as we bring you, The Face of Engineering podcast series. ‘I am a global citizen. I am part of a movement of young people wanting to b...

Welcome to series two of our podcast. The face of engineering is forever changing and evolving, but who are the faces behind it and more specifically, the women? Let us take you on a journey exploring careers within the engineering sector. Join our host Ngunan Adamu as we bring you, The Face of Engineering podcast series. ‘Girls do have choices’ Episode Three – Introducing Dr Ozak Esu In this epis...

Welcome to series two of our podcast. The face of engineering is forever changing and evolving, but who are the faces behind it and more specifically, the women? Let us take you on a journey exploring careers within the engineering sector. Join our host Ngunan Adamu as we bring you, The Face of Engineering podcast series. In this episode, Ngunan chats to Sophie Harker, Senior Aerospace Engineer BA...

Welcome to series two of our podcast. The face of engineering is forever changing and evolving, but who are the faces behind it and more specifically, the women? Let us take you on a journey exploring careers within the engineering sector. Join our host Ngunan Adamu as we bring you, The Face of Engineering podcast series. In this episode, Ngunan chats to Joyce Belny-Mellinge, Chemical Engineer and...

In this podcast, Ruth explores some of the people who have worked at C.A.Parsons over the years, who have gone on to have great and interesting engineering careers. While researching, Ruth spoke to several of these people and retells wonderful anecdotes of their times at Parsons. Head to our website to explore images linked to this podcast: https://thecommonroom.org.uk/programme/explore-online/pio...

Ruth discusses the company of C.A.Parsons, all the way from its foundation, through its expansion in World War II, to the work of engineers today who are rising to new challenges. She highlights some of the world’s first and the world’s largest revolutionary machines that were made at the factory, making electricity available to everybody, not just the privileged few. Head to our website to explor...

Ruth explores the ship Turbinia, “an icon of Geordie engineering at its finest”, and her own journey towards understanding its significance. Parsons steam turbines completely changed marine travel, by hugely improving speed, comfort and working conditions on ships. Head to our website to explore images linked to this podcast: https://thecommonroom.org.uk/programme/explore-online/pioneering-minds-p...

In this podcast, Ruth provides an insight into the life of Rachel Parsons, the only daughter of Charles Parsons. Rachel was one of the first three women to study Mechanical Sciences at Cambridge, despite women being barred from getting degrees at the time. Ruth explores Rachel's roles both during and after World War 1, an extremely important time for women in engineering. Head to our website to ex...

In the second in our Pioneering Minds podcast series, Ruth Baldasera provides a brief insight into the life of Lady Katherine: engineer, wife of Charles Parsons and co-founder of the Women’s Engineering Society. Ruth explores the role Lady Katherine played in championing inclusion and diversity for women in the engineering sector. Head to our website to explore images linked to this podcast: https...

In Episode 1 of our 'Pioneering Podcast' series, we invite you to delve into stories of the North East of England's industrial past. Working in partnership with Ruth Baldasera, The Common Room present our very first podcast themed on the eminent engineer, Charles Parsons. Charles became an associate member of the North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers in 1886, before joining...