Chi Onwurah on why engineering is a caring profession.
Why politics needs more scientists and engineers. Engineer Chi Onwurah tells Jim Al-Khalili why she became an MP.
Chi Onwurah tells Jim Al-Khalili why she wanted to become a telecoms engineer and why engineering is a caring profession.
As a black, working class woman from a council estate in Newcastle, she was in a minority of one studying engineering at university in London and encountered terrible racism and sexism. She went on to build digital networks all over the world, the networks that make today's instant multimedia communications possible. And Chi built the first mobile phone network in Nigeria, when the country was without a reliable electricity supply. Today she is Shadow Minister for Science, Research and Innovation.
When Chi decided to go into politics, her engineering colleagues were not impressed. Why would anyone leave their noble profession to enter a chaotic, disreputable and dubiously useful non-profession, they asked. But, Chi believes, parliament desperately needs more scientists and engineers, not only to help us solve science-based problems but also to create technical jobs and build a strong economy.
Producer: Anna Buckley
Last on
More episodes
![]()
The Life Scientific: Chi Onwurah
Why politics needs more scientists and engineers.
Broadcasts
- Tue 24 May 2022 09:00成人快手 Radio 4
- Tue 24 May 2022 21:30成人快手 Radio 4
Sleep 鈥� the mystery state
What is the secret to a good nights sleep? Professor Jim Al-Khalili explores.
Is your mind a machine?
Daniel Dennett thinks so. Here is what we learned from his Life Scientific.
Podcast
-
![]()
The Life Scientific
Professor Jim Al-Khalili talks to leading scientists about their life and work.
