An academic from the University of the West of Scotland (UWS) in Paisley has bagged a prestigious engineering award.

Dr Michele Cano, who heads the Division of Engineering and Physical Sciences, was crowned the winner of the Top 50 Women in Engineering (WE50) awards.

With more than 30 years of experience as a mechanical and manufacturing engineer, she started her career in shipbuilding before transitioning to higher education.

She joined the University of Paisley – UWS’s predecessor institution – in 1993, as a lecturer in Quality Engineering.

Dr Cano said: “I am beyond delighted to have been named on the WE50, it really is an honour.

“When I started in engineering, I was the first female apprentice working in my shipyard, and I was the only female engineer in my class in college. When I got to university, there were less than five of us in a cohort of 100.

“In 2024, although there have been improvements, the number of women in engineering is still disproportionately low; worsening the growing skills gap.

“But it’s far from a bleak picture for those who choose this career path. Great opportunities exist for female engineers, and there is so much variety and choice in where you specialise.”

Run by the Women’s Engineering Society, the WE50's objective is to raise awareness of the vast gender gap in engineering professions.

Winners are announced each year on International Women in Engineering Day.

The WE50 was judged by an independent panel of industry experts.

This year's theme was ‘enhanced by engineering’, illustrating the impactful contributions made by women engineers.