South Asian Heritage Month Special, In conversation with Roma the Engineer

Please note that this article was published prior to the new brand name of PREACH Inclusion® on 25 April 2024, so you will notice references to BAME in Property.

To mark South Asian Heritage Month 2021, BAME in Property is delighted to bring you a fascinating and personal interview with Roma Agrawal, aka 'Roma the Engineer'. Roma is an award-winning engineer, author and broadcaster. From footbridges and sculptures, to train stations and skyscrapers – including The Shard – she has left an indelible mark on London’s landscape. Born in India, Roma has been inspired by Bombay's apartment blocks and colourful heritage in her own life and work. She has made her mark across Science and Engineering through her advocacy and diversity work, inspiring the next generation of female and BAME engineers. The author of several books, we are also thrilled to share some key insights on her latest children's book, How was that built. Grab a chai and dive in!

1. Let's start from the beginning; tell us about you, your upbringing and education.

I was born in Bombay (as it was called at the time) then shortly left to live in the USA on the East Coast. My family moved back to Bombay when I was 7, and then I came to the UK for my A levels when I was 16. I always loved maths and science and knew I wanted a career somewhere in these fields but I didn't know what I wanted to do until I was about 20! So I came into engineering circuitously.

2. What inspired you to study physics, a subject dominated by men, and subsequently pursue a career in structural engineering? Tell us about some of the high-profile projects you've worked on.

"I didn't really think about the fact that physics would be male dominated, I just went along with it, but I definitely had a crisis of confidence when I started at Oxford."

Not knowing what career I wanted, I decided to do physics at university because I liked it, and because I knew that I could do a wide range of jobs from there - physics kept my options open. I didn't really think about the fact it would be male dominated, I just went along with it, but I definitely had a crisis of confidence when I started at Oxford. One summer during my undergraduate degree, I had a job to earn some extra cash, and I was lucky enough to be sitting in an office with engineers (although my job didn't entail engineering). I watched them work and realised that they were using maths and physics to solve problems, and I was hooked. I chose structural engineering because I had wanted to be an architect when I was a teenager so I thought this would also satisfy my curiosity of building. I was lucky to have worked on some amazing projects during my career. I'm best known for my work on The Shard, on which I spent six years, and I also worked on the design of a footbridge in Newcastle, a train station in South London, and a few residential buildings in central London.

3. What influence has growing up in India had on your career?

"Our preferences for how we live are strongly influenced by culture."

I lived in a concrete apartment block which was seven stories tall next to the beach and loved it. We had communal space and lots of friends to play with. That upbringing made me realise how our preferences for how we live are strongly influenced by culture, and that I was very happy living in a flat in London because that's how I'd grown up, whereas most people I know here aspire to buy a house with a garden. It means that I believe there are lots of different ways that people can live and be comfortable and happy. My diverse background and associated life experiences also makes me more attuned to where I feel spaces aren't working for everyone.

4. You're the author of several books, tell us about these and your latest children's book, 'How was that built'?

"I wanted to inspire young people and show them what an exciting opportunity becoming an engineer can be."

I followed the usual career path of working on projects, taking on growing responsibility, and honing my technical and communication skills for the early years of my career. While working on The Shard, I began receiving loads of invites to speak at school and universities because I don't look like the typical engineer. I realised I was good at breaking down complex technical principles and explaining engineering in an exciting way, so I wanted to inspire young people and show them what an exciting opportunity becoming an engineer can be. After years of doing dozens of talks a year for many years, I decided to write Built: The Hidden Stories Behind our Structures. It's written for the layperson and has loads of interesting anecdotes and fascinating stories from history. After receiving glowing reviews in outlets such as The Observer, The Financial Times, The Guardian and our industry trade press, I decided that a children's version was needed, and How Was That Built? was born. The book has structures from all seven continents, underwater and space, with lots of wonderful, diverse role models. It's being published on 16 September this year, and I'm really excited about it!

5. Tell us more about the diversity initiatives you're involved in? What has been your greatest achievement in this space? Why is levelling the playing field so important in structural engineering?

I've been involved in many initiatives including being part of the CIC Diversity Panel. I engage with most of the major engineering institutions on their campaigns and also with all my employers. My greatest achievement is actually slightly outside the engineering world -- it's the mentoring scheme I've launched to support underrepresented science writers, called ScienceWrite The publishing world in the UK also has a major diversity problem, and I want to empower writers from different backgrounds to be able to write and make a name for themselves. It's in its first year and we're hoping to expand in the future (funding dependent!).

6. As this is a South Asian Heritage Month special interview, here's some quickfire questions!

Favourite city or place in South Asia? Bombay, there is a buzz in that city that cannot be rivalled.

Favourite South Asian food or cuisine? Chaat, always chaat!

Favourite Bollywood film. Hmm, I'm a huge Aamir Khan fan, so most of his work really! If I had to pick, I'd say Lagaan had a lasting impact on me.

What does South Asian Heritage Month mean to you in three words. Learning our history.

Thank you, Roma for sharing your fascinating career and life with us, we wish you all the best in the publication of your upcoming book.