STEMalive! Inspirational speaker - Keisha Smith, CGL

STEMalive! events are a collaboration between educational charity, SATRO and Dr Elaine Hickmott of EH Enterprises. The events are designed to bring together STEM professionals and students in Years 11, 12 & 13 in a supportive environment to have cool conversations and be inspired by real career stories and insights in science, technology, engineering and maths. 

The next event is taking place on Thursday 10th March at St Peter's School, Guildford. We already have four STEM speakers confirmed! Over the next few weeks, we will be blogging short bios on each speaker.

Up next is Keisha Smith!

Keisha Smith

Principal Engineer

Card Geotechnics Ltd

Keisha is from Barbados and I did her BSc in Civil with Environmental Engineering at the University of the West Indies in Trinidad.  She came to the UK in 2005 to do her MSc in Environmental Engineering at the University of Nottingham.

Since then she has worked for Card Geotechnics Ltd (CGL), progressing from Engineer to Principal Engineer within a nine year period.  During this time she also became a Chartered Environmentalist. CGL is a consultancy which provides ground solutions and Keisha is responsible for the assessment of brownfield sites (for example; former gas works, chemical works and landfills) and the remediation of these sites prior to redevelopment.

Keisha is proud to be a STEM Ambassador and frequently goes into primary and secondary schools presenting her work and actively encouraging more young people to pursue careers in STEM.

CGL Website:                    http://www.cgl-uk.com/

CGL on LinkedIn:              https://www.linkedin.com/company/card-geotechnics-limited

Keisha on LinkedIn:        https://uk.linkedin.com/in/keishaannmariesmith

STEMalive! is FREE for schools to attend – Contact Lisa@satro.org.uk

Engineers share your knowledge and experience with us – Contact jules@satro.org.uk

Eloise Knights - SATROclub Extended Research Placement - CGL

Eloise Knights of Tormead School is currently completing her SATROclub Extended Research Placement at CGL (Card Geotechnics Ltd). 

A large site located in Silvertown, London, immediately to the north of the River Thames which is a former industrial estate, including an oil depot, that is to be developed for mixed residential and commercial uses with multiple basements across the footprint. The site is 15ha in area and divided into 3 former wharves. An investigation scope is required to assess the ground related risks to determine the likely impact to construction of the development, both in terms of risk due to contamination and risk relating to stability of the buildings (i.e. foundations and retaining walls). Research is required on the type of ground investigation techniques available, what would be applicable and cost effective and the likely cost of the overall ground investigation. Information is also required to show the Client the importance of ground investigations in the construction industry and how early spending on a detailed ground investigation limits risk and eventually construction costs. Eloise is working with the team at CGL to help conduct this research required. 

Here's what Eloise had to say about her placement so far...

"I began the placement having very little experience of the Engineering discipline which include, Geology and Geotechnical Engineering. Despite my minimal knowledge and understanding, it became apparent that these branches of engineering were more familiar than I had anticipated. Similar to chemical and electrical engineering, Geotechnics involves the analysis and observation of  problems in order to acquire the most appropriate method to resolve the problem. Fortunately, having a mind that enjoys logic and reason, I very quickly understood the processes and engineering methods used by the company to approach the environmental and geological problems. Throughout this week, my appreciation of the significance of what the company does has grown even greater, and likewise my interest."

SATRO wishes Eloise the best of luck for the rest of her placement!