Mercedes Ascaso Til

We asked Mercedes…

I would recommend a career in civil engineering because …

It’s a very exciting job, full of challenges and teamwork.

My area of work is construction engineering of bridges and complex structures.

However, there are many fields within civil engineering, from water to transport passing through tunnels, bridges and so much more.

You can have a very academic role, work on site or anything in between. There’s a role for everyone.

It’s a job that you develop with others. You must collaborate with other disciplines and organisations.

When you work in engineering, you’re contributing to making the world and society a better place.

What’s the biggest/most complex thing you’ve made out of Lego? How long did it take you?

Surprisingly, I haven’t worked with Lego.

I did love playing with construction blocks as a child and they were the centrepiece of the inventive roleplay games I played with my sister.

I feel proud that my daughters built a diesel engine with Lego in a STEM event organised by Cummins Engines.

Complete this phrase: I’m a civil engineer, but I’m also…

A mother, a daughter, a sister, a mentor and a person who tries to enjoy life to the fullest. I’m passionate about music, theatre, philosophy, poetry, travelling, art, and much more.

What about being a civil engineer gets you out of bed each morning?

The technical challenges. Being able to use your knowledge and inventive skills to solve problems that are constantly changing.

What’s one great thing that you love about civil engineering that you didn’t know until you started working in the industry?

All the work that goes into the construction process.

Construction engineering is a fascinating discipline of civil engineering. There’s room for innovation and creativity to develop effective, sustainable and safe building methods which can have a positive impact on the outcome of the whole project.

Which civil engineering project (past or present) do you wish you’d worked on?

The Golden Gate Bridge. It’s iconic at the entrance of the San Francisco Bay.

Beautiful in the sunshine and when almost invisible due to fog. I was lucky to enjoy a walk over it when I worked on the Carquinez Bridge in 2002.

Name one civil engineering myth you’d like to bust.

That civil engineering isn’t for women.

All attributes that you need to be a good civil engineer have no gender. The achievements of female civil engineers confirm this.

I believe in equality, and with that conviction I haven’t felt discriminated in a male dominated industry.

Has civil engineering helped you overcome any personal or professional challenges/difficulties?

I love my job. It requires quite a lot of intellectual effort to develop it well.

This means that any personal concerns soon move to second place while I’m working because civil engineering becomes the centre of my thoughts.

I feel lucky that I can disconnect from any personal problem by focusing on my job.

What are you doing to help fight against climate change?

We develop construction schemes and design temporary works as efficiently as possible to minimise materials and carbon emissions.

Where possible, we re-use materials and equipment, and retrofit previous solutions. We’ve worked in the construction of dams, which could prevent flooding.

In the construction supply chain, we’re second or third tier, so it’s difficult to implement radical approaches or take key decisions that will dramatically reduce the carbon footprint of a project.

Any personal causes or hobbies?

I like to promote civil engineering among future generations and encourage more women to join the industry.

I love reading, listening to all types of music (from rock to classical depending on the mood), going to the theatre, walking in the countryside, travelling, and discovering new places and cultures.

I enjoy spending time with my family.