Statue aims to inspire a new generation into engineering

Situated in central London, the statue of Kan has been designed by visual artist and designer Kelly Anna.

“Being honoured in statue form is a very unique experience and not something many people can say,” said Kan. “I really hope my statue encourages people to understand more about engineering, what engineers do and why it is a great career for anyone who's got a curiosity for wanting to make things work better.”

For National Engineering Day 2024, the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) aims to inspire a new generation to see themselves reflected in engineering by honouring Kan. The Macclesfield-based engineer played a key role in the manufacture of the COVID-19 vaccine and is now working on vaccines for Ebola.

Women make up 15.7 per cent of the UK engineering workforce - down from 16.5 per cent in 2023 – and the lack of visible role models is seen as a factor in why fewer women are considering a career in engineering.