Engineers Week 2022 Team Feature: Sumayyah Theron

Engineers Week is a time to celebrate the work of our talented engineers and to inspire the next generation of innovators. This week we are featuring a few of our Cyclone Energy Group team members and have asked them to share their thoughts about the impact engineers have in our world.

Meet Sumayyah Theron. Sumayyah joined the Cyclone team in 2016. As the Director of Sustainability, she works to continuously improve and add sustainability and healthy building services to better serve our clients. She works with our team to further develop their knowledge and skills around sustainability services. In addition to helping clients implement and be recognized for their sustainability efforts, she works on Cyclone’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) efforts to continuously improve the company’s impact on the environment. She became an engineer in Training (EIT) in March 2021 and she is currently studying for her PE exam to become a licensed Engineer! Sumayyah graduated from De Montfort University in Leicester, UK with a Master of Science in Energy and Sustainable Building Design. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering from Jordan University of Science and Technology. In her free time, she enjoys being outdoors with her family and dogs.

• How do engineers make a difference in our world?Engineers find creative solutions to real world problems. They continue to improve on current technologies and systems while designing new ones to create sustainable and resilient buildings, clean water, reduce our carbon impact, and create greener solutions for different industries. Although very demanding, engineering is a very rewarding career.
• Thoughts on the need to engage students in engineering.It is very important to engage children k-12 in engineering. It teaches them good problem-solving skills, whether they end up pursuing engineering careers or not, these skills are transferable and applicable to any career. Kids’ imagination and creativity can lead to innovation in design and creating new ideas. The earlier engineering is introduced to children the less intimidating it becomes as they get older. Engaging students at a young age, allowing them to explore different concepts through hands-on projects, can trigger their natural curiosity and interest in engineering and science. It trains their brains how to logically solve problems, embrace the process, and enjoy it. Being part of the process can increase their attention and focus, it can motivate them to practice critical thinking skills and promote meaningful learning experience through connecting concepts to real world problems.