Welcome to our Maths Week Spotlights, where you'll hear from different STEM Ambassadors about how they've used maths in their lives and careers.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself.
My name is Kalina and I have the same middle name as my last name. I’m originally from Bulgaria. Typically, a Bulgarian person inherits the last name of their father's family (family name), as well as a patronymic based on his father's given name, with a gender-agreeing suffix usually added. For example, Stoyan Georgiev Draganov would be the son of Georgi Petkov Draganov. As such my full name is Kalina Dimitrova Dimitrova.
What was your experience with maths growing up and in school?
I used to think I was bad at maths, while in school. It was one of my least favourite subjects. I grew up with the damaging misconception that you have to be a “maths person” to excel in maths. A lot of my friends had the same mindset, which made it even harder to let go of these limiting thoughts. I used to prefer languages. However, my mum insisted I needed good marks in all subjects, not just my favourite ones. As such I put a lot of effort in maths class, not only in school but outside too. Which meant late evenings doing algebra and geometry questions. And precisely this effort and with the help of my maths teacher I realised that ‘’maths people’’ don’t exist! Maths is just like every other skill, the more effort you put into it, the better you get. As such by the time I was leaving school and going to Uni I had a good understanding of maths and was ready to pursue a degree in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths).
Tell us about your careers journey so far.
I wanted to be a solicitor or an interpreter, however the more effort I put into maths and other technical subjects, the more I realised there were other carriers out there. I knew I wanted a job that will let me be creative, but also allow me to leave my mark on the world and make a difference. I knew I wanted to challenge myself and do something exciting and different every day. I settled on civil engineering as it has so many different disciplines which meant I would never be bored and it includes not only maths, but physics, drawing and communication. It has the best of both worlds. A degree that is technical but also allows you to think outside the box and come up with solutions to problems like accessible spaces and clean water for everyone. Once I had my mind set on studying engineering, I never really wanted to do anything else.
What was your favourite subject in school and why?
My favourite subjects in school were languages and literature. They thought me skills such as active listening and communication, as well as tolerance to other cultures and places. I enjoyed reading the stories me and my friend wrote as well as reading books in general. It also thought me to be able to critically assess text, as well as write.
How do you use maths in your role?
Maths plays an important role in my job. Geometry, algebra and trigonometry are all used in structural design. They inform the basis of every engineering drawings and confirm if a structure will stand up or fall. By applying simple formulas and principles you end up with structures like the Forth Road Bridge and the Eiffel Tower which is fascinating.
What is your favourite thing about your job?
My favourite thing about the job is seeing my designs get build. Turning my calculations and drawings into actual buildings is awesome. I’ve worked on a range of projects such as office buildings, schools and housing developments. It is great to touch something that I’ve imagined and designed, knowing my skills were instrumental in bringing it into being. The work civil engineers do has an incredible, long-lasting impact. We design buildings to last for 50 years, so our structures will be used and enjoyed by thousands of people long after we’ve gone. We also breathe new life into old structures– renovating or changing the use of buildings that were designed decades ago and turning them to completely new purposes. We’re also at the forefront of making sure our infrastructure is safe and fit for purpose and tackle the climate emergency. Engineering is an ever-evolving field and there is never a dull day on the job.
What is a normal day in your role like?
On a day to day basis I use information provided from architects or builders to design different types of buildings and structures. The architect or builder comes up with a building layout, and then it's my responsibility to calculate the loads (such as snow, wind and earthquake forces), fit the structure to the architecture, and decide what structural systems to use. The structural systems include steel, concrete, masonry, wood and other materials from which I select beams, columns, and other members that make up the building support. If one considers the human body as analogous to a building, structural engineers would be the professionals that design the skeleton so that the body can support its weight and other forces that act on it. My job has allowed me to work on a variety of structures such as houses, industrial estates, commercial offices, hotels, schools and retirement villages.
I enjoy my job because I get to shape the environment around me and make people’s lives better.
And what does your job title mean?
Project engineers bridge the gap between design and execution. They coordinate efforts among various teams to achieve completion on time, within budget and to the highest standards. Key responsibilities are:
- Develop detailed design and provide expertise and technical guidance throughout the project lifecycle.
- Work closely with project managers, architects, other engineers such as mechanical and electrical, and clients to ensure all aspects of the project are aligned and progressing smoothly.
- Maintain thorough documentation of project activities, including plans, designs, reports, and updates.
- Monitor project costs, manage budgets, and report on financial status.
- Ensure all project activities meet or exceed industry standards, regulations, and company quality guidelines.
- Regularly update stakeholders on project progress, challenges, and changes in scope. Address technical issues and challenges, providing solutions.
Can you suggest an activity that could be done at home that illustrates an aspect of your work? Please share links to relevant resources.
A fun little activity you can do at home is to explore the importance of shape in design. This is important in the world around us as different shapes have different properties which can do different things for us. For this you would need 8 sheets of A4 paper, some masking tape and books. First make 4 triangular columns by folding the A4 paper like you would a card. Then use masking tape at the top and bottom to hold the shape. Load the columns vertically by stacking books on top. How many did they take before the structure collapsed? Repeat the same experiment, but instead of triangular columns try circular. To make the experiment fair use the same books in the same order. See what happens!
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