PES Chapter Updates: Work-Life Integration and Social Contribution during Covid-19 as Women Engineers
IEEE Thailand Section, along with IEEE PES WiP Malaysia and Thailand Chapters, organized an Online Forum on 29th July 2020. The title of the webinar was “Work-Life Integration and Social Contribution during Covid-19 as Women Engineers.” This event receives the honor from IEEE PES President-Elect (2020-2021), Dr. Jessica Bian, to share her view as a guest speaker. With another two distinguished speakers: (1) Prof. Dr. Zuhaina Zakaria – IEEE PES LRP Committee Member and IEEE PES R10 Chapter Representative (South East), Malaysia and (2) Dr. Piyapan Hannarkin – Chairman WiP, IEEE PES Thailand Section, representing Thailand. The session was moderated by Dr.Titiporn Sangpetch – Vice Chairman WiP, IEEE PES Thailand Section. The event was also broadcasted to all members in IEEE PES Malaysia and Thailand Chapters, relevant industry professionals, academic staffs, and many students in Power Engineering and Energy. There were more than 30 participants who joined the online webinar via Zoom; 350 people reached via Facebook Live; and 475 views over YouTube.
The webinar looked at the Covid-19 pandemic through women lenses. The challenges that women in power engineering are facing the brunt of Covid-19 along with the “Work from Home (WFH) Scheme” are shared and discussed thoroughly by all speakers. Prof. Zuhaina, started with introducing the concept of Work-Life Integration” and how it is profoundly different from “Work-Life Balance.” Dr. Piyapan then shared her view on how to adjust oneself in order to achieve work-life integration, with respect to family and work issues. She was expanding more on how the family dynamics and relationship are the key to maintain quality personal time and self-wellness during the pandemic.
Screen shot from the online webinar on July 29, 2020
In respect to work challenges, Dr. Jessica pinpointed the major new normal for women engineers to adopt after COVID-19. With this, she exposed the urgency, importance, and benefits of digital technology and AI in business interaction, as powerful embracing the new growth of the future businesses. Speakers shared their opportunities for social contributions as women engineers in helping local people and communities, and the nations during the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, the practices and collaborations among all sectors in Thailand to establish “ThaiFightCovid Group,” an interactive communication platform, technical database, and technical discussion forum. There were also some innovative tools and medical equipment, e.g. mobile clinic for proactive findings, Medical Robotics, etc., which were designed and launched to use during the time. Some lessons learned are shared and discussed thoroughly before ending the session.
Dr. Titiporn Sangpetch
Vice Chairman WiP, IEEE PES Thailand Section
Prof. Dr. Zuhaina Zakaria
IEEE PES LRP Committee Member;
IEEE PES R10 Chapter Representative (South East)