When Blueprints Smelled Like Ink — Women in Engineering

An Extraordinary Beginning for Women in Engineering

More than thirty years ago, a freshly graduated civil engineer received what can only be described as an extraordinary first job — to join the design team for the Ertan Hydropower Plant in China. This was a milestone for women in engineering, proving that skill and determination open doors.

It wasn’t just another project. It was one of the largest hydropower plants in Asia, a challenge that shaped both professional skill and character. There were no mobile phones, no email, and AutoCAD was only emerging. Communication ran through faxes and long coordination meetings surrounded by stacks of drawings.

Between Tracing Paper and the First Digital Lines

The technical drawings arrived by air from Germany, printed on tracing paper (paus) — thin, translucent, and merciless to mistakes. Every correction was done by hand: a razor blade, a steady hand, and full focus.

Soon, the first computers arrived. AutoCAD was installed, cautiously at first — half the team still drew by ink, while the rest experimented with digital drafting. These pioneering efforts shaped a generation of women engineers bridging tradition and innovation.

The Youngest — and the Only Woman on Site

Being the youngest engineer — and the only woman — meant respect had to be earned quietly, through skill and consistency. Curiosity and focus often led to mentoring younger colleagues and trainee engineers from Germany, who came to China for experience.

Those early collaborations showed that women in engineering share more than technical skill — they share endurance, integrity, and the courage to belong.

From Tracing Lines to Building Confidence

Years later, the smell of ink and tracing paper remains unforgettable. It was a time before shortcuts — when patience, curiosity, and accuracy built both bridges and character. There were no hashtags, campaigns, or slogans about women’s empowerment — just women who proved their strength through competence and hard work, often quietly, in places where respect was earned, not granted.

Today, many speak loudly about equality. Back then, we simply lived it — with muddy boots, sleepless nights, and drawings that had to be perfect before sunrise. Technology has transformed everything, but the essence of women in engineering remains the same: real confidence grows from competence, not conferences.