Constructing the future: making a difference

I've received queries from men asking how I manage working in construction while being Muslim and wearing a headscarf. Some people say, "You're a Muslim, you shouldn't be doing this job" but religion doesn't stop you from doing your job.

My research journey

Interestingly, I've only been questioned like this since living the in the UK. In Malaysia, where I'm originally from, my mother-in-law is a civil engineer and is often visiting construction sites as part of her job. Most jobs can be done equally as well by women if they have a passion for them - we need to provide support for women in male-dominated industries and challenge stereotypes around gender in the workplace.

I started out working as a quantity surveyor, assessing construction plans and measuring costs at each stage of the build. I noticed a significant gap in the industry: everything was done using physical copies, with no digital modelling or collaborative platforms. Communications relied solely on emails and phone calls, meaning that they were slow and inefficient. In the early 2000s, many people also struggled to visualise what a building would look like or understand the scale of spaces.

Around the same time, the UK began to show a growing interest in digitalisation within the construction industry. This is where Building Information Modelling (BIM) comes in - a dynamic digital model enriched with information. It allows civil engineers, mechanical engineers, clients, and architects to communicate seamlessly and speak the same language. This innovation has transformed the way we work, fostering better collaboration and enhancing project outcomes and it inspired me to pursue further studies and delve into research.

I completed my master's and PhD in BIM to explore how digital architecture and collaborative platforms could revolutionise our work, making it more efficient and breaking down various barriers. My journey into academia was a little different to the norm. I had my first baby as I was writing my master’s dissertation, and my second child during the final year of my PhD. After graduating, I stayed at home with my boys for a year, and we spent our time playing games and watching CBeebies.

When the time was right, I started to think about going back to work in industry, but my supervisor thought that I'd make a great teacher and convinced me to stay in higher education as a lecturer. I will always remember his encouraging words: “Shy girl, get out into the world!” He must have known that I struggle with imposter syndrome – even today, I don’t feel like I have as much knowledge as my peers, but I remind myself that everyone must start somewhere.

Today, I’m a lecturer in Construction Management at ŷ��. Alongside teaching, my research is helping communities to make more sustainable choices when it comes to energy use. I am currently working with villagers in a remote area of Nepal, who are relying on harmful biomass material as an energy source.

I like to think that my work is making the world a better place for my children, and for many generations to come.

Follow my story

My story doesn’t end here. Keep up to date with me and my research by keeping an eye on my academic profile.

Farah Shahrin

Farah is a Senior Lecturer of Construction Project and Commercial Management at ŷ��. At the moment, her work focuses on carbon and energy resilience for projects, organisation for commercial resilience and building occupants for comfort and well-being.

Farah worked in Malaysia as a quantity surveyor for several years, managing costs for both private and public-funded projects.

Discover Farah's staff profile