Mar 09 2018

On Friday 2 March, Principal Paul Layzell and VP Willow Wong announced the name of our new Shilling Building, alongside Electronic Engineering students Maria Villamil and Chad Wilkinson. 
We caught up with them to see what they thought when they found out the building was going to be named after Beatrice Shilling, and what they enjoy most about being the first cohort of students into our new Department of Electronic Engineering. 

1. Can you tell us a bit about yourselves? What are you currently studying?

Chad: My name is Chad Wilkinson, I recently moved to England from South Africa where I had lived all my life and I’m currently studying in my first year of Electronic Engineering.

Maria: My name is Maria Villamil and I'm currently in my first year of Electronic Engineering.

2. As you are part of the first cohort of students into our Department of Electronic Engineering, how are you enjoying the course so far?

Maria: I'm really enjoying the course so far, the extra attention students get from being in such a small cohort is really useful.

Chad: So far I've found the course very engaging and interesting, the practical labs have been enjoyable and helped me to progress my understanding of each module.

3. How did you feel when you found out the building was going to be named after Beatrice Shilling?

Maria: I was very excited!  Beatrice Shilling is one of the most inspirational female engineering's, and I personally find the work she did very interesting.

Chad: Very pleased, considering she was the only candidate that was an engineer I was happy the building was named after her. Not that any of the other candidates where less impressive - Beatrice Shilling was just my personal favourite.

4. What is it about Beatrice that inspires you the most?

Chad: As someone who loves planes, the fact that she is famous for creating a component that prevented planes from crashing is probably my favourite thing about her.

Maria: Her resilience, being one of two female engineers at her university must have been very difficult.

5. What are you looking forward to from the new science building opening?

Chad: The innovative design of the lecture halls as well as the creative spaces.

Maria: I'm looking forward to the new labs and the opportunities that these will present. 

6. Are you part of any clubs or societies on campus?

Chad: I play social football and we are currently in the process of starting an Electronic Engineering Society which I will be a part of

7. What do you enjoy most about being a student at Royal Holloway?

Maria: I enjoy the environment here, the Founder's Building is so beautiful and makes me think of all the young women who studied here before me.

Chad: The campus life. Everyone lives nearby so there are always friends around and students nearby which has a great feel to it.

8. You may have seen our latest recruitment campaign, ‘Find your why’. We are interested to find out what Royal Holloway has helped you to discover about yourself…

Chad: Royal Holloway has helped me discover what kind of people I enjoy spending time with. It has also given me a lot of opportunity to see how my culture compares to many other cultures as there are so many international students at this university which has been a unique experience.

Maria: Since coming to Royal Holloway I've discovered a love for cooking I never knew I had!