Dr Abigail Powell

Overview

Dr Abigail Powell (BA Hons University of Sheffield, MA University of Nottingham, PhD Loughborough University) is a Research Associate at the SPRC. Abigail is currently working on an ARC Linkage project investigating trends in work and family time. Recent research projects include the evaluation of headspace, the National Youth Mental Health Foundation, the development of the Carers Action Plan Evaluation for NSW Health and the State of Australia’s Young People report for the Australian Government Office for Youth. Abigail’s research interests also include gender, equal opportunities and work/life balance. She has recently completed her PhD on the impact of culture on women engineering students. Previous work in the UK has also included exploring women’s participation in construction research, as part of a European Commission funded project, addressing women engineering students’ workplace experiences, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council, and an analysis of the impact of organizational cultures on women in science, engineering and technology for the UK Resource Centre for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology. She is experienced in critically analyzing literature, designing, implementing and analyzing both qualitative and quantitative research and drafting reports and research publications.

Research Summary

Current and recent research projects include:

- Review of Youth Mental Health Services Models in NSW, NSW Health
- The State of Children and Young People in NSW report, NSW Commission for Children and Young People
- Trends in Time, an ARC linkage grant investigating work, family and social policy in Australia 1992-2006
- The State of Australia's Young People report for the Office for Youth, DEEWR
- The Independent Evaluation of headspace, the National Youth Mental Health Foundation
- The NSW Carers Action Plan Evaluation Framework, NSW Health

Publications

Journal Articles

Craig, L. and Powell, A. (forthcoming) Nonstandard hours, work-family balance and the gendered division of care in Australian households, Work, Employment and Society.

Powell, A., Bagilhole, B. and Dainty, A. (forthcoming) A poisoned chalice? Why UK women engineering and technology students may receive more 'help' than their male peers, Gender and Education.

Barnard, S., Powell, A., Bagilhole, B. and Dainty, A. (2010), ‘Researching UK Women Professionals in SET: A critical review of current approaches’, International Journal of Gender, Science and Technology, 2 (3): 361-81.

Powell, A., Hassan, T., Dainty, A. and Carter, C. (2009), 'Note: Exploring gender differences in construction research: a European perspective', Construction Management and Economics, 27 (9), 803-807.

Powell, A., Bagilhole, B. and Dainty, A. (2009), How women engineers do and undo gender: consequences for gender equality', Gender, Work and Organization, 16 (4), 411-428.

Sang, K.J.C., Ison, S., Dainty, A. and Powell, A. (2009), 'Anticipatory socialisation amongst architects: a qualitative exploration', Education + Training, 51 (4), 309-321. Highly Commended Winner at the Emerald Literati Network Awards for Excellence 2010.

Powell, A., Bagilhole, B.M. and Dainty, A. (2006), 'The problem of women's assimilation into UK engineering cultures: can critical mass work?', Equal Opportunities International, 25 (8), 688-699. Highly Commended Winner at the Emerald Literati Network Awards for Excellence 2007.

Bagilhole, B., Powell, A., Dainty, A. and Neale, R. (2005), The UK Engineering Professions: Women Students' Perspectives. International Journal of Diversity in Organisations, Communities and Nations, 5 (1), 109-116.

Powell, A., Bagilhole, B., Dainty, A. and Neale, R. (2004), 'Does the engineering culture in UK higher education advance women's careers', Equal Opportunities International, 23 (7/8), 21-38.

Book chapters

Bagilhole, B., Powell, A. and Dainty, A. (2008), 'What is it about UK Engineering Higher Education (HE) that Deters Women from an Engineering Career? in Oleksy, E., Peto, A., and Waaldijk, B., (eds.), Gender and Citizenship in a Multicultural Context, Frankfurt, Peter Lang.

Powell, A., Bagilhole, B. and Dainty, A. (2007), 'The good, the bad and the ugly: women engineering students' experiences of UK higher education', in Mattis, M., and Burke, R. (eds.) Women and Minorities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics: Upping the Numbers, Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, 47-70.

Reports

Muir, K., Powell. A., Patulny, R., Flaxman, S., McDermott, S., Oprea, I., Gendera, S., Vespignani, J., Sitek, T., Abello, D. and Katz, I. (2009) headspace evaluation report. Independent evaluation of headspace: the National Youth Mental Health Foundation, SPRC Report 19/09 report prepared for headspace: the National Youth Mental Health Foundation.

Muir, K., Mullan, K., Powell, A., Flaxman, S., Thompson, D. and Griffiths, M. (2009) State of Australia’s Young People: A report on the social, economic, health and family lives of young people, Report for Office for Youth, Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.

Bagilhole, B., Powell, A., Barnard, S. and Dainty, A. (2007) Researching Cultures in Science, Engineering and Technology: An analysis of current and past literature. Research Report Series for UKRC No.7.

Powell, A., Bagilhole, B., Dainty, A, and Neale, R. (2006) Research Briefing - Encounters with Engineering: First experiences of women students, Bradford: UK Resource Centre for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology.

Refereed Conference Papers

Craig, L. and Powell, A. (2010) Self-employment and work-family balance. In: S. Velayutham, N. Ebert and S. Watkins (Eds.) The Annual Conference of the Australian Sociology Association: Social Causes, Private Lives, 6-9 Dec 2010, Sydney, Australia.

Powell, A., Dainty, A. and Bagilhole, B. (2010) Achieving Gender Equality in the Construction Professions: Lessons from the Career Decisions of Women Construction Students in the UK. In: C. Egbu (Ed.) Proceedings of the ARCOM 26th Annual Conference, 6-8 Sept 2010, Leeds, UK. Winner of the ‘David Langford’ Commemorative Award.

Powell, A., Hassan, T., Dainty, A. and Carter, C. (2008) The Under-representation of Women in European Construction Research. In: A. Dainty (Ed.) Proceedings of the ARCOM 24th Annual Conference, 1-3 Sept 2008, Cardiff, UK.

Powell, A., Hassan, T., Dainty, A. and Carter, C. (2007) Strengthening Women's Participation in Construction Research in Europe. In: D. Boyd (Ed.) Proceedings of the ARCOM 23rd Annual Conference, 3-5 Sept 2007, Belfast, UK.

Powell, A., Bagilhole, B., Dainty, A. and Neale, R. (2005) Does Higher Education in the UK prepare women engineering students for the transition to paid work? In: Z.J. Pudlowski (Ed.) Proceedings of the 8th UICEE Annual Conference on Engineering Education, Bringing Engineering Educators Together, 7-11 Feb 2005, Kingston, Jamaica.

Powell, A., Dainty, A., Bagilhole, B. and Neale, R. (2005) Coping in Construction: Female Student's Perspectives. In: F. Khosrowshahi (Ed.) Proceedings of the ARCOM 21st Annual Conference, 7-9 Sept 2008, London, UK.

Powell, A., Bagilhole, B., Dainty, A. and Neale, R. (2004) An Investigation of Women's Career Choice in Construction. In: F. Khosrowshahi (Ed.) Proceedings of the ARCOM 20th Annual Conference, 1-3 Sept 2004, Edinburgh, UK.