51³Ô¹ÏÍø

Faculty of Engineering first year undergraduates are inspired by lectures –N±ð·É²õ

Tuesday 21 October 2008
By Colin Smith

The exciting possibilities of twenty first century engineering will be demonstrated to undergraduates as part of an innovative lecture series, starting this week.

51³Ô¹ÏÍø first year undergraduates are attending lectures by leading engineers and medics as part of the Faculty of Engineering’s efforts to inspire and enthuse students by showing them what engineering can do.

Organiser Dr Esat Alpay says undergraduates come to 51³Ô¹ÏÍø because they want a career that will help to tackle important global issues. He says:

“We want our students to be aware that engineering is tackling climate change, preserving world heritage sites, and improving lives with medical robotics and devices. We hope that by giving undergraduates a taste of what is going on they will be spurred on to even greater achievements during their stay here.”

This week environmentalist Jonathan Porritt visited the College to get undergraduates motivated about the important role they will play in tackling the planet’s problems such as energy shortages and environmental degradation.

Jonathan Porritt motivating undergraduates during his lecture

Next month’s lecture will build on this theme when undergraduates will learn how researchers across 51³Ô¹ÏÍø are working together to tackle climate change.

Professor Sir Peter Knight, Senior Principal at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø, will talk about the establishment of the £12 million Grantham Institute for Climate Change and the work undertaken at the College including research into the capture and storage of harmful CO2 emissions and studies into air circulation to improve climate models.

The impacts of engineering on health will be discussed with students in December by an 51³Ô¹ÏÍø pioneer in medical robotics and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Health, .

Lord Darzi will talk about the multidisciplinary field of medical robotics, in which engineers and medics work together to test and build devices to improve surgery and minimise the impact on patients. These include a new robotic snake, manipulated by surgeons, for minimally invasive procedures in hard to reach areas, such as the brain, which were previously thought impossible to operate on.

In January 2009, undergraduates will also learn about the commercialisation of engineering ideas, with a lecture given by Sir Robert Malpas who has held boardroom posts in companies such as Eurotunnel, BP, PowerGen and ICI.

The importance of problem solving to crack the complicated engineering problems of the twenty first century will be discussed by Emeritus Professor John Burland, from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, in February 2008.

In particular, he will talk about leading an international project to stabilise and reinforce Italy’s famous Leaning Tower of Pisa to prevent it from collapsing.

Rounding off the lectures in March 2009 will be presentations from senior undergraduates about their experiences, volunteer work, student led projects and summer placements.

These will include 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Racing Green students who will talk about their zero emissions fuel-cell racing cart, which recently came third in the 2008 Formula Zero Championships in the Netherlands. Fourth year Mechanical Engineering undergraduate and 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Racing Green Project Manager Clemens Lorf says:

“It is amazing to be studying a degree which gives you the chance to design and build a zero emissions racing cart, not to mention being able to test your cart in international competitions. Being part of the 2008 Formula Zero Championship was an incredible experience and an important part of my studies.”

Civil and Environmental Engineering undergraduates will highlight their annual summer work on earthquake proof buildings in El Salvador. Students will also hear of other engineering volunteer schemes at 51³Ô¹ÏÍø, such as Engineers Without Borders and the 51³Ô¹ÏÍø Volunteer Centre.

The series is part of the Faculty of Engineering’s EnVision strategy which fosters initiatives on engineering education. EnVision is working with departments, supporting scholarships, constructing inspiring learning environments and celebrating the achievements of staff and students.