The Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) will be supporting Tomorrow’s Engineers Week by holding an Engineering Extravaganza for dozens of Year 8 and 9 pupils from across the region, at the University of York.
Tomorrow’s Engineers Week (#TEWeek16) takes place from 7-11 November 2016 and aims to change perceptions of engineering among young people, their parents and teachers to inspire future engineers.
On Monday 7th November, budding engineers from Yorkshire’s schools will compete in teams of 12, at the National STEM Learning Centre at the University of York, in a day of activities led by the region’s engineering institutions.
The Extravaganza is designed to encourage youngsters, aged 12 to 14, to take up a career in engineering by giving them hands-on experience of different engineering disciplines by working in teams to solve engineering challenges.
Students will take part in a tower building challenge led by ICE, where they will attempt to build the tallest tower at the lowest cost. The Institution of Mechanical Engineers will help the teams build and race air-powered cars, the Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining will explain how materials have helped to change and improve technology, and the Institution of Engineering and Technology is challenging students to build a vacuum tube train.
ICE Regional Education Coordinator Josie Rothera, said: “Our young people are the future of civil engineering, so it is important to inspire them to take an interest in it at an early age. The UK does not have enough engineers. To meet demand we have to double the number of engineering apprentices and double the number of people with engineering qualifications.
“As a profession we need innovative ideas to attract engineers from all areas of society, to ensure a diverse workforce fit to tackle challenges such as climate change, population growth, building bigger and taller buildings and providing clean water and sanitation for all.”
Paul Jackson, Chief Executive at EngineeringUK, said: “ICE Yorkshire and Humber and others like it around the UK are embracing Mission Inspiration with events and activities to mark Tomorrow’s Engineers Week. Engineering makes a vital contribution to the UK economic growth and offers a wealth of varied and rewarding careers. To ensure British engineering continues to thrive we need to inspire future engineers.
“Engineering companies will have over 2.5 million job openings over this decade, across a diverse range of disciplines. However, we need many more school children, particularly girls, choosing the GCSEs, A levels, apprenticeships, degrees or other vocational pathways that will lead to engineering careers.”
ENDS