College News

Interactive Engineering

Thirty first year students from QE gained some practical skills in two branches of engineering at Teesside University’s Interactive Engineering Event. As part of QE’s Future Engineers Scheme, the students visited the university and chose sessions from  chemical, mechanical, civil, electrical and electronic, aerospace and instrumentation & control engineering.  Those who chose aerospace made mini-rockets and were able launch them  to look at aerodynamics; the civil engineers designed and built a bridge and then tested the stresses and efficiency of the build. Katie Walker who took part in the electrical and electronic engineering sessions stated: “I really enjoyed the electrical/electronic activity.  We made a digital thermometer creating a circuit.  You had to apply your knowledge of physics to work out how to create it.” Sam Connolly who tried aerospace and civil engineering added: “Trying out two different areas was useful as it helped me to see which area I prefer.  I am very interested in structures and materials, so carrying out the bridge building activity and seeing how design, build and using the correct materials all work together was excellent”. Liz Bryan, Future Engineers Co-ordinator at QE, concluded: “The event was great, the practical sessions enabled students not only to gain an insight into different sectors, but they also had to work as a team to come up with ideas, make a product and  test it out – exactly what they would  do as practising engineers.