Category: Engineering in the Community

UWE Bristol student engineers improving compost heap thermal insulation

Author Laura Hobbs | Posted on

As part of the Department of Engineering Design and Mathematics at UWE Bristol’s new module, Engineering in the Community, students on one project are working to design new thermal insulation materials to help compost heaps work better.

This Group Project Challenge aims to set some real-world challenges for the engineering students on our Postgraduate Diploma course. The students are now working in groups to come up with design solutions to a community problem to make a difference in the local area. The improvements to composts bins are being carried out for Incredible Edible at Speedwell allotments.

The module provides a broad comprehension of the competencies and social responsibilities required for ‘engineering citizenship’ in order to be a professional engineer. It introduces the wider social considerations needed to enact Corporate Social Responsibility in the modern engineering industry.

Each group has been given an engineering challenge for which they have to develop a socially acceptable solution for their assigned community group. They are learning about a variety of engagement strategies utilised by professional organisations and Chartered Engineers, as well as the variety of audiences with which these skills can be practised and explored.

Engineers also need to recognise and value the need for them to work effectively with both modern technologies and people in their social or organisational contexts – a hybrid challenge employing engineering ideas in practice.

We have 15 engineers out in the community (12 engineers from Airbus, two from Babcock and one from the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)). They are working with four community groups across five projects; as well this project improving composting for Incredible Edible community gardens there are also teams working on:

  • Improving access to Bedminster shops (as presented by Olivia from the Bubble Play Café, and Alice from Trylla in the photos above)
  • Improving community space for the North Bristol Community Project
  • Improving heating options for van dwellers – in association with Residents Against Dirty Energy, presented by Stuart Phelps
  • Improving air quality in mechanical garages  – in association with Residents Against Dirty Energy

Call out for Engineers: Bristol Open Doors

Author Laura Hobbs | Posted on

In partnership with the Royal Academy of Engineering, we have an opportunity to involve engineers in creating inspirational events for Bristol Open Doors* (13-15 September 2019). Could you develop a boat tour of our changing harbour, or develop an event around wind turbines, tunnels, caves, medicine, earthquakes or floods? We are looking for engineers to inspire the public around what engineering can achieve (from the everyday to the spectacular). You will be well supported in the development of your activity. Open to engineers at all levels.

For more information and to register your interest by Thursday 18 April, please contact:

Lucy MacDonald, Programme Manager

Lucy.macdonald@architecturecentre.org.uk

0117 922 1540

*Bristol Open Doors is one of largest festivals in the South West.

UWE student engineers consider challenges within society

Author Laura Hobbs | Posted on

Last week, UWE Bristol’s first year Engineering students completed a second project week at Frenchay. They looked at engineering as a civic responsibility, applying their problem-solving skills to real world issues as Dr Tushar Dhavale (Programme Lead for Mechanical Engineering) tells us in this guest post.

All the first year student engineers went through an amazing experience of working through a second project week, which was organised in ECC from 18th-22nd March. The students worked in groups and put their heads together to address challenges within the society in Tamil Nadu, India.

Through this mechanism the participants went through a thorough research followed by engineering analysis and a presentation in the form of a poster.

There was a wide spectrum of speakers from industry, all of them ex-UWE who were quite keen to come back to UWE and speak to the future engineers.

For the students, this was a wholesome experience where they had an opportunity to apply knowledge they gathered here at UWE to real world problems and attain a sense of achievement.

Community grants available from UWE Bristol Fund

Author Laura Hobbs | Posted on

Applications for grants of up to £3,000 for projects which enhance student learning (inside or outside of the curriculum) through practical, community-based activities are still being accepted until Monday 1 April.

Applications must be led by a current UWE Bristol student or staff member, and must also identify a lead community partner who should be involved in development of the application. If you have a good idea but need help finding a suitable community partner, please contact communityfund@uwe.ac.uk. Projects should have a positive impact on the local community in one of the theme areas: Schools and Education; Sustainability or Stronger Communities.

Applications close on Monday 1 April. Decisions on funding will be made in mid-May. For more information please visit the UWE Bristol Fund webpage or contact communityfund@uwe.ac.uk.

UWE Bristol sends 15 engineers to work on five Engineering in the Community projects

Author Laura Hobbs | Posted on

The Department of Engineering Design and Mathematics at UWE Bristol has launched a new module called Engineering in the Community. This Group Project Challenge aims to set some real-world challenges for the engineering students on our Postgraduate Diploma course. The students are now working in groups to come up with design solutions to a community problem to make a difference in the local area.

The module provides a broad comprehension of the competencies and social responsibilities required for ‘engineering citizenship’ in order to be a professional engineer. It introduces the wider social considerations needed to enact Corporate Social Responsibility in the modern engineering industry.

Each group has been given an engineering challenge for which they have to develop a socially acceptable solution for their assigned community group. They are learning about a variety of engagement strategies utilised by professional organisations and Chartered Engineers, as well as the variety of audiences with which these skills can be practised and explored.

Engineers also need to recognise and value the need for them to work effectively with both modern technologies and people in their social or organisational contexts – a hybrid challenge employing engineering ideas in practice.

We have 15 engineers out in the community (12 engineers from Airbus, two from Babcock and one from the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC)). They are working with four community groups across five projects:

We’re really looking forward to seeing the solutions the engineers come up with!

Engineering our Future blog reaches 100 posts

Author Laura Hobbs | Posted on

Since our launch in June, we’ve now published 100 posts on our blog, covering support and development of engineering in society and the community, and diversity and support for under-represented groups in STEM. We’ve covered topics as diverse as career paths, robots, awards, turf cutting, conference presentations, Lottie dolls, teaching resources, theatre, and more.

Huge thanks to all those who have contributed content, and shared our posts more widely. If you’d like to write for the blog, or have material you’d like to be published for you, please get in touch: engineeringourfuture@uwe.ac.uk.

Applications for community projects to access Engineering in the Community support

Author Laura Hobbs | Posted on

Would you like a nature or rain garden area for your school? Do you need technology ideas for citizen groups?  Do you need help with structural or civil issues on your site? Read on to find out how you could access support from UWE Bristol students, in this guest post from Dr Corra Boushel.

The Department of Engineering Design and Mathematics at UWE Bristol is launching a new module called Engineering in the Community. This Group Project Challenge aims to set some real-world challenges for the engineering students on our Postgraduate Diploma course. The students will work in groups to come up with a design solution to a community problem, and may even make a prototype.

We are now looking for  community, voluntary and social enterprise sectors, and small businesses with problems to solve. Would you like a nature or rain garden area for your school? Do you need technology ideas for citizen groups?  Do you need help with structural or civil issues on your site? As part of their Group Project Challenge students will work with your community group to design an engineering solution to your problem.

The deadline for submitting your project is Monday 10th December. Projects will run February – July 2019.

Download the briefing note and application form for more information, and send to laura.foggrogers@uwe.ac.uk.