Support
The Engineering Message
A definition of an engineer is...
, art and
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And a definition of engineering is...
Does Your Audience Agree With
These Definitions?
By working through this resource you will be able to help
students understand The Engineering Message, and develop
their understanding of engineers and engineering.
Remember this is a starting point for discussion and activity and you
can draw upon your own enthusiasm and experience.
What Is Engineering?
Many people think that engineering is just about
fixing cars or constructing bridges, ships or buildings.
Some will also have the impression that engineering takes place
in a dirty environment that isn’t for them, but in fact engineering
helps shape the future.
Engineers look to develop and manufacture sustainable products,
materials, structures and much more.
Find out what your group thinks of engineering:
You will need some fabric paints and old, extra large T-shirts
(alternatively you can use just paints and paper or even badges).
Ask your group to draw ‘engineering’ on a T-shirt.
They may draw a person or product, building
or bridge etc.
Once dry, ask them to wear the T-shirt over
their clothes and explain their drawing.
Have they drawn an engineering stereotype?
Allow time for this discussion. We want to show students that
engineers are from diverse backgrounds and work in many varied
industries. During the activity, challenge the students’ stereotypes.
Use the profiles provided throughout the Engineering Engagement
Project resources to help you.
in partnership with
Misconceptions
Do their pictures show
stereotypes or misconceptions
of engineering?
Draw up a list on the board or
flipchart.
v Why do they think this way?
v What do they think engineering
really is?
Getting the
Message
Across
After these discussions, ask
each member of your group to
think of a word or sentence that defines
engineering for them.
Use these to form a word cloud, with the most
frequent answers in bold or a bigger font and
display this in your classroom.
Here is our example: Engineering is...
Visit www.wordle.net for an easy way to make your own.
Visit www.wordle.net for an easy way to make your own.
More Information
To see what other STEM Clubs are doing and to find the other Engineering Engagement
Project resources visit www.stemclubs.net
There are more useful ideas on STEMNetworking at: networking.stemnet.org.uk
For more information the Engineering Engagement Project visit The Royal Academy of
Engineering website at www.raeng.org.uk
Page 2
21st Century
Engineering
Anywhere we look we can find
engineering examples.
Whether it is the toothpaste that has been
chemically engineered to keep our teeth white
or the bridge that is built to reunite a town after
heavy floods (see Workington after the 2009
floods in Cumbria).
Engineering is useful and relevant in many areas
of our lives.
In the 21st century there are many examples of
engineering that we just couldn’t live without.
Look at these ideas which you can share and
discuss with your club. Can they think of other
examples? Start with ideas that are local before
moving onto global examples.
Water
It may appear strange to say our water is
engineered, but engineering is essential
in providing us with clean water in our
homes, protecting us from floods (see picture
of the Thames Barrier) and treating sewerage.
v Ensuring we have clean and safe water to drink is vital.
How is this achieved in the UK?
v Some parts of the world do not have sufficient clean
drinking water. What problems can this lead to?
‘Pure’ is a water bottle that uses ultraviolet light
to sterilise drinking water anywhere in the world.
Timothy Whitehead, an Industrial Design and Technology
graduate from Loughborough University, had the idea while
travelling in Zambia.
The innovative bottle eliminates the need to use chlorine
and iodine tablets to sterilise drinking water. These take up
to 30 minutes to work and leave an unpleasant taste. Tests
showed that using a combination of chamber filtration and
UV light, ‘Pure’ can sterilise water in just two minutes. Tim’s
invention has won the UK arm of the James Dyson Award 2010.
The James Dyson Award is an international student
design award currently running in
18 countries. The brief is broad
– “design something that
solves a problem” – with
a total prize of £20,000
being awarded to
the international
winner.
Transport
In the 21st century we are reliant on
so many different forms of transport,
not only for ourselves but also for the
products and food that we buy.
Our key task for the future is to ensure that our
transport is green and sustainable.
Why is this important? How can you help?
Could this process
be scaled up for
whole towns and
cities?
There Are Many
More Everyday
Examples Of Great Engineering...
Here are just a few:
Q self service checkouts
Q satellite navigation systems
Q the shopping trolley that locks
outside the car park
Q rapid boil kettles
Q low energy light bulbs
Q touch and go payment technology
Q the ball point pen
Page 3
Role Models –
STEM Ambassadors in Action
Engineers can push the boundaries of what is
possible and make the world a better and more
exciting place to live.
Do these role models challenge your audience’s
impression of engineers?
There are lots of profiles throughout these resources.
Why not photocopy the profiles onto A3 and display
them in your classroom?
Rachel Joshua
Structural Engineer
I have always enjoyed maths, physics and art, and this
career is a great way of combining these skills, which is
something I discovered through my physics teacher.
I like going onto
construction sites
because I think
it is important to
see the projects
I am working on
in their real-life
context.
It is also great
to meet people
of different
professions,
such as builders,
architects and
scaffolders.
I want to carry
on working
in a job that
inspires and challenges me and eventually become a
Chartered Engineer so that I can work on more exciting
projects and earn more money!
Generously supported by
www.baesystems.com/education
Dr Davide Di Maio
Materials for Electronics
I perform experiments to test the properties of
materials used in the electronics industry.
Sometimes I get to travel, especially for meetings
and conferences.
I studied for my Materials Engineering degree in Italy.
I studied for my PhD (DPhil) in Materials Science in
Oxford. I had always been interested in science but
I did not know what specific field. I decided to focus on
materials when I started an engineering degree.
Engineering for me is understanding how things
work and using that knowledge to improve
something, making life easier or solving problems.
Contact Us
The Royal Academy of Engineering
3 Carlton House Terrace
London SW1Y 5DG
Tel: 020 7766 0600
Fax: 020 7930 1549
Web: www.raeng.org.uk
Engineering Engagement Project
Web: www.raeng.org.uk/eenp
Email: [email protected]