Local schools to take part in UK engineering challenge at Queen Mary, University of London.

Students from eleven schools took part in an IET Faraday Challenge Day at Queen Mary, University of London on 14th and 15th May 2018. It is the 5th year the School of Electronic Engineering and Computer Science at Queen Mary, University of London has hosted this event where school students become real-life engineers for a day to research, design and build solutions to real engineering problems.

169 events are taking place across the UK to host 2017-18 IET Faraday Challenge Days. Up to six teams of local school students are competing at each event to find the best solution to an engineering-related challenge.

This year’s challenge is in association with THORPE PARK Resort but the brief for these young engineers is shrouded in secrecy to avoid unfair preparation and research. Teams must race against the clock to solve a real-life engineering problem, putting their engineering and technology knowledge and skills to the test.

Holly Margerison-Smith, IET Faraday Education Manager, said: 'Students who take part in the Faraday Challenge Days this year will experience working as an engineer through hands-on and practical engagement with real-life challenges relating to THORPE PARK Resort. The Challenge Days will give them an insight into the life of a real engineer, the variety a career in engineering can offer and just how exciting and creative engineering is. There is huge demand for new engineers and technicians and we’re confident that this will challenge young people’s perceptions of engineers and inspire the next generation.'

The events aim to encourage more young people to study and consider exciting and rewarding careers in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) by using creativity, innovation and problem-solving skills.

Challenge winners at Queen Mary, University of London on day one were a team from King Edward VI Grammar in Chelmsford and a team Southend High School for boys were the winner on day two. Each team member in the winning group was awarded a prize and a trophy for their school. The top five teams from across the UK will receive an all-expenses paid trip to the national final at THORPE PARK Resort in 2018 to compete for a cash prize of up to £1,000 for their school.

The event at Queen Mary, University of London was organised by Senior Lecturer, Dr Eliane Lucia Bodanese, Electronics Teaching Lab Manager, Ho Huen with support from Fei Luo, Mathangi Sridharan, and Muhammad Siddiqui.