London youths reveal the impact of engineers on molding their local communities
Bridging the Gap: The Hidden Engineering Project in London
The Hidden Engineering project, an initiative in London, is bringing engineers and young people from diverse and under-represented backgrounds together to foster a better understanding of how engineering impacts public spaces and neighborhoods.
The project, a collaboration between the Royal Academy of Engineering and various engineers from London's regeneration areas, aims to increase public engagement with engineering by equipping engineers to communicate effectively with non-expert audiences and opening up engineering to pupils who have typically been under-represented in the field.
The project has been successful in achieving its goals. Nearly nine out of ten participating pupils (88%) felt they gained a better understanding of how engineering improves our lives, and half were inspired to explore engineering as a career path. One pupil succinctly described a healthy street as sustainable, diverse, and welcoming.
The project offers practical learning experiences. Engineers delivered interactive walking tours and workshops, using real-world sites designed by themselves as examples. The pupils got hands-on with engineering, testing sustainable drainage systems, navigating public spaces in wheelchairs, and exploring their communities.
The project has been delivered by Sustrans with funding and support from the Royal Academy of Engineering through their Ingenious scheme. It involved 20 engineers and 101 year 9 pupils from three local schools in Islington, Barking & Dagenham, and Hammersmith & Fulham.
The focus of the project was on understanding topics such as highways, drainage structures, and greening. The project provided learning opportunities that can be taken forward into future collaborations. It also led to meaningful conversations about accessibility, sustainability, and community design.
The project's goal is to break down barriers between the creators of public spaces and the people who live in them. By making engineering more visible, relatable, and inclusive, particularly targeting young people from backgrounds under-represented in engineering careers, the Hidden Engineering project in London is bridging the gap between engineers and the public.
In a positive note, engineers gained confidence in public engagement, with 100% of surveyed participants finding the experience enjoyable. Furthermore, female and non-binary students showed strong interest in engineering careers, often leading the design workshops. Even students with additional needs were among the most engaged, especially during hands-on activities.
In conclusion, the Hidden Engineering project in London is a significant step towards fostering a more inclusive and engaged engineering community, inspiring the next generation to consider engineering as a career and encouraging engineers to engage with their local community.
- The Hidden Engineering project in London, by offering practical learning experiences and fostering effective communication between engineers and non-expert audiences, serves as an exceptional platform for personal growth and education-and-self-development, particularly in the field of engineering and personal-growth.
- Through its focused emphasis on building a more inclusive and engaged engineering community, the Hidden Engineering project in London contributes significantly to the learning and development of young people who have typically been under-represented in engineering careers, thereby supporting their future growth in this field.
