Engineering a greener future
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Published
05 April 2024
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The University of East London’s School of Architecture, Computing and Engineering (ACE) has hosted a symposium on how engineering can help address the immense environmental challenges facing the world. The event, entitled Engineering a Greener Future, took place at the University’s Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability on 4 and 5 March, as part of the University’s Year of Science.
Industry leaders, academics, students and policymakers were among those taking part, with presentations, interactive exhibits and discussion panels all making for a busy two days. The Dean of ACE, Professor David Tann, welcomed the event and the opportunity to host key figures from the engineering sector.
He said,
Engineering is the art and practice of combining scientific principles, mathematical rigor, and technological innovations to enhance human life. Today, we face our most critical challenge: protecting the earth and reshaping the world sustainably. At our University, our mission is to empower students to champion sustainability. Our symposium saw industry leaders and academics sharing their expertise and commitment to eco-friendly technologies and sustainable practices, offering invaluable insights and inspiring our students.
Day one: sustainability engineering industry focus
The first day of the symposium focussed on sustainability, highlighting the role of engineering in addressing the most significant environmental, social, and economic challenges facing the world.
A series of panels looked at some of the key issues around sustainability and the engineering sector. Among them was How We Can Save the World, Project by Project, introduced by Sally Sudworth of REDR UK, which provides technical support to NGOs, and Geosynthetics and Sustainable Engineering Application, led by David Woods of Huesker Ltd. His company manufactures geotextile building materials.
The Director of the University’s Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability, Robert de Jong, also spoke on UEL and Sustainable Cities. The panels covered a wide variety of topics but an overarching theme was the need for more sustainable engineering practices and the urgent requirement for innovative engineering solutions for a greener future.
Huesker’s Dave Woods was delighted to have had the opportunity to interact with students and industry experts at the symposium. He said, “It has been my absolute pleasure to spend the day at UEL. The best part of my career is to pass things on to the next generations. There have been brilliant sessions in the morning and afternoon.”
Another of the key challenges examined in the panels was the need for comprehensive planning if businesses are to become more sustainable. UEL itself has long had a sustainability strategy, with the University committed to net-zero campuses by 2030. One key aspect of that commitment is our partnership with Siemens. The University’s tie-up with the industrial giant has led to UEL using data and digital innovation to reduce energy consumption, engage the community and empower students and staff to contribute to a greener future.
Day two: inspiring future generations
The second day of the symposium, with the theme From Our Labs to You, celebrated UNESCO’s World Engineering Day. It was aimed at inspiring students to pursue sustainable engineering careers. More than a hundred students and prospective students attended the event, many from local schools and colleges in east London. A wide variety of workshops were held, giving the students the chance to find out about autonomous robotic cars, building design in extreme climates, nature-inspired engineering solutions, solar tracking and many more engineering challenges.
The Engineering Futures Festival awards were also presented. These celebrate student projects which provide engineering solutions to real-world problems. UEL engineering students Lana Charles, Louis Gammons, Lewis Hammond and Mahfuzur Rahman won the festival’s gold award for their scheme for a water harvesting and treatment plant. It’s designed to help people access clean water for drinking, cooking and washing. Their project will now go forward as UEL’s entry to a competition held by the NGO Engineers Without Borders.
Kareem Minette and Judith Michael-Olla won silver for their work on an improved toilet hygiene system. The judges praised their understanding of cultural issues and their implementation of the scheme.
Three students who designed a device for diabetics to monitor their glucose levels were also commended for their project. Raj Bharatbhai Zala, Nashwa Ali and Karan Shinde were impressed by the standard of the competition, with Mr Zala saying he’d gained a lot from it. He said, “This challenge helped me gain exposure to business startups and enterprises.”
Professor Tann reflected on the enthusiasm shown by students at the symposium. He said, “They all aspire to be future professionals and leaders, and they were delighted to have had the opportunity of interacting with industry experts and learning about how to engineer a greener future.”
Both days had a strong student focus, with the first day’s panels helping students understand the various pathways to a career in sustainability engineering. That emphasis on future career paths is a key element of UEL’s mission to be a leading career-first institution, driven by our commitment to ensure our graduates are the first choice for employers.
Sharon Sanjeev Emmanuel, who’s studying for a BEng in Mechatronics and Computer Systems was one of the many students who found the various panels thought-provoking. She said, “This event kickstarted my career. It gave me the right push to start taking the lead and speaking out about my creative ideas.”
To read more about the University’s focus on careers, check the website.
Join our upcoming Year of Science events!
Save the date for our next Year of Science event, the Sustainable Cities Festival. It’ll be held from 15 to 24 April, with a focus on how innovation and sustainability can be combined to shape the cities of tomorrow!
The festival will be filled with events that explore ground-breaking ideas, skills and technologies that can create sustainable practices, enhance life quality and foster resilient communities. Join the fashion revolution, discuss how the transitioning of cities to low carbon will affect our future, sign up for World Earth Day discussions, make your own natural skincare and much more!
The Festival is part of UEL’s Year of Science, a series of events and showcases throughout 2024, examining all the ways the University is creating, collaborating and engaging with science. One key highlight of the year will be the University’s hosting of the prestigious British Science Festival from 11 to 15 September.
Read more about Sustainable Cities Festival and sign up.
Follow the University of East London’s LinkedIn to keep updated on all upcoming Year of Science events.