Engineering the future

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08 January 2024

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In a showcase of innovation and expertise, students from the Department of Engineering and Construction at the University of East London unveiled a wide range of projects at December’s Engineering Futures Festival. The diverse array of presentations covered topics ranging from biomedical engineering and startups to the analysis of London City Airport expansion, the design of robotic vehicles and the vision for a net zero carbon campus. The event also featured students taking part in a challenge set by the Engineers Without Borders (EWB) charity.

Dr Jaswinder Lota, Co-Head of the Department of Engineering and Construction, underlined the importance of such occasions for students, saying it gave them the opportunity to learn essential skills, 

Events such as the festival are vital for students to put their knowledge into practice and develop real-life projects. The students have demonstrated impressive skills and motivation throughout the event.”

Held at the Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability the festival provided a platform for students to present their projects to fellow students, faculty, and members of the community. Dr Hasan Baig, UEL Champion for Careers and Enterprise, who organised the festival, described it as a "resounding success" that offered invaluable guidance to aspiring engineers.

Lauren O’Brien, a biomedical engineering student, embraced the experience of presenting to diverse audiences. She said, “It has been all very new for us, as we are first-year students, but it is a great experience and opportunity to learn and develop our skills.”

One of the highlights of the festival was the presentation of original ideas by students, including startups proposing sustainable solutions. These solutions ranged from innovative solar panels to help UEL transition to net-zero, to UAVs with an increased range used for innovative applications, and engineering solutions focused on improving the quality of life for the elderly.

Ayomide Idowu, a mechanical engineering undergraduate, reflected on the experience of learning from other projects, “It has been great seeing how other students solve the same challenges. The biggest challenge was our lack of experience, but we researched a lot to make it happen.”

The festival also featured the EWB design challenge, where students worked in small teams to develop solutions for the well-being of people in rural Cambodia. The top five teams from the showcase were selected to represent UEL in the EWB national competition in April 2024, with a prize of £2,000 for the winning team.

A panel of industry experts, including professionals from engineering company Atkins Realis, technical legal experts Diales, housebuilder Berkeley Homes, technical professional services firm Jacobs, and the Institution of Civil Engineers judged the projects, saying they were impressed with the students' high standard of research, application, and presentation skills.

Dr Mike Hurst, senior lecturer in engineering and construction highlighted the importance of real-life projects for students, citing their collaboration with EWB. The projects addressed critical issues, ranging from simple water treatment facilities to the manufacture of hemp walling materials.

The festival also featured impressive poster displays and presentations, providing a platform for the students to exhibit their creativity, technical expertise, and problem-solving abilities.

Umi Abdullahi, a biomedical engineering student, was one of the team that produced a poster for a new model for a prosthetic. She said, “This was very much a research-based project. We investigated prosthetics and worked on learning how to design. We made a multiaxial prosthetic ankle for transtibial amputees. Most prosthetics currently move on a single axis back and forth. Ours operates more like a human ankle so it is more natural.”

The last day of the festival focused on models for robotic vehicles that could do tasks repeatedly. Nahin Haque, who’s studying for a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering was in a team that built one of the vehicles. He said, “Our project investigated how to create a model for repeatable vehicles. This means one that can do the same task again and again and travel through a track back and forth. We had great professors, but the project was mostly done with our own initiative.”

The festival, a testament to the students' innovation and dedication, served as a dynamic forum for the exchange of ideas, learning, and collaboration within the engineering community at UEL.

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