Nicola

The application for an Ingenious Award (funding from the Royal Academy of Engineering) asks for an example case study of an engineer’s public engagement journey after taking part in the project.

Since I’m an Engineer started in 2012 we’ve had 40 engineers take part, many at different stages of their public engagement journey. Here’s Nicola Lazenby’s case study from our application:

Nicola is a PhD student looking at how foundations can be used to produce renewable heat and energy from the ground. She won the Environment Zone in March 2013.

Before taking part in I’m an Engineer she already had an interest in outreach, being involved with Engineers without Borders, a Student Ambassador at University and working with young people summer schools and taster days. She “wasn’t new to engagement, but not exactly an experienced professional”.

Taking part in I’m an Engineer changed the way Nicola communicates. She now thinks a lot more about putting things into a context that others would understand. To describe the profile of the ground she has honed her example of a Victoria sponge cake with different layers. “I’ve definitely developed my written communication skills, and organisational skills. Planning my work around the chat session really meant I could focus on them and not worry about what else I should be getting on with.”

But it doesn’t stop there. Since taking part she’s attended the University of Sheffield’s public engagement master class series, to learn how to go about planning and designing the best public engagement project possible, so her £500 prize is spent in the most effective way!

There were some unexpected impacts too. Nicola has now started to talk to the junior netball team she coaches a lot more about what she does at uni – “I now feel more confident relating what I do to things they understand”.

And she says to the students who voted her the winner “if I’ve only inspired 1 of you to just consider engineering in the future, I’m happy!”

And yes, our application was successful!