STFC

Space Zone Report

Read the report: Space Zone Report – November 2020 [PDF] The Space Zone ran from 2 to 27 November 2020 as part of I’m an Engineer. The activity ran for longer than previous I’m an Engineer Zones (4 weeks instead of 2). It also featured more engineers (20 instead of 6). This was to offer greater flexibility to teachers in how, and when, they could take part. This was in response to the COVID-19 situation and greater restrictions and uncertainty in schools. The Space Zone was funded by the UK Space Agency, and the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC). Engineers 20 engineers created profiles in the Zone 19 engaged with students through live Chats and/or Ask questions Engineers from a broad range of fields and career stages took part. For example: Abbie Hutty – works on the Exo-Mars Rosalind Franklin Rover for Airbus Defence and Space Ltd Steve Williams … Continue reading

Posted on January 18, 2021 by modtom in 2020, STFC, UKSA, Zone Reports | Comments Off on Space Zone Report

Detection Zone Report – November 2019

Read the report: Detection Zone Report – November 2019 [PDF] The Detection Zone was a themed zone supported by the Science and Technology Facilities Council. It featured five engineers: Will Smith works at Daresbury Laboratory collecting data from the particle accelerator. Lulu Buford works for Wood plc, an engineering partner for STFC, designing gas pipelines for a laboratory that detects dangerous elements in samples. Fahim Dhalla works at CERN as a cryogenics mechanical engineer, testing superconducting magnets. Chris Parmenter, the winner of this zone, works at STFC RAL Space designing cameras and other equipment to use in space. Candice Basson is a PhD student funded by STFC using the Large Hadron Collider to look for the building blocks of our universe.

Posted on January 15, 2020 by in 2019, STFC, Zone Reports | Comments Off on Detection Zone Report – November 2019

Milliampere Zone Report – June 2019

Read the report: Milliampere Zone Report – June 2019 [PDF] The Milliampere Zone was a general zone supported by the Science & Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and NCOP schools. The six featured engineers were all employed or funded by the STFC, or worked at an STFC partner company: Ryan Smith, the winner of this Zone designs and builds cameras that go to space to look back at Earth or out to the stars. Nadine Priestman processes hardware kits containing engine parts for aeroplane. Matt Keith is trying to figure out how to recycle really big things like bikes, cars and aeroplanes. Emma Hancock is an apprentice in the second year of a University degree, currently working on software for detector systems. Daniel Wye is the Flight Controls Lead Engineer for the Lightning II F-35B fighter plane. Allanah Green is an apprentice for BT developing services for customers worldwide.

Posted on July 15, 2019 by Moderator - Josh in 2019, STFC, Zone Reports | Comments Off on Milliampere Zone Report – June 2019

Energy Zone Report – March 2019

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Read the full report

The Energy Zone was a themed zone supported by the Science & Technology Facilities Council. There were six engineers in the zone:

  • Oliver Moore, who is on a graduate scheme at UKAEA//Culham Fusion Centre, in Oxfordshire.
  • Lesley Colquhoun, who provides equipment to manufacturers who lay subsea power/telecommunications cables at MAATS Tech Ltd who’ve worked with STFC.
  • Leah Morgan, the winner of the zone, who maintains the equipment used to power fusion reactors at UKAEA/Culham Fusion Centre.
  • Hannah Griffin, who builds software and computer systems for scientists at Rutherford Appleton Laboratory.
  • Graeme Burt, who is funded by STFC and works on particle accelerators as well as teaching at Lancaster University.
  • Aleks Sokol, a Distribution Planning Technician for UK Power Networks, who work with STFC.

Continue reading

Posted on April 15, 2019 by in 2019, STFC, Zone Reports | Comments Off on Energy Zone Report – March 2019

Milligram Zone Report – March 2019

[caption id="attachment_11656" align="alignright" width="225"] Click to read.[/caption]

Read the full report

The Milligram Zone was a general engineering zone supported by the Science & Technology Facilities Council. There were six engineers taking part:

  • The winner of the zone, Shruti Turner, a PhD student who researches the development of artificial legs for people who have lost theirs.
  • Mark Bentley, who designs and makes bespoke and custom made “things” for scientific research and teaching practicals.
  • Faranak Bahrami, who designs better ways to perforate thermoplastics without reducing their load-bearing capabilities at TWI Ltd who partner with STFC.
  • Douglas Wragg, who is a road transport consultant engineer.
  • Charlene Chung, a hydraulic modeller who works on designing sewers and drainage system at Aktins Global, who partner with STFC.
  • Alistair McConnell, who designs and builds robotic sensor nodes for monitoring offshore structures.

Continue reading

Posted on April 15, 2019 by in 2019, STFC, Zone Reports | Comments Off on Milligram Zone Report – March 2019

Energy Zone Report – June 2015

The Energy Zone was a themed zone funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC). The participating engineers were working in energy-related fields such as developing renewable energy power plants, improving how buildings use energy and planning the infrastructure needed to deliver North Sea gas to the UK. The Zone had a high percentage of active students (92%) and they were keen to find out about what engineering involves, what the working life of the participating engineers was like and the education needed to become an engineer. This was a very competitive zone amongst the engineers, with Yasmin, Tadhg and Lee in particular engaging well throughout. Download the full report

Posted on July 21, 2015 by in 2015, STFC, Zone Reports | Comments Off on Energy Zone Report – June 2015

Kelvin Zone Report – June 2015

The Kelvin Zone was a general engineering zone funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC) and Simon, Norbert and Craig worked for organisations related to the research council. The engineers taking part covered a wide range of fields from aircraft engineering, satellites, flood defences, scientific research equipment and automotive engineering. Both ASK and live chats were quiet compared to other zones in June. The main focus of the zone was on engineering as a career, either what the engineers enjoyed about their current jobs or how they came to be where they were. More specific engineering questions covered the wide variety of topics related to the work of the engineers. Norbert, who won the zone, put a great deal of effort into attending chats in particular. All the engineers interacted positively with the students and their different experiences of engineering illustrated nicely the varied potential the discipline offers. … Continue reading

Posted on July 21, 2015 by in 2015, STFC, Zone Reports | Comments Off on Kelvin Zone Report – June 2015

Apprentice Zone Report – June 2014

The Apprentice Zone was the first time we’ve run a zone themed around a career path, rather than an engineering area like Water, Health or Environment. The idea of the zone was to give students the opportunity to talk to engineers who’ve taken the apprentice route. This clearly appealed to teachers, as it was the most requested zone. The zone had the most live chats, in which the students asked more questions about career routes and apprenticeships than in the ASK section. A lot of the discussions in the zones were focused more generally on careers and jobs: how to get engineering skills and what working as an engineer actually looks like. You can read the full zone report here (PDF).

Posted on July 30, 2014 by in 2014, News, STFC, Zone Reports | Comments Off on Apprentice Zone Report – June 2014

Space Zone Report – March 2014

The Space Zone was funded by the Science and Technology Facilities Council. A lot of the discussions in this zone were focused on the space theme. From missions to Mars, to life in the universe and building the technology to help us find out more. There was more activity in the ASK section than the CHAT section of the zone, probably because many of the engineers found it hard to fit the live chats round their daily commitments, so several chats were cancelled. As with previous I’m an Engineer zones there was a good balance between questions about careers and engineering itself. You can download the full zone report here (PDF).  

Posted on April 7, 2014 by in 2014, News, STFC, Zone Reports | Comments Off on Space Zone Report – March 2014

Detection Zone Report – June 2013

The Detection Zone was quiet to start off with but quickly picked up as the week went on – it was quite busy during the second week. The live chats were fun and the students seemed to learn lots. In the live chats, students asked lots of questions about careers – what the engineers’ jobs are like, where they work, who they work with and how they got to where they are now etc. Another popular topic was women in engineering and encouraging more girls to get into the field – ‘do you think there should be more women in engineering?’ ‘what is the most popular type of engineering for women?’. The engineers were often asked to explain their work and the equipment they use; designs and inventions were two more popular topics. You can download the full zone report here (PDF).

Posted on July 7, 2013 by in 2013, News, STFC, Zone Reports | Comments Off on Detection Zone Report – June 2013