Young Engineers build bridges to their future

A recent two-day event at the University of Western Sydney held at Kingswood within the School of Computing Engineering and Mathematics, was welcomed by 22 western Sydney high schools sponsored by Engineers Australia.

The Engineering Frontiers program with its demonstrations and workshops focussed on a variety of topics including civil, communications, mechanical, electrical, robotic, water and environmental engineering.

It's about motivating the next generation of young students to come and experience first-hand what it is like to be an engineering student at a university level, says Dr Ragbir Bhathal, Chairman of the Organising Committee of Engineering Frontiers 2014.

"We as engineers have a responsibility to both the community and students and with the current growth of Greater Western Sydney, infrastructure will increase so too will the need for future engineers."

"Therefore it is pivotal that this future generation of budding engineers begin thinking of engineering as a career path early on in their education and select the necessary subjects at a high school level to gain acceptance into university."

Dr Bhathal also said, "that we need more girls to take up careers in engineering as less than 5% of the students in my engineering class of over 350 students are girls."

Students were introduced to lectures delivered by the School's Engineering Lecturers, along with hands-on experience in the UWS laboratories working on: Finding Gravity; 3D Printing; Electrical Fundamentals; Robots; the UWS Solar Car and CNC Machining.

With the always entertaining engineering quiz challenges between schools and the build a bridge challenge, where students have to build a light and strong model bridge able to carry weight that ultimately breaks it down.

Below is the list of the 22 schools involved:
Birrong Girls HS
Blaxland HS
Chifley College Bidwill Campus
Chifley College Shalvey Campus
Colo HS
Engadine HS
Jamison HS
Kings School
Korowal School
Macarthur Girls HS
Mitchell HS
Pacific Hills Christian School
Patrician Brothers College, Fairfield
Punchbowl Boys HS
Quakers Hill HS
Rosebank College
Springwood HS
St Bishoy Coptic Orthodox College
St Pauls Grammar School
St Ursalas College Kingsgrove
Winmalee HS
Xavier College, Llandilo

15 December 2014
Contact: Tanya Patterson, Media Officer
Photographs By: Ann Xiao