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Outreach Spotlight: Inspiring Future Climate Engineers

Date

Our PhD students had the fantastic opportunity to collaborate with water professionals from the Environment Agency, Arup and JBA Trust. They explored practical demonstrations using the wave tank and river flume models, alongside Wetropolis and Rotating Tables from the University of Leeds. This hands-on experience helped our students refine their ability to communicate key concepts about how water interacts with structures in rivers, catchments and coastal environments.

The training was part of our preparation for the Future Climate Engineers project, in preparation for their work with Key Stage 3 students from four local secondary schools. These students will take on an engineering design challenge focused on managing flood risk in a changing climate.

In March, the University of Leeds hosted water-themed STEM activities designed to spark creativity and inspire innovative solutions. Through these sessions, Key Stage 3 students gained insight into real-world challenges faced by engineers, while developing essential skills such as teamwork, critical thinking and problem-solving. They also discovered the diversity and value of careers in engineering.

During June and July, the students presented their engineering designs focused on managing flood risk in a changing climate.

The most innovative designs will be built and installed at Nell Bank, an outdoor educational activity centre that hosts over 24,000 children annually. These interactive flood risk demonstrators will become part of Nell Bank’s River Studies workshops, helping primary school pupils learn about water risks in an engaging way.

The Future Climate Engineers project is led by the Leeds Institute for Fluid Dynamics with support from JBA Trust, Arup, the Environment Agency and Nell Bank, and is funded by the University of Leeds through the UKRI Higher Education Innovation Funding (HEIF) scheme.

 

Impacts

  • PhD Students: Enhanced Communication Skills, Professional Networking, Broader Perspective
  • Schools and Students: STEM Inspiration, Skill Development, Career Awareness
  • Wider Community: Long-Term Educational Impact, Climate Resilience Awareness