Students from the University of Bath have launched an outreach campaign to inspire the next generation of engineers.
The TBRe team during their presentation at Ralph Allen School | Photo © University of Bath
Four members of the successful Team Bath Racing Electric (TBRe) went to Ralph Allen School earlier this month to give a presentation to Year 7 and Year 8 pupils.
Abigail Adrian, Benjamin Fall, James Wainwright and Oliver Oldrey spoke about the different types of engineering, what’s involved and how the team use problem-solving skills to design, build and compete with a race car created from scratch every year.
The presentation also involved interactive elements to engage the pupils and encourage them to think critically about their surroundings. Afterwards, the youngsters had the opportunity to ask questions.
TBRe is based at the University’s Faculty of Engineering and Design and takes part in Formula Student events across Europe.
Different universities test their engineering ability by seeing who can design the fastest and most reliable car. Bath is one of Europe’s best-performing teams, coming third in Portugal’s event in 2023.
Founded in 2015, the team has grown from its initial nine members to a huge operation involving more than 50 individuals across different engineering disciplines.
Sub-teams are responsible for the manufacturing and testing of the various components, including the car’s electronics, powertrain, chassis and aerodynamic package.
Students from the university’s School of Management also assist with the business operations of the team, from finding sponsors to funding the car’s construction to managing the logistics of transporting the car and team to international competitions.
This is the first time an outreach campaign like this has been run by the team, and it was met with enthusiasm.
Oliver Oldrey, who is responsible for launching the campaign, said: “I felt we demystified engineering and inspired the year groups to consider it as a career.”
If you would like the team to visit your school, contact Oliver at [email protected].
