Animating the next generation of engineers
24 July 2024
Local children from Llanmartin Primary School in Newport and Mount Stuart Primary School in Cardiff Bay, have co-created engineering animations with academics from Cardiff University, Swansea University and local animators to create awareness of the research undertaken in the School of Engineering.
Project Engineering Animations (ENGAGE) led by our school focused on topics such as: the future electricity grid, sustainable transport, active buildings and manufacturing technologies to highlight research in combatting global warming and promoting sustainability.
Managed by Dr Phillip Lugg-Widger, Engineering Animations aimed to encourage the next generation of engineers by sparking curiosity about sustainable engineering and future technologies. Local children visited our school to learn about the research undertaken in labs and took knowledge from this visit to develop their own animations through a follow-up eight-week animation course.
At the school workshops local animators first taught animation skills and then encouraged children to develop their own storyboard, visuals, voiceovers, script and full animations to explain engineering topics to everyone with the help of academic staff.
The workshops encouraged inclusivity and understanding by engaging school children of all backgrounds to co-create animations, this made the activity accessible for those children who might typically be drawn to arts topics.
In the ENGAGE project, children were encouraged to develop both imaginative illustrative animation skills and knowledge of STEM topics for an informative video. Children who typically struggle to engage with classroom activities practically made decisions on story direction and characters. Children who might otherwise find conceptual science challenging, found practical examples of engineering science being used to enhance society through real world application graphically expressed through animation.
The final animations were showcased at local school assemblies where they were unveiled and have since been released to the wider public online.
We urgently need to inspire the next generation of engineers to undertake the challenges of our age including sustainable energy, manufacturing, transport and construction. By developing environmentally friendly solutions for future buildings, the electricity grid, transportation technologies and more we can create a sustainable future.
“At our school, we undertake vital research to enhance future societal needs driving carbon emissions down to meet net zero targets. This project is a great way to inspire future civil, mechanical and electrical engineers to undertake these challenges. We aim to increase knowledge in our local community about pressing technological and environmental challenges and inspire change in future generations.”
The animations from this project will be used as part of a wider outreach programme at events such as Eisteddfod and a teaching resource to help explain to the general public the crucial research being undertaken in our school.
Noteworthy contributors to the project included Debbie Syrop (Public Engagement Officer), Glen Biseker (Winding Snake Animator), Academic Engineers at both Cardiff & Swansea Universities and the Year 6 pupils of Llanmartin and Mount Stuart Primary Schools.
Funding for ‘Engineering Animations’ was provided by the Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) as part of the Ingenious Awards program ING2223\17\159. We are especially grateful for the support from Engineers at both Cardiff and Swansea Universities and the Year 6 pupils of Llanmartin and Mount Stuart Primary Schools for their dedication to the project.
Watch the full animation.