Public Engagement
Workshops at Penwortham Primary School
In October 2013 Imperial College HexMat team members met with Alastair Ripley, Science Coordinator, Penwortham Primary School (Southwest London). Plans for the School Engagement Programme were discussed, involving HexMat PDRAs and postgraduate students visiting the school on a termly basis to carry out thought-provoking and inspiring mini-projects with 5-11 year old students.
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December 2015: 'Building Bridges'
In December 2015, members of the HexMat research team at Imperial College London visited Penwortham Primary school for yet another exciting school project. Abigail Ackerman, 2nd year HexMat PhD student and volunteers delivered a workshop on Bridges to year 3 students (ages 5-6).
Key topics which were covered included; materials selection –suitability, costs; and structural design of bridges.
Engineering concepts such as design and test were introduced to the students, with demonstrations and hands-on activities to aid their learning. Students were tasked to make bridges using newspapers. Prizes were handed out to the winning team who built the strongest bridge. A collective activity to build a bridge from newspaper, which could hold the weight of a child, was impressively successful!
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April 2014: Circuit Theory and Renewables
Imperial College HexMat team visited Penwortham Primary School, Tooting on 25th April 2014 for another fun and interactive workshop. On this occasion Vivian Tong, HexMat PhD student, led a team of Imperial researchers to deliver a half-day workshop on ‘Circuit Theory and Renewables’ to 8-9 year old children. The morning session was packed with demonstrations and games as well as hands-on activities such as making their own electrical circuits and wind turbines. Those also contributing were Dr Jun Jiang, Dr Terry Jun, Dr Zhen Zhang, Dr Saira Naeem, Mitch Cuddihy, Tiantian Zhang and Victor Wan.
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November 2013: 'How do aeroplanes fly?' (Rolls-Royce involvement)
Mitch Cuddihy, Dr Saira Naeem (HexMat Programme Manager) and Professor Fionn Dunne (PI, HexMat) led a group of HexMat and related researchers, together with Rolls-Royce Engineering Fellows David Rugg and Steve Williams, to Penwortham primary school, Tooting, on 26/11/13 to run a half-day introduction to "How do aeroplanes fly?" This continues what is planned to be a long-term relationship with Penwortham to bring applied science events to primary-level pupils. Those also contributing were Dr Jun Jiang, Tomi Erinisho, Bo Lan, Tiantian Zhang and Victor Wan.
The students were given the opportunity to discover how engineers design and build aeroplanes. Through an interactive approach, basic principles of aerodynamics were introduced. Students learnt about lift, air resistance and how different variables such as shape, wing flap design and elevation can influence the flight of a plane. The workshop covered key engineering concepts, including design, test and modification.
Contact
If you are interested in joining the HexMat Programme, please contact Dr Saira Naeem