Engineering the Tour de France: From Body to Bicycle
Engineers at the University of Leeds, led by Dr Claire Brockett will be cheering on the start of this year’s Tour de France in Leeds, as they delve into the engineering behind the event: from super-engineered bikes to bioengineering for broken bones.
Engineering the Tour de France: From Body to Bicycle is one of the 22 new projects funded by the Royal Academy of Engineering’s grant scheme, Ingenious, which supports public engagement with engineering.
The Tour de France departs from Leeds in 2014, providing outstanding opportunities to engage the public with engineering through interactive exhibits and practical demonstrations– from the tribology of brakes, power conversion from cyclist to bike, to bioengineering for fixing broken bones. Forty engineers from a variety of academic and industry backgrounds will come together to undertake specific public engagement training. Recognising not all engineers are natural performers, the training will encourage individuals to identify activities they would like to engage with, and provide opportunities to participate in school workshops, exhibits or science café talks. Following the training, the engineers will collaborate to deliver new activities (under the guidance of a professional science communicator) including workshops and interactive displays to be showcased. Members of the public will have the opportunity to get hands-on experience and talk to engineers through local science fairs, café talks and schools workshops.
Ingenious aims to give engineers an opportunity to engage with public audiences in all shapes and sizes. Projects funded by Ingenious this year will see engineers engaging with audiences at music festivals, helping students at coding clubs, and debating the ethics behind engineering issues such as creating cultured meat.
Professor Sarah Spurgeon FREng, Chair of the Ingenious funding panel and Professor of Control Engineering and Head of School, University of Kent, said: “Engineering underpins our society in many ways – whether it be the roads we drive on, the clean water we drink, or the smartphones we use to connect to our friends and family. Through Ingenious, we want to shine a light on the engineers who deliver these innovations, while also giving the public a chance to question and share their own views. Engineering is at the heart of our society and the value of encouraging our engineers to engage others with their work, and giving them the skills to do so, cannot be understated.”
Ingenious is funded by the Department of Business, Skills and Innovation. A full list of projects funded by the scheme this year can be found at the following link: http://raeng.org.uk/societygov/public_engagement/ingenious/pdf/funded_projects/Ingenious_Awards_Round8.pdf
Notes for Editors:
1. Ingenious is the Royal Academy of Engineering's public engagement grants scheme for creative public engagement with engineering projects. The scheme is supported by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. Further information on the scheme is at: www.raeng.org.uk/ingenious
2. About the Royal Academy of Engineering.
As the UK's national academy for engineering, we bring together the most successful and talented engineers for a shared purpose: to advance and promote excellence in engineering. We provide analysis and policy support to promote the UK's role as a great place to do business. We take a lead on engineering education and we invest in the UK's world-class research base to underpin innovation. We work to improve public awareness and understanding of engineering. We are a national academy with a global outlook. We have four strategic challenges: Drive faster and more balanced economic growth; foster better education and skills; lead the profession; promote engineering at the heart of society.
For further information contact:
Manisha Lalloo
Royal Academy of Engineering
T: 020 7766 0683
E: manisha.lalloo@raeng.org.uk