Tomorrow’s Engineers Week has kicked off with a series of case study films showcasing the engineers that are at the heart of solutions to achieve net zero by 2050.
The engineers featured are working on making farming more energy efficient, reducing high street energy consumption and delivering aircrafts with zero emissions.
Three engineers from across the UK were handpicked to showcase their stories of being net-zero heroes to celebrate Tomorrow’s Engineers Week. The Week aims to inspire a new generation into pursuing a career in engineering.
Meet the net zero heroes
Jaz Rabadia MBE, helping businesses reduce the amount of energy that they use and lower their carbon footprint. Jaz said:
“When deciding about what I should study at university, I researched engineering and I realised how important it is in making a difference to the world and to bettering people's lives. I knew then that, by studying engineering, I could help make a difference.”
Nathanael West, engineer at Hybrid Air Vehicles is helping to deliver an aircraft with zero emissions by the end of this decade. Nathanael commented:
“I thought about becoming a pilot, but at some point I realised that being a pilot is all about following procedure and trying to avoid challenging situations as much as possible. And I like to think of new ways to solve problems, and that's what engineering is all about, so I'm glad I made that decision.”
Charlotte Budgen, land engineering apprentice at Bicton College is making farming more efficient. Charlotte added:
“I want to be the first person to have a net zero farm. I've always liked more practical-based subjects, making things, designing things and fixing things. Bringing together my love of farming and tractors has been a dream come true.”
Dr Hilary Leevers, CEO at EngineeringUK, commented: “The engineering community is already working to pay back the planet with solutions to address a host of problems, such as how to generate affordable and sustainable energy, to shaping the farms and cities of the future.
“But we also need to focus on the next and future generations - allowing them the space to be creative and equipping them with the technical skills to bring innovative solutions to life. And they are up for the challenge, they are optimistic about what can be achieved in the future, and passionate about improving the world they live in.”
Get involved
Now in its ninth year, Tomorrow’s Engineers Week takes place from 8 to 12 November 2021 and highlights to young people that engineering is a creative, problem solving, exciting career that improves the world around us and is playing an active part in achieving net zero.
Examples of engineers making a tangible difference were highlighted as part of This is Engineering Day. They include Extreme E electric racing series performance engineer, George Imafidon and entrepreneur Lucy Hughes who has developed a compostable alternative to plastic film.
The first Tomorrow’s Engineers Week Schools COP broadcast is now available to all schools across the UK along with lesson plans to give students the opportunity to learn more about how a career in engineering plays a huge part in tackling climate change. The Schools COP brought students around the country together to discuss the importance of achieving net zero and how engineers behind technological and scientific breakthroughs will be at the heart of the world’s response to climate change in the coming years.
Find out more on the Tomorrow’s Engineers Week website, and use the hashtag #TEWeek21 on social media to join the conversation.
