STEPS Engineers Week Camp: Inspiring the Next Generation of Engineers

The camp commenced with an introductory talk from the Head of the School of Mechanical & Manufacturing Engineering, Dr Paul Young, before the students engaged in a disintegration project. This provided them with an insight into product design by taking apart a product and analysing its assembly. In the afternoon, they ventured to the Pneumatics lab to explore control systems and build circuits using industrial components.

On the second day, the students were introduced to the Solidworks Computer-Aided Design system, which they used to create a component that they then manufactured using a 3D printer. They also explored one of the university's new state-of-the-art engineering labs in the Polaris building, witnessing their projects come to life in real time. Additionally, the students took on the egg drop challenge, tasking them with designing a mechanism to protect an egg from damage when dropped from a height.

The final day of the camp offered the students valuable insights into sustainability engineering, as they received a visit from two representatives from the Rediscovery Centre in Ballymun. This was followed by a guided tour of the campus led by a DCU engineering student and a talk from Dr. Keith Sunderland, Registrar for Engineers Ireland. To conclude the programme, the students revisited the egg drop challenge, applying the knowledge they had gained throughout the camp to improve their initial designs.

A heartfelt thank you to Engineers Ireland for their support in organising this remarkable camp.