On Tuesday 8 September, Natasha, Zara and I, accompanied by Dr Kewell, had the amazing opportunity to attend a luncheon at the House of Lords focused on engineering space applications for society.
It was a fascinating experience, not only because of the setting, but also because it gave us the chance to hear from engineers working in different fields and speak directly to professionals about their areas of expertise.
During the luncheon, we heard from three guest speakers: Dr Scott Hosking, Tiree Macleod-Nolan and Anthony Baker. Each speaker works in a different area of engineering, highlighting just how broad the field really is. One of the main ideas I took away from the talks was that engineering is not simply about designing machines or developing new technology. It is about identifying problems and using science and mathematics to develop practical solutions that can improve people’s lives.
We discussed a huge range of topics, including how satellites are used for weather forecasting and the risks involved in starting an engineering company. This made me think about how engineering decisions can have much wider social and environmental consequences.
One of the most valuable parts of the day was meeting people from different areas of the engineering industry. I learnt that there is no single route into engineering, with people coming from a wide range of educational and professional backgrounds. We spoke to university students and engineers, and I was also lucky enough to talk to Lord Lionel Tarassenko, Founding President of Reuben College at Oxford University. Being able to ask questions directly to people with experience in the industry gave me a much better understanding of the variety of careers available in engineering, as well as the need to balance what is technically possible with factors such as cost, sustainability and environmental impact.
The experience also made me think more seriously about my own future. I have always enjoyed subjects such as mathematics and physics because I like understanding how things work and solving complex problems, but the event showed me that engineering involves much more than the academic side. Communication, teamwork and understanding the needs of society are all important too.
Overall, it was a privilege to visit the House of Lords and an extremely insightful experience. More importantly, I came away with a much broader understanding of engineering and its role in society. I would definitely recommend an opportunity like this to other students, particularly anyone considering engineering or another career in STEM. Hearing from professionals and having the opportunity to ask questions can give students a much clearer idea of what the field involves. For me, the day provided an exciting introduction to the possibilities within engineering and encouraged me to think more carefully about how I could use STEM in the future.
