Awesome Wheels set to inspire young engineers

PA174/09 Using jelly and eggs to see vehicle safety features absorb energy in collisions, icing and liquids to learn about aerodynamics and viscosity, and finally by designing a futuristic bus, 400 schoolchildren from eight local schools will see transportation engineering and science in action at Heanor Gate Science College today, Thursday, June 25. This will be a 'transition day' with a difference for Year 6 pupils from local schools due to join Year 7 at Heanor Gate College next term. Called 'Awesome Wheels', it is the first day of its kind themed to inspire more young people to study engineering at university and pursue careers as engineers. Staff and students from The University of Nottingham's Faculty of Engineering led by the Faculty's Science Communicator Janice Yelland-Sutcliffe will all take part in Awesome Wheels alongside teachers and pupils from Heanor Gate and its feeder schools and representatives from regional bus operator Trent Barton, which is sponsoring the event through the TH Barton Innovation Fund. Thursday's transport theme will create multi-skilled teams of Year 6 and 7 pupils formed into tutor groups at the start of the day with older pupils from Year 9 and Year 10. Each member of the team will participate in at least one of the interactive workshops before coming together in the final session to share their expertise and contribute to designing a visionary sustainable bus. Trent Barton's sponsorship has been provided through the TH Barton Innovation Fund, launched last year by the Barton family and The University of Nottingham to celebrate the centenary of Barton Buses.