Self-flying planes, a robotic cube that can stand up on its own, and portable clean energy for Sub-Saharan Africa—these were just some of the engineering topics Years 1 and 2 EngSci students explored at the Engineering Science Education Conference (ESEC) hosted by the Division of Engineering Science on January 25 and 26.
Students in EngSci’s foundation years are often not yet aware of the extremely varied directions their degree can take them. ESEC helps them to see that studying a particular engineering discipline in the program’s majors does not limit them to a particular type of work.
Though hosted by the Division of Engineering Science, the event is organized and run by a large team of EngSci students. This year’s executive team recruited eight speakers with diverse career paths in engineering-related industries to showcase their work and discuss their views on how students can best prepare for work in evolving sectors.
Speakers included academics, entrepreneurs, and industry professionals working in areas from banking and biomedical engineering to renewable energy and quantum computing. “We aimed to showcase the diverse passions of EngSci students through our selection of speakers. This year’s ESEC speakers came from a variety of backgrounds and demonstrated the dynamic nature of non-linear career paths,” says the ESEC student executive committee consisting of Sneha Balaji, Stephanie Yi Fei Lu, Esther Zhou (all Year 3 EngSci), and Shahd Abu Gharbieh (Year 2) . “We also aimed to inspire excitement about future career prospects by highlighting the latest technologies and cutting-edge advancements that engineers can engage with, from self-flying airplanes to the electrification of the power grid.”
In addition to hearing about each speaker’s work in lecture-style presentations, attendees also had a chance to ask career-related questions during informal fireside chats. Speakers emphasized to students the importance of not just honing their technical skills but also building relationships and networking in addition.
A new event this year was the ESEC Lunch & Learn where students discussed three themes with speakers: the impact of technology in finance, engineering for social impact, and how to turn research into commercial products.
“Many students are surprised to see the breadth of activities for which an EngSci degree prepares them, and just how valuable their transferable skills are,” says EngSci’s associate chair for Years 1 and 2, Professor Robert Irish. “Our aim is to expand our students’ horizons and open their eyes to the myriad career paths they might forge after graduation.”
