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Curiosity, problem-solving and engineering a better future
Usborne are proud partners of the 2018 Year of Engineering. Jo Parry, Head of Year of Engineering Communications, explains why it is so important to inspire the next generation of engineers.
Aside from ‘How was your day?’, ‘Haven’t you grown?’ and my Dad’s favourite, ‘Are you married?’ one of the most common questions adults ask kids is: ‘What do you want to be when you grow up?’
Whether the response is a fairy queen, astronaut, ballerina, dragon-tamer or teacher, kids look at the opportunities around them and use their experiences to work out what’s fun and suits them best.
But what if there are lots of real jobs out there, that are fun, offer you the chance to change the world, help other people and earn lots of money, but you don’t know about them? What then?
Across the country people are developing equipment to treat cancer, musical education toys for pre-schoolers, giving people access to clean water around the world, working out ways to make chips crispier and how to get roads and cars to ‘talk’ to each other to improve road safety. Although you’ll find them in lots of different places, doing lots of different things, they are united in their goal to find ways to make the world better – and because they tend to have a curious, problem-solving mindset.
They are also all engineers.
Schoolchildren meeting engineers at an Inspiring the Future event organised by Year of Engineering partner Education and Employers
Most of us are used to the idea that engineers have a role in making the tallest buildings, or the fastest cars, but too few of us understand the contribution engineers make to the world. In fact, research shows that only one third of parents know what engineers do.
Does it matter?
Unfortunately, the country does not have enough engineers and the shortage looks set to get worse. This is a great waste of potential for everyone. But it also means that our kids – especially girls - are not getting the opportunities to have the rewarding, world-changing careers that are open to them.
That’s why 2018 is the government’s Year of Engineering. Working with hundreds of partners from industry, education and the voluntary sector, it’s an opportunity to give as many young people as possible the chance to have an experience of engineering and to inspire the next generation of engineers.
As part of the Year of Engineering we are very pleased that Usborne have published the Lift-the-Flap Engineering book (September 2018). The book is designed to encourage just the curious, problem-solving mindset that we need. As the saying goes, it’s hard to be what you can’t see. So having a fun, interactive book to inspire kids and their parents about engineering is and what it can achieve is just what’s needed.
When you are young and look at the world around you, you tend not to see the reasons why things can’t be done. Want to build a rocket? Where’s that empty plastic bottle? Need to fashion a hidden den for you and your cuddly koala? Hand me the sticky tape.
Over the course of 2018 there are lots of events and activities planned across the UK as part of the Year of Engineering to encourage this ‘can-do’, problem-solving approach to life. You can find more ways to inspire young engineers at the Year of Engineering.
- Lucy Ackland, one of The Daily Telegraph's top 50 UK female engineers, explains how she got into engineering and why she loves her job so much on the Usborne blog.
