Engineers bridge education gap
Published Thursday, 24 May 2012
Primary pupils are getting hands on experience building bridges towards a career in Civil Engineering.
The Bridges to Schools scheme involves senior primary pupils having to construct a model cable-stayed bridge in the school's gym hall which gives them an early insight into the challenges of Civil Engineering - while having some fun along the way.
As well as learning about bridges and civil engineering, the pupils also develop team-working skills and when the bridge is constructed they walk across it to understand the strength of the construction.
Promoted by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), the event is supervised by volunteer Civil Engineers who come along to the school for the one hour project.
St Blane's Primary School in Blantyre recently had a visit from the ICE team, highlights of which are on our YouTube page.
As well as the 24 pupils, engineers Nicola Bell, Greg Cook and Mark Kirk from the council's Roads and Transportation Services were also on hand.
Nicola said: "Through our involvement with Bridges to Schools we were able to promote many aspects of civil engineering through the pupils' active participation in this hands-on event.
"Our priority on the day is to make it enjoyable whilst highlighting the different jobs Civil Engineers do and ultimately hoping some of the children think about this as a possible career.
And Hazel Wilson, Pre-19 Events Co-ordinator from the Institution of Civil Engineers explained that what they basically do is turn the school hall into a construction site and give the pupils a chance to be civil engineers for a while.
Hazel said: "To do that we make them safety conscious and realise the importance of wearing safety helmets and hi-vis vests so you can perform your job safely
"We also focus on the importance of team work and communication to get a project completed."
