ENGINEERING DISCOVERY DAYS
Aerospace Engineering - It IS rocket science
Aerospace engineering is an exciting real-world practical application of maths and physics theory. Students will design and build rockets, testing them for the best performance and taking into account aerodynamics and geometric aspects using calculations to optimise their designs. Students will then utilise their mathematical knowledge in conjunction with our flight simulator in order to explore the principles and mechanics of aircraft flight.
Chemical Engineering
The treatment of waste water is vital to the chemical,food and beverage, andpharmaceutical industries and also to the natural environment and those of us who live in it. Studentswillbuild a pilot scale water treatment facility and operate it to clean ‘dirty’ water so that it can be discharged into a river. This will involve connecting pumps to move the dirty water to the treatment facility,setupSedimentationandFiltrationUnits on site,testingtheefficacyoftheprocess, and observingthe performance and limitations of the treatment facility.
Civil Engineering - Building bridges
Civil engineers have a great deal of responsibility and need to take into consideration many factors when designing and constructing a successful bridge. Using our bridge building software students will gain an insight into these design decisions as they assess the cost and material strength of differentbridgedesigns. Students will then enjoy a hands on practical with concrete and steel which will demonstrate the importance of each material in coping with the tensile and compressive stresses that a reinforced concrete bridge is subjected to.
Instrumentation & Control / Electrical Engineering
Electrical and Electronics - morning
Students will investigate what happens to the electricity supply when a wind turbine is rotating. They will connect a wind turbine simulator to a circuit and see how the speed affects the amount of power produced, before ascertaining the optimum turbine speed for producing electricity.
Instrumentation and Control - afternoon
Students will design, build and test a temperature measurement system capable of transmitting real-time temperature values across the internet to be read anywhere in the world on any device with a web browser. This could be the basis of a remote controlled home heating system or a fire protection monitor.
Mechanical Engineering- Manufacturing race cars
Modern engineering is built around complex manufacturing and integrated systems. In this session students will explore industry level automotive manufacturing using a multi-station robotic manufacturing cell. Students will then design and manufacture race parts, taking into account aerodynamics, impact testing and testing for chassis design. Students will have the opportunity to make some carbon fibre parts before testing and running our student race car.
LIFE SCIENCES AND FORENSICS DISCOVERY DAYS
Biomedical Science - What’s under the microscope?
The light microscope is an essential tool for a biomedical scientist which is used to view histology slides and other microbiological samples. It is crucial in the diagnosis of many diseases, and specimens can also be analysed to review the progress of various treatments and therapies. Using our newly furbished microscopy suite students will gain hands on biomedical experience of using an industry specificationlight microscope to explore and analyse a range of histology slides and other microbiological samples.
Biology – Discovering DNA
One of the great advancements in modern biology is the development of accurate and reliable technologies for a rapid screening of DNA sequence variations, which can be used for a wide range of purposes from medical applications to forensic investigation or wildlife conservation. This workshop enables students to gain hands on experience in our labs applying those methods and discovering more about the building blocks of life.
Chemistry – Future Energies: mimicking photosynthesis in the chemistry lab
Plants can produce high energy chemicals from water and carbon dioxideunder solar irradiation - imagine if we could also obtain fuels from water and sunlight? In this session students will discover different ways of using and storing solar energy, and learn how we can copy natural photosynthesis in a chemical laboratory.
Students will first investigate the chemical reactions that take place during photosynthesis in plantsthen perform experiments to study different catalysts capable of producing fuel from water. Using UV-visible, infrared and NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) spectroscopies students will analyse the optical characteristics and efficiency of the catalysts.
Computer and Digital Forensics
Cybercrime is a growing issue for police forces both in the UK and worldwide and digital forensics experts are crucial in combatting this crime. During this workshop students will be given the opportunity to learn what it’s like to trace and track down criminals using cyber intelligence and the University’s industry standard software. Students will then put their skills to the test, racing against the clock to stop a cyberterrorist threat with real-world implications.
Crime Scene Science
Students will get hands-on experience of fingerprints, footwear marks and fibre examinations in our crime scene house and vehicle examination laboratory, as well as using chemicals and alternate light sources to reveal invisible evidence.
EnvironmentalScience - Alternative Fuels
As governments across the world sign up to international agreements aimed at minimising their carbon footprints, finding reliable and sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels has never been more crucial. This workshop gives students hands on experience in the design and construction of wind turbines and allows them to explore the use of solar energy and hydrogen powered cars within the context of environmental science.
Food Science- Pondering Probiotics
‘Probiotics’ is a term used to describe microorganisms associated with beneficial effects to animals and humans when ingested, a claim which some have used to advertise the health benefits of certain foods.
During this session students will develop a probiotic yoghurt product using the facilities in Teesside University’s food product development laboratory. Students will then undertake sensory evaluation and microscopically examine the products that they have developed.
Forensic Science
An exploration of real life forensic science will start with the examination of a motor vehicle in our vehicle examination laboratory to recover evidence in order to identify the driver of the vehicle and investigate a ‘hit and run’ crime. Students will then use our forensic science laboratories to examine a range of body fluid samples and trace evidence using microscopy and various analytical tests.