‘Eye opening’ Engineering our Environment course

From 15th to 17th July 2025, students took part in the Engineering Our Environment course at the University of Leeds where they got to try out a wide range of hands-on activities from across the different engineering schools. They started with building straw bridges in Civil Engineering before moving across to Chemical and Process Engineering making bioplastics. Chemistry gave the students a chance to extract colourful dyes from fruits and vegetables before things got competitive in Electrical and Electronic Engineering where robots were built and battled in the ‘Sumo Wars Challenge’.

 

Case study from Maddie, aged 17:

What was your favourite part of this course and why? 

The robotics side of things has shown me that engineering can be practical and not just sitting at a computer. So I’ve loved seeing that you could be out and about and being practical and building things. I’ve seen a different side of engineering that I wasn’t aware about.  

What new things did you learn that you didn’t know before? 

The course introduced me to lots of different areas of engineering our environment. It made me think about different ways of helping the Environment such as the civil engineering and the robotics. Beforehand I had a very narrow vision and idea of engineering but this course has opened up the fields of interest to me. 

What was it like to work with other students? Can you tell me about a challenge you overcame as a team? 

The team working was really good. I like the structure of how the Smallpeice deliverers put us in to groups and you do your STEM activities with that group. You get to know your team really well, both from a learning point of view and from a personal side; what they’re interested in and what they have learnt at their school different from what I learnt. Also it is nice to hear what courses and careers they are thinking about for the future. 

How has the course inspired or changed the way you think about engineering or STEM? 

I want to do a general engineering course.  I was dreading certain areas of this course as I thought I wouldn’t be interested in them but I loved the robotics session as it was fun and practical and the races against each other were a challenge that we all got involved in. 

How did you feel at the start of the course and the end? 

Start: Pretty nervous with not knowing anyone.

End: A lot more comfortable and now I feel like I am just being me, which is the best way to be and means this environment has allowed me to do that. 

If you could sum up the course in three words, what would those words be? 

Diverse: lots of different activities – chemistry engineering and robotics 

Friendly: the Smallpeice staff are so friendly and welcoming 

Informative: learning about how engineering can be applied to so many areas, You just don’t get to find this out at school.  

What would you say to someone thinking of applying to the course next year? 

Definitely just go for it. It is a really eye opening experience. You get to learn so much. Have fun and don’t take it too seriously.