Recently, 24 students joined the Beckett Rankine team in Bristol for a unique look into the world of maritime engineering.
The visit was part of the SS Great Britain Trust’s inspirational ‘Future Brunels’ programme, which aims to encourage and enthuse secondary school students to consider careers in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM).
From eight local schools, the programme selects a cohort of students in each academic year to take part in out-of-school activities, focused on showcasing how STEM subjects impact their own and others’ lives.
Over two days, the Year 9 students spent time with Beckett Rankine to learn about what maritime engineering involves, how it has shaped Bristol and the world over time, and the future pathways they could follow into the profession.
The students got hands-on with activities demonstrating real-world scenarios maritime engineers face, such as using a navigation simulator to guide a ship into a harbour. They tried their hand at masterplanning a port, considering the types of cargo it may handle, the size of the ships, and the environmental conditions at the proposed location.
The group also made model linkspan bridges to provide access to a floating pontoon in a water tank. From this, they learned about the design process, the physics behind the strength and stability of structures, and observed the effects of tides, temporary and permanent loads, and dredging on their creations.
Finally, the group ventured out for a trail around Bristol’s Floating Harbour that used clues and what3words to navigate along the quayside, taking in the sights and local engineering before boarding a ferry back to the SS Great Britain.
Jonathan Baker, Principal Engineer, said,
“We’ve been enhancing our STEM outreach activities as part of our commitment to nurturing the next generation of engineers, and so we welcomed the opportunity to host a Future Brunels cohort for the first time. It was an absolute delight to show the students what we do, particularly seeing their enthusiasm as they made connections between their school subjects and the real world. Hopefully, we’ve inspired some budding engineers!”
Dr Rachel Roberts, Director of Education & STEM at SS Great Britain Trust, commented:
“The visit to Beckett Rankine was a highlight for our Future Brunels cohort. Seeing the students so engaged is a clear demonstration of the power of learning directly from practising engineers. Partnerships like this help young people imagine themselves in STEM careers, and we’re hugely thankful to the Beckett Rankine team for providing such an enriching experience.”
