Researchers In Sports Technology Back The Lord Bhattacharyya Engineering Education Program

Researchers in Sports Technology Back the Lord Bhattacharyya Engineering Education Program

Through the esteemed Royal Academy of Engineering outreach program, researchers from Loughborough University have shown how sport can motivate the next generation of engineers.

In order to demonstrate how engineering improves sport safety, accessibility, and player performance, senior lecturer Aimee Mears and PhD candidate Ieuan Phillips from the Sports Technology Institute were invited to the annual Lord Bhattacharyya Engineering Education Programme celebration at the National Automotive Innovation Centre in Coventry.

In their presentation, they highlighted the long-lasting effects of the University’s 20-year collaboration with adidas, which was named a joint winner of the 2023 Royal Academy of Engineering Bhattacharyya Award, honoring long-term, thoughtful business alliances that advance society and merit national attention.

The Department of Science, Innovation and Technology has funded the Engineering Education Programme and the Academy’s Award in remembrance of the late Professor Lord Kumar Bhattacharyya Kt CBE FREng FRS, a distinguished engineer, scholar, educator, and government advisor who founded WMG at the University of Warwick in 1980.

By drawing young people from low-income homes and other groups currently underrepresented in engineering to the West Midlands, the Engineering Education Programme seeks to increase involvement in engineering.
The five-year program, which will begin in 2020, is directed by the Royal Academy of Engineering in close collaboration with WMG. The Program offers a full range of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) support with an engineering focus. These include bursaries for FE and HE students, teacher networking and professional development opportunities, paid industrial secondments, and grants to schools and colleges.

By drawing young people from low-income homes and other groups currently under-represented in engineering to the West Midlands, the Engineering Education Programme seeks to increase involvement in engineering. The five-year program, which will begin in 2020, is directed by the Royal Academy of Engineering in close collaboration with WMG. The Program offers a full range of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) support with an engineering focus. These include bursaries for FE and HE students, teacher networking and professional development opportunities, paid industrial secondments, and grants to schools and colleges.

Vice-Chancellor of Loughborough University, Professor Nick Jennings, stated: “It fills me with great joy that Aimee and Ieuan were granted the chance to speak at the Academy’s premier outreach initiative. One of the main goals of the university’s strategy is to increase access and engagement, and our long-standing collaboration with adidas provides the ideal means of opening up STEM courses to a larger audience and making them relevant.Since 2004, the joint research has affected all major tournament footballs, brought iconic items to market, supported record-breaking performance, and had far-reaching effects beyond sports. It also serves as the foundation for the industry-leading ClimacoolTM product portfolio.

“The University and adidas are utilizing the kind prize money to support outreach programs and the development of the talent pipeline for youth from low-income families and other underrepresented groups in engineering. We were honored to be named joint winners of the 2023 Bhattacharyya Award.” Later this year, we hope to announce these developments.