Industrial education robot.

The latest advancements in robotics such as energy-saving power grid feedback solutions

ABB Robotics is expanding its education offering with the launch of the IRB 1090. The 1090 industrial education robot, authenticated by the globally recognized education institute STEM.org, is designed to upskill students and provide them with a competitive advantage in securing employment. The new education robot forms a key part of ABB’s wider education offering, which includes additional industrial robots, as well as education packages, next generation controllers and market leading programming and simulation software.

“ABB’s 2023 global survey of 2,301 education professionals* found that 80 percent believe robots and automation will shape the future of employment over the next ten years,” said Craig McDonnell, Managing Director, Business Line Industries for ABB Robotics. “However, only one in four education establishments currently use robots in teaching programs. As the world’s largest industrial robotics manufacturer, we’re determined to play our part in making robots available to all and the IRB 1090 education robot forms a key part of this commitment, enabling us to serve the growing demand for industrial robots in the education space.”

ABB’s IRB 1090 offers a reach of 580mm and a 3.5kg payload and, coupled with a ten percent smaller footprint and 20 percent reduction in weight compared to its predecessor, provides the ability to easily move, install and place in a facility. The education robot coupled with ABB’s OmniCoreTM E10 ultra slim controller, brings increasing functionalities to enable students to hone their skills on the latest robotic advancements including motion control, TrueMove, QuickMove, Externally Guided Motion, and energy-saving power grid feedback solutions.

Students using the robot and controller will also learn how robotic automation can be deployed across different sectors and applications. Educational institutions, robot resellers, and system integrators can design and customize a variety of appli-cation cells, such as assembly, material handling, arc welding and dispensing. This may include different accessories such as vision cameras, grippers, working pieces, pedestals, and moveable carts to meet specific requirements.

As part of ABB’s commitment to making robots available to all, 100 free RobotStudio® premium licenses are included with the purchase of the IRB 1090 robot. RobotStudio® is a virtual tool that students can use to learn the fundamentals of robot programming, even before buying a physical robot.

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*ABB global education survey.

 @stemdotorg @ABBRobotics @ABBgroupnews @ABBMeasurement @abb_automation @NapierPR #PAuto #Robotics #EDucation

Complete robot training to prepare students for the future of work.

ABB Robotics continues its work to close the global education gap in automation and prepare students for the future of work with the launch of a ready-to-use education package. Comprising a GoFa collaborative robot (cobot), teaching materials and a globally recognized technical qualification, the package is part of ABB Robotics global campaign to help workers thrive in a new era of automation.

The ABB Robotics Education Package has been created to ensure educational establishments can provide highly skilled young people for companies looking to benefit from robotic automation. Although some 80 percent of global educators see automation shaping employment in the next 10 years, only one in four education institutes incorporate robotics into their curriculum ^*. Barriers include the lack of teachers trained in robotics and automation and the difficulty in incorporating robotics training into the curriculum seamlessly.

“With robotic automation increasingly embraced by multiple sectors, from manufacturing and distribution to retail and healthcare, companies are looking for people with the skills needed to handle robots and automation,” said Andrea Cassoni, MD, General Industries Business Line for ABB Robotics. “By enabling schools, colleges and universities to easily create and run robotics training courses that are recognized by industry, ABB’s Robotics Education Package is closing the technology skills gap by preparing students for the automated workplace.”

The heart of the package is the Education Cell, which features a fully functional ABB GoFa collaborative robot. Mounted on a compact tabletop, the award-winning ABB GoFa is an easy-to-use cobot that helps students learn real-life industrial applications such as pick and place and 3D printing. Students as young as 15 can use the robot, with no need for any prior engineering knowledge thanks to ABB Robotics’ lead-through and ABB’s Wizard Easy Programing.

A comprehensive suite of material gives teachers everything they need to guide students through 12 lessons at basic and advanced levels, taking them from the fundamentals of robotics to more advanced applications and programming. Indus-trial level training material has been adapted by teachers into a student-friendly format, enabling them to easily grasp robotics concepts. A total of 56 hours of content is provided, including videos, interactive online exercises, 400 test questions, and lab exercises with ABB’s RobotStudio® offline programming tool, which is used by companies worldwide to plan, simulate and develop real-life robotic solutions in a virtual environment.

The third part of the package is a unique, globally recognized STEM certification for both teachers and students supported and authenticated by educational research and credentialing organization STEM.org. This allows teachers to be certified by ABB and then certify their students as competent to use robots. It also provides students with an accepted qualification that can be shown to employers in over 80 countries as proof of their ability to work with robotic automation.

The launch of the Education Package marks the latest step in ABB’s ongoing drive to help students develop the skills they need to thrive in a world where robots will be as common as laptops in the workplace. ABB currently works with educational institutions in over 40 countries to ensure that students are able to learn the fundamentals of robot program-ming and operation.

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*Source: ABB education survey, 2022, based on global sample of 2,301 respondents

@ABBRobotics @ABBgroupnews @ABBMeasurement @abb_automation @stemdotorg @NapierPR  #PAuto #Robotics 

March on!

Endress+Hauser has received Indiana State University’s March On! Philanthropy Award. The award highlights Endress+Hauser’s collaboration with the school’s Bailey College of Engineering and Technology and Scott College of Business, along with donations to support students and faculty.

LtoR: ISU President Deborah J. Curtis,  E+H 
Director of Workforce Development Nicole Otte &
Vice President of University Advancement &
CEO of the ISU Foundation at ISU Andrea Angel.

During its annual President’s Dinner in November – a celebration of philanthropy and distinguished alumni – ISU lauded Endress+Hauser for its close work with the Bailey College of Engineering and Technology in creating opportunities for students through internships that progress into full-time positions. Endress+Hauser also recently collaborated with the school’s Scott College of Business to further aid the career success of ISU students. Additionally, ISU recognized Endress+Hauser’s donations to support student scholarships and assist school faculty.

"Indiana State's collaboration with Endress+Hauser has provided critical experiential learning platforms, internships and career opportunities for our students and alumni,” Andrea Angel, Vice President of University Advancement and CEO of the ISU Foundation at ISU, said. “When industry invests in our students, it is a mutually beneficial proposition. Students gain the applied learning they need, and our collaborators gain an educated and eager workforce. We are proud to have the support of Endress+Hauser and were honored to present to the company the 2022 March On! Award honoring philanthropy."

The March On! Philanthropy Award recognition is ISU’s highest honor for philanthropic work.

“When I first started at Endress+Hauser, ISU was a fairly new collaboration for the organization,” Nicole Otte, ISU alumni and Director of Workforce Development at Endress+Hauser, said. “Over the last three years, that collaboration has grown from the Bailey College of Engineering and Technology and now includes the Scott College of Business. ISU is unique in its high percentage of first-generation college students – as well as having high levels of diversity – both of which are important to our organization. We look forward to growing this collaboration with the students and staff of ISU.”

There is a technical skills gap that currently exists in the process automation industry. As a manufacturer, Endress+Hauser is committed to supporting and developing the next generation by investing in local STEM initiatives, the community and workforce development.

@Endress_US @Endress_Hauser @indianastate #Pauto #Water #USA

Cultivating STEM-learning opportunities.

Design and Innovation Studio opened to educate and inspire the next generation of STEM leaders through interactive learning.

Endress+Hauser has inaugurated its Design and Innovation Studio, a centre equipped with Industry 4.0 technology and STEM-learning opportunities for students K-8 as well as applications for high school students. In partnership with Purdue Indiana (USA) Next Generation Manufacturing Competitiveness centre (IN-MaC), the process automation manufacturer welcomed local educators, guidance counselors, and teachers to the grand opening of its new centre. The centre offers 3D printing, robotics, Spheros, Little Bits, engineering and science modules, and coding. Teachers can reserve the space as an extension of their classroom activities as all curriculum is aligned with Indiana State Standards.

“After years of engagement and awareness through established activities with middle and high school students, this Design and Innovation Studio provides our organization the opportunity to create career and early STEM awareness for younger students,” said Nicole Otte, Director of Workforce Development, Endress+Hauser. “It further expands our early talent initiatives. We really look forward to partnering with local educators to integrate this studio into their curriculum.”

Additional studio expands educational offering.
In addition to opening the Design and Innovation Studio at the Endress+Hauser location, the two organizations were able to fund another Design and Innovation Studio at a different local location in Johnson County. The second location will serve Indian Creek Elementary, Intermediate and Junior High School.

“IN-MaC is thrilled to be partnering with Endress+Hauser to build awareness and increase access and equity in STEM educational pathways,” said Sascha Harrell, director of education and workforce for IN-MaC. “This collaboration is designed for students and teachers to gain skills required to succeed in the innovation-focused twenty-first century, learn more about STEM careers, challenge their understanding of the industry, and leverage their interests to inspire participation and prepare youth for future jobs.”

Endress+Hauser STEM LEAD challenges conventional learning.
Concurrently with the opening of the Design and Innovation Studio, Endress+Hauser also kicked off its Youth STEM LEAD program for high school students. This initiative allows high schoolers the opportunity to interact with and learn directly from Endress+Hauser subject matter experts. This program offers a free 90-minute session once a month for students to explore career opportunities within the STEM field. Each session will feature a new topic, some of which were specifically chosen ahead of time, while the remaining will be chosen by participants via an online survey to provide students the unique freedom to have control over their learning experience.

Educators interested in reserving the space for their students should fill out this reservation form.

@Endress_US @Endress_Hauser @Endress_CA @EndressUK @LifeAtPurdue #PAuto #STEM #Education

Young winners announced!

RS Components (RS) has unveiled the winners of its STEM Extraordinary Engineering Challenge, which tasked primary and secondary schoolchildren across Britain with designing an engineering solution to address a current global challenge, such as poverty and hunger, pollution or climate change.

In the 7-11 age category, the winner is 8-year-old Chloe Hall with her design ‘The Crusher’, a solar-powered robot that scoops up and crushes plastic waste found on the surface of the ocean due to human pollution. Sensors ensure that no ocean creatures are accidently captured in the process, and a GPS tracker monitors when the robot is full and needs to be retrieved and emptied. Made from stainless steel, The Crusher’s parts are disguised as petals to give the impression of a giant flower floating in the water.

“Chloe’s flower power design was very well thought out and creative,” comments Laura Giddings, STEM Education Manager at RS. "The ‘petals’ collapse into the middle and crush the waste and store it below, then retract to continue to gather waste, which is both practical and aesthetically pleasing.”

Chloe said: “I wanted to do something about the plastic in the oceans that is hurting all the animals living there. I chose a flower pattern because the sea creatures would swim round it and it would look nice in the ocean. I got the idea of crushing the plastic to make sure I could fit lots in and so I called it ‘The Crusher’. I am really happy that I won the competition!"

In the 12-16 category, the winner is Ashwin Sridhar, 15, whose ‘RetroMate AI’ is designed to support the elderly and their carers; to enhance their quality of life, provide safety and security, and enable them to communicate and stay connected. This sophisticated AI-powered device, which replicates the look of the traditional ‘wireless’ radio, includes music-based memory triggers, facial recognition to protect against unwanted visitors, and speech API that enables seamless communication and provides the ability to detect scam calls. The RetroMate AI also features hazard detection, object recognition, and autonomous pill dispensation, while algorithm audits and encryption ensure reliability and security. There is an app to enable remote use.

James Howarth, Head of Education Strategy at RS, commented: “The strength of Ashwin’s entry is phenomenal. With extensive background research, explanation of artificial intelligence applications, and solving a problem suffered worldwide using technology available day-to-day, Ashwin has shown that he is a true engineering entrepreneur of the future.”

 “I am excited to have won this competition and become one of the amazing ‘Extraordineers. This competition helped foster my creative skills and design a product that could make a difference to people’s lives," said Ashwin.

Also, in the 12-16 age category, 13-year-old Rose Hazel has been highly commended for her design ‘Debby’, a wearable ‘talking’ AI device conceived to improve mental wellbeing. Designed to be worn discreetly around the wrist, and constructed from eco-friendly materials, Debby’s voice options can be set to the preferred gender, age, language, or even to a favourite celebrity. The style of the wristband can be customised by the user and can optionally link up to a smartphone or other intelligent virtual assistants such as Amazon Alexa.

James Howarth, Head of Education Strategy at RS, said: “The entries in the 12-16 category were particularly strong. We were so impressed by Rose’s design, and its potential value to those living with mental health problems, that we didn’t want it to go unrewarded.”

Rose commented: “I heard about the competition through my school and felt it would be a fun and exciting way to share my ideas. I feel so shocked and happy in hearing that I have received a reward for highly commended. I didn’t think that I would get anywhere in this competition and I think that people should try different things and challenge themselves.”

Laura Giddings, STEM Education Manager at RS, added: “The quality and creativity of the many entries we received in this challenge is a sign that children are increasingly inspired by STEM activities, and by the positive impact that science and engineering can have on humanity and the world we live in. We encourage everyone who entered the competition to keep practising their STEM skills, and we thank everyone for their truly extraordinary designs.”

The two winners will both receive a tech bundle worth over £700, including a Piper STEM Computer Kit for the 7-11 category and a pi-top computer kit for the 12-16 category, as well as a Sphero Bolt Robot, a MekaMon Berserker robot, and a Raspberry Pi starter kit. The highly commended winner will receive a Sphero Bolt Robot.

@RSComponents; @designsparkRS #PAuto #Design #STEM #Britain

Pneumobiles virtually judged.

Annual international engineering challenge will have a modified format with virtual judging of design of vehicles powered by compressed air — “pneumobiles” — created by engineering students.

The designs of compressed-air-powered vehicles — known as “pneumobiles” — created by engineering students will be judged in Emerson’s 13th annual International AVENTICS Pneumobile Competition in Eger, (H). The vehicle designs, which are based on Emerson’s AVENTICS pneumatics components donated to the teams, will be evaluated by a panel of eight Emerson judges following a modified format.

Due to the ongoing crisis and the concern for all involved, the competition will follow a modified format to allow for students to still compete and be judged while maintaining safety for all while still highlighting the talents and innovation of engineering students. As a result, the live portion of the annual competition, where completed vehicles are tested for endurance, maneuverability and speed over a three-day period, will not be held. Instead, Emerson experts will evaluate the technical documentation and CAD drawings the student teams have already submitted and announce winners in a limited number of categories during an online awards ceremony on May 8. In this way, rather than cancel the competition, the hard work that the students have already put into their projects can still be recognized.

The current competition began in October 2019 and participants had until the end of last year to submit their design and project documentation.

“There is no higher priority to Emerson than the safety of our customers, business partners, employees and those who we interact with during events such as this competition,” said Istvan Gödri, managing director of Emerson’s AVENTICS Hungary Kft. “With the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic concerns of the health of our communities and to our businesses, we are committed to ensuring everyone’s safety while still highlighting the great skills of these dedicated students.”

A total of 48 teams entered this year’s competition — seven more than last year. The teams come from 26 different learning institutions and nine countries, including the Czech Republic, Estonia, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia and Turkey. Almost every Hungarian university will be represented, with 24 teams coming from Budapest University of Technology and Economics; University of Debrecen, Faculty of Engineering; University of Miskolc; John von Neumann University; University of Nyíregyháza; Óbuda University; University of Pannonia; University of Pannonia, Zalaegerszeg; University of Pécs and University of Szeged, Faculty of Engineering.

“We share the students’ disappointment at not being able to build their pneumobiles, and although we won’t have completed vehicles to test and judge, this competition is still quite valuable,” said Gödri. “The task of designing a vehicle for the pneumobile competition is a great way for the next generation of engineers entering the workforce to demonstrate how to apply the skills they’ve learned to real-world challenges.”

More than 1,600 engineers have participated in the event during the 12 years it has been in operation. This competition has contributed to giving students real-world experience in pneumatics engineering concepts, teamwork and project management. It further demonstrates Emerson’s long-standing commitment to STEM programs that support the future workforce, including supporting over 350 academic institutions globally.

“We see the impact that these kinds of STEM programs have in developing the abilities of new engineers,” Gödri said. “In fact, three of the eight Emerson judges, including the head of the jury, participated in the competition themselves when they were college students.”

After evaluations, the competition will recognize the best technical documentation, the most innovative vehicle and the most beautiful bodywork presented by the teams.

The student teams will be allowed to keep the Emerson components they were given and are encouraged to continue working on and refining their designs in anticipation of the next competition.

#Education #STEM #Hungary @AVENTICS @EMR_Automation 

Calling all Extraordineers!!.

RS Components (RS) has expanded its series of STEM-related activities to help primary and secondary schoolchildren across Britain to meet the challenge of studying from home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The STEM Extraordinary Engineering Challenge tasks youngsters with designing an engineering solution to address a current global challenge, such as poverty and hunger, pollution or climate change. They could also look at how engineering can promote good health and well-being, or even focus on creating sustainable cities and communities for future generations.

James Howarth, Head of Education at RS, said: “STEM skills are at the heart of enabling a healthier and socially responsible world. Today, more than ever, it is so important that children have the opportunity to learn and interact with technology in a way that will inspire them to become our future engineers and scientists, and take us forward into a cleaner, more sustainable future.”

There are two categories for ages 7-11 and 12-16, and students are invited to submit their solutions as either hand-drawn or computer-generated drawings or, where possible, go even further by creating 3D models or videos of their designs. Submissions should be uploaded to the DesignSpark website at https://www.rs-online.com/designspark/extraordinary-engineering-challenge no later than Tuesday 30 June, when the competition closes. The winning designs will be selected by a panel of expert engineers and announced on Friday 10 July.

The winners of each category will receive a cool tech bundle worth over £700, which includes a Piper STEM Computer Kit for the 7-11 category or a pi-top computer kit for the 12-16 category, a Sphero Bolt Robot, a MekaMon Berserker robot, and a Raspberry Pi starter kit.

New free lesson plans for STEM subjects
RS has also released the latest in its Imagine-X series of free curriculum-aligned lesson plans for 7-14-year olds, which links STEM skills to real people who have used those skills to make the world a better place. Taking inspiration from examples such as Drusillas Park Zoo and their maintenance engineer, and the zookeepers at West Midlands Safari Park, these lessons combine animal care together with design and engineering, to give pupils an insight into the world of smart conservation. They have been created to help children understand developments in design and technology, its impact on individuals, society and the environment, and the responsibilities of designers, engineers and technologists.

Each STEM plan, one for primary and one for secondary children, contains a set of structured activities and teaching instructions, along with a resource pack. These lessons are primarily aimed at assisting teachers in the classroom but are equally valuable to parents with some level of technical skills who are home-educating their children while schools remain closed during the COVID-19 lockdown. The smart conservation STEM plans are now available to download here.

 #STEM @RSComponents @DesignSparkRS @Publitek

Interested in but discouraged from STEM?

Survey shows growing interest in STEM careers but lack of encouragement, especially for women!

As the world faces a skilled workforce gap, the fifth annual STEM survey by Emerson found that six out of 10 Americans are interested in pursuing STEM careers – but fewer than four in 10 (39%) have felt encouraged to do so. The disparity is even more pronounced among women: two out of three US women say they were not encouraged to pursue a career in STEM.

While the survey found that younger generations across the globe are three times more likely to be encouraged to pursue STEM careers than generations before them, there are still several critical gaps to address – particularly as industries continue to report that they cannot find individuals with the skills required for today’s advanced workplaces. For example, the National Association of Manufacturers found that more than 70% of manufacturers in the US are concerned about finding workers with appropriate skills.

“As automation and technology become truly ingrained in our workplaces and schools, there’s a growing urgency to prepare the workforce with STEM skills that will be critical to the continued strength of the global economy,” said David N. Farr, chairman and chief executive officer for Emerson. “We want to lead the charge in making strategic investments that will provide both the current and future workforce with the right skillsets to succeed in one of the many tremendous careers made available through STEM – from software development to new technologies in manufacturing.”

Stereotyping about gender a key barrier for women entering STEM fields!

Empowering more qualified workers of both genders to explore a STEM career could have a significant impact on the workforce gap. Of the women who said they were not encouraged to pursue STEM careers, most attributed this missed opportunity in the workforce to stereotypes against women and a lack of female role models in the field.

To keep up with the rapid pace of change, workers of both genders are increasingly looking to their employers to address these upskilling needs: 79% of global respondents said they believe companies should do more to train and prepare their STEM workforce. The growing emphasis in boosting STEM education is little surprise, as most of the world (94%) say they consider STEM education important to their respective country’s future.

Despite this universal understanding of the importance of STEM, less than half of people surveyed believe their country is ahead in STEM innovation. Creating an environment where everyone is encouraged to pursue STEM can help address this perception – and contribute to growing the global STEM workforce.

“Empowering individuals of all ages and backgrounds with the tools necessary to thrive in STEM is a crucial step in solving the growing talent gap across several key industries,” said Kathy Button Bell, senior vice president and chief marketing officer for Emerson. “We have long been dedicated to fostering a culture at Emerson that attracts and advances women through a variety of initiatives, including our 4,000-member Women in STEM group, which provides support and mentoring for our female engineers globally.”

Emerson is helping to address this skills gap issue for people of all ages through its We Love STEM initiatives, partnerships with more than 350 universities and technical colleges worldwide, and investments in employee training. Emerson’s recent STEM investments include the Performance Learning Platform, which enables hands-on training for current employees; training facility and equipment updates for Singapore Polytechnic; automation training technology centres at the University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M College of Engineering; and an automation technology centre at Colorado State University.

#PAuto @EMR_Automation @Emerson_News @HHC_Lewis

Student STEM love in!

Students rose to the challenge of building robots and designing towers as Emerson hosted its latest ‘We Love STEM’ day, to develop young people’s interest in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). More than 30 pupils aged 11 to 12 from three local schools took part, spending an enlightening day alongside Emerson employees and competing in fun, hands-on activities at the company’s facility in Slough (GB).

Emerson is committed to supporting STEM initiatives. ‘We Love STEM’ days, such as the one in Slough, are among the many events that the company either hosts or supports, with the aim of inspiring keen and talented youngsters to pursue a career in engineering and manufacturing.

During their day with Emerson, students from The Westgate School, The Beaconsfield School and Bourne End Academy each tackled a STEM tech challenge to build a robot. This enabled them to learn about ‘machine autonomous problem-solving’ and how to interpret and follow technical documents. The pupils also took on a STEM engineering design challenge to create a tower capable of supporting balls of varying sizes. This tested the students’ ability to work through the entire cycle of designing, building and testing a prototype.

In addition to these competitive challenges, the students were also given a tour of the Emerson manufacturing facility. This included interactive demonstrations of the various measurement technologies that are developed and manufactured there, and which are applied in industries such as oil and gas, power generation, and food and beverage production.

“Such a well-planned, inspiring day for our students,” said Alia Brammal, maths teacher at Bourne End Academy. “They were so engaged and loved all the activities. The girls have especially appreciated having their eyes opened to all the STEM opportunities.”

The event was co-ordinated by members of Emerson’s Women in STEM employee resource group, which provides employees with opportunities for volunteering, mentoring, networking and professional development.

“Fast-evolving digital technologies are transforming the way industrial process and manufacturing plants operate, so there is an increasing need for workers with excellent technical knowledge and skills,” said Emerson engineering project manager Adrianna Niedzwiecka, who organised the event. “However, across the UK there are not enough pupils, especially girls, studying the STEM subjects, resulting in a skills gap and a shortfall in the number of young people making their way into engineering and manufacturing. To help close this skills gap, it is vital for companies such as Emerson to do all we can to support STEM education and careers awareness.

“It was our pleasure to welcome so many enthusiastic students from our local schools, and we hope they have been inspired by what they learned in spending the day with us. STEM subjects are often perceived as being difficult, but we wanted to show that there’s plenty of scope to have fun with them too.”

Emerson’s ‘We Love STEM’ initiative was launched to help young people understand the significant impact STEM careers can have on the world, and it encourages talented students to develop their interest in STEM subjects. Thousands of students have attended employee-hosted ‘We Love STEM’ days at Emerson facilities around the world, and these events are just a part of the company’s efforts to help motivate the next generation of innovators. The initiative also provides a rich variety of resources in partnership with renowned science vlogger Hank Green, including inspirational videos and social media feeds, to empower future engineers.

@EMR_Automation  #STEM #England @Emerson_News @HHC_Lewis 

Collaboration announced in technical education.

Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) and ESB (Electricity Supply Board-Ireland) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a framework of strategic collaboration that will include three key areas - Research and Development, Talent Promotion and Diversity and Inclusion. TU Dublin President, Professor David FitzPatrick, and ESB Deputy Chief Executive, Jerry O’Sullivan announced the partnership at a celebratory event hosted by Ireland’s newest University in Grangegorman.

Jerry O'Sullivan & Professor Fitzpatrick
at TU Dublin Campus

Speaking at the MoU launch event in Grangegorman, University President, Professor David FitzPatrick outlined the value of the strategic partnership with ESB. “TU Dublin welcomes this new opportunity to work with ESB on a range of innovative projects delivering quality research outputs, nurturing a pipeline of new talent in the key areas of Engineering and related disciplines, and encouraging a diverse and inclusive student population and working environment. To date, our close working relationship with ESB has been very fruitful. One example would be the introduction of the very successful Access to Apprenticeship - a 12-week taster programme for young people who may find it difficult to access an apprenticeship due to social and economic barriers, and we are pleased to see our relationship strengthen further with today’s announcement.”

ESB and TU Dublin will explore areas of mutual interest under each of the headings covered by the MoU. For example, under Research and Development, discussions will take place around the development and operation of Electric Vehicle Fast Charging infrastructure across Ireland, real-time wind generation, and energy market modelling and battery storage.

Both parties will also focus on talent development activities, including the development of new academic programmes in power plant technology and an examination of professional roles and employability of future engineers. They will also investigate potential co-operative initiatives aimed at encouraging Diversity and Inclusion in STEM education and the workplace, building on current programmes such as TU Dublin’s ESTEeM - a mentoring programme for young women studying STEM subjects.

Jerry O’Sullivan, Deputy Chief Executive of ESB, said: “ESB is once again proud to collaborate with Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) to support the delivery of important programmes and research projects, as well as nurturing the next generation of innovators and creators. This collaboration underpins our commitment to leading the transition to a low-carbon future as we support the vital research and development work in renewable solutions such as battery storage, electromobility and electricity generation. The focus on STEAM initiatives also aligns with our own commitment to empowering young people to reach their potential and power their collective brighter future. We look forward to working with TU Dublin and the benefits this collaboration will bring to all.”

Pics: Maxwell Photography

 @WeAreTUDublin #STEM @ESBGroup

Promoting STEM and women in the Netherlands.

‘We Love STEM’ event in recognition of Girlsday* sees students enjoy interactive educational activities at Emerson facilities across the Netherlands

Continuing its global commitment to promoting science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and women in STEM, Emerson hosted a “We Love STEM” event in recognition of Girlsday at five of its facilities in the Netherlands. A total of 190 girls aged 10-17 from local primary and secondary schools visited the Emerson facilities in Rijswijk, Ede, Breda and Boxtel for a fun-filled and educational day, focused on providing exposure to STEM careers.

The students from GSR Randstad, Pieter Groen, Het Streek, Veluws College and Twizon/De Wentelwiek took part in factory tours and enjoyed a varied programme of activities and interactive workshops, giving them an insight into how the STEM subjects are applied to real-life situations in the manufacturing sector. The workshops demonstrated how automation technologies enable modern production plants to operate more efficiently, including ways that different instrumentation accurately measures parameters such as flow rates and density, and why valves are critical to plant safety.

“Emerson is renowned for the extensive support it gives to STEM education, and we greatly appreciate our students being invited to attend this exciting event,” said Jasper Vlierberg, team leader at Het Streek. “It was not only great fun, but also enabled them to engage with industry professionals, and showed how the knowledge they gain from STEM subjects can be applied in real work scenarios. The students really enjoyed their day and found the activities stimulating and highly beneficial.”

Although young women are increasingly being encouraged to study STEM subjects, there is still a significant gender gap in engineering. Emerson is committed to helping close that gap, and through its acclaimed global “We Love STEM” initiative, aims to encourage talented women students to pursue a career in engineering. In addition, Emerson’s “Women in STEM” group promotes opportunities for employees to connect, grow and promote opportunities for women in STEM at the organization and in the community.

“Manufacturing is not only facing a shortage of engineers, but also a gender gap because not enough girls are pursuing STEM subjects,” said Ximena Ariasm, regional leader for Emerson’s Women in STEM organisation in the Netherlands. “Emerson is proud to support STEM initiatives around the world and places great importance on engaging with girls to highlight the importance of STEM and develop their interest in these subjects. We hope this will lead to more talented young women joining the workforce of tomorrow, closing the gender gap and creating innovations to help the industries Emerson supports.”

* See The Netherlands Girlsday on April 12th.

#STEM @Emerson_News @WiTECeu #Netherlands

Inspiring more females into the industry.

SolutionsPT hosted local primary and secondary school pupils at their Cheadle (GB) HQ, as part of a ‘Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) for Girls’ day, designed to encourage more girls to pursue STEM subjects and careers.

A picture of concentration

Twenty girls from Years 4 to 10 from local schools, including Marple Hall, St Mary’s and Bradshaw Hall Primary, took part in a series of fun challenges, using engineering concepts to build freestanding structures and even designing and building their own Batak machines which they later competed on.

The girls were introduced to female engineers working at SolutionsPT and shown the types of careers and salaries they could pursue with STEM qualifications. The pupils were also introduced to concepts such as cloud computing and control system architectures.

SolutionsPT plans to run further STEM days with local schools and colleges throughout the year.

Sue Roche, General Manager at SolutionsPT, said: “Engineering and technology plays a vital role in our economy and there’s increasing demand for highly skilled STEM candidates. Despite this, only 2% of A levels last year were in subjects such as Computing or ICT. This figure is even lower amongst girls and there remains a view that engineering and technology roles are only for boys. We want to challenge this outdated view and show girls the range of interesting, well paid and fulfilling careers they could have access to if they pursue STEM subjects.”

@SolutionsPT  #PAuto #STEM