Don’t commit to too much! - Learning from two weeks' industry experience

Sam Casadei, Cohort 2019

Recently, I was fortunate enough to complete two weeks work experience at Tribosonics, a Sheffield-based company that uses high-tech embedded sensing technology to provide powerful and targeted data to its clients. Tribosonics is using its technology to drive transformation in the transport, power generation, and manufacturing sectors.

My experience was packed full of new learning opportunities, both with practical data analysis, as well as cultivating new spreadsheets to help keep inventory of stocks. Bridging the gap between academia and industry is a crucial opportunity, and being able to gain feedback directly from industry is the fastest way to learn which skills hold the highest priority.

A Good Leader Is Not Necessarily the Smartest Person in The Room

Matt Thompson, Cohort 2020

The recent global challenges posed by the Coronavirus pandemic and climate change have focussed public attention on debate over what ‘good leadership’ looks like. This concept has been considered throughout history; the musings of the Ancient Greek philosophers on how best to lead are well documented.

Anyone Can Engineer: Inspiring the Next Generation

Anyone Can Engineer is a student-led project which began at the start of 2020 to address the inequalities and misconceptions of the engineering industry through engaging young people with engineering related activities. We began working after attending a SELA workshop on, “Finding A Career you Love” by Lisa Cox from Life Compass Consulting. 

Engineering Graduates for Industry: Rethinking our Approach to Skills Gaps, Context and Partnership

Jack Trethewey, Cohort 2018

It has been widely reported that graduates possess a noticeable skills gap upon embarking on their careers. In fact in 2018, Bloomberg created a study in which 200 senior-level corporate/academia-based individuals were asked for their opinions on four primary themes amongst students: preparedness, skills, collaboration and planning. It was found that as little as 35% of these individuals believed that students were well prepared with an array of soft and hard skills that they could effectively apply in their careers [1].

U Calm

Matthew Bate, Cohort 2018

There has arguably never been a time where such a light has shone on the challenges students face in managing and striving to meet their academic targets but also, in striving to stay happy, stay well and stay rested. Students around the country are looking for ways to support their wellbeing which is exactly why SELA Cohort 2018 graduate Matthew Bate is currently developing a first of its kind, entirely student-focused health and wellbeing service, U Calm.

How SELA has taught me more about my field of engineering

Mathew Boland, Cohort 2019

As a mechanical engineer, I have been lucky enough to enjoy a varied and interesting course. I’ve experienced everything from electronics to thermodynamics and material science, as well a boatload of physical mechanics. A lot of my experience as an undergraduate engineer has centred on equations and learning how to use them in an individual exam environment. These are really important skills, and help build the kind of understanding that is essential for modern engineers, but the focus is heavily on the theory. At Sheffield, I have been a part of some fantastic group work modules that focus on more than just the theory, on soft skills such as team work. However, it has been my time at SELA which has really reinforced my team working abilities.

Equality in STEM launch event

Ella Leatt, Cohort 2019         
     

After the challenges and experiences I have faced as a female engineering student, I feel extremely passionate about the encouragement of female students in pursuing careers in STEM, which is why when given the opportunity to attend the launch of the Equality in STEM Network, I was thrilled to attend.

SELA member ‘one of the most inspiring young people making manufacturing smarter’

We are delighted to share the news that Sam Maxwell, SELA Cohort 2018 member, has been recognised on the list of the most inspiring young people making manufacturing smarter, by The Manufacturer and KTN for national apprenticeship week 2021. 

Sam recognises that his recognition is underpinned by learning from SELA, where he has developed professional skills such as presenting, communication, team working and flexibility. Such skills making a huge difference when working on summer placements, and gave him the confidence to, ‘tackle difficult engineering projects, communicate my ideas to a wide audience and embrace new challenges.’

Celebrating Women in Engineering on International Women’s Day

Today is the 46th celebration of International Women’s day, and every year the day has a different theme, with this year's being ‘women in leadership’, and so it is fitting that we have interviewed a woman who is just that, SELA Cohort 2016 graduate Hemanshi Galaiya.

As well as her commitment to SELA, Hemanshi was also President of the Women in Engineering Society at the University of Sheffield, and she has continued to achieve highlight as an inspiring young leader in Kenya. Drawing on her learning from SELA, Hemanshi was inspired to create the change she wanted to see in the world. 

Using AI & Machine Learning to Improve Local Farming: SELA’s Food & Agritech Project 2020-21

Natasha Anderson & Sam Casadei, SELA Cohort 2019

This year’s integrative project theme is artificial intelligence and machine learning. It provides us with the chance to work alongside industry representatives, and local companies to promote the uptake of digital solutions, whilst also challenging us to apply the leadership skills that we have been developing throughout our time in SELA. Our team hopes by taking the lead in the small-scale farming sector, we can enable new forms of digital food systems data collection and can engage the Sheffield digital industries sector and the Sheffield food & drink sector in a range of innovative data and digital collaboration research activities. 

 

The Food and Agritech Project aims to find a way to collect data in small farms so AI and Machine Learning can be used to increase productivity. Working together with Sheffield-based food cooperative Regather, we are hoping to do this through prototyping and collecting data on basil growth as it’s easy to grow at home. We will collect data using Raspberry Pi technology combined with a range of sensors, capturing data on light, temperature, humidity and soil moisture.

Artificial Intelligence Meets Manufacturing

Henry Saunders, SELA Cohort 2019

 

This year the theme of SELA’s integrative projects is artificial intelligence and machine learning. The projects provide an opportunity for us to work in partnership with industry to practise and refine the leadership skills we develop through the weekly workshops and guest speaker sessions. 

 

I’ve had the amazing opportunity to work on a project exploring the use of AI and machine learning in manufacturing. Our goal was to create a predictive maintenance algorithm for use in the manufacturing industry.

Exciting new partnership launched with Engineers Without Borders

SELA aims to inspire and guide its members into their future careers as engineering leaders, including through talks by successful industry leaders from an array of engineering backgrounds. The talks enable students to gain contextualised knowledge and examples of a variety of career possibilities, whilst making learning enjoyable and interactive.

Skills workshops - what to expect

Crina Maria Pricop, Cohort 2020

SELA skills workshops are highly interactive, designed to involve all the cohort in the learning process through different activities, covering topics from working out which role would suit us, to perfecting our leadership skills and harnessing social media in our job search.

Each workshop introduces a new concept, and spurs us on to investigate further on our own, demonstrating and encouraging real methods. Hands-on skills are taught where we have a chance to try out new approaches and fail in a safe situation.The following is what I have experienced so far, including what is expected from all the SELA skills workshops throughout the year.

Issues in engineering – Natural Disasters

SELA wishes to demonstrate how engineering could have an impact in tackling the myriad of sustainability issues which plague our society before irreparable damage is done.

Over the last 100 years the average number of Natural Disasters per year has increased from 15 in 1910 to 393 in 2010 and because of this, there is more damage caused per year. As the population of the earth is increasing, so is the demand for housing. This means more people are having to build houses in natural disaster prone areas. This means that more damage will be caused per disaster if something is not done. 

The SELA interview experience

Kacper Sikorski, Cohort 2019

One evening in May, I was working on a course-project when some of my mates messaged me, with the question of whether I made it to the second stage. I checked the email and realised I was through to the interview stage, and within the next couple of days, I had to make a favourable impression during an interview.

What can we do to change the fate of our world? - Renewable energy

SELA wishes to demonstrate how engineering could have an impact in tackling the myriad of sustainability issues which plague our society before irreparable damage is done.

Today, we are looking at renewable energy and the issues and potential solutions it offers in the future. We have researched exciting up and coming technologies and brainstormed to find an area that was not only relevant but was also facing challenges. We all know that renewable energy is great, but how do we power our homes when the wind doesn't blow and the sun doesn't shine?

Seven ways SELA helped my degree

Alaaeldin Sengab, Cohort 2019

One of the most important qualities to develop as an engineer is the ability to lead a team. Engineering is, by its nature, a collaborative effort and in order to be able to give most to the team one is working in, it is important to know how to lead. With this in mind, below I outline the 7 ways in which being a member of SELA has helped me develop as a leader. 

What I hope to gain from SELA

As we have just started the new academic year, that means a fresh incoming SELA cohort. With that in mind, we caught up with some of SELA’s new recruits. We’ve asked five of SELA’s fresh faced recruits to explain what they hope to gain from SELA in the coming years and how they think this will benefit them in their discipline.