Engineering – it’s in everything, and now you can find out how at a free event for all ages.
Rochester Bridge Trust and the University of Greenwich have teamed up to celebrate National Women in Engineering Day on 23 June, in the Pembroke Wardroom of the university’s Medway Campus. Starting with a traditional cream tea, the late afternoon event will include presentations from women engineers, followed by a bridge building challenge.
Chief Executive of Rochester Bridge Trust, Sue Threader, explained: “This event will be a great opportunity for people to see how important engineering is to our everyday lives: from making a cup of tea to keeping Kent’s roads moving – engineering is in everything.”
The bridge building challenge will be open to everyone who attends the event, whether young or old, artists or engineers, with a prize hamper (including three bottles of wine and two KNex kits) for the model able to hold the most weight.
Mrs Threader added: “We feel it’s important to teach children – whether girls or boys – about civil engineering from an early age and events such as the bridge building competition can be a great hands-on experience. The adults may feel their years put them at an advantage over the younger competitors, but I bet they’ll be surprised at how much of a challenge they find it too.”
Rochester Bridge Trust’s engineering education mascot, Langdon the Lion, will also make an appearance on the day.
The event, which runs from 4.30pm until 6.30pm, is free but places must be booked. Please email l.wilson@greenwich.ac.uk by 18 June to reserve your place.
Notes:
1. The Rochester Bridge Trust is a charitable trust that exists to maintain the old and new bridges at Rochester and serve the travelling public. It is the only surviving bridge trust still serving its original purpose, and it has served the people of Kent since 1399. The Trust also supports numerous community and education projects across historic Kent and Medway.
2. The Trust’s assets all derive from endowments of land and money in the 14th and 15th centuries and are carefully managed in order to provide an income to fund bridge maintenance and local charitable grants. The Trust receives no external funding and is regulated by the Charity Commission.
www.rochesterbridgetrust.org.uk:
1. Langdon the Lion is a friendly character who guides children through the Trust’s free Key Stage 2-level education packs.
2. Comprising 12 lesson plans for educators, the books and associated website encourage youngsters to get involved with bridge building, trying out different techniques and thinking about the engineering challenges involved.
3. Langdon was chosen as a mascot because of the lion statues on the Old Bridge at Rochester, while his name was taken from Langdon Manor Farm, one of the original properties bequeathed to the Trust in the 14th century.
For more information:
The Rochester Bridge Trust
5 Esplanade
Rochester
Kent ME1 1QE
Tel: 01634 846706
Fax: 01634 840125