Engineers Ireland’s STEPS programme has today launched STEPS Engineering Your Future @ Home, a three-part series of videos and challenges designed to inspire Transition Year students to explore the limitless opportunities a career in engineering offers.

The new at-home programme has been established in response to COVID-19 restrictions and its impact on the STEPS Engineering Your Future Transition Year programme. 

Eighteen third-level institutions and industry were due to host 550 students during in locations throughout Ireland from March – May 2020, however, due to restrictions, only five programmes could take place during this period. 

While it is impossible to recreate the hands-on experience of this Transition Year programme, the STEPS programme has created STEPS Engineering Your Future @ Home to engage more than 1,100 Transition Year students who applied for this year’s programme and students who would like to find out more about the exciting and diverse world of engineering at third-level and as a career.

Developed in collaboration with Mark Langtry, head of science and sport at Explorium, three videos and challenges will be released over the coming weeks. They include:

Video 1- Communications - Electrical Engineering

Challenge: Design a novel communication system at home. Tech brings us closer together, in the world of zoom, skype, facetime, text, what unique system can you build from materials at home.

Release date: Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Challenge deadline date: Friday, May 15, 2020

Video 2- Product Design - The Ultimate Alarm Clock

Challenge: Design the ultimate alarm clock, proven to get you out of bed, school or no school.

Release date: Monday, May 11, 2020

Challenge deadline date: Friday, May 22, 2020

Video 3- Sports Engineering - The Home Gym

Challenge: Engineering is revolutionising sports and helping improve athletes’ performances, whether it be football design, sportswear design, data trackers. Since we are all at home, design a home gym, getting creative using whatever is at home to create your own fitness equipment.

Release date: Wednesday, May 13, 2020

Challenge deadline date: Friday, May 29, 2020

Transition Year students are encouraged to participate in each video challenge to be in with a chance to win some fantastic prizes, including wireless speakers and headphones.

All entries submitted will also receive a certificate of participation. Entries can be in any format e.g. video, photograph, drawing, text etc.  To submit your challenge entry or for more information, contact: steps@engineersireland.ie

The STEPS Engineering Your Future Programme is coordinated by Engineers Ireland's STEPS programme - funded by Science Foundation Ireland, the Department of Education and Skills and industry leaders ARUP, ESB, Intel and Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII). For more information, visit: https://www.engineersireland.ie/schools