Engineering Tomorrow:
Bridge Building – Virtual Lab Day

On May 8th, Year 7 Aquinas students participated in a STEM incursion “Engineering Tomorrow: Bridges- Virtual Lab Day” that combined a live online presentation with hands on activities, providing students with an opportunity to explore bridge engineering.

The day commenced with an introduction to bridge engineering fundamentals, where students learned about the significance of bridges in connecting communities and the impact of various materials and designs. They explored the concepts of stress and strain, essential for understanding how bridges can withstand different loads. Students then worked small groups to design and build their own bridges using the provided materials. It was fantastic to see our boys display such productive and creative teamwork as they represented CBHS Lewisham on the live stream.

The event also featured a keynote presentation by Mark Tarrant, a distinguished mechanical engineer with extensive experience in operations leadership and engineering problem-solving. His insights into engineering applications were both inspiring and educational for our students.

The incursion concluded with a bridge testing session, where each group’s bridge was evaluated for its strength and durability. Impressively, several groups constructed bridges so strong that they couldn’t be broken, even with all the masses available in the Science department! This remarkable achievement highlighted the ingenuity and teamwork of our boys. We might need to bring in the 20 kg masses from the gym for next year’s bridge challenge!

This incursion not only deepened students’ technical knowledge but also reinforced the value of practical learning and mentorship from experts. It left our students better equipped for future STEM challenges and career opportunities.