BNU’s School of Engineering and the Built Environment officially launches in sold-out event

Buckinghamshire New University's (BNU) School of Engineering and the Built Environment held a formal launch event on the 13 November in celebration of National Engineering Day.

Held at the recently renovated High Wycombe campus, the launch event brought together industry experts, academics, well-established professionals from the field of engineering and the built environment, as well as prospective students from Langley College.

Sabuj Mallik, Head of School of Engineering and the Built Environment at BNU, opened the event with a talk on the diversity of the profession and why its an important time to join the industry.

Sabuj commented "At BNU, we have created simulated environments that allow for experimentation and that mirror industry, including renewable energy systems, manufacturing labs, and instrumentation equipment."

Sabuj added "Sustainable engineering practices ensure that we are building a world that is safe, healthy, and equitable for all. This includes designing infrastructure that is resilient to climate change and accessible to everyone. At BNU, we have created a space for innovation, for future growth and most importantly, a sustainable future."

Other speakers included Learie L. Attzs, Associate Lecturer at Oxford Brookes University, Laura Newman, Chief Executive at LocatED, and Gordon Parker, Associate Lecturer in Engineering at BNU, who all touched upon the importance of sustainability in engineering, urging the next generation of engineers to be wary of the unintended consequences of their work.

"Engineers and technologists must come up with ideas to work on the climate issue that challenges not only the engineering industry but the wider world. It is key to remember that what we do as engineers becomes reality, it becomes physical, and it has an impact." said Learie as he delivered a talk on the future of engineering.

Attzs continued "Engineers must do what they can to try and solve the climate crisis. As engineers, we have the potential to have a direct impact on our world, something we need to consider in our work. We can create sustainable buildings and collaborate on new manufacturing methods like SME manufacturing. We can collaborate on zero power energy production. We can share our learning, skills and resources with other geographies to ensure a collaborative approach to the climate issue. Engineers can make a profound impact. Ideology must meet pragmatism. Engineers must come together to think of ways to maintain a sustainable future. We must change the paradigm. There is no world to live in if we don't".

Speaking on construction and the built environment, Laura Newman, commented "There is a green skills shortage in engineering. As industry professionals in the field of the built environment, decarbonisation is key. The sustainability side of engineering, though less seen, is incredibly important. It is key for us to think about how we can maximise the use of space, how we can innovate, and how we can utilise the interdisciplinary aspects of our field."

Gordon Parker spoke directly to students as he touched on the history of engineering and the milestones reached in the industry, and shared insight on the significance of role models and how they can play a key part in your future and the importance of perseverance.

In 2022, the University were awarded a capital funding grant of £5.8m from the Office for Students in support of creating cutting-edge facilities, with £1.5m directed at the development of the engineering school. New facilities include an electronic lab room host to analogue and digital electronic components and microprocessor boards as well as an automation room with electropneumatic equipment, programmable logic controllers and a smart factory with modular production systems.