Young engineers tackle disaster management at UCL

The Rapid Response Engineering Challenge, organised by UCL Civil & Environmental Engineering along with Construction Skills and the Institution of Civil Engineers, used natural disasters such as Hurricane Mitch in Honduras to illustrate the important role that engineers can play during reconstruction.

Key stage 3 students assumed the role of Registered Engineers for Disaster Relief (RedR) for the day. Presented with a disaster scenario to investigate, they designed and constructed shelters and systems for transporting water. Prizes were given to teams who produced the most effective solutions in the shortest time.

The aim of the challenge was to raise awareness of the issues engineers face when they are called in to deal with natural and manmade disasters. The disaster relief and engineering communities have become more aware of the need for greater involvement of engineering know-how in order to achieve more effective rebuilding after disasters.

Construction Skills is an employer-led organisation responsible for tackling the skills and productivity needs of the construction industry sector UK-wide. The Institution of Civil Engineers provides a voice for civil engineering, continuing professional development and promoting best practice throughout the industry.

UCL supported the event to promote a new course at UCL starting this September. The MSc in Earthquake Engineering with Disaster Management (EEDM) has been designed to tackle some of the gaps in skill and expertise that affect redevelopment efforts in hazardous regions.

To find out more, follow the links at the bottom of this item.

Image: A student from a local school tests a device for transporting water.

• Links:
• UCL Civil & Environmental Engineering
• Institution of Civil Engineers
• Construction Skills