The School of Engineering

Eminent scientist asks “who will be the popular engineers?”

Tue, Apr 30, 2013

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In his lively, hour-long lecture Professor Al-Khalili, presenter of BBC Radio 4’s The Life Scientific, spoke about his career in science communication and how it has led to his current role as Chair in the Public Engagement in Science at the University of Surrey. He also charted the rise of popular science through books, television and the internet, citing a number of contributory factors that have resulted in the current level of general public interest in science.

From the development over the past 40 years of high quality, mainstream, factual science coverage on TV; via high profile scientific projects such as the Large Hadron Collider at CERN; to “the Brian Cox effect” and celebrity science enthusiasts such as Stephen Fry, Dara O’Brien and Ben Miller; Professor Al-Khalili, suggested that never before had there been such interest in science that it could regularly spark conversations in pubs and playgrounds alike.

In order for science to establish itself alongside the arts in popular culture there needs to be a certain threshold of scientific literacy. It should be unacceptable that there are certain things in science that we don’t know, in the same way that it's unacceptable to not know who wrote Romeo and Juliet.

Professor Al-Khalili’s books include titles such as Quantum: A Guide For The Perplexed which are pitched at the ‘popular science’ reader.  He went on to ask the audience of more than 200 congress delegates, academics and members of the public, “Where are the popular engineers?” suggesting that there were great engineering stories that could be told, projects documented and research presented to enthusiastic audiences outside of universities and labs. He surmised that an increase in the public awareness of engineering could have profound implications for investment, education and employment in the future.

The congress also saw former Tomorrows World presenter and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) advocate, Kate Bellingham in conversation with Paul Westbury CBE, whose high profile engineering projects have included the London 2012 Olympic Stadium, Arsenal Football Club’s Emirates Stadium and the O2 Arena. Paul echoed Professor Al-Khalili’s sentiment;

The importance of engineering to the world is often overlooked. It is engineering in all of its many and varied forms that enables the world to work. We engineers are our own worst enemies – too busy delivering solutions to talk about them!

Further guest speakers included representatives of Universities from across the UK, including Aston, Warwick, Teeside, Sheffield Hallam, Ulster and UCL. Presentations were also heard from representatives of the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE), the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS), the Confederation of British Industry (CBI), the Campaign for Science and Engineering (CaSE), Engineers without Borders (EWB, UK) and advocates of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics in education, STEMNET.

An evening reception was held for delegates at Portsmouth’s iconic Spinnaker Tower with speeches by Andrew Miller MP, Chair of the Parliamentary Scientific Committee and Sir Michael Moore, former Royal Naval Vice Admiral and Director General of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE).

The Engineering Professors’ Council 2013 Congress was attended by more than 60 delegates, with the public lecture attracting an audience of a further 150. Professor Djamel Ait-Boudaoud, Dean of the Faculty of Technology at the University of Portsmouth and Convenor of the EPC Congress, said;

Academics have a duty and responsibility to strengthen political and public support of their respective disciplines through public engagement events.

This is particularly important in science and engineering to ensure that we are raising public interest through inspirational talks and activities.

This year’s Congress was a great success, and I am extremely thankful to all the speakers, guests and organisers for their contributions.

The Congress, which took place on the 16th and 17th of April was organised by EPC Executive Director, Susan Kay with support from Hannah West and Natalie Smith at the University of Portsmouth. Audio recordings, including Professor Jim Al-Khalili’s public lecture are available to listen to via the EPC website.

For further information about courses in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics at the University of Portsmouth visit the website.

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