A group of 25 local scouts got an insight into the work of civil engineers during a recent visit to IT Sligo.
The members of Yeats Scout County who were led by County Commissioner Gillian Watters got lots of practical experience when they built two bridges on the campus. They also got some useful information about how to monitor water quality, and assess the strength and resistance of different materials used in Civil Engineering.
“They built bridges over the river on the campus, using ropes and timber,” explained Ms Watters. “It was a very relevant exercise for the scouts who regularly go camping”.
IT Sligo lecturer Dr Tomas O’Flaherty who hosted the visit along with a number of colleagues from the Civil Engineering programme, said staff were very impressed with the prowess of the scouts who were aged from 12 to 17.
“They did all the work on the bridge themselves – we just supervised,” he stressed. “We wanted to show the scouts how relevant Civil Engineering is to their own lives and to get the message across that it is about much more than just building houses”.
Dr O’Flaherty said that as a result of the visit he hoped to build a relationship between the Institute and the scouts, and staff were keen to become involved in future events such as jamborees.
“It was exciting for the scouts when they saw the bridge taking shape,” said the lecturer. “It showed them the different practical aspects of Civil Engineering and the diverse role that Civil Engineers play in society, through, for example, sustainable development and protection of the environment”.
He said that because the scouts are so involved in outdoor activities, they have a natural affinity for many aspects of Civil Engineering and he hoped they would now realize that it was an attractive career option.
“We brought them to the laboratories and showed them how to test the strength of the ropes and timber that they used for building the bridges and how to gauge the resistance of other materials. We also brought them to the water laboratory and demonstrated how the quality of water is tested.”
Ms Watters said that as a result of the visit the scouts appreciated how Civil Engineering applies to everyday life. “As scouts they know that when they are out on a mountain they won’t find a tap and how it important it is to find a safe water source,” she said.
Staff explained to the young people that Civil Engineering is a diverse sector which can involve the design and construction of water systems, infrastructure, bridges, roads and skyscrapers.
“I know staff enjoyed the visit as much as the scouts,” said Dr O’Flaherty. “It is good to be involved in the community and myself and my fellow lecturers Dr Pat Naughton, Andrea Martin, Dr Leo Creedon and Owen Feeney also got a lot out of meeting and working alongside the scouts.” IT Sligo PhD students David Lally and Keith Jennings were also involved.
“We would like this to be an annual event and we look forward to seeing the scouts again next year for more exciting activities” said Dr O’Flaherty.
Images Above and Below: Lecturing staff from the School of Engineering at IT Sligo welcomed Members of Yeats Scout County to the Institute recently to show them that Civil Engineering is about much more than building houses.
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