Student-Led Engineering Conference

Engineering the Impossible

Dedicated and forward-thinking students from Abbey College Cambridge recently organised and delivered a dynamic Student-Led Engineering Conference, welcoming students from schools across the region for this eagerly anticipated occasion.

Participants from The Leys, St Bede’s, and Landmark International School joined Abbey College Cambridge students at our Homerton Gardens campus, forming a vibrant cohort of budding young engineers. From coordinating logistics to presenting, hosting, and moderating, our Year 10 students led every aspect of the event with professionalism and enthusiasm. Their chosen theme, ‘Engineering the Impossible,’ set the tone for an inspiring and ambitious day.

The conference opened with a compelling keynote delivered by Dr Sujit Bhattacharya, who captivated the audience with an insightful exploration of radars, electronics, and robotics, sparking ideas and excitement among all attendees. Following the keynote, students worked in pairs to design, code, and build their own robotic creations, transforming theoretical concepts into hands-on innovation.

Momentum continued to build throughout the afternoon as energetic teams took on an engineering challenge to design, construct, and launch their own rockets. This thrilling session was expertly supported by our Science Department, whose guidance ensured a safe and engaging experience for all. The efforts resulted in several impressive flights, providing a memorable finale to an inspiring event.

Divya Anand, Teacher of Maths, played a key role in mentoring and guiding the Year 10 organisers throughout the planning process, helping them develop leadership and organisational skills that shone on the day.

Holly, a Year 10 student at Abbey College Cambridge, commented:
“Supporting the Year 7 engineering conference was a great experience. I enjoyed helping students explore new concepts and watching their creativity develop, as they progressed through the activities and challenges. The day taught me a lot about leadership, teamwork, and the importance of encouraging younger students in STEM.”

Abbey College Cambridge Principal Dr Ellen Hesse added:
“We are very proud of our dedicated and enthusiastic Year 10 students for delivering such a professional and inspiring event. Engagement was high throughout the conference, and it was truly rewarding to see the teamwork, curiosity and collaboration shared across all schools.

Our student-led conferences are an important avenue for students to strengthen their critical thinking and leadership skills. Beyond offering a platform for students to demonstrate these abilities, the conferences provide valuable opportunities to collaborate with peers from diverse cultural backgrounds, while exploring global challenges and innovations shaping their future.”