Our Engineering Stories

In one sentence: What does engineering mean to you?

Innovating and creating

Was there a specific moment when you realised engineering was for you?

Starting to watch motorsport and wanting to understand more

What has been one of the biggest challenges in your journey so far?

Learning how to bridge the gap between academics and industry.

How has your background shaped your experience in engineering?

None of my family are interested in engineering so it was a very new thing to explore.

What’s something about engineering that people often misunderstand?

Requires people skills and creativity as much as prowess with maths and complex concepts.

What advice would you give to someone considering engineering?

Explore all disciplines before choosing what you want to go into

What would an engineering environment look like where people could fully thrive?

Open for discussions, no fear of repercussions for looking stupid/making mistakes

In one sentence: What does engineering mean to you?

Engineering means using creativity and knowledge to solve real-world problems.

Was there a specific moment when you realised engineering was for you?

My journey into engineering started with always enjoying building things from a young age. In high school, I realised that engineering could give me the opportunity to take that passion beyond toys and projects – to use it to solve real-world problems, create, and make a difference.

What has been one of the biggest challenges in your journey so far?

One of the biggest challenges has been convincing myself that I deserve to be in the room. Everything I’ve done so far has been building towards a career in engineering, and I’ve had to remind myself that I’ve earned the opportunity to be here and deserve to see that journey through.

How has your background shaped your experience in engineering?

Growing up, my parents always encouraged me to do the best I could and never let preconceptions stop me from pursuing something I was passionate about. They always wanted the best for me, and that has translated into my approach to engineering – I always try my best, believe in my own potential, and don’t let other people’s expectations or assumptions stop me from pursuing a degree and career in engineering.

What does a typical day look like for you?

Lectures & building stuff!

What advice would you give to someone considering engineering?

If engineering is what you want to do, don't let anyone try to convince you otherwise. Take advantage of the many opportunities available to you, be willing to learn, and just go for it!

What would an engineering environment look like where people could fully thrive?

An engineering environment where people can fully thrive would be one where everyone feels supported, valued, and comfortable sharing their ideas. It would encourage people to ask questions, learn from mistakes, and take advantage of opportunities without being afraid of judgement.

In one sentence: What does engineering mean to you?

Turning ideas/problems into practical solutions

Was there a specific moment when you realised engineering was for you?

Applying theory into projects made me realize engineering is for me. I really enjoy the process of researching, developing, testing and the final result is very rewarding.

What has been one of the biggest challenges in your journey so far?

One of the biggest challenges is believing that I can do hard things through hard work and consistency and still have a good work-life balance

How has your background shaped your experience in engineering?

I’ve grown up seeing my dad build useful things out of nothing, and I admired that which led me to choosing to do something similar.

What does a typical day look like for you?

I focus on getting all of my work done between 9am-5pm, including extracurriculars. After I spend time on my hobbies and socialising. I still need to study in the weekends to keep up with everything.

What advice would you give to someone considering engineering?

You should do engineering if you like to think critically about problems to find practical solutions. If you are curious and resilient, you’ll probably enjoy engineering.

What would an engineering environment look like where people could fully thrive?

An inclusive environment where everyone’s input is listened to without judgement as this encourages people to think creatively and feel comfortable to share their ideas. Secondly, an environment that provides the required resources you may need to complete a project

The environment at Warwick is great for engineering. I’ve worked with students that have different levels of experience, and every time all abilities were welcomed, students really help each other out and are willing to listen to everyone’s inputs. This makes solving problems so much easier. The support I’ve had from lecturers and teaching assistants in my first year was outstanding. The university provided all the resources I ever needed for any of my individual and academic work.

Was there a specific moment when you realised engineering was for you?

When I started watching F1 and realised how much I enjoyed it!

What has been one of the biggest challenges in your journey so far?

Never felt like that, I’ve always felt like I’ve had a place.

How has your background shaped your experience in engineering?

Non traditional, was going to do economics before I switched!

What would you tell your younger self?

Embrace it as you've got a lot to look forward to.

Can you describe an example of inclusive teaching in engineering that you think worked well?

Peter J Thomas, best lecturer there is!

What would an engineering environment look like where people could fully thrive?

Diverse, inclusive, challenging.

In one sentence: What does engineering mean to you?

Making cool stuff.

What has been one of the biggest challenges in your journey so far?

Managing my time between my course and jobs.

How has your background shaped your experience in engineering?

I used to code and tinker with electronics a lot back in secondary school and worked with 3D printers which made it easier to familiarise myself with a lot of engineering stuff.

Can you describe an example of a great thing you have been involved with?

I would say student led projects like Warwick Racing, Moto etc are a really good way to learn, you work in a team and none of it is assessed so its fully driven by passion and interest

What would you tell your younger self?

Lock in!

In one sentence: What does engineering mean to you?

Being innovative and solving problems by creating efficient solutions.

Was there a specific moment when you realised engineering was for you?

I really enjoyed solving problems that had to do with maths and physics and I found enjoyment in working on projects

What has been one of the biggest challenges in your journey so far?

Biggest challenge was when I started engineering and I wasn’t sure how to use any of the new software they needed us to use and a lot of other people knew how to use those software but later I was able to continue practicing and asked questions which helped me push through.

What advice would you give to someone considering engineering?

Engineering is a very complex subject and there might be times where you get stuck and confused so do not be afraid to ask questions since that’s how you learn.

What would an engineering environment look like where people could fully thrive?

Students helping each other and sharing ideas to create solutions to problems.