Ri Engineering Masterclasses 2026

Ri Engineering Masterclass

University of Warwick - 2026

What are the Ri Engineering Masterclasses at Warwick?

Since 2013, WMG at the University of Warwick have invited students to attend engineering masterclasses in partnership with the Royal Institution. 2023 marked the 10 year anniversary of hosting these Masterclasses and we've no intention to stop now.

This Series aims to open the eyes of young people to the excitement, beauty and value of engineering, and in turn, inspire the next generation of scientists, mathematicians and engineers. The Series is delivered by staff and students from WMG. Each masterclass focuses on an aspect of modern engineering and is presented by an engineer actively involved in research or working in industry. The classes take the form of interactive workshop sessions.

How can I get involved?

This Register Interest form can be used to let us know that your child is interested in a place. Please not that this does not guarantee a place.

What does a typical session look like?

Crash Structures

We built crash structures to act as barriers that could absorb an impact, learning about momentum, mechanisms of failure, and impulse. We tested the structures in a giant drop tower that could drop a 15 kg steel plate through a full 2 metres, and it’s not very often that we spend hours making things only to immediately destroy them. The session ran in two cycles – design and build a prototype and then test it, learn from that, and make a final working version that would hopefully protect an egg. 4 of 6 eggs survived the impact.

The challenge to build crash structures on the board.
A structure after being tested.
Just before testing.
An inventive new way to absorb the impacts.
All the structures lined up for testing.
We used an accelerometer to measure the impact force. 7g was measured.
Another crash test.
All the structures at the end of the session - post testing.

When are the Masterclasses?

The dates for the Ri Masterclasses 2026 Series are: Saturday mornings January 24th, January 31st, February 7th, February 28th, March 7th, March 21st. Please note there is a two week break over the February half term, and a gap between session 5 and 6.

What will each Masterclass be about?

The sessions that have provisionally been organised for 2025 are listed below (note there may be some changes to the final plans):

Session Title	Led by	Date
*Crash Structures*	Dr Phil Jemmett	24/01/2026
*Robotic Vehicles*	Dr Phil Jemmett	31/01/2026
Mini-projects	Graduate Trainee Engineers	07/02/2026
*Stitch in Time*	Prof. Margaret Low	28/02/2026
Materials Science	Materials Science Researchers	07/03/2026
Mini-masterclass and celebration event (families welcome)	WMG Outreach	21/03/2026