Engineers learn to spin a yarn

Engineers will soon be learning to tell stories – in a project funded by a Royal Academy of Engineering Ingenious award.

The 'Digital Storytelling' project will train early-career engineers in the art of personal narrative and film-making, capturing the stories and combining audio and still images using new technology.

"By giving the story tellers both the skills and editorial control over production, the participants gain insights into a different approach to communication, different from that traditionally used in engineering," said Professor of Acoustics Engineering at the University of Salford and project leader Trevor Cox.

The Academy today announced 14 awards totalling £355,000 to projects all over the UK to raise engineers’ skills in engaging with people outside their own profession. The successful proposals range from innovative interactive musical events at the science museum to seminars for engineers working in nanotechnology to engage with the ethical issues involved in their work, and to discuss these with public audiences.

The aim of the Ingenious funding programme is to increase society’s access to contemporary engineering, by encouraging today’s engineers to be proactive taking part in public dialogue on engineering and its impact on society.

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