Students Get Mobile in Cardiff with the Smallpeice Trust

Leamington Spa, United Kingdom, July 14, 2013 --(PR.com)-- From 24th to 27th June, forty teenagers from across the UK had the unique opportunity to explore the engineering behind modern mobile communications.

Organised by educational charity, The Smallpeice Trust and sponsored by Cardiff University, students gained a valuable practical knowledge of the principles, systems and technologies that constitute the expanding world of mobile communications.

During the residential course, students attended lectures by academics, keynote industry speakers and laboratory sessions which were designed to develop their understanding of the subject. Hands-on workshops included an opportunity to build and test a cantenna, and use software to design, develop, explore and prototype communication system components.

As part of the course, students spent a day working with engineers from a leading multi-disciplinary engineering company, General Dynamics UK. Projects included designing and building a communication system made from a piece of fruit to intercept, decipher and encrypt messages.

The social programme included plenty of fun activities including a film night, a trip to the local bowling alley and a formal dinner followed by a quiz on the last evening of the course.

Spokesperson for The Smallpeice Trust, Gemma Murphy commented: “Thanks to continuing sponsorship from Cardiff University, we are delighted to run this course for the third year running. The technologies behind communications are continually advancing and with opportunities like these, students will be able to see how they could help to revolutionise the way in which such technology improves the quality of our lives now and in the future.”

Steve Watts, Cardiff School of Engineering added, “We have an active programme of engagement with tomorrow’s engineers though a number of activities. The Smallpeice Trust’s Mobile Communications summer school allows pupils to attend a residential course that allows them, through industry and university speakers and activities to sample what the industry is about and where it might be going. This allows them to make informed decisions about going to university and about what is contained under the degree titles on offer.”

The Mobile Communications course is run by independent charity, The Smallpeice Trust, and is part of an ongoing programme of residential courses to help young people aged 13 to 18 learn and develop skills in engineering, design, technology and manufacturing. Through running residential courses and STEM enrichment days, The Trust has reached out to 20,353 students across the UK in the past year.

The new course timetable for 2014 will be launched in the autumn school term. Places are allocated on a first come, first served basis. To find out more, visit www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk, or telephone The Smallpeice Trust on 01926 333200.

Notes to editors:

About The Smallpeice Trust:

The Smallpeice Trust is an independent charitable trust which promotes engineering as a career, primarily through the provision of residential courses for young people aged 12 to 18.

The Smallpeice Trust was founded in 1966 by Dr Cosby Smallpeice, a pioneering engineer and inventor of the Smallpeice Lathe. Following the stock market flotation of his company Martonair, Dr Smallpeice invested his energy and part of his personal fortune to set up the Trust to ensure that British industry could continuously benefit from his proven design and engineering philosophies: “Simplicity in design, economy in production.”

The Trust is now governed by an eminent board of non-executive trustees and members from a diverse range of engineering, industry, educational and professional bodies.

In the past academic year, The Smallpeice Trust has reached out to 20,353 young people through 33 different subsidised residential courses, 1-day in-school STEM Days and STEM-in-a-Box kits. The Smallpeice Trust has also trained 913 teachers to enhance their delivery of STEM in the classroom.

A strong interface is maintained with industry, education and professional bodies that help to support, promote and develop the courses. Through these relationships the Trust is also able to provide a number of tailored or specialised courses.
Contact
The Smallpeice Trust:
Gemma Murphy
+44(0)1926 333214
www.smallpeicetrust.org.uk
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