Event to inspire future engineers
INSPIRING young people to choose agricultural engineering is the theme of a free careers forum to be held at Harper Adams University next term.
‘Worldwide opportunities in engineering for agriculture’ is being organised by Harper Adams in conjunction with the Douglas Bomford Trust and the Institution of Agricultural Engineers (IAgrE).
The event, scheduled for November 7, is designed to inspire and encourage the next generation of engineers to play a key role in agriculture and food production. Among the speakers will be former Chief Scientist, Sir John Beddington, who commissioned the Foresight Report ‘Global Food and Farming Futures’.
Head of Engineering at Harper Adams University, Professor Simon Blackmore, said: “Harper Adams is the only higher education institution in the UK to offer agricultural engineering at degree level.
“Therefore we are delighted to be working with the Douglas Bomford Trust and the Institution of Agricultural Engineers to showcase what the industry has to offer in terms of careers and prospects.”
During the event, presentations will be given by representatives from companies such as AGCO, and academics from Cranfield University, Harper Adams and the South China Agricultural University.
Technical demonstrations of robotics and autonomous vehicles; high-speed tractor design; and precision agriculture and livestock management, have also been scheduled.
Key employers from the sector such as John Deere, JCB and CLAAS will be speaking to delegates, with interactive debate and discussion encouraged, to illustrate why agricultural engineering can prove an exciting career choice.
Professor Paul Miller, secretary of the Douglas Bomford Trust, said: “In the UK, engineering and agriculture have been under-played and, together, are not seen as attractive or of sufficient value to received adequate investment.
“This event aims to present the opportunities, challenges and rewards that will attract, motivate and inspire the future generation of agricultural engineering professionals.”
The Douglas Bomford Lecture Theatre, which is part of a new £2.93m Agricultural Engineering Innovation Centre at Harper Adams University, will also be formally named at the event. The facility will supplement existing academic resources and provide a physical base around which university/industry collaboration can take place. For more details on the Forum and how to sign up please go to http://www.dbt.org.uk/dbtforum
ENDS
Janine M Heath
Press Office
Harper Adams University
01952 815428
Harper Adams University is the UK's leading specialist provider of higher education for the rural and land-based industries. Our mission is to deliver higher education and research for the delivery of a sustainable food chain and rural economy. To see how Harper Adams can help you, visit www.harper-adams.ac.uk
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