10:00am-4:00pm on Saturday 23 March
Times shown are in GMT (UTC +0) up to the 26th March. For events on or after 27th March times are in BST (UTC +1).
Department of Engineering, James Dyson Building, Seminar Room & Teaching Room Trumpington Street, CB2 1PZ
Did you know that the construction and building sector accounts for 34% of carbon dioxide emissions?
Would you like to learn how to build infrastructure that can help to tackle the climate change challenge? Come and take part in an exciting activity that will allow you to explore how nature-inspired solutions can help us design towards sustainable and resilient bridges and buildings.
As the newly recruited engineer, you will be tasked to:
1. Use wooden pieces and string to create a suspension bridge that makes efficient use of the materials. The tensioned strings will hold up the bridge, just as each thread does in a spider’s web.
2. In line with achieving net zero targets, reuse the same wooden pieces to create robust buildings. The underground supports will anchor the building in place, just as a tree’s roots prevent it from toppling over.
Through this activity, you will discover how biomimicry, the practice of emulating nature’s strategies, can inspire sustainable and resilient structures. This approach follows the trends of future infrastructure: building with fewer materials to reduce carbon emissions, and building structures that can withstand natural disasters.
Apply your creativity and problem-solving skills to the task. Our activity is open to anyone who is interested in engineering, architecture and environmental sciences.
Don’t miss this chance of fun and excitement, as you learn about the wonderful world of resilient infrastructure.
See you there!
