If You Were An Engineer

It’s no secret that historically fewer women have taken up STEM subjects such as maths, physics and engineering - but former Miss England and Miss World Europe Jessica Gagen has made it her mission to inspire more young girls to pursue a career in science.

Hear how she juggles her own career as an aerospace engineer with her work as a pageant queen, why she’s keen to show young girls they can do it all, and how she’s hoping to become the first beauty queen to make it to space!

Emily’s super seed spreader - the Germinator - is our prototype of the week. We hear from Tim Woolman from the University of Southampton who’s been working on the idea for the If You Were An Engineer competition. 

And thanks to young Tommy for sharing his engineering idea with us.

Get in touch:

Email: [email protected]

X: https://x.com/Leadersaward

Website: www.leadersaward.com/podcasts

Your host is Ollie Guillou.

Kites: A toy consisting of a light frame with thin material stretched over it, flown in the wind at the end of a long string. That’s what most of us think of when we hear the word ‘kite’ - but what if it could conjure up images of an egg that transforms into a massive flying dragon puppet.

Carl Robertshaw explains how he’s changed the way we not only think about kites, but how we use them in theatre, art, architecture and fashion. He shares some of the highlights from his career as a multi kite flying champion who now works on huge events like the Superbowl. Plus, we hear how some of his kites have even made it into space!

Dr Jonathan Browning and Dr Siofra Frost from the School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Queen's University Belfast tell us about the prototype they’ve been working on for the If You Were An Engineer competition - a moving solar panel. 

And thanks to young Cara for sharing her engineering idea with us.

Get in touch:

Email: [email protected]

X: https://x.com/Leadersaward

Website: www.leadersaward.com/podcasts

Your host is Ollie Guillou.

As it continues to beam back incredible images of the universe, it’s clear the James Webb Telescope is revolutionising our understanding of the cosmos. But there’s still so much more to see, so it’s integral it keeps on running for years to come. That’s where Elysia Starr and her team come in. Elysia is the Fault Management Lead for the JWST. In this episode she tells us what’s involved in maintaining the Webb, she tells us about some of the most innovative tech that’s gone into the creation of the telescope, and she explains what excites her most about the project.

James Joseph from the School of Science and Engineering at the University of Dundee tells us about the prototype his team has been working on for the If You Were An Engineer competition - Bianca’s sunlight machine.

Thanks to Zach and Megan from Sacred Heart Primary School in Bellshill in Scotland for sharing their engineering ideas with us.

And if you have an answer to any of our problems from the series send your thoughts to [email protected] or comment on Twitter @Leadersaward.
Your host is Ollie Guillou. Head over to our website www.leadersaward.com/podcasts to access loads of bonus and behind the scenes content.

Forensic collision investigator Ross Beesley is basically the Sherlock Holmes of car accidents – an expert in spotting unusual signs and figuring out how an accident happened. In this episode he tells us about the skills and techniques he uses to get to the bottom of a case, he explains some of the more unusual signs that can clue you into what’s happened, and he explains how he uses computer simulations in his work.

Patricia Ashman from Coventry University tells us about a proto-type she worked on for the If You Were An Engineer competition called the Wheelchair Swing.

Thanks to Shay and Mia from Sacred Heart Primary School in Bellshill in Scotland for sharing their engineering ideas with us.

And if you have an answer to our problem send your thoughts to [email protected] or comment on Twitter @Leadersaward. This week, Ollie Folayan wants you to figure out a way of feeding Isaac’s fish twice a day, every day, while he’s away from home.

Your host is Ollie Guillou. Head over to our website www.leadersaward.com/podcasts to access loads of bonus and behind the scenes content.

Whether it’s hunting for pirates by launching missions into space, or expressing herself through martial arts, Naziyah Mahmood’s passion knows no bounds. As an astrophysicist, aerospace engineer, equalities expert and so much more, Naziyah has a lot of advice to give. She shares the fascinating story of her life and career.

Spencer and Sam from Edge Hill university tell us about a design they’re working on for the If You Were An Engineer competition - Leonardo’s Anti-Waste Fridge.

Thanks to Chloe and Connor from Victoria Junior School in Cumbria for sharing their engineering ideas with us.

And if you have an answer to our problem send your thoughts to [email protected] or comment on Twitter @Leadersaward. This week it comes from Patricia Ashman: Can you create a device that will allow Patricia to collect waste from the river on her paddleboard, without having to constantly bend down?

Your host is Ollie Guillou. Head over to our website www.leadersaward.com/podcasts to access loads of bonus and behind the scenes content.

Although his love of chemical engineering was initially inspired by the work of an evil genius, Ollie Folayan’s values have certainly changed since. Ollie is a chemical engineer and Head of Process at Optimus Plus in Aberdeen. Not only does he tell us just how impactful the work of a chemical engineer is, he also discusses his role as the founder of the Association for Black Engineers.

Patricia Ashman, associate head of future transport engineering at Coventry University, tells us about a prototype she worked on for the If You Were An Engineer competition called the self-stirring coffee mug.

Thanks to Ellie and Isabella from Victoria Junior School in Cumbria for sharing their engineering ideas with us.

And if you have an answer to our problem send your thoughts to [email protected] or comment on Twitter @Leadersaward. This week it comes from Keith Scobie-Youngs from The Cumbria Clock Company: How can we make a mechanical clock that doesn’t need lubrication, so it never wears out?

Your host is Ollie Guillou. Head over to our website www.leadersaward.com/podcasts to access loads of bonus and behind the scenes content.

“By 2030, 85% of the jobs we will do are unknown today”. Alice Bunn, CEO of the Institution for Mechanical Engineers shares this fact, as she tells us about the importance of lifelong learning, and how IMechE aims to improve the world through engineering. Alice also talks about her unlikely and unplanned career in the space industry - which has been going for 20 years now!

Elsie’s super-charged wheelchair, the ‘Roller Rider’ is under the spotlight this week. Peter Marshall is leading Anglia Ruskin University’s prototype team that’ll be turning Elsie’s idea into reality. He tells us about the design and why he instantly fell in love with it.

Thanks to Elena and Erin from Ballymena Academy who shared their engineering idea with us.

And if you have an answer to our problem send your thoughts to [email protected] or comment on Twitter @Leadersaward. This week it comes from Bruce from Howden Compressors: “Whilst we are drilling, we’ve had problems with the drills overheating and breaking. What can we do to stop this happening?”

Your host is Ollie Guillou. Head over to our website www.leadersaward.com/podcasts to access loads of bonus and behind the scenes content.

A special episode of the podcast recorded at the Royal International Air Tattoo 2022, at RAF Fairford.

As aircraft soar overhead a busy Techno Zone and Inspire Stage, we hear from many of the exhibitors who pitched up for the event, including ejector seat manufacturers Martin Baker, the aerospace division of Rolls Royce, and a glider pilot whose hobby sounds both frightening and incredible in equal measure.

We also meet Justine Morton OBE, Director of the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust, who gives us a glimpse into the history of RIAT, and tells us about her fascinating career path.

Mark and George from the Civil Aviation Authority join the mix, before we chat to Haydn Jakes who was awarded an MBE for his achievements as an aircraft engineering apprentice.

In keeping with the rest of the series, we hear from some of the university teams tasked with turning the winning ideas from the ‘If You Were An Engineer’ competition into working prototypes. We’re joined by Andrew Firth from Edinburgh University, and Tim Woolman from the University of Southampton.

And, as always, we share the engineering ideas of children - this time with thanks to the Brownies.

If you have an answer to our problem send your thoughts to [email protected] or comment on Twitter @Leadersaward. This week it comes from George at the Civil Aviation Authority: “How can we reduce the noise footprint, both in the aircraft and outside of the aircraft, especially for the people on the ground?”

Your host is Ollie Guillou. Head over to our website www.leadersaward.com/podcasts to access loads of bonus and behind the scenes content.

A Primary Engineer Production with the support of the RAFCT.

We’ve all marvelled at the images of deep space and distant galaxies, but what did it take to get the James Webb Space Telescope into orbit? One man who can answer that question better than any other is Carl Starr, who up until recently was the Mission Operations Manager for the JWST. In this episode he explains what it was like building the team in the early days of the telescope’s design process. He tells us about the emotionally charged moment when the telescope first beamed back blobs of light. And he explains why he’s left the project now to work for Millennium Space Systems.

Alice’s Magic Cover is our prototype of the week. Simple but genius, this piece of kit is a reusable way of covering a child’s earrings up during PE lessons or while they sleep. We hear from Anne Nortcliffe from Canterbury Christ Church University.

Thanks to the children from Lisnasharragh primary school in Northern Ireland, who shared their engineering ideas with us.

And if you have an answer to our problem send your thoughts to [email protected] or comment on Twitter @Leadersaward. This week it comes from Andrew from National Grid: “How can we regenerate nature after construction work finishes?”

Your host is Ollie Guillou. Head over to our website www.leadersaward.com/podcasts to access loads of bonus and behind the scenes content.

Not only is he an aerospace engineer for Rolls Royce, Andrew Smyth is also a bakineer - first of his kind! Bringing together his passions for both engineering and baking, Andrew coined the term, and is now on a mission to create cakes that are both delicious and fully functional. In this episode he explains how the two worlds are actually linked more closely than you’d realise, he tells us about the incredible creations that have come out of his Netflix series Baking Impossible, and he shares his experience baking a rotating cake for Prince William.

Francesca’s Unicorn Health Bot is the prototype star of this week. As the name suggests, it looks like a unicorn, but it also serves an important function in hospitals, monitoring the vital signals of young patients. We hear from Francesca, and from proto-type team member David Knapton from The University of Sunderland.

Thanks to the children from Homefield Prep and St Mary’s College in Derry, who shared their engineering ideas with us.

And if you have an answer to our problem send your thoughts to [email protected] or comment on Twitter @Leadersaward. This week it comes from Carl Starr, from Millennium Space Systems: “How can we make bread in space?”

Your host is Ollie Guillou. Head over to our website www.leadersaward.com/podcasts to access loads of bonus and behind the scenes content.