Engineering Storms the Castles and Cathedrals of England and Wales

For twelve days in May, 27 students travelled to England and Wales with the College of Engineering’s latest engineering abroad program, Engineering Castles and Cathedrals (ENGR 5797.13).  They marveled at cathedrals and minsters and clambered over ramparts and up castle towers.

Designed to educate students about the engineering behind some of the great historic structures of England and Wales, the course began with one week of classroom instruction on campus. During this week, students were acquainted with what to expect in England and Wales, learned about the history and culture of the two closely linked countries, and researched the structures they were assigned.  This last part was key to the program.

Each student was assigned a specific castle, cathedral, minster, abbey, or fort that they were then responsible for presenting to the class.  Once in-country, the intrepid students stood in these great sites and presented their research on the engineering and construction of the magnificent structures they were assigned.  They also discussed the economic, environmental, social, political, and cultural impact these engineering projects had on the land and people they served.

Not only the latest in a series of new international opportunities for engineering students, this course is also a history GEC, allowing students to complete needed GE credit while simultaneously drawing connections to their engineering studies.

Aside from the hands-on encounter with engineering history, students also got to meet local inhabitants, attend a seminar at a Welsh university, and spend a free day exploring London - one of the world’s great cities.

 

And then there was the ice cream and the Marmite …