Teens Build Bots and Dreams at NMITE's Robotics Taster Days

In Hereford, a group of 80 teenagers aged 14 to 18 took part in a special event at the New Model Institute for Technology and Engineering, also known as NMITE. The university organized free robotics taster days, where students were given the challenge of building a robot from loose parts. They had to follow instructions, use tools like screwdrivers, and connect different components to create a working robot. For many of the students, this was their first time working with robotics or coding. Magnus, a 15-year-old participant, said he found the experience fascinating. He enjoyed figuring out how all the pieces fit together and was proud to see the robot come to life after following the instructions.

Robotics is not usually taught in schools, so most of the teenagers were new to the technology. James Newby, the chief executive of NMITE, explained that building a robot requires many different skills. Students need to understand mechanical engineering, electronics, sensors, and coding. By the end of the day, every student had managed to build a robot, which was a big achievement. Newby said that these taster days are an important way to introduce young people to engineering, especially as there are plans to change the school curriculum in the future. He believes that hands-on experiences like this can help students discover new interests and talents.

During the event, some NMITE students volunteered to help the teenagers. Will Gough, a third-year engineering student, said he thinks it is important for young people to try real, hands-on activities instead of just listening to lectures. He believes that interactive learning is more engaging and can inspire students to think about careers in engineering. Jasmine Smith, another student helper, leads a drone team at the university. She said she saw many happy students at the end of the day and wished she had similar opportunities when she was younger. The university hopes that by offering these sessions, they can encourage more young people to consider studying engineering and technology in the future.