Dedicated and forward-thinking students from Abbey College Cambridge recently organised and delivered a dynamic engineering conference, welcoming students from schools across the region for the eagerly anticipated occasion.
Students from The Leys School, St Bede’s and Landmark International School joined Abbey College Cambridge participants from Year 7 at the Homerton Gardens-based school, forming a vibrant cohort of budding young engineers. From coordinating logistics to presenting, hosting and moderating, Abbey College Cambridge students led every aspect of the event; their chosen theme ‘Engineering the Impossible’, set the tone for an inspiring and ambitious day.
The conference opened with a compelling keynote delivered by Dr Sujit Bhattacharya, who captivated the audience with an insightful exploration of radars, electronics and robotics, sparking ideas and excitement amongst all attendees. Following the keynote, students worked in pairs to design, code and build their own robotic creations, transforming theoretical concepts into hands-on innovation.
Momentum continued to build throughout the afternoon as energetic teams took on an engineering challenge to design, construct and launch their own rockets, run by Abbey College Cambridge’s Science Department. The efforts resulted in several impressive flights, providing a memorable finale to the inspiring event.
Alongside the Science Department, Teacher of Maths Divya Amand, played a key role in helping the Year 10 students to organise and deliver the successful event.
Holly, a Year 10 student at Abbey College Cambridge, commented: “Supporting the Year 7 engineering conference was a great experience. I enjoyed helping students explore new concepts and watching their creativity develop, as they progressed through the activities and challenges. The day taught me a lot about leadership, teamwork, and the importance of encouraging younger students in STEM.”
Year 10 Student Clara added: “I thoroughly enjoyed participating in the conference, particularly because it offered an opportunity to support and inspire the younger Year 7 students who are beginning to explore astrophysics and engineering. As a Year 10 student, I valued the chance to share my developing knowledge and to encourage their curiosity. Engaging with them not only enriched my experience but also reinforced my own enthusiasm.”
Abbey College Cambridge Principal Dr Elena Hesse added: “We are very proud of our dedicated and enthusiastic Year 10 students for delivering such a professional and inspiring event. Engagement was high throughout the conference, and it was truly rewarding to see the teamwork, curiosity and collaboration shared across all schools.
“Our student-led conferences are an important avenue for students to strengthen their critical thinking and leadership skills. Beyond offering a platform for students to demonstrate these abilities, the conferences provide valuable opportunities to collaborate with peers from diverse cultural backgrounds, while exploring global challenges and innovations shaping their future.”
Abbey College Cambridge, based at Homerton Gardens, Cambridge, is renowned for teaching and supporting both UK and international students, in a community that is energised by the love of learning.
The college specialises in helping students from the Cambridge area and across the world achieve the personal, social and academic growth needed for success at the UK’s best universities. It is renowned for academic excellence that stems from its students’ ambition and their academic discipline. Students are guided by high-quality teaching, an engaging enrichment programme and empowering pastoral support.
The campus boasts impressive contemporary facilities including 410 single and 8 twin en-suite student bedrooms with full board facilities, 230-seater dining room, common rooms and social areas, 42 fully equipped classrooms, 12 state-of-the-art science laboratories, two libraries, two Art studios, multi-purpose assembly hall and two dedicated music performance studios.
Categories: Abbey College Cambridge School News
