In 2016, the project engaged with over 101,000 schoolchildren directly (excluding online) while more than 20,000 in the UK have benefited thanks to education toolkits delivered by Bloodhound ambassadors.
The message has gone worldwide too, as the project makes good on its aim ‘to inspire the next generation about science, technology, engineering and mathematics’.
In 2013, access to free Bloodhound curriculum-based materials became easier when information was made available on the web platform, Dendrite.
The materials can be accessed by ambassadors and educators and, in 2015, the project initiated the UK-wide model rocket car challenge programme ‘Race for the Line’ (using Dendrite).
The challenge enabled ambassadors from across the UK to get involved as regional heats take place prior to summer finals, with 10,000 teams from 550 secondary schools taking part.
Summary of 2016 activity:
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In-school workshop activities: 37,416 Students
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Bloodhound Ambassador activity (incl. IMechE): 40,000 Students
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Race for the Line rocket cars: 24,080 Students
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Total delivered: 101,496 Students
Crucially, Bloodhound has not only had a positive impact at school level but also in higher education. Founding sponsors Swansea University and the University of the West of England (UWE) have invested a great deal into bringing the project to life at their respective institutions.
Swansea previously contributed to the current land speed record holder, Thrust SSC, by working on the aerodynamic design of the car.
Building on the success with Thrust SSC, they are now working on Bloodhound’s aerodynamics and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) research.
Dr Ben Evans, in the Zienkiewicz Centre for Computational Engineering, has been part of this adventure and developed CFD models of the aerodynamic flows that Bloodhound will experience to help shape the vehicle design.
This research has already influenced significant design aspects of Bloodhound including the front wheel configuration, the shape of the nose, the jet engine intake shaping, rear wheel fairings, as well as wing shape and size.
Figures show 15% of Swansea’s students can be attributed to the involvement in the project, giving them invaluable engineering experience.
What has become remarkably apparent is the number of engineering applications submitted since the project’s launch in 2008. Engineering applications saw a 150% increase from 1,871/yr to 4,889/yr. Aerospace engineering applications increased from 166/yr to 760/yr, seeing a considerable 350% growth.
Similarly, at UWE they have doubled the number of students studying engineering since 2008. Student numbers in aerospace and engineering alone have risen 106% from 530 to 1,094. Applications continue to increase particularly in aerospace and mechanical engineering from 1,531 to 2,609, up 70%. The university has seen that almost all engineering graduates have been employed in professional engineering jobs in the region, addressing the skills shortages felt by Airbus, GKN and GE.
Bloodhound established a base at UWE very early on in the project for design work and access to UWE resources. UWE’s involvement is not only to provide resources and knowledge to the project but they see it as an ideal way of creating opportunities for their staff and students to being part of an inspirational engineering project.