Local teens turbocharge their STEM skills by building and racing toy EVs at Surrey Summer School

As part of the University of Surrey’s award-winning Surrey Scholars programme, colleagues within the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences delivered a workshop, where participants spent the morning assembling their own electric cars from kits, learning key engineering skills and testing their teamwork, creativity and problem-solving abilities before putting their cars to the test on the track. The kits were designed and prepared by Surrey’s engineering technicians, who not only sourced the materials but also assisted in running the workshops. 

The impact of Surrey’s summer outreach programme extends well beyond the holidays. One such example is Jaime Chatfield, who took part in several of the University’s Summer Schools while a student at Kings College secondary school in Guildford. The varying activities sparked her passion for practical problem-solving and gave her the confidence to pursue a path she hadn’t previously considered. She is now completing an apprenticeship in the University’s Engineering Centre – an opportunity made possible by her early experience on the programme. 

Jaime has now come full circle, supporting the same outreach programmes that once inspired her. The University of Surrey’s Widening Participation and Success Team delivers many outreach initiatives, including summer schools, throughout the year that showcase and celebrate the subjects students can learn across higher education and at the University of Surrey specifically.