The Royal Academy of Engineering has announced 16 new Ingenious grants for public engagement projects designed to inspire the next generation of engineers. The programme started in 2007 and is funded by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology to support grants of up to £30,000.
The newly funded projects will engage communities throughout the UK to help reach underrepresented audiences and change perceptions of engineering. The programme provides engineers with training and encouragement to share their stories and engineering expertise with the public.
This year's projects focus on topics from girls’ robotics and electrical engineering challenges to comics and engineering:
Girls’ Robotics Challenge is the UK’s first robotics competition for girls, focused on space-themed engineering tasks. This project, led by King's College London, will work with students in Years 8–11 to build robots, develop skills in coding, design thinking and teamwork, and gain a sense of belonging in engineering.
Comics and Engineering: the art and science of flood defence is a project that brings together Comics Youth CIC and flood engineers from the UK Environment Agency to foster resilience and connection between Merseyside communities and flood engineers.
Many projects are aiming to introduce young people to energy and sustainability, including Black STEAM Goes Green, which will transform the annual Black STEAM celebration into a green engineering and sustainability-themed festival. the project brings together artists, engineers, scientists, and activists to co-create interactive, sustainability-themed experiences designed to inspire curiosity across all ages.
Turbine Taskforce - uniting society and sustainability will equip engineers with creative public engagement skills to inspire the next generation, focusing on wind energy and sustainability. The project targets underrepresented groups in Scotland’s most deprived areas, engaging S1–S3 students and local communities.
Terri's time travelling engineering adventure will engage engineers and over 200 Year 6 pupils from inner-city Manchester schools through an immersive theatrical adventure. Children will solve electrical engineering challenges alongside a time-travelling heroine, “Engineer Terri,” who will help them learn about resilience, problem-solving, and the value of their own ideas.
Ingenious Panel Chair Pete Lomas FREng commented:
“With critical skills shortages in engineering, it is vital that we signpost the opportunities that exist and encourage young people to consider a career in one of the diverse range of engineering disciplines that exist.
“The old adage ‘You cannot be what you cannot see’ still rings true, and the opportunity for children and the general public to meet real engineers is hugely important. It builds understanding, trust and provides the opportunity to ask pertinent questions.
“In addition to the outreach activities that the awardees have proposed, they also undertake engineer training in public outreach to develop the skills necessary to effectively communicate their work and promote engineering in general. Something that is rarely taught in other settings.
“Congratulations to all our 2025 awardees. I’m looking forward to following their activities and the impact they will have on their participants and the engineers alike.”
Terri's time travelling engineering adventure will engage engineers and over 200 Year 6 pupils from inner-city Manchester schools through an immersive theatrical adventure.
The full list of funded Ingenious projects 2025
National/multicentre
Superconductors Inc: An educational event game for schools
Superconductors Inc, led by the University of Oxford, is an immersive, hands-on game set in the world of the superconductor industry, where teams of Key Stage 3 pupils can compete to run the most successful start-up. Designed to inspire students before GCSE choices, the three-hour game involves buying, processing, and selling materials for profit, with bite-sized educational content throughout. Following a successful pilot, a 2025/2026 national tour will bring the game to schools across the UK. The project also includes follow-up workshops and will train engineering students and postdocs in public engagement, while reaching underrepresented groups in STEM and promoting engineering careers.
Mapping the future of materials science and engineering
Led by the University of Birmingham, this project aims to upskill early career engineers from the Discover Materials Ambassador network in digital and visual communication to inspire the next generation of materials engineers. Engineers will engage with 11–14-year-old school pupils to understand their perception of materials science and engineering, co-creating a graphical illustration of this exciting field of engineering and developing videos and curriculum-linked resources. These will be showcased at outreach events, including the Cheltenham Science Festival and made freely available online. This project will upskill these Engineers, inspire the next generation, and leave a legacy of public engagement and reusable teaching materials.
Making waves in engineering
The University of Edinburgh’s School of Engineering aims to develop a remote lab activity to support teachers, deliver STEM outreach in high schools across the UK, and bring young people and their teachers to campus and train engineers in public engagement. Six local schools will visit the university campus to design and test their own projects on wave behaviour, while 20 others will access the same experiment remotely in real-time using online infrastructure. Aimed at students aged 14–16, the activity aligns with national physics curricula across the UK and includes a gamified interface. It addresses equipment gaps in schools, supports non-specialist teachers with free curriculum-linked lessons, and includes career videos to ensure equal engagement opportunities for all participants.
Wales
Oriel Science Flow Lab
The Oriel Science Flow Lab, in collaboration with Swansea University’s Complex Fluids Research Group, is an engineering outreach project aimed at mentoring engineers from South Wales, and together will develop fun, interactive activities showcasing engineering concepts in fluids and granular materials, such as Oobleck, elastic fluids, and water-repellent sand. These hands-on activities will be delivered in schools and public outreach events. The project aims to engage the public, inspire students, and provide engineers with valuable mentoring experiences, while addressing under-representation in STEM and enhancing future educational and career paths.
Northern Ireland
Catalyzing industry education collaboration in the North West of Ireland
GEMX is an industry-led network promoting the engineering and manufacturing sector in Northwest Ireland, involving 34 companies producing products from sausage rolls to circuit boards. It engages engineers, technicians, and operators across multiple disciplines and fosters collaboration between industry and education. This Ingenious project aims to enhance engineering’s image, build a talent pipeline, and boost innovation, positioning the region as a centre of excellence. GEMX supports apprenticeships, curriculum enhancement, and school partnerships to raise awareness of career pathways, promote inclusivity, and highlight local training and job opportunities.
Scotland
Turbine Taskforce - uniting society and sustainability
Turbine Taskforce aims to equip engineers with creative public engagement skills to inspire the next generation, focusing on wind energy and sustainability. The project targets underrepresented groups in Scotland’s most deprived areas, engaging S1–S3 students and local communities through interactive, competition-based events at National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NMIS) and community centres. Activities promote creativity, teamwork, and awareness of the circular economy, encouraging early interest in engineering and renewable energy careers. The initiative also addresses diversity and skills shortages in the sector, offering long-term benefits for communities and the engineering workforce.
North East
Lumiere Bright Ideas - The hidden engineering behind light art
Lumiere, the UK’s light art biennial produced by Artichoke in County Durham, has welcomed 1.3 million visitors and engaged 14,600 local people in Learning & Participation since 2009. Ahead of Lumiere 2025, Artichoke will work with Durham-based international technology group Kromek and Durham University's Science Engagement Team to launch Bright Ideas, a programme designed to raise awareness of the hidden engineering behind Lumiere. Students from local secondary school Durham Academy will collaborate with an artist and a Kromek engineer on a science-themed light artwork. Through workshops, talks and training, the project aims to inspire young people in STEM and build public engagement skills among industry engineers and Durham University Engineering students, with the artwork featured at Lumiere from 13-15 November 2025.
North West
Your miniature green house
The built environment contributes 40% of the UK’s carbon footprint, with 80% of 2050’s housing stock already built. This project introduces Year 5 pupils in Salford and Blackburn to sustainable development and green engineering, focusing on retrofitting and eco-friendly construction. Engineering ambassadors will teach pupils about decarbonisation, emission-reduction technologies, and energy efficiency. Pupils will design and build miniature eco-homes that include retrofitting, renewables and biodiversity preservation. A visit to Energy House 2.0 at the University of Salford will showcase cutting-edge green building research and inspire pupils to pursue careers in sustainable construction and engineering.
Comics and Engineering: the art and science of flood defence
Comics & Engineering: The art and science of flood defence is a one-year project that brings together Comics Youth CIC and flood engineers from the UK Environment Agency to foster resilience and connection between Merseyside communities and flood engineers. Led by young adults (16-25), the project will feature workshops, field trips, and training focused on flood defence, climate anxiety, and community engagement. It aims to improve understanding and trust, using comics to explore flood defence history and future. Outputs include a nationally shared comic book and resources for both engineers and young people in flood risk areas.
Terri's time travelling engineering adventure
Terri’s Time Travelling Engineering Adventure is a creative collaboration between award-winning STEM theatre company One Tenth Human and the Association of Black and Minority Ethnic Engineers (AFBE-UK), supported by Z-arts, Manchester’s creative centre for children and families. The project will engage engineers and over 200 Year 6 pupils from inner-city Manchester schools through an immersive theatrical adventure. Children will solve electrical engineering challenges alongside a time-travelling heroine, “Engineer Terri,” who will help them learn about resilience, problem-solving, and the value of their own ideas. Engineers will receive training in storytelling and video performance, creating lasting resources. The project aims to inspire diverse young engineers while maximising the reach and impact of underrepresented engineering role models.
West Midlands
Black STEAM Goes Green!
The annual Black STEAM celebration returns with an ingenious 'green' twist. Black STEAM Goes Green! will be a dynamic, multi-generational festival of science, culture, and environmental action. Produced by BLAST Fest and hosted by Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum for Black History Month, the project brings together artists, engineers, scientists, and activists to co-create interactive, sustainability-themed experiences designed to inspire curiosity across all ages. Through hands-on STEM activities, creative demonstrations, and live science busking, and as the day turns to evening, the Black STEAM Showcase will spotlight autobiographical talks from Black engineers, sharing personal stories that connect childhood curiosity with careers in environmental impact and innovation.
Water Bot robotic sculptures and sustainable energy
Water Bots, led by immersive arts organisation Birmingham Open Media (BOM) in collaboration with Tyseley Energy Park, Birmingham Energy Institute and the Canal & River Trust, is a public engagement programme celebrating the West Midlands’ engineering innovation, from steam to sustainable energy, through performances and workshops along canals in Tyseley and Sandwell & Dudley. The project engages six engineers and international artist Michael Candy to deliver spectacular public events and workshops for children and young people celebrating waterborne robotic sculptures. The STEAM schools programme will engage underserved young people in the different engineering processes behind the sculptures and give learners opportunities to meet and hear from local engineers about their work and the future of engineering innovation.
East Midlands
STEP Forward
North Nottinghamshire, once a centre for coal mining and electricity generation, is now leading the development of fusion energy in the UK through the Spherical Tokamak for Energy Production (STEP), which aims to build the UK’s first prototype fusion energy plant, targeting 2040. Led by partners from the UK Atomic Energy Authority, Bassetlaw District Council and Maker{Futures} at the University of Sheffield, the year-long STEP Forward project, starting summer 2025, will work with local engineers, children and young people to collaborate and design a series of engineering based practical projects to engage over 600 primary school children from 20 schools across the region. These resources will become a sustainable resource for use by the project stakeholders and schools as part of a strategic, long-term approach to skills development for the region.
London and South East
Tech for change: Empowering girls through sustainable engineering
Tech for Change, led by Girls Into Coding, aims to inspire and educate 150 girls aged 10–14 from London, including those from disadvantaged backgrounds, SEN students, and minority ethnic groups about engineering and environmental issues through hands-on activities. Engineers will co-design and lead interactive, sustainability-focused workshops, gaining public engagement skills by shadowing experienced mentors. These workshops will launch alongside existing Girls Into Coding activities across five events, featuring projects like building and programming robots. Differentiated resources and one-to-one support will ensure inclusivity, empowering girls while enhancing engineers’ confidence and ability to engage diverse audiences.
Girls Robotics Challenge: Space to explore
The Girls Robotics Challenge, led by King's College London, is the UK’s first robotics competition for girls, focused on space-themed engineering tasks. Aimed at girls and non-binary students in Years 8–11, particularly from disadvantaged, state-funded schools, the project supports those at risk of disengaging from STEM. Participants will build robots, develop skills in coding, design thinking and teamwork, and gain a sense of belonging in engineering. Engineers and teachers will receive training in public engagement, while students will be supported by mentors and ambassadors. The programme will include three events at King's College London, with resources shared nationally to inspire wider participation.
Airships XR – inspiring Bedford’s aviation engineers of the future
Airships XR, led by Bedford Creative Arts (BCA), will use Bedford’s aviation heritage, particularly its airship history, to inspire young people and families from diverse backgrounds to explore engineering careers in aviation. Partnering Hyperactive Developments, aviation engineers, and museum curators, the project will create immersive XR (extended reality) experiences. These will highlight Bedford's role in aviation innovation, showcasing technologies like airships and wind tunnels. Local students will co-create the experiences, which include VR gallery walks, AR trials, and immersive films. The project aims to educate, excite, and connect young people with Bedford’s aviation legacy and future opportunities.
Notes for editors
Ingenious is a grants scheme, run by the Royal Academy of Engineering, for projects that engage the public with engineers and engineering. The scheme is supported by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. The Ingenious programme aims to:
- inspire creative public engagement with engineering projects
- motivate engineers to share their stories, passion and expertise with wider audiences and develop their communication and engagement skills
- raise awareness of the diversity, nature and impact of engineering among people of all ages and backgrounds
- provide opportunities for engineers to engage with members of the public from groups currently underrepresented in engineering.
Ingenious has funded more than 330 projects to date, providing opportunities for over 10,000 engineers to take part in public engagement activities, to gain skills in communication and to help bring engineering to the very centre of society. Ingenious projects have reached nearly 4 million members of the public.
The Royal Academy of Engineering creates and leads a community of outstanding experts and innovators to engineer better lives. As a charity and a Fellowship, we deliver public benefit from excellence in engineering and technology and convene leading businesspeople, entrepreneurs, innovators and academics across engineering and technology. As a National Academy, we provide leadership for engineering and technology, and independent, expert advice to policymakers in the UK and beyond.