From a young age, Pete had a passion for making things, which showed a clear path to arts or engineering. Traditional schooling was not what Pete wanted, so he departed at the earliest opportunity to a technical college. There, it was an engineer’s enthusiasm that opened his eyes to an opportunity in computing, shaping his career path.
Reflecting on this experience years later Pete said, “I felt it was important to pay it forward and provide similar opportunities for young people.” Building a career in computer engineering and electronics, Pete got involved with a small project in Cambridge focused on physical computing, where he offered his background in the design and manufacturing of the hardware. Recognising the wider potential of this project, they established the Raspberry Pi Foundation to engage a wider audience in computing and electronics.
Manchester Raspberry Jam Session - problem solving on a Scratch application
From Raspberry Pi to the Royal Academy of Engineering
Raspberry Pi, winners of the 2017 MacRobert Award, pose for a photo
The journey continued when Raspberry Pi won the MacRobert Award in 2017, introducing Pete to the work of the Royal Academy of Engineering. This connection led to him becoming an Academy fellow and the opportunity to serve on the Academy External Affairs Committee, with one strand of this important outreach work being the Ingenious programme.
"Engaging the general public and policymakers in the societal role of engineering is hugely important," he says, "but Ingenious felt special, so when I was offered a panel role, I jumped at it, shortly followed by being offered the Chair role."
Shaping the Future of Engineering
Public engagement plays a key role in shaping the future of engineering. Many people are unaware of the extent to which engineering impacts their lives, so it is vital to make engineering visible and demonstrate its significance in everyday life. “Unfortunately, it is not just young people we need to convince," Pete notes. "I often pose the question, ‘Can you find something in this room that hasn’t been engineered in some way?’ Sadly, this is often greeted with total bemusement, followed by shock that almost everything has been touched by engineering skill.”
“In general, I find that engineers being asked to stand up and talk about what they do in simple language is a bit of an ‘ooh not sure’ moment. It is certainly out of many engineers' comfort zone.” He continues,” They would much rather dig in and solve some tricky engineering problem.” This is why the public engagement training element of Ingenious is core to the programme, giving engineers the confidence and guidance they need to speak about their work and enjoy the overall experience.
Getting Started Workshop - Your first program on Raspberry Pi
Diversity of Ingenious Projects
Discussing inspiring public engagement projects, Pete highlights the incredible diversity of the Ingenious projects and the panel's unenviable task of choosing the projects to fund with a limited budget. Each project, unique in its approach and subject matter, brings something inspiring to the table.
“If you are fortunate enough to visit or participate in an engaging outreach project with children, then the atmosphere is electric," he shares. "I have to admit it charges my ‘outreach batteries’ every time, and I leave with a wide smile along with many of the participants and volunteers.”
Advice for Future Ingenious Projects
For those interested in applying for Ingenious or starting their public engagement projects, Pete offers some key pieces of advice:
- Know Your Audience: Understand who you are trying to reach and what you want them to take away from the experience.
- Engage Effectively: Consider how to make your project engaging and how to captivate your target audience’s interest.
- Plan Your Delivery: Think about both direct and indirect reach, including the use of social media to extend your impact. This includes recruiting engineers to help with the project and providing them with the skills.
- Apply: Don’t hesitate to submit your project. Even simple engineering projects can have tremendous engagement potential.
A Vision for the Future
Diversity is crucial for the future of engineering, and expanding the reach of Ingenious is a key goal during his tenure as Chair. “We have some exciting changes in the pipeline to further enhance the outreach opportunities of the Ingenious Awards.” He concluded, “I want to encourage more applicants to apply. Diversity in all its forms is critical to the future of engineering, so reaching under-represented groups and regions is a key goal for me.”
If you would like to speak to a member of the public engagement team, please email: [email protected]