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Department of Engineering

Time to engineer some happiness

Time to engineer some happiness

The civil engineers behind some of the capital’s most iconic infrastructure projects have put on their dancing shoes, to show the public – especially young people - how happy they are to be engineers and the diverse and fun careers on offer through choosing maths and science subjects at school.

The challenges our industry faces are well rehearsed, and we can’t change things overnight, but we can all help to challenge perceptions and be ambassadors for our own profession

Miranda Housden, Director, Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) London

The engineers are filmed dancing to the catchy hit single “Happy” by American singer and producer Pharrell Williams, which has reached number one in more than a dozen countries and caught the imagination of billions.

The uplifting song has also spawned a huge number of internet covers - from actress Gwyneth Paltrow who performed her version for the 100th episode of TV show Glee, through to the BBC1 Breakfast team - and it is hoped this special “Engineering Happiness” cover will also go viral showing engineering in a new light to all.

Iconic London infrastructure projects featured in the film include Crossrail, the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, the Thames Tideway Tunnel, the Thames Barrier, London Underground, Walton Bridge, Kings Cross Station and the Hammersmith Flyover.

Some well-known civil engineers and politicians are also spotted dancing in the film including Sir John Armitt, who led the delivery of the London 2012 Olympics venues and infrastructure, ICE’s Director General, Nick Baveystock and Cllr Victoria Borwick AM, Deputy Mayor of London.

Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, commented: “Engineering ingenuity is at the heart of London's prosperity and success. Mega-infrastructure projects such as Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Crossrail and the Thames Tideway Tunnel are set to ensure London remains a world leading city and can cope with a population boom over the next decade. I welcome ICE's imaginative approach to celebrate and promote the huge role engineers play in London and I hope it will encourage more young people to opt for this rewarding career.”

ICE London Director, Miranda Housden, added: “We know many young people – boys and girls alike - enjoy the activities that sit at the heart of engineering – using the latest technology, designing and creating things, learning how things work and solving problems. They also enjoy and excel at maths and science subjects.

“Yet only half of 11-14 year olds would consider a career in engineering, and less than one in ten plans to be an engineer once they finish their education. This is because they don’t know enough about the profession and the exciting and rewarding careers that are in their grasp, and also carry the perception that engineering is uncreative and boring.

“We want to bust that myth, showcasing the awe inspiring projects that civil engineers are delivering in our capital, and importantly, showing who our people really are – creative, smart, diverse teams whose work makes a difference to our lives every single day – protecting us from flooding, getting us to work, ensuring we have clean water and energy, and designing and building magnificent sporting venues like the Olympic Velodrome.

“What better way to do this than a tribute to Pharrell Williams’ ‘Happy’ hit– an upbeat and infectious song that people all over the world can’t stop singing. We encourage everyone to watch and share our “Engineering Happiness” film and help us inspire the next generation of engineers.”

This article originally appeared on the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) website.

This article originally appeared on the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) website. - See more at: http://www.eng.cam.ac.uk/news/time-engineer-some-happiness#sthash.ytUHcSrx.dpuf
This article originally appeared on the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) website. - See more at: http://www.eng.cam.ac.uk/news/time-engineer-some-happiness#sthash.ytUHcSrx.dpuf

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