First in Asia: James Dyson Foundation gives engineering education in Singapore a boost with a new and interactive educational resource: the Engineering Box
The James Dyson Foundation – Dyson’s charity – today announced the official launch of the (Engineering Box) in Asia, with Singaporean students being the first in the region to benefit from the initiative. The Engineering Box adds to the Foundation’s existing range of free engineering education resources including the (James Dyson Foundation Challenge Cards) and the (Engineering Solutions: Air Pollution) learning resource.
As part of the Foundation’s ongoing S$3m investment to support design engineering and STEM education in Singapore over the next four years, the Engineering Box will benefit students aged 13 to 16 across secondary levels, exposing them to the world of science and engineering.
Developed by Dyson engineers, secondary students will have the opportunity to unpack the breadth and depth of Dyson technology and harness their curiosity for engineering. The Engineering Box contains the V12 Detect Slim Animal Vacuum, which can be taken apart to expose students to the design process from the inside out, identify design clues and learn about the various engineering disciplines. Alongside the product, the Engineering Box comes with a comprehensive teacher’s pack, lesson plans, videos and posters for educators that can be adapted to the school curriculum.
"Engineers use their knowledge of science, technology, engineering, math, and creative thinking to solve problems. The Engineering Box is a transformative learning resource that will equip young, budding inventors in Singapore with the necessary skills to become great problem-solvers. Equally valuable for educators, the Engineering Box will facilitate the introduction of students to the exciting world of engineering through real-life applications. With its engaging content and hands-on approach, we hope the Dyson technology will allow students to gain a deeper appreciation for the diversity of engineering and inspire the next generation of Singaporean design engineers and innovators."
John Churchill, Dyson's Chief Technology Officer.
In a pilot programme held earlier last month, the James Dyson Foundation partnered with teachers from the School of Science and Technology (SST) to engage 40 Secondary Three students with the Engineering Box learning resource. Aside from hands-on experience with Dyson machines, students also had the opportunity to hear from John Churchill, Dyson’s Chief Technology Officer about the world of design engineering, design thinking and technology development.
Emily Chang Ren Minh, a secondary three student from SST said, “The James Dyson Foundation Engineering Box programme was an eye-opening experience for me. I am inspired by how many disciplines of engineering there actually are, and how engineers can work together to solve everyday problems. I hope I will also be able to create innovative solutions that make a difference to the world one day.”
"As Dyson’s charity, the James Dyson Foundation continues its mission to inspiring the next generation of design engineers. In line with our S$3m commitment to support design engineering education in Singapore, we see the Engineering Box as the next cornerstone in our mission to make STEM education more accessible and engaging for young minds across the country. We look forward to collaborating with more education partners over the next four years to unlock the full engineering potential of our Singaporean youths."
Grace Ke, Regional Head for James Dyson Foundation.
Following a successful pilot programme with SST, the James Dyson Foundation will expand the reach of the Engineering Box learning resource and support more secondary schools across Singapore. Secondary schools that will benefit from this programme this year include Anglo-Chinese School (Independent), St Hilda’s Secondary School, Greendale Secondary School, Loyang View Secondary School and Yuhua Secondary School. Altogether, the James Dyson Foundation’s range of educational activities and collaborations with the Ministry of Education (MOE), Science Centre Singapore (SCS) and institutions such as Singapore University of Technology & Design (SUTD) and Nanyang Technological University (NTU), James Dyson Foundation will reach more than 300,000 students aged 6 to 25 this year – from primary through to tertiary levels.
Cindy Han
Email: cindy.han@dyson.com