• ‘An Engineered View’ photography competition is part of 2019 EngFest, and aims to change how the public views and understands engineering
• Prize pool valued over $2,500, and categories include amateur, junior, and senior student
• Competition welcomes schools, amateur photographers, primary and secondary school students, particularly girls and young women

The Charles Sturt University Engineering program will host a photography competition as part of the 2019 EngFest in June, drawing on the creativity of amateur and student photographers.

‘An Engineered View’ is a photography competition that aims to broaden people’s perception of what engineering is and the role it plays in the world around us.

There are prizes for all skill levels, and there is a school participation prize - an ‘Up Mini 2’ 3D Printer valued at over $1,000.

Foundation Professor of Engineering Professor Euan Lindsay said Charles Sturt University is reshaping how engineering is seen.

“Engineering is more than planning and building. It’s creativity and critical thinking, but fundamentally it’s about people and solving problems and this initiative aims to show that,” he said.

“We designed this competition so anyone could get involved. Photos can be taken with a phone, which is second nature for students today. The objective is to get as many people thinking about and capturing engineering as possible.

Lecturer in civil engineering Dr Miao Li said, “We know that the level of female engagement, awareness, or understanding of engineering has not improved sufficiently.

“Our efforts to create the photography competition as part of the 2019 EngFest is one way we are striving to raise awareness around engineering, particularly with the current generation of enthusiastic photo-taking young females.

“We want to get them to think about what engineering is, what it does, and where it can take us.

 

“We want them to understand early on that engineering is problem-solving which can help to fix the world’s problems and help save humanity and other species.

“Through the ‘An Engineered View’ photography competition we want to make engineering more ‘visible’ – quite literally - to girls and young women.”

“Naturally all the entries will be presented to our judges anonymously and there will be no bias to females, but it is worth mentioning our aim to have them involved due to the low levels of awareness,” Dr Li said.

‘An Engineered View’ has a prize pool of over $2,500, and categories include amateur, junior, and senior student.

The themes participants can choose from include ‘Engineers at work’, ‘Engineering art’, ‘Engineering change’, and ‘Engineering in the region’. Photographers can enter at www.csu.edu.au/engineering

There will also be a Charles Sturt University ‘Student Choice Award’ where the student engineers select a work submitted by a school student.

The winning student will receive a prize and their school will also win an Up Mini 2 3D printer.

The ‘An Engineered View’ photo competition closes on Wednesday 22 May, with the winners announced on Tuesday 11 June at EngFest at Charles Sturt Engineering (building 1305, Village Drive).

See the Charles Sturt University Engineering Facebook page to check out some inspiring entries: https://www.facebook.com/CSUStudentEngineers/