Technological University of the Shannon (TUS) recently held its highly anticipated Athlone Campus Engineering Expo, featuring leading-edge applied research from the Faculty of Engineering and Informatics.
More than 168 undergraduate projects and 25 PhD projects were showcased, representing a diverse range of cutting-edge fields such as robotics, virtual reality, artificial intelligence, sustainable design, and electric vehicle development.
Now in its second year, the expo provides a platform for students and researchers to come together, foster collaboration and celebrate engineering excellence.
The highlight of the event was the presentation of fourth-year honours engineering projects, with winners announced across various categories, addressing topics like water filtration and biomechanics.
Final-year BSc (Hons) Software Design with Virtual Reality and Gaming student Aaron McEvoy received the Overall Winner for Computer and Software Engineering award for the development of a low-cost haptic feedback virtual reality glove.
The sensory glove, which enables the wearer to control the virtual environment with a wave of the hand, exemplifies the type of practical innovation fostered at TUS.
Meanwhile, Aoife Swords was named Overall Winner for Mechanical/Polymer Engineering, Hannah Philip was awarded Best Student: Quantity Surveying, and Kevin Mealiff was awarded Best Student: Civil Engineering.
In addition to student projects, the expo featured several staff exhibitions including Minecraft, Technology Teacher Education, TUS Library Showcase, Automation Robotics, VR Autonomous Driving Experience and TRANSMIXR, enabling staff to share and showcase the research they are currently involved with. More than 300 staff members attended the expo, sharing ideas.
The Technology Teacher Education Exhibition, aligning with the UN sustainable development goal for quality education, demonstrated how technology and design can tackle global challenges.
For instance, Paul McNeil, a second year BEd in Technology, Engineering and Graphics, designed a playground sandbox integrated with a 360-degree projection system, allowing topographic maps to be projected onto the sandbox, changing dynamically as the sand is manipulated.
The project emphasises the reuse of materials and benefits of interactive learning, with the aim of making subjects like physical geography more tangible for students.
Reflecting on the success of the expo, TUS Dean of Faculty for Engineering and Informatics Dr Sean Lyons emphasised its role in showcasing student achievements and faculty research:
“The expo fosters community building and collaboration across disciplines, aiming to break down silos and encourage co-creation. The expo not only allows students to present their work professionally but also exposes them to cutting-edge research, potentially steering them toward postgraduate studies.
“TUS is a leader in engineering education and research, driving forward technological advancements and visibility of research at the faculty level is really important as it inspires students and showcases faculty expertise that in turn informs teaching.”
Director of Education & Public Engagement Jane Burns added, “The Engineering Expo serves as a testament to the remarkable talent and dedication of our students and faculty. It provides a unique platform for showcasing the practical applications of engineering education and fostering valuable connections with industry partners who have collaborated with our students on some of these projects. We are thrilled to see the impact of our work extending beyond the classroom and into the broader community.”