Month: March 2022

Second year Mechanical Engineering BEng(Hons) student George Diamantopoulos has recently joined the STEP lab. Here he tells us about engineering at Brighton and how he get involved with STEP lab.

“I chose engineering because I had a burning desire from a very young age to explore the logistics and thought processes behind engineering achievements. Mostly, I was always asking myself how and why? How’s this car engine made? Why is this elevator working without me noticing the mechanism? I had huge curiosity and I had to go after my dream of becoming an engineer. It’s a very creative degree; it offers flexibility and promotes innovation and fresh ideas. Engineering gives the message that if something can be conceived, it has the potential of being realized.

The main reason I chose the University of Brighton is the volume of classes and an equally important one is approachability. I’m studying mechanical engineering, I did the same degree in Germany for 2 years. The auditorium in Germany contained more than 850 students, while in Brighton student number is around 35. This makes the material that is being taught easier to digest, and the lecturer-student interaction is more productive. Lecturers are also very approachable. Brighton is a very diverse community, which supports every single student both inside and outside their respective course.

STEP lab is a facility located in the heavy engineering building at the Moulsecoomb campus where research and development projects are taking place. STEP lab aims to promote and achieve collaborations with industrial organizations through experimental testing. At this stage, a very important real-life project is taking place in the form of an experimental steam rig, which is constantly being modified to analyse the behaviour of SWEP heat exchangers.

I expressed my interest during an interview with Dr. Panesar, but the initial information for the existence of the STEP lab came from a friend who was already involved. I approached Dr. Panesar intending to work on a single electric car project which was advertised by the university. He explained to me that this electric car project is part of the countless STEP lab projects that exist. He then introduced me to the idea of working on the experimental rig and gaining valuable experience in an actual engineering project.

I want to become a chartered engineer and apply my determination and knowledge to an automotive application. The world has steered towards electrification. This is the pathway of the future, and I would love to be part of the electric car evolution.”