Disaster Response: How do Engineers Save Lives?

This suite of student activities, challenges and related resources aims to give students an insight into the roles of engineers following a natural disaster.

The short introductory activities increase students’ awareness of the range of types of natural disaster and the kinds of problems associated with them, as well as providing some sense of scale in terms of time and speed of disasters.

The problem-solving activities and challenges involve either a mathematical focus or a science, design and technology focus, and are intended to show the importance of STEM subject knowledge, understanding and skills in solving problems. In each of the problem-solving challenges, students are also asked to ‘think like an engineer’ and to identify how they have done this.

This resource, produced by the Royal Academy of Engineering, provides students with opportunities to meet the CREST Award criteria by:

• applying their scientific, technological and mathematical knowledge and skills in a real world context

• demonstrating creativity and innovation

• considering how the work of engineers contributes to the quality of people’s lives

• communicating their work to others.