ECS Outreach in the News
Staff and students from Electronics and Computer Science (ECS) often feature in the news for their research, achievements and expert opinion.
This month, ECSâ outreach activities that seek to inspire young people to enter the electrical and electronic engineering sector have been highlighted by New Electronics magazine.
In its recent 'Getting a taste for electronics' cover story, the publication marks the first five years of the UK Electronics Skills Foundation (UKESF) by exploring successful initiatives it is supporting to address the industryâs widely-reported skills shortage.
In Southampton, several proactive approaches are being made in partnership with the UKESF to meet this challenge. Among those highlighted in the New Electronics piece are ECSâ residential taster courses, teachers Workshops and a unique âmusic mixerâ tool.
The music mixer circuit board, which was created by Lecturers Dr Daniel Spencer and Dr Alex Weddell, introduces electronic components and circuits to students through hands-on experiments. It is centred around a circuit that combines two audio signals, such as music from mobile phones, to encourage students to experiment with different electronic components.
Professor Bashir Al-Hashimi, Dean of Physical Sciences and Engineering, comments: âIt is important that we attract the brightest young minds to study electronics and the University is at the heart of the government's industrial strategy to ensure the UK has the workforce needed for a digital economy that underpins a prosperous nation.â?