Futuretech by Bristol University's Faculty of Engineering is aimed at year 11 and 12 students who are passionate about technology, enjoy solving problems and want to make a difference.  The event will take place tomorrow [Thursday, April 7].

The University's Departments of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering Mathematics will lead interactive lectures about cutting-edge advances in technology and how young people could be part of its future.

The three engineering departments in the Merchant Venturers School of Engineering are at the very forefront of the kind of technological advances that are enabling a healthier, more connected and more sustainable future.

Dr Fai Tila, Outreach Project Manager in the Merchant Venturers School of Engineering, said: "This event aims to give students an exciting insight into how these disciplines will improve the way we do things, offering a broader understanding of the science behind the technology and how it can be applied to benefit society."

The programme will include interactive lectures by academic leaders in their field.  Andrew Nix, Professor of Wireless Communication Systems, will talk about the ideas behind the wireless revolution. He will give demonstrations of analogue and digital communications and end by making predictions of what can be expected by 2020.

Breaking the 100 miles per gallon barrier will be discussed by Dr David Drury, Lecturer in Electrical Engineering.  David will give a glimpse of the technological barriers that must be overcome for these vehicles to become mainstream transport and enjoyed by all but without costing the earth to run.

Dr Tilo Burghardt, RCUK Research Fellow in Computer Science, will talk about visual computing in the wild.  He will discuss how the application of visual surveillance techniques directly in natural environments is one way of providing high tech computer support in low-tech environments.

The event is sponsored by the Motorola Foundation and Sonardyne.