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Primary Engineer: Can you sort your recycling quicker than AI?


Highfield Campus



Building: 38 | Staff Club

Room: Garden Court

Age suitable for:
  • 5 - 7 years-old
  • 7 - 11 years-old
  • 11 - 14 years-old
  • 14 - 16 years-old
  • 16 - 18 years-old
  • 18+ years-old


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"If you were an engineer, what would you do?"

Meet our final year undergraduate engineering students who were inspired by a primary pupil's concept to design a smart bin.

Amongst thousands of ideas submitted in 2023-24, several pupils across the South region proposed concepts for robots and automation to promote recycling, reduce waste and pollution but can Artificial Intelligence (AI) be used to recognise waste items and match them to categories suitable for recycling - quicker or more accurately than people?

Our hands-on challenge will have you sorting a mix of typical waste items into the categories to be received by conventional recycling bins - how many items can you sort correctly in 30 seconds?

Join us to discuss, ask questions, find out about the Primary Engineer competition and learn more about design projects as part of Engineering Degrees.