Science&Engineering Saturday Club members from Anglia Ruskin University’s CSES were joined by Dr Irina Lazar, Associate Professor in Engineering and Public Policy at UCL , for a Masterclass exploring social engineering and sustainability. 

Dr Irina began by introducing her work as the intersection of science, engineering, and public policy, before outlining the session’s key themes: sustainability, systems change, and collaborative problem-solving. Club members started with a warm-up activity, guessing the origin of everyday inventions, like the flush toilet made in the 1600s, to challenge assumptions about innovation and history. 

This sparked discussions around urban development and the complexity of global sustainability challenges, labelled ‘Wicked Problems’. Topics included political barriers, public resistance, and financial constraints. Using electric vehicles as an example, Club members examined the impact of limited infrastructure and battery waste. 

In groups, they developed air quality solutions, thinking through real-world implementation. The session concluded with an introduction to UCL’s Science & Engineering for Social Change programme and related career pathways, leaving Club members inspired to drive future change.