Australia’s engineering community aims to entice all generations to engage with engineering and to connect with making a positive impact for current and future cities to ensure our planet is sustainable by bringing the world’s largest Lego suspension bridge to Melbourne.
The Monash MITI (Monash Industry Team Initiative) Program has brought the massive bridge – 34m long, 3.5m tall with 262,550 Lego bricks and weighing 500kg – to Melbourne where it has been built by MITI multidisciplinary student teams, Monash alumnae and staff.
The bridge was originally designed by the Institution of Civil Engineers in the UK to celebrate its 200th year anniversary and now it is coming to Melbourne as part of the 100th year anniversary for Engineers Australia and the World Engineering Convention (WEC) on 20-22 November 2019 at the Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Key supporters of the bridge include Monash University MITI Program, Chief Engineer, OPV, Engineers Australia, Transurban, UK Consul, Veski and Institution of Civil Engineers UK.
Victoria’s Chief Engineer, Dr Collette Burke, has been a Lego bridge champion, ensuring the bridge showcases the connection of community, past and present, how the bridge highlights the innovation, creativity and ingenuity whilst harnessing the beauty and skill applied by engineers and the pivotal role they play in society.
“I’m really passionate about attracting young people to engineering. This was a perfect opportunity to engage young people and pique their interest through bringing the world’s largest Lego bridge to Australia for the first time,” Dr Burke said.
“We want to ignite their interest using conventional and unconventional approaches to highlight how engineering is part of everyday life and set them on the path to be a future engineer.”
Monash Director of Industry Engagement and Founding Director MITI, Madeleine McManus, said it was integral to have industry sponsorship of the Monash MITI Team in building the world’s largest Lego bridge.
“As an engineering community, we need to make sure that industry continue to commit to supporting and training young people and communicating how diverse engineering can be,” Ms McManus said.
“To be an engineer, you need a range of qualities that aren’t always highlighted, you need to be creative, collaborative, a problem solver and most importantly, a lifelong learner.
“These are the qualities I look for in students who become part of the Monash MITI teams, who are working with Australian and international businesses, developing inventive solutions to real issues the face in their companies.”
