Have you ever considered creating a group or network at your university where as likeminded budding engineers and technologists, you could meet over a beer or arrange a trip to a local company to see the reality of the work? Well inspiration is here - in the form of the Ince Society, populated by sixth formers at the Bayside Comprehensive School in Gibraltar.

Created by the students themselves, this group was built by and for them, as a way to experience what engineering is all about. Still quite a new endeavor, the society was established in 2006 and named after Sergeant-Major Ince, an engineer during the 14^th Siege of Gibraltar who in 1782 came up with a brilliant solution to the problem of transporting guns up the north face of the rock. He proposed a tunnel through the rock that proved to be extremely successful: he used pioneering engineering techniques such as blasting the rock with dynamite.

Meeting up on a monthly basis, the society is headed up by president Sam Bristow, who took over from his older brother Joe; now studying at university. Members organise trips after school and at weekends to various points of interest in the engineering world.

“Our most recent trip was to the Reverse Osmosis Plant where Gibraltar’s water is produced from sea water,” says Bristow. “Previous trips include visiting the construction site of a below sea level car park, the leisure centre built inside a 17^th Century Bastion without affecting the original bastion, as well as a trip to the telecommunications fixed line switch and a visit to HMS Northumberland, a navy frigate,” he says.

A proactive group, the teenagers get together to discuss things they’d like to ‘check out’ then contact the companies, organisations etc to ask if a visit is possible. These are then set up for specific days and the adventures ensue. December’s trip was to a satellite monitoring station and planning for many of next year’s visits is already underway.

Where to next?

“We are planning trips next year to a main electricity generating station, the potable water reservoirs inside the Gibraltar Rock, a networks operations centre of a telecommunications company, a cable laying ship and also a ship repair facility and dry docks,” says Bristow.

The society is open to all sixth form students interested in science and engineering at the school and all members are currently working towards science and maths A Levels, with the society’s original members already off at university; many in the UK.

“The purpose of the Ince Society is to get students who are interested in engineering to get access to interesting stuff and experience what engineering is all about to encourage students to take up the subject in university,” Bristow says. “Most of the members last year went on to do a science or maths based discipline at university, with a number choosing engineering.”

But it doesn’t stop there. Bristow and his cohorts are looking to expand the society. Currently they are aiming to raise its membership numbers by opening up the society to all sixth form students in Gibraltar. In addition, they’re looking to make events more commonplace, by organising even more trips, which will give the students a chance to try their hand at some practical, hands-on engineering in the workplace. Members are also becoming interested in setting up talks with various spokespeople, where they can come to the school to give an insight into the world of engineering.

So what’s your excuse? If a small group of sixth formers can put together a society of this scale, what’s stopping you? Come along to one of the events held by your Local Network and meet other student IET members. Perhaps get together with others in your department to arrange your own specific events related to businesses and topics you’re interested in. The opportunities are there for the taking, so go forth, and network.