Morson Maker Space
The Morson Maker Space is a high-tech digital fabrication hub at the heart of the University, featuring the latest industry-standard equipment manufacturing technologies to enable students to learn real-world engineering skills in design for manufacture, assembly, and inspection.
In partnership with the Morson Group, the Maker Space team actively address the STEM skill shortages by working to inspire our students and young people to consider a future career in STEM.
STEM Discovery Programme
Over the last five years, the Maker Space has developed a STEM Discovery Programme to help design a future-fit, innovative curriculum for the University, promote STEM activity amongst students, and support the research of several SMEs, all thanks to our partnership with the Morson Group.
We have also created a community inspired to foster the next generation of engineers and tech-savvy talent, providing support to young women and students from underrepresented groups as we advocate diversity and inclusivity across the sectors.
Since 2016, the STEM Discovery Programme has successfully worked with local communities, city councils, and national STEM agencies to bring the power of engineering to a wide range of audiences, learners, and age groups through a range of initiatives: Women in STEM, Student Careers, Community Reach, and Networks.
Women in STEM
To help support Women into STEM education and careers, we designed:
- STEMinist: A group to unite female students studying STEM subjects.
- Make it Matter: A series of talks aimed at women conducting STEM research at Salford.
- Go Beyond: A mentoring scheme to unite female students with members of industry.
From 2016 - 2021, over 150 students and 12 STEM businesses took part in the Make it Matter lectures, celebrating exciting and thought-provoking research and study.
Student Careers
We continuously strive to provide our students with the skills to confidently step into industry:
- Morson Career Bar: Working directly with Morson Projects and Morson Talent, we connect industry with our talent pipeline, provide students with industry experience, signpost them to jobs in their field, and give them an insight into industry trends.
- Scholarships: The Gerry Mason Engineering Scholarship and Morson Group Scholarship programmes inspire talented students to continue with their studies.
Since 2015, students from five engineering courses participated in the Morson Career Bar, and over 50 students have been awarded a Gerry Mason Engineering or Morson Group Scholarship.
Community Reach
Every year, we create new STEM workshops for the public to showcase the wonders of STEM:
- Manchester Science Festivals: An annual maker workshop to demonstrate digital fabrication.
- Make in Salford Teachers CPD: A teacher training programme designed to help upskill across all STEM areas, including 3D printing.
- Morson Maker Challenge: A collaboration with schools across Salford to inspire future engineers, designers, and makers.
Over the last five years, 540 students from nine schools participated in the Morson Engineering Challenge, and every school was awarded a 3D Ultimaker printer to continue their skills and maker workshops!
Network
Providing our students, staff, and industry partners with networking opportunities:
- Technician Network: Quarterly events designed to advance and celebrate Technicians as experts across the North West, with over 30 Technicians from five universities registering for the Network.
- Salford Racing: A student-led society of students from across the University working together to manufacture a race car to compete in Formula Student.
Supporting the Community
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the University and Morson Group came together once more to support the NHS. Thanks to the incredible facilities within the Maker Space, we were able to laser cut and 3D print over 7,000 face shields for Salford Royal and other NHS surgeries and frontline workers - an incredible, collaborative effort which demonstrated our united commitment to our local and national community.
Salford Racing
Salford Racing is a student-led society of engineering, business, project management, and media students at the University who design and manufacture a race car to compete in Forumla Student, the world's most established student automotive competition.
Universities from all over the world meet at Silverstone every yet to pit their cars against one another, giving students passionate about motorsport the opportunity to gain valuable, real-world experience.
Members of the team not only benefit from the facilities available in the Morson Maker Space and Engine Room, but are sponsored by the Morson Group.
Here's what some of the team had to say:
"Morson allows us to enrich the student experience by being able to provide tools and expertise to Salford Racing.
With the help of Morson, Salford Racing are able to fabricate many of our components in house; this helps to improve the skillset of the team as we learn to use the machines in the Morson Engine Room and ultimately imrpove the employability of the team.
With the generosity of Morson, Salford Racing are able to raise the bar each year and achieve our goals."
Oliver Kanjoo-Parsons, Team Director
"Since I joined Salford Racing, I have seen first-hand how the generous support of the Morson Group is helping us design and build our own Formula 1 car. Thanks to this support, we are able to develop our technical skills through the work we do in the society."
Abdul Rahman Sanhat, Aerodynamics Team
"Morson Group has greatly increased the range of skills we have learned due to the investments in Maker Space which has allowed for more complex parts to be manufactured and training on machines, like the 5-axis CNC, to be completed. Personally, I think this massively increases employability."
Thomas Shaw
As the University gets ready to open our new Science, Engineering and Environment building in 2022, the Maker Space team have ambitious plans for the future and are continuously evolving to meet the needs of our students, community, and industry partners.
If you would like to get involved with the extraordinary work of the Maker Space, please email makerspace@salford.ac.uk or visit the Maker Space website.