The next generation of UK engineering and science talent have impressed Enzen knowledge practitioners with their imaginative concepts for how we can build a more sustainable world through Artificial Intelligence.
In our innovative community partnership Mission: Sustainability, now in its fifth consecutive year, we challenged 16-17 year old students at the WMG Academy for Young Engineers in Solihull and Coventry to explore how they could turn an AI future into a greener future.
The WMG Academy has two campuses, in Solihull and Coventry, both focused on specialist STEM careers-led education for 14-19 year olds aligned to the professional ethos of today’s businesses and industries.
The four-week challenge, launched as part of the UK's National Apprenticeship Week, saw 39 students divide into eight teams. Drawing on industry expertise and resources provided by Enzen, the students tackled a challenge themed on ‘How can AI be used to create a more sustainable world?’.
Mission: Sustainability culminated with each team presenting their solutions to a panel of judges comprised of academy teachers and members of the Enzen UK leadership team.
The students’ ideas addressed a range of energy and environmental challenges, from river pollution and agricultural productivity to waste management and more sustainable computing.
The eight teams were awarded either Gold, Silver or Bronze classification during an online awards presentation, available to watch below. Gold winners will now enjoy a work experience placement at Enzen in Solihull during the next academic year.
Stewart Tait, CEO of WMG Academy Trust, said: “We're delighted to be in partnership with Enzen, a prestigious, global leader in the latest engineering and water technologies. The Mission Sustainability project has given WMG students the opportunity to work and collaborate with industry leaders and experts in the latest innovative solutions and showcase their talents and skills to investigate more sustainable ways of solving tomorrow’s problems today.”
Louise Carter, Head of People and Culture for Enzen in the UK and Europe, said: “The quality and creativity of the students’ ideas was excellent and our judges were impressed with the sophistication of the solutions.
“Enzen’s mission as a company is to make energy and water more accessible, affordable and sustainable for all. Inspiring the next generation to work collaboratively and creatively, so they can apply new technology responsibly, creatively and for the wellbeing of our planet, is fundamental to this.
“We were proud to partner with the WMG Academy for Young Engineers and are excited to see so much young talent showing passion and knowledge for the subject.”
Our 2024 winners
Gold
- Deficiency Destroyers, Coventry
- Pi-5, Coventry
- Tree's a Crowd, Solihull
Silver
- AgriZen, Solihull
- Team Rivers, Coventry
Bronze
- Eco Virtual, Coventry
- KAASH, Coventry
- Mission Possible, Solihull
Enzen launched Mission: Sustainability in 2020 to inspire young people to pursue STEM careers and demonstrate how their creativity and collaboration can make a real difference to the future of our planet.
Running every year since, Mission: Sustainability has proved a success in the West Midlands, the region where the Enzen story began in 2006 and which is home to Enzen’s corporate headquarters. In 2022, the programme won the Social Impact category at the Energy Innovation Awards and the Sustainability category at the Education Awards.