Summary

Project summary

  • May 2022 to July 2023

Leveraging the success of Euro 2020, Tokyo 2020, the Commonwealth Games and the FIFA World Cup 2022, this public engagement project showcases sports engineering and promotes an inclusive economy.

The project introduces nine and ten-year-old children to sports shoe design through discussions, hands-on activities and testing. It is funded by the Royal Academy of Engineering’s Ingenious programme.

Sports shoes - a feat of engineering project logo

Working as engineering teams in their schools, the children are designing sports shoe midsoles under the guidance of engineering ambassadors. They are learning about the latest trends in environmental design and bringing their designs to life with 3D printing.

Engineers new to public engagement are becoming champions of engineering and acting as role models for children and teachers. They are demonstrating the exciting ways that engineering underpins society, from the latest breakthrough technology to the shoes on our feet.

Articles and interviews

  • ‘It feels like running on trampolines’ – Kipchoge & Kosgei’s marathon trainers, BBC Sport
  • Running shoes: how science can help you to run faster and more efficiently, theconversation.com
  • The Secret Genius of Modern Life – Series 1: 6. Trainer, BBC iPlayer

Protective metamaterials

Researchers explain how metamaterials can reduce sports injury costs and protect athletes. Metamaterials are materials that gain their properties from the precise engineering of their structure.

Our ambassadors

Engineering ambassadors

Project materials

Project materials

Design, make and test posters to support the school sessions.

Funding

Related research

Project logo and posters created by Stuart Pond Design.