There are a number
of websites providing inspirational and professional guidance, and historical
information on engineering. Among these are:
Afrikan Science
http://www.at-bristol.org.uk/education/
AfrikanScience
A website for 7-15 year olds raising the profile of the contribution towards
science, engineering and technology by Afrikan heritage people.
American Society of Mechanical Engineers:
Mechanical Engineering Biographies
http://www.asme.org/history/biography.html
Providing brief biographies from Archimedes to Linus Yale.
Engineering Our Future
http://www.shu.ac.uk/BAe
A framework of resources, activities and events motivating pupils to experience
for themselves the excitement of science and technology through engineering.
IEEE Virtual Museum
http://www.ieee-virtual-museum.org
A website managed by the American Institute of Electrical and Electronics
Engineers that explores the history of technologies.
National Society of Black Engineers
http://www.nsbe.org/aboutnsbe
A US website for a student-managed membership organisation seeking to
increase the number of ‘culturally responsible Black engineers’.
Planet Science
http://www.planet-science.com
A NESTA-managed website for children who study science and those who support
them that includes information on engineering.
Women’s Engineering Society
http://www.wes.org.uk
A UK group promoting the education, training and practice of engineering
among women.
BBC produced two major series referring to Brunel – Seven Wonders of the Industrial World and The Great Britons. Neither is available on video at present. Check future availability at BBC Worldwide:
Email: bbcproducts@galleon.co.uk
Website: www.bbcworldwide.com
A number of videos for rail enthusiasts showing journeys and locomotives in the South West are available including:
British Steam – The West Somerset Railway (2003) Artsmagic Ltd
Classic Trains – The West Somerset Railway (1995) Rands Video Ltd
The Railway Age (1999) Castle Home Video
Scenic Railway Journeys – Britain: South West (no date) Artsmagic Ltd
Steam in the West (1985) Odyssey Video
Great Western Railway commissioned six
promotional films between 1930 and 1949, the most ambitious being Romance of the Railway (1935) directed by Walter Creighton and starring Carl Harbard as Brunel and Donald Wolfit as Daniel Gooch, which includes a detailed survey of the Swindon locomotive works. Other films included a travelogue of the Cornish coast called Cornwall: the Western Land (1938). These two films, along with British Transport Films’ West Country Journey (1953) were part of a touring programme organised by Paddington Films in conjunction with Picture House Cinemas. For more details email paddingtonfilms@aol.com
