Innovation and Impact Take Centre Stage at University of Bath’s 60th Engineering Design and Project Exhibition

From rockets and artificial hearts to Mars rovers and jet-powered model aircraft, the recent 60th Engineering Design and Project Exhibition at the University of Bath showcased an extraordinary array of final-year student projects. Representing both the Departments of Mechanical Engineering and Electronic and Electrical Engineering, the exhibition highlighted how students are tackling real-world challenges—from declining pollinator populations to drug delivery systems and sustainable urban mobility.

The event featured the Joseph Black keynote lecture, named after one of the university’s founders, delivered by Bath alumni Navjot Sawhney and Hélène Verhaeghe. Mr Sawhney, founder and design engineer of the social enterprise The Washing Machine Project, shared his journey from university student to social innovator. After witnessing the intense effort required to hand-wash clothes in India, he developed the Divya—a flat-packed, hand-operated washing machine designed to alleviate this burden.

Since launching in 2019, The Washing Machine Project has partnered with organisations including the UNHCR, Oxfam, and the Whirlpool Foundation, distributing machines across 15 countries and positively impacting more than 46,000 lives.

Reflecting on his journey, Sawhney said:

“It’s quite emotional to return to where it all began. Bath played a crucial role in helping develop The Washing Machine Project. Around 60% of the world still hand-wash clothes, which is a burden that mainly falls on women and girls. We’re excited to soon build machines in India, the UK, and the USA. I hope our story inspires students to use engineering to solve real-world problems.”

The Faculty of Engineering and Design hosts 13 student teams, each pushing boundaries in their fields. Notable groups include Team Bath Heart, creators of a total artificial heart and two-time champions of the World Heart Hackathon, and Team Bath Racing Electric, which designs and races battery-powered cars in Formula Student competitions across Europe.

Other standout teams are working on a variety of pioneering projects: Team Bath Autonomous Sailing (autonomous vessels generating sustainable energy), Bath Biodevices without Borders (water-quality testing devices), Team Bath Human Powered (a recumbent bicycle for women), and Team Bath Hydrobotics (remotely operated underwater vehicles). The lineup also features Bath Rocket Team, Bath Hydrogen, Green Bath Racing, Bath TT Zero, Team Bath Drones, Team Bath Roving, and Machcelerate, which aims to build the world’s fastest jet-powered model aircraft.

Bath MP Wera Hobhouse, who presented an award to Team Bath Heart, praised the faculty’s innovative spirit:

“The Faculty of Engineering and Design is producing world-leading work that truly makes a difference. With the climate crisis and social inequalities presenting huge challenges, it’s inspiring to see our local engineers leading the way in problem-solving.”

The exhibition not only celebrated student ingenuity but also demonstrated how engineering at Bath is shaping a sustainable and socially responsible future.