To mark Engineers Week 2019, global medical devices company Cook Medical is educating students in local schools on medtech engineering by using augmented reality (AR) technology.
Starting with Mungret NS and Monaleen NS, students were given the AR Human Anatomy Challenge which has been pioneered to spark an interest in medtech and to show how medical devices are used to improve patient care. The students also got to see demonstrations of medical devices that have been designed and developed at Cook Medical’s Limerick base in Castletroy.
Cook Medical senior engineering manager, Triona Campbell, believes that using the latest technology to spark an interest in engineering from a young age can create a strong future workforce in this field.
“Our team is delighted to support STEM education subjects in the local community. Bringing technologies like AR into the classroom broadens students’ minds and provides a varied learning experience,” commented Campbell. “Engineering is very often only explored by students at secondary school level. Introducing it at primary level will help to boost understanding and better prepare students for further study of STEM subjects.”
“Technological advances in areas such as computer modelling, 3D printing and AR provide our Cook engineers with essential insights and data for product innovation and development in healthcare, which leads to improving patients’ lives. We’re excited to be working with local schools to develop their knowledge of engineering and spark an interest in new technologies. We hope to do enough to empower our next generation of engineers.”
The AR Human Anatomy Challenge is just one part of the company’s efforts to promote and celebrate Engineers Week in local schools. Cook Medical is also inviting local transition year students to tour their plant and to meet with Cook Medical engineers.
