UC Engineering

23/09/2026

Ever wondered what the future of human exploration beyond Earth looks like?

Join us for this special public lecture on Deep Space Exploration: A Global Endeavour with NASA Senior Engineer and UC Erskine Fellow Tim Atkins.

🌌 Monday 28 September | 7pm–8pm
📍 C2 Lecture Theatre, Central Lecture Theatres, Ilam Campus, University of Canterbury

Tim will take us behind the scenes of NASA’s Artemis programme and its ambition to return astronauts to the Moon, including the first woman, and establish a sustainable human presence on the lunar surface.

He’ll explore the successes of the first two Artemis missions, what’s coming next, and the engineering and ground testing behind NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS).

🌏 Free and open to the public, registrations not required.

21/09/2026

This week, people from across the campus are lacing up for Run72 – a 72-hour, student-led fundraising event in support of Lads Without Labels, a by-students-for-students charity focused on men's mental health.

From 4pm Tuesday 22nd to 4pm Friday 25th, our FoE team will be out on the UC campus loop keeping the run going to raise funds and get people talking about mental health.

Here's how you can get involved:
💸 Donate – every dollar counts toward our team total and the wider Run72 goal
🏃 Show up – come for a lap, bring a mate, or just cheer from the sidelines
📣 Spread the word – share our team page with colleagues, students, and friends

👉 Support the Faculty of Engineering team here:

Run72 : Make a donation today to support Run72

13/09/2026

Engineering discipline info evenings for first-year BE (Hons) students kick off this week!
Head along for the free food, hear from senior students, take lab tours and meet some of your future classmates.

09/09/2026

The University of Canterbury Human Power Club invite you to the public reveal of Kākahi, this year’s human-powered vehicle.

Built and designed by UC students over the course of the year, Kākahi is a three-wheeled recumbent HPV combining engineering expertise from across the Faculty - including work from two final-year projects.

And the goal? A top speed of more than 100 km/h. ⚡

Come along for the first public look at the vehicle and hear directly from the students who designed and built its different components. It’s a chance to see what students can achieve when they take their learning beyond the classroom and put their engineering skills to the test.

📅 Friday 11 September
⏰ 4–5pm
📍 John Britten Building, Faculty of Engineering, 69 Creyke Road

The Human Power Club is entirely student-run, and we’d love for you to join us to celebrate what the team has created.

31/08/2026

🌏 How are landslides shaping New Zealand’s future?

Registrations are now open for the 2026 Hopkins Lecture!

Join Ross Roberts, Chief Engineer at Auckland Council, for an engaging look at how landslides shape Aotearoa New Zealand’s landscape — and what increasing rainfall under climate change could mean for future risk.

Drawing on recent events, including Cyclone Gabrielle, Ross will explore how landslides occur and how engineering, science and planning are helping us understand and manage an increasingly unstable landscape.

📅 Monday, 21 September 2026
🕕 6pm–7.30pm
📍 Ngaio Marsh Theatre, University of Canterbury, 90 Ilam Road, Ilam, Christchurch

Stay afterwards for nibbles and light refreshments until 8pm.

Registrations are open now (link in comments)!

25/08/2026

💡 Experience the future of immersive technology at HIT Lab NZ's annual Open House event.

Whether you're considering postgraduate study or are simply curious about the latest developments in virtual and augmented reality, AI, applied games design, and human-centred design, this free event offers a unique opportunity to explore our research, meet our team, and experience cutting-edge technology firsthand.

📅 When: Friday, 25 September 2025
🕐 Time: 1:00pm – 3:30pm
📍 Location: HIT Lab NZ, Level 2, John Britten Building, 69 Creyke Road, University of Canterbury

This FREE event is open to everyone. Whether you're a prospective student, industry professional, educator, alumnus, or simply interested in immersive technologies, we welcome you to join us.

University of Canterbury UC Engineering

25/08/2026

It was a beautiful day for our spring graduation 💜

14/08/2026

09/08/2026

🚀 Could your team solve an engineering challenge in just 8 hours?

Calling all Year 12 & 13 high school students! UC’s Engineering Challenge 2026 is now open for registrations.

Get your team together, put your problem-solving skills to the test, and compete for $2,000 in cash! 🏆

Hosted by UC Mechanical Engineering and UC TronSoc, the challenge will see teams tackle an open-ended, real-world engineering problem that requires creativity, innovation and interdisciplinary thinking.

🔧 What’s involved?

📅 Saturday 29 August 2026 | 9am–5pm
👥 Teams of 2–4 students
📍 Complete the challenge from your school or community

⏱️ You’ll have just 8 hours to:
• Analyse a complex mechatronics challenge
• Design an innovative solution
• Develop sketches, calculations and a budget
• Create a professional report
• Present your vision for the future of engineering

💰 Prizes
🥇 1st: $2,000
🥈 2nd: $1,000
🥉 3rd: $500
✨ Plus $1,000 worth of spot prizes!

Whether you’re interested in engineering, technology, design or simply love solving tricky problems, this is your chance to get a taste of what engineers do every day.

📚 Applications close Friday 28 August 2026.

👉 Get your team together and register via the link in the comments below!

Questions? Contact the UC Mechatronics Society at [email protected]