Abstract:

A group of professors of the Degree in Agricultural Engineering, taught at the Polytechnic School of the University of Burgos, developed an innovative teaching workshop as a strategy to attract the interest of the high school students, and facilitate their integration to university life. The workshop takes place at the Science and Technology Fair of Castilla y León, in conjunction with other workshops from different Degrees. The fair is organized by the University of Burgos and is held every year.

The objective is to create new sensitivities, emphasizing the need to introduce this Degree in society as an attractive profession that solves problems, with news values such as creativity and teamwork, as well as personal benefits and technical skills that this Degree offers.

During three hours the high school student becomes an Agricultural Engineer, able to interpret an assembly scheme and perform a simulation of different irrigation systems (dripping, micro-sprinkling and exudation) on different crops (horticultural, forestry and legumes crops), using photovoltaic solar energy. The students are provided with all the appropriate material for the proper assembly: photovoltaic panels, pumps, pipes, joints, nozzles, plant material, etc. In this way, the students take contact with different aspects of engineering, awakening their interest in this type of studies.

It is intended that the students learn that, in arid areas or remote places where the power grid does not reach, this form of irrigation is presented as a unique opportunity. In this way, water pumping is achieved without the use of fossils fuels and without the cost of energy. It is important to raise awareness about the high energy consumption involved in water management and about the environmental, socio-labor and economic benefits of using renewable energies.

Based on the results of the surveys carried out by the participating students, as well as the opinions of the teachers who accompany the high school students every year, the workshop is a great success and very useful for their future. It has a very positive evaluation in terms of new knowledge acquisition and use of new tools. Therefore, it is expected that this activity of scientific popularization will have a positive impact on the promotion of Agricultural Engineering Degree among young students.

Keywords:

Workshop, High school, Agricultural Engineering degree, Promotion, Irrigation, Renewable energy.