Meet our IEA - Zhen Cao

你好!(Hello!)  I’m Zhen Cao from China, an artistic Electrical and Electronic engineer.

Engineering courses are very popular back at home, since many people are eager to keep up with the high pace of technological development, which I also like to do. However, I was also very confused about which engineering course I should  take. I gazed at my computer screen for I-don’t-know how long and came to realise that electronic devices influence people’s lives in so many ways. It is not just me that spends hours playing games, but devices play a  significant part of people’s daily lives and routines.

So here I am at the University of Sheffield — doing Electrical and Electronic Engineering(EEE), the course is highly-ranked and well-known throughout the UK. In addition to this, the students Union has also been voted as the best one in the country in a recent  student survey. Hence, I was very happy to make Sheffield my firm choice because I want to have a unforgettable time at the university whilst getting qualified as an engineer.

EEE is a creative and interesting course, sometimes it gives you the feeling of learning magic. For example, when you see semiconductors become a mechanism that is triggered when a voltage is applied to, thus achieving functions smartly.

In the course, we learn characteristics of components, and group them together into circuits. Studying circuit analytics can become quite complex when there are too many wires— that’s how I kick started becoming a wire untwister. On top of that, we study the design of electronic devices, starting from their functions right through to safety aspects. This level of detail is perfect for people like me—as I am really into electronics.

This is where I should stop talking about electronics, even though I think it is an  essential part of our lives, I’m not that nerdy.  I do spend time away from my course and studying. I enjoy playing guitar, mixing songs like a DJ, going outside to do parkour, exploring Sheffield city’s attractions, taking pictures of the wonderful surroundings. In addition to these activities, I also sing in an Acappella choir which is what I enjoy the most. It is excellent to share a mutual interest with people who are as passionate about music as I am, being able to sing such amazing melodies.

Going to a university in a country that has an entirely different cultures to the one you have grown up in, can be daunting. However, it can also be pretty  mind-blowing: you get to see the wider world, make friends with people from across the seas, and view matters from an international perspective.

In conclusion, the future career prospects for an engineer can be unlimited, from making products that are more innovative than 3D-scanning figures, to researching senses that transmit bionic limbs, or looking at auto-pilot vehicles. For me, I could be an electronic designer, combining arts and science, creating gadgets that are both aesthetically and functionally terrific.