University of Sheffield to host 2019 Frank Morton Sports Day
24th August 2018
Chemical engineering students at the University of Sheffield have successfully won the bid to host the 2019 Frank Morton Sports Day, together with the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE). Around 2,500 students are expected to attend the event, which will be hosted at the university’s award-winning Student Union on 18 February.
The competition has been running since 1961, when renowned chemical engineering Professor Frank Morton organised a football match between chemical engineering departments at Birmingham University and the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST).
Over the decades it has grown significantly, becoming a prominent sporting event marked in the calendars of UK and Irish chemical engineering undergraduates.
The event includes a number of sporting competitions and activities for students to participate in, including basketball, quidditch and ultimate frisbee. Newly introduced for 2019 will be an Escape Room, where teams will have to battle against the clock to uncover and solve clues to escape a locked room. In addition, the Sheffield students have introduced a Tug-of-War for the 2019 event, which will see students go head-to-head in a final battle to win valuable points for their university team.
The event will also include a careers fair, and an evening of entertainment. There is set to be a cinema and a mocktail bar for students to enjoy as a non-drinking alternative to the night out.
Sheffield students will be taking over the reins from the University of Leeds, who hosted the sports day in February 2018. It saw the University of Birmingham crowned the winners for the fourth year in a row.
In the 2014 Research Excellence Framework (REF) the Chemical and Biological Engineering department at Sheffield was ranked in the UK’s top five for chemical engineering output. It is a ‘Top 100’ university according to the QS World University Rankings.
David Miller, President of the University of Sheffield’s Frank Morton committee, said:
“We’re honoured to be upholding the long-standing tradition of Frank Morton; it’s the highlight of the chemical engineering calendar for students across the UK and Ireland, and a welcome break after the stress of winter exams.
“We can’t wait to welcome our future colleagues to Sheffield to show them what the university and the city has to offer, maintaining its rich history in engineering through a strong commitment to education. We would like to thank the previous hosts and the staff at IChemE for their support.”
Tara Wilson, Head of Communications at IChemE, said:
“The University of Sheffield submitted a fantastic bid for the 2019 Frank Morton Sports Day. I have no doubt that they will deliver a great event.
“Frank Morton is a great opportunity for chemical engineering students from across the UK to network with their peers, meet potential employers, and participate in some healthy competition.
“I would encourage all companies who are looking to employ fresh new chemical engineering talent in the future to take up a stand at the recruitment fair. It provides a perfect platform to scout talent and raise your profile amongst undergraduates.
“IChemE is also looking forward to the event and supporting these undergraduates throughout their chemical engineering careers.”
The Sheffield committee are currently finalising plans for the event; interested parties can receive updates via the dedicated Facebook page. Companies interested in supporting the event can contact the team via frankmorton2019@gmail.com.