Shifting gears and sparking ideas: Meet our new Tech Truck

The Tech Truck has been kitted out with the latest technologies to create an immersive space for people to learn and engage with all things happening at Salford. The project has been driven by academic colleagues across the University alongside our Digital IT department who helped to put the wheels in motion. 

At Salford we are continuing to invest in digital technology to connect colleagues, students and our wider communities in new and innovative ways. The vehicle can be fully opened at one side, with inside seating, a pull-out table, connections for laptops, tablets and mobile phones, inner and outer HD TV screens, virtual and augmented reality systems, and Wi-Fi throughout.

The Tech Truck will be hitting the road for public engagement activities, mobile research and knowledge research between us and the community, festivals around the area and recruitment, as well as being used for internal events right here on campus.

Jeremy Ford, Head of Business Information and Compliance in Digital IT, said: “Over the past few months, we’ve been converting and customising a regular van with state-of-the-art technology to create an engaging space which can be used university-wide. We’re really proud of what we’ve produced and can’t wait to show you.”

Neil Withnell, Associate Dean Academic Student Experience in the School of Health & Society, has been involved in the project and said: “It is great to be able to update the vehicle and make it available for use across all schools and departments, thereby creating wider reach and impact.”

Professor Ian Goodhead, Associate Dean – Research and Innovation in the School of Science, Engineering and Environment, added: “So much of our research is exciting and innovative. In developing this mobile platform for knowledge exchange, dissemination and outreach, we hope to take the exciting message out to places we couldn’t reach before, and hopefully inspire many more people, from a range of backgrounds, and to maybe even get involved”.

The Tech Truck will be making a pit-stop outside our brilliant café, bar and bakery Old Fire Station on Thursday 19 October, 10am-3pm. Come and join us at this special launch event where you can explore the vehicle and meet the team that has steered the project.