“Science in the Classroom” shows the changing world of technology and communications

The Industrial Engineer and Software Testing Manager in the British communications company Metaswitch, Ernesto Abad, visited the Spanish School Vicente Cañada Blanch in London on 2^nd March 2016. Ernesto talked to 14-18 years-old students in the fourth session of “Science in the Classroom”, with the aim of explaining his career in different companies in the technology and communication sector. 

Ernesto Abad finished his studies in Industrial Engineering in the Universidad de Zaragoza in 1998, with his last two years as an Erasmus in Compiègne (France) and Preston (UK), where he also did a Degree in Electronic Engineering. During his military service, he took a Postgraduate Course in Computing and Communications Networks. Since 1999, he has worked in different technological companies in the United Kingdom: Nortel Networks, Symbian, Avaya, and Metaswitch. 

Through his talks, Ernesto addressed the main traits of a good professional such as having the spark of curiosity and the need to learn at all times, being able to self-management, being responsible and motivated with the job, having a good coordination with all team members, and being used of working in international environments. Needless to say that serendipity always plays a key role to ensure a good career. 

Ernesto also described his day-to-day job as Software Testing Manager for mobile applications and computer software. Ernesto runs a team of engineers and specialists in Metaswitch to ensure that the developed product is “almost” perfect. According to Ernesto, “when I mentioned to students that it was usual to sell software with the knowledge that it still has some minor bugs, I had the impression that students were shocked with it. People often think that any software is perfect. However, in many cases, this is impossible to achieve. So to fix it, we keep releasing updated software versions”.

The Industrial Engineer addressed some of the technological revolutions that his companies, or the company clusters where those were located, have been involved in. For example, the optical fibre, the operative systems of the first mobile phones, what is and where it is stored the Cloud and Big Data, how to prevent communication networks crashing during exceptional circumstances, or our cultural trend towards the Internet of Things. Students of all levels were very interested with the applications of Ernesto’s job. They were thrilled when Ernesto showed them the inside of the Cloud. Lastly, they argued about the pros and cons of the exponential technological progress of modern society. 

The International Scientific Coordinator of the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT) in London and coordinator of “Science in the Classroom”, Lorenzo Melchor, was also present and actively participating during these talks. Lorenzo said that “it has been very enriching to show students the thrilling technological progress that we are living, as well as to put across the message that they will be participating in this progress either directly as professionals in the technology sector, or indirectly as the end-users of this technology.” 

The Education Adviser of the Spanish Education Office in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, María Concepción Julián de Vega, attended one of the talks. She valued her experience as follows: “I have the impression that the speaker connected very well with our students and I think he gave them such a valued information that will be very useful for their future careers. ‘Science in the Classroom’ is a scheme that will surely benefit students in the Spanish School Vicente Cañada Blanch both in the short and long term as it provides such a good professional guidance.” 

Ernesto was very pleased of his experience in the school and said that “this is a great experience for everyone: both for the students and for the speaker. On the one hand, students benefit from learning real facts, opinions, data and perspectives that they would lack otherwise. For instance, I think that my experience of changing jobs from one company to another, either because a company closed down or because of personal reasons, made them think a lot. Not to say that it was relatively easy for me to find a new job almost immediately. On the other hand, ‘Science in the Classroom’ made me feel very useful and I really enjoyed the experience. I would repeat it again without any doubt!” 

About “Science in the Classroom”

“Science in the Classsroom” is a programme organised by the Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology (FECYT) and the Office for Cultural and Scientific Affairs of the Embassy of Spain in London, by which a scientist or an engineer per month visits 14-18 years-old students in the Spanish School Vicente Cañada Blanch in London until the end of the term. This programme is also supported by the Spanish Education Office in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, the Spanish School Vicente Cañada Blanch, and the Society of Spanish Researchers in the United Kingdom (SRUK/CERU). “Science in the Classroom” is embedded in the FECYT line of action related to the promotion of scientific culture and dissemination, and support for internationalization of Spanish science.