The YouTube star TomSka has made a return to the University of Lincoln in an event to celebrate the institution’s successes in technology.

The event was Star Wars inspired, with Storm troopers walking around the Engine Shed. Photo: Suhara Jayasena

The Future 2.0 event was held today at The Engine Shed in its fourth year and showcased the latest technology and research produced from the University of Lincoln.

School children from around Lincoln visited the free event, which included gaming and space zones, cutting edge robots and an interactive space dome – as well as fights with storm troopers from Star Wars.

Emma Jubbs, Assistant Director at the university, said: ‘Future 2.0 is a great opportunity for young people to take a look behind the scenes of science and technology research within the university, have fun with some of our sci-fi inspired exhibits and activities and hopefully be inspired about the possibilities of digital technology.’

There was a talk and panel discussion with YouTuber and Lincoln graduate TomSka who discussed his career, working in technology and its evolution.

He told The Linc: “I think it’s important that children learn about technology, I think it’s a necessity or else they’ll be completely stifled. I didn’t even know how to program a VCR and look at me now, it can be incredible, though we are a generation of digital natives now and we adopt it.”

“Going to Lincoln was very beneficial to becoming a YouTuber because I had access to a lot of technology, the cameras, the sound, the equipment and I wouldn’t have developed my media and filming skills without it.”

Thomas Ridgewell, also known as TomSka, has around 5.4 million subscribers on YouTube and started making videos before he was a student at Lincoln. His most viewed video, ‘asdfmovie’ currently has 61 million views. He graduated in 2011 with a degree in Media Production.

Our interview with TomSka can be seen on Youtube.