Summer 2021 of Engineering Newsletter

Royal Academy Summer 2021 of Engineering Newsletter

British testing pioneer wins 2021 MacRobert Award

On 6 July, DnaNudge’s pioneering consumer genetics technology was announced as the winner of the 2021 MacRobert Award, the most prestigious prize for UK engineering innovation. The award is supported by the Worshipful Company of Engineers. The technology was pivoted and adapted to deliver a rapid, lab-free RT-PCR COVID-19 test to NHS hospitals. The winning team received a £50,000 prize and a gold medal.

In August 2020, the UK government placed a major DnaNudge’s NudgeBox portable analyser maps the user’s genetic order with DnaNudge to supply the Department of profile to key nutrition-related health traits in just over an hour. Health and Social Care with CovidNudge test kits for use in NHS hospitals across the UK. Now also related health traits such as obesity, diabetes, in use in care homes and supporting the return of hypertension, and cholesterol. the arts sector, the test can accurately detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus from saliva samples on-site in just On the same day, the winners of the RAEng over an hour – eliminating the need for a laboratory. Engineers Trust Young Engineer of the Year were presented with their awards by HRH The Princess Based in central London at the Imperial College Royal, Royal Fellow of the Academy, during a specially London Translation and Innovation Hub in White arranged visit to the Thames Tideway Project in City, DnaNudge was created by biomedical London. The winners were: Dr Marzia Bolpagni, Head engineer and CEO Professor Chris Toumazou of Building Information Modelling International at FREng FRS and geneticist and CSO Dr Maria Mace; Dr Ben Fletcher, Physical Design Engineer at Karvela. The winning team also includes Dr Caroline Graphcore Ltd; Dr Thomas Fudge, Co-Founder and Golden, Clinical Research Manager; Josef Cicinski, CEO of WASE; Dr Gita Khalili Moghaddam, CEO of UK Retail Store Manager; and David West, COO. TumourVue Ltd; and Dr Emilio Martínez-Pañeda, Research Fellow at Imperial College London. DnaNudge was chosen as the winner from a shortlist of three finalists that included Creo On 13 July, the Academy welcomed its award Medical’s advanced miniaturised surgical tools and winners to Prince Philip House for its Awards PragmatIC Semiconductor’s electronic engineering Celebration, the first in-person event since the innovation that takes the silicon out of silicon chips. start of the pandemic. The MacRobert Award winner and finalists were in attendance, as well as The CovidNudge rapid test technology was the winners of the Major Project Award, the MAST adapted in record time from DnaNudge’s existing Upgrade Project, a unique, compact spherical consumer DNA testing service, developed to tokamak fusion experiment. Dr Larissa Suzuki address nutrition and lifestyle-influenced health won the Rooke Award for the public promotion of conditions affecting people across the world, such engineering. The event also celebrated this year’s as obesity and Type 2 diabetes. Following a simple three Silver Medallists: Dr Tom Carter, Ultraleap; cheek swab, DnaNudge’s NudgeBox analyser Dr Andrew Lynn, Fluidic Analytics; and Dr maps the user’s genetic profile to key nutrition- Sithamparanathan Sabesan, PervasID Ltd.

Contents Thought leadership 5 News of Fellows 11 Education and skills 7 Obituaries 12 President’s column 2 Public engagement 9 QuonsiResearch sil tatus and suliae innovation dis, tessultodiu 3 esAcademy conti, nenam roundup quem 10 www.raeng.org.uk/newsletters

1 President’s column many of you will know that he supports the government’s presented the MacRobert Award plans to Build Back Better. The almost every year since it began additional funding will allow in 1969. My congratulations go to us to grow our policy, diversity winner DnaNudge. I particularly and inclusion, and enterprise enjoyed meeting the finalists, activities, as well as make extra alongside other award winners, at investments in education and our Awards Celebration on 13 July; fellowships for early career our first in-person event since the researchers. This funding, and start of the pandemic. the continuing generosity of our philanthropic supporters, has also We have other reasons for let us maintain a strong portfolio cautious optimism. In March, of international activities, despite Three months ago, engineering the Academy welcomed the the reduction in ODA funding. lost one of its greatest advocates, Chancellor’s Budget statement Against a challenging backdrop, and the Academy lost a very and the publication of Build Back this is a step in the right direction. dear patron. Our Senior Fellow, Better: our plan for growth, which HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, recognised the potential of the When our Senior Fellow helped memorably declared during UK’s high-growth technology establish the Fellowship of an interview on Radio 4 that companies alongside the Engineering in 1976, it set out to “everything that wasn’t invented importance of government demonstrate its interdisciplinary by God was invented by an investment in the green industrial expertise to government and engineer”. Since the Academy’s revolution. We also welcomed ‘to illustrate the best in British inception in 1976, Prince Philip both the prominent role for engineering’. In 2021, while worked tirelessly to support our technology in the recently the UK faces huge challenges work. His genuine passion for published Integrated Review of in achieving a recovery that engineering was evident in his Security, Defence, Development marries economic renewal with many visits to the Academy and and Foreign Policy, and the uplift sustainability and distribution of his challenging discussions with for research and innovation in the opportunity more evenly across the engineers he met. 2020 Spending Review, together the nation, the Academy is in its with the government’s success strongest position yet to share its In early June, when HRH The in ensuring UK association to expertise and demonstrate the Duke of Edinburgh would have Horizon Europe. essential value of engineering to turned 100, the Academy made a our economy and society at large. special award of the Prince Philip On funding we have had mixed Medal – awarded to an engineer news. Many of you will have heard Best wishes, who has made an exceptional about the reduction in funding Jim contribution to engineering. It for research and innovation for was special because the biennial international development. As medal would not normally have a result, our programmes that been awarded in 2021, but a support engineers from low- decision was taken to do so in and middle-income countries to honour of our Senior Fellow; and address development challenges Meetings and visitors also because it was awarded lost 73% of their ODA funding. to a woman for the first time, In his capacity as President, Dr Gladys West. As a pioneer Thankfully, the picture is more Sir Jim has met with: in the use of mathematics and positive for the core funding ■ Sir Patrick Vallance FRS with programming to process early the Academy receives from the presidents of the National satellite data to generate accurate, government to support our Academies repeatable models of the Earth’s other activities, which has ■ Amanda Solloway MP, Minister geoid, Dr West paved the way been increased. This signals for Science, Research and for GPS. HRH The Princess Royal, how well recognised the value Innovation Royal Fellow of the Academy, of the Academy’s work is to ■ Sir John Parker GBE FREng presented the medal via a virtual government and acknowledges He attended the following events audience with Dr West at her the impact and relevance of our and meetings: home in the US. contributions; our goal to harness ■ Association of British Chinese the power of engineering to Professors Annual Conference; Prince Philip was a staunch build a sustainable society and Net zero world in 30 years supporter of UK industry and an inclusive economy clearly ■ UKRI Bilateral meeting

2 Research and innovation

Biowaste innovation wins Africa Prize

On 8 July, chemical engineer Noël N’guessan won the 2021 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation with a biowaste equipment innovation.

N’guessan and his team designed and patented Kubeko to assist smallholder farmers and their cooperatives to generate more income from the by-products of their harvests, without any additional labour. Kubeko is a set of low-cost biowaste processing equipment; its composter Africa Prize winner Noël N’guessan and biodigester are both specifically designed to ferment agricultural post-harvest by-products communities. They were chosen after receiving into solid and liquid compost, and cooking gas. eight months of training, mentorship and support through the Africa Prize, with expert volunteers. Since being shortlisted, the Kubeko team has made progress in reducing its production costs The other finalists were: from US$800 to US$700. The team has installed ■ Indira Tsengiwe from South Africa, who two biodigesters running on cassava farms, with created BlueAvo, a digital platform that 50 composters installed to date on cocoa, palm connects creative brands and people in the oil and mango farms. Kubeko has also been media industry with local content creators. commissioned by the Ministry of the Environment ■ Faith Adesemowo from Nigeria, who and Sustainable Development in Côte d’Ivoire to developed Social Lender digital financial train stakeholders as part of the department’s services to give finance access to Africans national composting and biowaste strategy. who lack access to formal financial services. ■ Mechanical and electronics engineer Juka The four finalists were selected from a shortlist Fatou Darboe from The Gambia, who of 16 African innovators for their ability to use launched Make3D Medical, using 3D printing engineering to solve problems for African for customised orthopaedic equipment.

Frontiers programme awards ideas via an online chat. Live sessions followed new seed funding where discussions were facilitated between smaller groups of participants so that ideas could be The Academy’s Frontiers programme has explored. The platform also allowed for networking awarded seed funding to four groups of and private meetings to develop the ideas further. researchers, innovators and practitioners who met at a Frontiers symposium about smart The seed funding will allow the groups to discuss communities in February. ideas that were inspired by the event and start new collaborations that will tackle global The event, co-chaired by Dr Lara Allen from the development challenges. The research projects Centre for Global Equality and Dr Ashok Das from include a range of context-appropriate smart SunMoksha, explored the concept of a smart technology applications including how to remove community and what it means for communities pollutants from water supplies in Malaysia, tackling in the Global South, through three themes: violence against women in Sierra Leone, water enabling infrastructure, enhancing livelihoods, and purification at the household level in Kabul, and monitoring and diagnostics. It brought together battery systems for rural Kenyan schools. 65 researchers, innovators and practitioners from around the world via a bespoke online platform Hear more from Dr Lara Allen and Dr Ashok Das and a series of live Zoom sessions. Over 10 days, on the Smart Communities podcast recorded at participants explored the sub-themes at their own the event, which is accessible on all major podcast convenience via videos and resources, and shared platforms.

3 In the spotlight: and models for the world’s activity across the city of London Professor Mark Girolami first 3D-printed steel bridge provided Transport for London Computational Statistician to ensure structural integrity with the intelligence to enact and Data Centric Engineer and inform new international over 700 policy interventions, design standards. Professor such as pavement widening and Professor Mark Girolami from Girolami has also partnered moving bus stops, to ensure safe the University of Cambridge with Network Rail on the first social distancing to bring us out was appointed Lloyd’s remotely monitored structural of lockdowns. Register Foundation (LRF)/ asset on the UK rail network. Royal Academy of Engineering The institute is working with The Academy’s Research Research Chair in Data-Centric Rolls-Royce to streamline jet Chairs and Senior Fellowships Engineering (DCE) in 2018. engine blade design, which scheme strengthens the links He leads the DCE programme Rolls-Royce Fellow Shahrokh between industry and academia at the Alan Turing Institute, Shahpar says is set to change by supporting exceptional which was established by the the way Rolls-Royce designs academics in UK universities to LRF to address new challenges and manages its manufacturing undertake use-inspired research in DCE with a £10 million processes. for five years, co-sponsored by investment. Professor Girolami an industrial partner. has grown this to a value over DCE helped Transport for £70 million and leads a team of London respond to the COVID-19 The next round of applications over 150 researchers. pandemic by monitoring the closes on 2 September 2021. busyness of the city. A massive For more information, please Recent DCE projects include effort capturing mobility, visit www.raeng.org.uk/ developing sensor systems transportation and traffic researchchair

Success for Enterprise marketplace at a competitive funding round for Cambridge Hub members price. GaN Devices to accelerate the deployment of energy-efficient The Enterprise Hub has Dr Sam Chapman’s Kenoteq is devices reshaping the future supported over 250 engineering ramping up production of its of electronics. The company is entrepreneurs to start and eco-friendly bricks to more than currently leading a $10 million scale-up businesses. Here we two million per year, having European-funded project with 13 highlight the impact we’ve secured £1 million of funding industrial and academic partners recently had on our goal of from Zero Waste Scotland. Made across Europe, developing GaN- creating a sustainable society from 90% recycled construction based modules for low- and by celebrating the successes of waste, the K-Briq produces high-power applications.

Enterprise Fellows. just 10% of the CO2 emissions of traditional fired bricks and Dr Richard Taylor’s Vector Dr Florence Gschwend’s requires less than 10% of the Photonics has received £1.6 company Lixea received €2 energy to manufacture. million of equity investment to million of investment from the commercialise its semiconductor European Innovation Council Launchpad alumni Nate laser technology. A spin-out from Fund. Lixea aims to revolutionise Macabuag, Co-Founder of Mitt the University of Glasgow based waste biomass utilisation and Wearables, was listed in the on world-leading semiconductor lead the way to more sustainable Forbes 30 under 30 list. He has research, Dr Taylor was awarded practices. founded a new startup, Koalaa, a place on the Hub’s Enterprise and intends to tackle the cost Fellowship programme in 2019. 2021 Enterprise Fellow Reka and accessibility barriers that Tron’s Multus Media was ranked have left 35 million people The Enterprise Hub is supported among the top climate-tech around the world without by a network of funding bodies, investments across SOSV’s access to prosthetics. Koalaa’s partner organisations and global portfolio. Supplying soft, modular prosthetics can be individual donors, without environmentally sustainable fitted anywhere in the world via which our work would not be and ethically sourced growth a virtual clinic. possible. To find out more about media to the cultivated meat how you can support please industry, Reka aims to get Dr Giorgia Longobardi raised visit enterprisehub.raeng.org. cultivated meat into the $9.5 million in a Series A uk/about/support-us/

4 Design principles for infrastructure projects in the UK. national infrastructure The group inspires, promotes and champions design excellence in On 21 April, the latest Academy all nationally significant projects. CAFÉ (Connecting awardees, The webinar series aims to ensure fostering engagement) event that awardees and alumni have took place on the topic of a platform for engagement and ‘Design principles for national can continue to benefit from the infrastructure’. expertise and experience within its network. It also enables them The panel discussion was 2020, the NIC Design Group to share ideas and challenges hosted by Professor Karen published its Design Principles faced and best practice in the Holford CBE FREng FLSW, Chair for National Infrastructure. current period and beyond. of the Research Committee, These four principles – climate, with members of the National people, places, and value – A full streamed video of the Infrastructure Commission’s aim to guide the planning April event can be found on the (NIC) Design Group. In February and delivery of future major Academy’s YouTube channel.

Thought leadership

Late-stage R&D for government. The report draws on interviews with those responsible for R&D decisions in The National Engineering Policy Centre has engineering companies of all sizes and across the published Late-stage R&D: business perspectives, UK. The interviews identified five key common a follow-up to the 2018 report Increasing resources essential for conducting late-stage investment in R&D: business perspectives. R&D, which have shaped the structure of the report: people, infrastructure, investment, Late-stage R&D has long been viewed as a partnerships, and market environment. Each gap in public support by engineering business. of these resources is illustrated with case However, it is a crucial stage in R&D to deliver studies and explored in more detail, with innovative solutions to the market and wider recommendations to target, strengthen, scale socio-economic benefits to the UK. The report and signal support for late-stage R&D in the UK. introduces what late-stage R&D is, how late-stage R&D is conducted and outlines recommendations Find it at www.raeng.org.uk/late-stage-r-d

New Policy Fellows group workshops to help them Manager North West make rapid progress on their England, Innovate UK (UK On 30 March, the Academy chosen policy challenges. Research & Innovation) announced the six successful ■ Gerry McCafferty, applicants joining its prestigious This cohort includes: Director Policy, Foreign, Policy Fellowships programme. Commonwealth and ■ Nicola Coppen, Development Office From mid-April, the Policy Infrastructure Co-ordinator ■ Robert Skey, Head of Low Fellows have been undertaking for the Highways and Cardon Economy Unit, The the whole programme virtually, Infrastructure Department, Scottish Government completing in June. The Westminster City Council ■ Chris Thomson, Head programme includes a series of ■ Hannah Gibson, Innovation of Clyde Mission Team, development activities including Lead, Innovate UK (UK Directorate for Economic one-to-one meetings with Research and Innovation) Development, The Scottish experts, coaching sessions and ■ Rick Holland, Regional Government.

5 What does inclusive leadership look like?

On 24 June, the Academy celebrated International Women in Engineering Day (INWED) by highlighting #EngineeringHeroes.

To both celebrate the achievements of women engineers around the world and respond to the challenge, the Academy event featured Aleida show that the best solutions come from diverse Rios, Senior Vice President Engineering at bp, and teams working in inclusive cultures. Dr Loubna Bouarfa, Founder and CEO of OKRA Technologies, discussing the role of inclusive and This INWED we have also partnered with progressive leadership to drive positive change. BecomingX and Amazon to launch a new series of This is Engineering films, featuring inspiring Women are still significantly underrepresented in women engineers Ursula Burns FREng, Dame the profession. Our data shows that women are Steve Shirley CH DBE FREng and Professor Sue less likely to feel included in the workplace and Black OBE to inspire and support young people many face barriers to progression to senior roles. to become the next generation of engineers. Women who are also Black, disabled, LGBTQ+ and from low socio-economic backgrounds often For more information, visit face additional barriers. Research and experience www.raeng.org.uk/INWED

Evidence to Parliament It was introduced to the House stage for clarity or explanation of Commons in March 2021 to on existing points in the Bill. On 14 April, Professor Sir Jim establish a new independent The proposal for the new UK McDonald, Dr David Cleevely research body to fund high- research agency was previously CBE FREng and Professor Philip risk high-reward research. The outlined in Radical innovation: a Bond FREng gave evidence to UK National Academies also blueprint for a new UK research the Public Bill Committee in jointly submitted amendments and innovation funding agency, Parliament on the Advanced to highlight questions raised which can be read at Research and Invention Agency by the proposals and trigger a www.raeng.org.uk/radical- (ARIA) Bill. discussion during Committee innovation

Engineering in the climate emergency of the Young Academy of Scotland’s work on decarbonisation. On 13 May over 300 people attended a joint event with the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) to You can watch a recording of the one-hour event discuss reaching net-zero carbon emissions. on the RSE YouTube channel. Find out more about the Academy’s work to support climate Reaching net zero will mean a managed action at www.raeng.org.uk/net-zero transformation of society. Depending on how they are used, zero-emission technologies, economics Engineering Zero and behaviours could worsen or improve poverty, accessibility, health, and community life. The The Academy has also launched Engineering Zero, discussion focused on why an urgent net-zero a COP26-focused campaign that will advance transition also has be a just transition. and promote the role of engineering in achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, in line with The event was chaired by Professor Sir Jim our strategic objective to harness the power of McDonald, with an introduction from Professor engineering to build a sustainable society. Becky Lunn MBE FREng FRSE. A panel discussion and Q&A followed, with Ragne Low, an Academy Engineering Zero can be found on the Academy’s Policy Fellow and Head of Heat Planning in the digital channels, and will run throughout the Scottish Government, and Dr Leslie Mabon, months up to and beyond COP26. We are also Lecturer in Social Science at the Scottish awaiting the outcome of bids to attend COP26, Association for Marine Science (SAMS) and Chair submitted to UK government earlier this year.

6 Strengthening UK The recommendations from the resilience report are: ■ Government should embed On 20 May, the Academy a systems approach in published Critical capabilities: emergency planning and strengthening UK resilience, preparedness, looking a report that makes three across the public and practical recommendations private sector stakeholders. for government to work with ■ Government should engineers and others to build undertake an audit to map a whole-society approach to existing public, private and resilience. third sector capabilities and convening bodies against Like others, over the past year the critical capability we have been thinking about groups. how the UK can be more ■ The Civil Contingencies prepared for and resilient Secretariat, in partnership to the emergencies of the with GO-Science, should future. Emergency responses work with the Royal draw upon a range of ‘critical response to Fukushima, the Academy of Engineering capabilities’ – the people, Icelandic volcano ash cloud, and others to develop infrastructure and assets that WannaCry ransomware the critical capabilities need to be available and rapidly incident, and flooding and approach into a practical mobilised for an effective loss of electricity in Lancaster), tool for emergency response. we explore how an engineer’s planning, preparedness systems view can help identify and resilience that builds This report argues that we need critical capabilities across the on existing capabilities to see beyond the connections public, private and third sectors programmes. and capabilities that typically ahead of time, to enhance feature in disaster planning. the current approach to UK Read the full report at www. Drawing on lessons from four planning, preparedness and raeng.org.uk/publications/ past emergencies (the UK’s emergency response. reports/critical-capabilities

Education and skills

New bursary in partnership passion for computing and engineering, and an with Amazon understanding of how innovation and creativity in these fields can help solve some of the world’s In May, the Academy launched its Amazon Future greatest challenges. Engineer bursary scheme. The bursary supports women students from low-income households Twelve awards, worth £5,000 a year for up to who will be studying an eligible computer science four years, will be available to female students or related engineering course at a UK university, progressing from either A levels/Scottish Highers starting in 2021. in science, technology, engineering, or maths or full-time BTEC/OCR (or Scottish equivalent) The new bursaries, aimed at helping address technical courses such as computer science, to underrepresentation and accelerating the rate of university starting in 2021. progress, can be used to cover expenses related to attending university, including tuition fees or More information can be found at accommodation and living costs. These will help www.raeng.org.uk/afebursary support students who demonstrate a drive and

7 Lord Bhattacharyya Higher The Lord Bhattacharyya industrial secondment Education bursaries – second round scheme will be launching shortly, giving engineering lecturers and their team members The Academy has launched the second round of in further education colleges the opportunity Lord Bhattacharyya Higher Education bursaries. to spend up to 10 days upskilling themselves in industry or at industrial events. This will enable Twelve bursaries of £15,000 each are available them to gain hands-on experience of new to support students from underrepresented processes, and a greater knowledge of routes to backgrounds and low-income households with employment for their students. their studies.

STEM digital outreach Queen’s University Belfast, showcase who discussed her experiences of digital outreach during the In April, the Academy held pandemic and setting up her its annual event for Queen YouTube channel, Maths QUBe. Elizabeth Prize Ambassadors and research support Everyone who registered for programme awardees to the event was sent packs encourage early-career that included the Academy’s engineers and researchers latest STEM resources This is to become advocates and Engineering: Entertainment ambassadors for STEM and Engineering in a pandemic. disciplines. During the session, attendees Event attendees received the Academy’s explored hands-on practical Most of the 40 participants latest STEM resources activities, putting the engineers were from the UK, but the and researchers into the shoes event also had attendees from and connect them with people of young learners and offering Brazil, India and Canada. This and projects that match their inspiration for their own year, the event shifted its focus interests and schedule. outreach. to delivering virtual STEM outreach, in contrast to the Speakers included: STEM Find these resources, along with usual focus on delivering face- Learning, who helped attendees our full STEM resource selection, to-face outreach at schools to become STEM Ambassadors; at stemresources.raeng.org.uk around the country. The Prashant Raizada from Lumi, showcase was designed as a who spoke about becoming We are always seeking support taster session to give attendees a mentor for Lumi’s online and partners for our education an overview of the current state platform where young learners programmes. For more of digital outreach, share ideas work in teams to solve critical information, please contact and opportunities that they global challenges; and Myra development.team@raeng. may wish to explore further, Lydon, a Research Fellow at org.uk

Future engineering leaders chosen various stakeholders and between Academy staff, and a strong commitment to reaching and Thirty-eight students from UK higher education encouraging students from diverse backgrounds institutions have been chosen for the next cohort to apply. of the Engineering Leaders Scholarships (ELS) programme. In a considerable increase from the Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, 73 2020 round, 17 (45%) are female, 12 (32%) are from shortlisted candidates with the potential to an ethnic minority background and 6 (16%) have a become the engineering leaders of tomorrow disability. For the first time, the gender balance of were interviewed online by 22 panel members the interviewers was equal. comprised of Academy Fellows, ELS Steering Group members, Sainsbury Management These numbers are testimony to the Academy’s Fellowship alumni, Visiting Professors and ELS outreach activities, ongoing collaboration with alumni.

8 Public engagement

Nominations open for Create the Future: everything from glacier retreat 2022 QEPrize environment tracking to rainforest health. technology The Queen Elizabeth Prize Since its launch in 2019, the for Engineering (QEPrize) To celebrate Earth Day 2021, Create the Future podcast has started its search for the the QEPrize’s Create the has gone from strength to next recipients of the world’s Future podcast sat down with strength – amassing listeners in most prestigious engineering Shah Selbe, conservationist, over 115 countries and securing accolade, opening its public engineer and National interviews with some of the nominations window. Geographic Explorer, to discuss most pioneering figures in his cutting-edge, open-source STEAM including the QEPrize- This year’s nominations technological solutions that winning engineers behind the window will remain open until help conserve threatened internet, GPS and LED lighting 11.59pm BST on 31 July 2021. All species, populations and and Gitanjali Rao (2019 Global nominations will be assessed by environments. Grand Challenges speaker and an independent international 2020 TIME Magazine ‘Kid of the judging panel comprised of He discussed using GPS Year’). world-leading experts in their trackers, drones, sensors, and fields. The winner(s) will be camera traps to monitor species Listen to Create the future announced on 1 February 2022. ranging from Sri Lankan blue podcast at whales to the Congo’s lowland www.qeprize.org/podcasts To find out more, or make a gorillas. The technology has nomination, visit: been deployed in some of the To suggest future guests or www.qeprize.org/nominate harshest environments to track topics, email [email protected]

Funding for public engagement Processes, an artist-photographer and engineers projects from the University of Birmingham will show participants how to create photographic prints, In April, the Academy announced 26 new using materials engineering skills to build Ingenious public engagement awards for cameras and to create their own developers and projects that will engage the public with an emulsions. exciting variety of engineering themes. The projects are currently underway across the The scheme will reopen for applications on 30 UK, from Edinburgh to Bristol, Bangor to June, offering funding from £3,000 to £30,000 Birmingham, working with a large variety of for public engagement projects that will audiences in a rich mix of engineering areas, excite and inform the public of the wonders of including material design and sustainability. engineering, while providing engineers with skills and experience in public engagement. One of the projects is New Scots Connect, which will link engineers with new Scots, including refugees and asylum seekers and those with diverse migration backgrounds in Scotland. Engineers will support the development of transferable skills and technical English language through creative engineering-themed activities.

Many projects focus on environmental issues such as reducing plastic waste and the role of engineering in tackling climate change. In Engineering Sustainable Photographic

9 Celebrating Earth Day from medicine to sport. with This is Engineering This is Engineering would like to thank its partners for their On 22 April, This is Engineering support and the University of celebrated Earth Day with a Q&A Oxford for providing the speaker discussing how engineering can for this session. All the talks and build a sustainable future. videos from the campaign are free to use and share online. This is Engineering ambassador Olivia Sweeney, During lockdown, This is a chemical engineer whose Engineering delivered the latest work encompasses sustainable season of campaign activity using beauty, sustainable waste online channels such as Spotify, systems and circular YouTube and Venatus gaming. economies, answered students’ Inspirational films of engineers questions. Rosa Arthur, a working in fashion, music, and second-year undergraduate sustainability were shared directly studying engineering at the to teenagers and parents. Since University of Oxford, shared This is Engineering highlights launching in 2018, the campaign’s insights into what inspired her how a career in engineering films have now been viewed 54 to study engineering and her can help people meaningfully million times and received over passion for sustainability. engage to solve climate change 1.7 million engagements. When and build a greener market, surveyed before the launch of The theme for Earth Day 2021 contributing to environmental the campaign, 39% of teens was ‘Restore our Earth’ and literacy. said that they would consider a the ambassadors discussed career in engineering – now, 57% engineering’s important role in The session followed on from said that they would. creating a sustainable future, the Q&A series for This is from carbon neutral technologies Engineering Day in November To find out more about to tackling the plastics problem. 2020. The Q&As are available partnership opportunities or how This year, Earth Day is raising as resources for students you can support this campaign, the importance of education, and teachers, showing how contact Rachel Earnshaw at especially environmental literacy. engineering is in everything [email protected]

Academy roundup

Fellowship – Call for Nominations LGBT+ and disabled engineers. Deadline: 1 September 2021 ■ Candidates that have come into engineering via vocational and non-traditional routes. The Academy’s effectiveness depends critically ■ Candidates who are achieving excellence at an on the talent, energy and commitment of its earlier career stage than is typical. Fellows and the role of the Fellowship is central to ■ Candidates who work in emerging the whole membership process. technologies and new industries, including areas that are important to address major Last year the Academy launched a campaign societal challenges. aimed at delivering a Fellowship Fit for the Future by the time it celebrates its 50th anniversary Nominations can be made via the Academy’s in 2026. When considering candidates for online system, which is found in the Fellows’ nomination, please take into consideration the secure area of the Academy’s website: www. following in line with the campaign: raeng.org.uk/fellows-area ■ Candidates from underrepresented groups, Please contact the Membership team at including female, Black and minority ethnic, [email protected] with any queries.

10 Emeritus Fellows’ and his friendliness and Tribute to HRH The enthusiasm at Academy events. Prince Philip, Duke of The profound impact His Royal Edinburgh Highness had, both in the engineering profession and to On 10 June, Professor Sir Jim the Academy, could truly be felt. McDonald FREng FRSE hosted his first Emeritus Fellows’ event The event also celebrated the as Academy President, which 30th anniversary of the Prince was held virtually. Philip Medal and reflected on the extraordinary achievements Together with Dr Hayaatun of previous recipients and this Sillem CBE, a group of our year’s winner. This year, Dr Emeritus Fellows and long- Gladys West became the first standing Fellows gathered woman to receive the medal, the long-term sustainability of together to pay tribute and being recognised for her work our home at Prince Philip House honour the legacy of our late in the development of GPS. for the generations to come. Senior Fellow, HRH The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, on Sir Jim said that the Academy Fellows who have already what would have been his 100th would continue to honour shared memories and photos of birthday. Prince Philip’s legacy through meeting and working with HRH our work, the award of the have been greatly appreciated. Fellows shared very fond and Prince Philip Medal and the If you would like to submit personal memories, including development of the Prince story or to find out more about anecdotes that captured Prince Philip Fund - a fund that will the Prince Philip Fund, please Philip’s passion for engineering, exist in perpetuity to meet our contact development.team@ his terrific sense of humour critical capital needs and ensure raeng.org.uk

News of Fellows Bob Dudley has been Executive Director Award appointed a director of Freeport Sir Peter Bonfield CBE has McMoRan Inc Professor Robert Langer has been appointed to the Board of been appointed a director of Darktrace plc Anne Glover CBE FRSE has been Xenter Inc appointed to the Government’s Tudor Brown MBE has been Investment Council Professor Kai H. Luo has been appointed a Non-Executive awarded the 2021 AIAA Energy Director at Ceres Power Anne Glover and Professor Systems Award Graham Wren OBE FRSE and Lord Browne of Madingley FRS have been elected Fellows of Professor Geoff Maitland CBE has been appointed co-chair the Royal Society of Edinburgh has been awarded the IChemE of the Prime Minister’s Council Ambassador Prize for Science and Technology Professor Jim Hall has been and a Senior Advisor at General appointed Vice President of Dervilla Mitchell CBE FREng Atlantic the ICE, succeeding to the has been appointed Joint Presidency in 2024 Deputy Chair of Arup Ursula Burns has joined the Advisory Board of Icetris and Professor Nick Jennings Dr Ian Ritchey has been is a Board Advisor at Ocean CB has been appointed Vice appointed a Non-Executive Outdoor Chancellor of Loughborough Director of Tekmar Group plc University Lord Darzi is to receive an Professor David Williams been honorary degree from the Professor Karen Holford CBE elected a Fellow of the Learned University of Hong Kong FLSW has been appointed Vice- Society of Wales Chancellor of Cranfield University Professor Yulong Ding has Andrew Wolstenholme OBE has been awarded the IChemE Steve Holliday has been been appointed Group Technical Clean Energy Medal awarded The Times Non- Director at Laing O’Rourke

11 Published by the Royal Academy of Engineering @RAEngNews Prince Philip House 3 Carlton House Terrace Royal Academy of Engineering London, SW1Y 5DG Registered charity number 293074 Royal Academy of Engineering

Media roundup included an opinion piece in Forthcoming events The Engineer by working group The Academy issued a Chair Paul Taylor FREng. This is a selection of comment on the death of forthcoming Academy events. our Senior Fellow, the Duke Dr Gladys West was announced For a complete list, visit of Edinburgh, on 9 April. The as the winner of the Prince www.raeng.org.uk/events comment celebrated the Duke’s Philip medal on 10 June, which contribution to engineering and would have been the Senior 22 September 2021 the founding of the Academy Fellow’s 100th birthday. Royal AGM and was covered quite widely Fellow HRH The Princess Royal Online in the national news media presented the award virtually along with interviews with our to Gladys, filmed by ITV News 29 September 2021 current and two past presidents and shown on their lunchtime, Hinton Lecture 40th and other Fellows. Coverage 6.30pm and 10pm bulletins. anniversary included BBC Radio 4 Today Other coverage of the award Prince Philip House programme, BBC One, Daily included Hello magazine, Royal Telegraph, Daily Mail, Sunday Central and Mail Online. 23 November 2021 Express and Sunday Times. Research Forum 2021 The Academy and the Online In May the Academy published MacRobert Award were widely its Critical Capabilities report, referenced in multiple obituaries Edited by Portia Sale, Editorial which recommends steps the of Michael Parsons FREng, the Manager. Contact: government should take to last surviving first winner of [email protected] make the UK more resilient the award in 1969 as part of the to new pandemics or other Freeman, Fox and Partners team To submit News of Fellows or emergencies. Media coverage who designed the Severn Bridge. obituaries, please contact [email protected]

Obituaries died on 16 February 2021, aged died on 2 May 2021, aged 69. He 92. He was formerly CEO, was formerly Chief Engineer and Dr Ronald Punt FREng died on THORN-EMI Technology Group. Head of Systems Engineering, 23 March 2020, aged 95. He was Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft formerly Managing Director, Sir Derek Roberts CBE FREng carrier programme. Harland and Wolff Ltd. FRS died on 17 February 2021, aged 88. He was formerly provost Mr Michael Parsons FREng Mr John Holt FREng died on 1 of University College London. died on 16 May 2021 aged 92. December 2020, aged 82. He designed the Severn Bridge, Mr Stephen Bechtel Jr FREng which was awarded the first Dr Robert Frosch FREng died died on 15 March 2021, aged MacRobert Award in 1969. on 31 December 2020, aged 92. 95. He was Chairman Emeritus, He was formerly Vice President, Bechtel Group Inc. Dr Henry McDonald FREng General Motors Corp. died on 25 May 2021, aged 84. Professor Richard Parry-Jones He was formerly Distinguished Professor William Gambling CBE FREng died on 17 April 2021, Professor, Chair of Excellence FREng FRS died on 9 January aged 69. He was formerly Vice in Engineering, University of 2021, aged 94. He was Past President and Chief Technical Tennessee. President of the Institution of Officer Product Development, Engineering and Technology. Ford Motor Company. Mr Charles Barker FREng died on 5 July 2021, aged 85. He was Mr Thomas Mayer CBE FREng Dr Michael Purshouse FREng formerly a consultant at Arup.