AUTUMN 2017 ISSUE 22

DEPARTMENT OF ENGINEERING NEWS

Cambridge appoints new Professor of Innovation Page 3

Student-led designs could help prevent childhood asthma deaths Page 9

Jenni Sidey and Kayla Barron enter training to become astronauts Page 10

Cambridge hosts world’s leading conference on shaping metal Page 17 In this issue Welcome Cambridge appoints new Professor 3 I’m delighted to share with you the news that of Innovation the Department has been awarded Silver in the Postgrad makes the Telegraph’s 4 prestigious Athena SWAN scheme. ‘Top 50 Women in Engineering’ list Novel superconductor acts as portable 5 This is in recognition of the positive steps which permanent magnet we are taking to promote and support diversity in Revolutionising suspension systems 6 in motorsport engineering. You can read all about it on p11. Alumnus wins Royal Academy 7 of Engineering’s Silver Medal Poor awareness about the nature, creativity and Microfluidic-based cell culture: 8 societal relevance of engineering is one of the main is it fit for purpose? challenges to diversity, which means that many Student-led designs could help prevent 9 promising students, especially women, are not childhood asthma deaths encouraged to consider engineering. This is why Engineers enter training to become astronauts 10 improving the UK public perception of engineering Department awarded Silver in Athena 11 is one of the central objectives of the Department’s SWAN scheme Engineering Diversity initiative. Institute for Manufacturing Design 12-13 Show 2017 Call for alumni profiles Supporting high-achieving black students 14 To support this initiative, we are publishing profiles of our alumni on the Department’s Meet the energy leader of tomorrow 15 Engineering Diversity website, to help inspire potential applicants and demonstrate the exciting Cambridge takes second place 16 in construction competition final range of careers available to those who choose to study engineering. These profiles will Cambridge hosts world’s leading 17 complement our collection of staff and student profiles which we are continuing to build upon. conference on shaping metal Cause of phantom limb pain in amputees, 18 We are particularly keen to hear from women and members of groups which are currently and potential treatment, identified under-represented in engineering. If you would like to be a part of our profile series, please The engineer who keeps the clock ticking 19 answer the following questions as a starting point: Graduate becomes ‘CEO for One Month’ 20 The Seduction of Curves: new book 21 • Background – how did you get into engineering? by Allan McRobie • What are you doing now and what are your plans for the future? Women in Engineering: PhD student 22 • What motivates/interests you? Hannah Sheahan • What has helped your career? Honours, awards and prizes 23 • How have you overcome challenges/knockbacks in your career? Leaf vein structure could hold key 24 • How have you managed to balance family life/other interests with your career? to extending battery life • Do you have any advice for those who are considering studying/pursuing a career in engineering? Cover image: Dr Jenni Sidey, one of the Canadian Space Agency’s new astronauts. Credit: Canadian Space Agency. Please email your profiles, together with photos which you would be happy for us to use, to [email protected]. Editors: Jacqueline Saggers and Charlotte Hester Department of Engineering Student voices University of Cambridge During 2017-8, we will also launch a student ambassador programme to promote Trumpington Street engineering directly to school children and their advisors. We will publish video clips of our Cambridge CB2 1PZ students talking about their experiences and backgrounds on the Department’s social media Telephone: +44 (0)1223 748228 and website. Email: [email protected] www.eng.cam.ac.uk For more information, you can read the Department’s full submission and action plan for the Design: www.cantellday.co.uk Athena SWAN Silver Award by visiting www-engineeringdiversity.eng.cam.ac.uk Printing: Sudbury Print Group © 2017 University of Cambridge and Contributors Professor David Cardwell FREng as identified. The content of Department of Engineering News, with the exception of images and illustrations, is made available for non- commercial re-use in another work under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution- Find us... Non-Commercial-ShareAlike Licence (http:// creativecommons.org/licenses/bync-sa/3.0/), eng.cam.ac.uk/Twitter eng.cam.ac.uk/Facebook subject to acknowledgement of the original L F author/s, title of individual work and the University www.cam.ac.uk/YoursCambridge of Cambridge. This Licence requires any new work I eng.cam.ac.uk/LinkedIn X eng.cam.ac.uk/YouTube with an adaptation of content to be distributed and For latest news re-licensed under the same licence terms. N eng.cam.ac.uk/Flickr I eng.cam.ac.uk/Instagram www.eng.cam.ac.uk/news

2 University of Cambridge Department of Engineering Issue 22 Autumn 2017 Cambridge appoints new Professor of Innovation

Dr Tim Minshall has been appointed as the inaugural Dr John C Taylor Professor of Innovation at the University of Cambridge, a new post that will build on the University’s strengths in science, engineering and entrepreneurship.

Prior to joining Cambridge’s Institute for and technology management, both in the Manufacturing (IfM) in 2002, Dr Minshall University and in the UK more broadly. worked as a manager and then a director “The UK has long been superb at of the St John’s Innovation Centre – one of invention – the creation of new ideas – Europe’s most successful incubators for but we need to develop a generation of technology-based start-ups. Since joining engineers able to create and capture value the University, he has played a very active from these new ideas, and provide these role in the development of innovation and innovators with the capabilities to respond technology management activities throughout to future challenges and opportunities

the University. He also works closely with throughout their careers,” he said. “This www.johnctaylor.com Credit: companies in the Cambridge cluster, the requires us to take a much more joined-up, n (L-R): Dr John C Taylor, Dr Tim Minshall, largest and most successful technology long term view of technology, management Professor Andy Neely. cluster in Europe. He has been involved in a and policy issues.” broad range of regional and national policy “We’re working very hard to make sure the popular Corpus Chronophage Clock, activities to support innovation. that we end up with technologies that positioned outside the Taylor Library at “This professorship presents an change the way the world works,” said Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, which extraordinary opportunity to address how Professor Andy Neely, Pro-Vice-Chancellor has now become one of the city’s most we define and develop the innovation skills for Enterprise and Business Relations. popular tourist attractions. and capabilities of engineers so they can The new professorship has been made The new professorship, which has address economic and social needs: a possible thanks to a generous donation of been endowed in perpetuity, will combine challenge that has become critical for the £2.5million from Dr John C Taylor OBE, one teaching and research to ensure young UK given the current global economic and of the most successful British inventors of engineers combine innovation with political context,” said Dr Minshall. the last 50 years. practicality when approaching design. In addition to his research in technology “You’ve got to have people who move Professor David Cardwell, Head of and innovation management, Dr Minshall the world forward: innovation is essential the Department of Engineering, said: “We is also a committed teacher and supporter to trade, industry and the economy,” said are extremely grateful for this generous of engineering outreach to the public. He Dr Taylor. “I trust that the new professor benefaction from Dr John C Taylor and teaches undergraduate and postgraduate of innovation will help people actually honoured that this professorship will not students at the University, runs outreach create and do things that will improve the only bear the name of such a distinguished programmes with local schools, and world. The British are renowned for their inventor and engineer, but will help future mentors students and researchers to creativity but all too often their invention is generations to follow in his footsteps.” develop their public engagement skills. commercialised by other countries.” “The development of future engineers Having continued to innovate is at the heart of my work,” he said. throughout his life, Dr Taylor now has R In his new role, Dr Minshall will continue over 400 patents to his name. In 2008, he www.eng.cam.ac.uk/profiles/thwm100 to build on his strengths in innovation created and donated to his former college www.ifm.eng.cam.ac.uk

Issue 22 Autumn 2017 University of Cambridge Department of Engineering 3 Postgraduate makes the Telegraph’s ‘Top 50 Women in Engineering’ list

Nikita Hari, who is pursuing future by meeting the world’s ever increasing a PhD in Electrical energy demands along with energy savings. Nikita was also shortlisted as a ‘Forbes It’s a matter“ of pride for me Engineering, becomes the 30 under 30 UK Finalist’ and ‘Hult Prize personally to be on this list. first University of Cambridge Finalist’ earlier in the year. Coming from a conventional student and Indian citizen to Nikita said: “I’m incredibly honoured and background and a developing humbled to be featured in the Telegraph’s country like India, I’ve had make the Telegraph’s ‘Top 50 ‘Top 50 Women in Engineering’ list in the to break glass ceilings and Women in Engineering’ list. amazing company of top women engineers shatter many stereotypes to in the UK. get to where I am now. “It’s a matter of pride for me personally Compiled by the Telegraph in collaboration to be on this list. Coming from a conventional Nikita Hari, PhD Electrical Engineering with the Women’s Engineering Society background and a developing country like (WES), the list features the UK’s top rising India, I’ve had to break glass ceilings and female stars of engineering. This year’s list shatter many stereotypes to get to where focused on women aged 35 and under — to I am now. highlight and encourage them to become “I firmly believe that whatever your future leaders in the industry. gender or socio-economic political Nikita, who is undertaking her PhD background, you should find your way, and at Churchill College, focuses on making that self-motivation through my experience systems called ‘Power Electronic Converters’ and my circumstances have brought me to with novel devices called ‘GaN’, which can where I am today.” efficiently convert and conserve power. Nikita is now committed to encouraging ‘Gallium Nitride’ devices (2014 Nobel prize) others, especially young women and girls have the potential to jump-start the next to pursue their dreams. Her vision to uplift R generation of smaller, faster, lighter, cheaper society through education and technology www.eng.cam.ac.uk/profiles/nh416 and more efficient power converters — has seen her become Co-founder of two Watch Nikita’s reaction to making the list: helping to create a more sustainable energy social tech start-ups: Wudi and Favalley. youtu.be/ufbOyg1hlGA

4 University of Cambridge Department of Engineering Issue 22 Autumn 2017 n A bulk superconductor levitated by Novel superconductor acts a permanent magnet as portable permanent magnet

A team led by Dr John Durrell, areas, too,” Durrell explained. “There is a to get it to work but for this kind of portable University Lecturer in the Bulk lot coming together to make this possible.” system. Before we were using conventional While large industrial-size superconducting Superconductivity Group, superconducting magnets to charge our systems do generate a 20-tesla magnetic bulks. This will make access to these high has demonstrated a portable field, Durrell’s 3-tesla magnetic field is new fields cheaper and more practical.” superconducting magnetic for a portable system. Advances in cheaper, more efficient Durrell and his team were curious system that can act as a high- cooling – the cryogenic system – were also about what they could do as they looked key for Durrell and the team’s research. performance substitute for at Weinstein’s work just a few years For both the magnetic field charging and a conventional permanent earlier. Weinstein demonstrated that with sustaining phases, it is necessary to keep magnet and can attain a 3-tesla conventional external electromagnetic pulsing the superconducting sample cool or else of a medium, it was possible to ‘capture’ a the superconductivity gives out. Recently, level for the magnetic field. magnetic field in a superconductor using a the private sector has come up with much smaller external magnetic field than cryogenic systems that are cheap and light, previously thought possible. The Weinstein and Durrell used a cooling system from Durrell said his team’s work in large part investigation used yttrium barium copper US firm Sunpower. According to Durrell, evolved from the innovative findings oxide (YBCO) doped with uranium and this lightness and relative low cost could of University of Houston physicist subject to an irradiation treatment. Durrell’s make portable superconductivity in various Roy Weinstein, who has shown how team looked for a less expensive material and products a real possibility. conventional electromagnets and pulsed chose gadolinium barium cuprate, without Durrell and his team are planning for field magnetisation can be used to activate uranium doping. more testing for more magnetic power superconducting magnetic fields which Difan Zhou, team investigator and lead and overall efficiency. They have received are ‘captured’ and sustained as part of author of the paper, came up with the idea significant support from Boeing for this a superconductive arrangement. This of extending Weinstein’s findings and the investigation, and Durrell feels it is a strong avoids the requirement for large expensive research, which took just short of two years example of what a company and an superconducting magnets to ‘activate’ such to do, has paid off. academic lab can do when they team up for portable systems. Also key, Durrell pointed “It was a surprise to us that we managed basic research. out, is that his team capitalised on other to see in a not-quite-so-cutting-edge- new and cheaper technologies, especially material the same giant flux leap effect as for cooling. Roy Weinstein demonstrated,” Durrell said. R “The leap with advances in cryogenics, “The key thing that made this possible is www.eng.cam.ac.uk/profiles/jhd25 allows you to do interesting things in other that we have looked at what Roy has done bulk-sucon.eng.cam.ac.uk

Issue 22 Autumn 2017 University of Cambridge Department of Engineering 5 How Cambridge research helped revolutionise suspension systems in motorsport

Academics from around the world descended upon the University of Cambridge for a special workshop held in honour of Professor Malcolm Smith’s contribution to control systems.

Hosted by Gonville & Caius College in in the road, whereas the handling behaviour is Hoult (who was supervised by Dr David celebration of Professor Smith’s 60th the response to driver inputs such as steering, Cole) who took charge of the algorithm birthday, the Workshop on Networks and accelerating and braking. development at McLaren. Control was organised by the Department Professor Smith said:“When Panos of Engineering and sponsored by McLaren. began his PhD under my supervision The solution It included presentations from Cambridge back in 2008, we looked carefully, in “It took a number of years of effort working academics, former students, as well as collaboration with our sponsor McLaren, on prototype vehicles and subsequent road experts from universities in Japan, the at the problem of controlling the car under testing in order to get to the stage when the United States and Germany. arbitrary and simultaneous excitation from algorithm was finally ready for a production Malcolm Smith, Professor in Control both types of exogenous inputs: road vehicle. British auto racing driver Chris Engineering and a Fellow of Caius, is undulations and driver inputs. The inputs Goodwin, who is currently Chief Test Driver well known for his invention of a vehicle have different character, and affect the for McLaren Automotive, was the one who suspension device called an inerter, which vehicle in different ways. We modelled the got to test the car and the simulation results is now a standard component in Formula 1 road inputs stochastically and the driver from the beginning were very positive – we suspensions and widely used in motorsport. inputs deterministically. knew we were on to a winner! Revealed at the workshop was Professor “The 720S was also tested by McLaren Smith’s contributions to a technology which The challenge in a wide range of motoring conditions, has been utilised in the latest McLaren “The most difficult part of the control ranging from Death Valley and the snows supercar – the 720S. The suspension system problem is that the control input (the of Colorado and the Alps to a bumpy is termed ‘semi-active’ since it makes use adjustable damper rate) enters the problem roundabout near Woking. The roundabout of continuously adjustable dampers which non-linearly. Nevertheless, we did succeed offered a combination of demanding are controlled by a computer in real time. in deriving a control law for a suitable handling and an uneven road surface, The system employs a new algorithm, which performance criterion that incorporated all permitting testing of the algorithm’s ability to Professor Smith developed with his former the important attributes: body accelerations, find a balance between comfort and control.” PhD student Dr Panos Brezas. In honour of tyre forces etc. his birthday, the McLaren 720S was displayed “The next challenge arose because our at the College during the workshop. algorithm relied on ‘state feedback’, but not Although semi-active systems are not all components of the car’s state are directly R new in themselves, the algorithm developed measurable. An observer of special type www.eng.cam.ac.uk/profiles/mcs1000 by the pair has achieved a big step forward had to be developed to take account of the www-control.eng.cam.ac.uk/Main/ Workshop9 in performance by simultaneously optimising two types of disturbance on the vehicle. the car’s ride and handling response. The ride “We were very fortunate to work with Watch the McLaren 720S in action: behaviour is the car’s response to undulations a former Cambridge PhD student Dr Will youtu.be/Z5haBAzgp7Y

6 University of Cambridge Department of Engineering Issue 22 Autumn 2017 ALUMNI UPDATE Alumnus wins Royal Academy of Engineering’s Silver Medal

Alumnus Billy Boyle, Founder and CEO of Owlstone Medical, a diagnostics company developing a breathalyser for disease, has been awarded the Royal Academy of Engineering’s prestigious Silver Medal.

The award recognises engineer Billy’s work 2016, the company has raised $23.5 million, Owlstone Medical’s Breath Biopsy in spearheading the development of the including investment from Aviva Ventures, platform is highly sensitive and selective, company’s Breath Biopsy platform and the venture capital arm of global insurance and has the potential to revolutionise early driving a vision to save 100,000 lives and firm Aviva, validating the importance of the detection and precision medicine where $1.5 billion in healthcare costs. technology for the future development of treatment can be tailored to the individual Established in 1994, the Royal Academy healthcare. As CEO, Billy leads a team of patient. With the world’s largest breath- of Engineering’s Silver Medal acknowledges 88 scientists and engineers based on the based clinical trials, Billy and his team are outstanding and demonstrated personal Cambridge Science Park. pioneering the field of breath biomarkers, contribution to British engineering Owlstone Medical is running breath demonstrating how they can get the right which has resulted in successful market based trials for early detection of lung and treatment, to the right patient, at the right exploitation. Billy’s pioneering work has colorectal cancer, two of the most common time, ultimately reducing treatment costs been recognised when he received the cancer killers worldwide. Half the population and saving lives. Royal Academy of Engineering’s prestigious will get cancer at some point in their lives Billy Boyle says: “Every time you Silver Medal on Thursday June 29 at the but early detection can dramatically improve breathe out there are thousands of Academy Awards dinner in London. survival rates. If detected early over half chemicals on your breath; some are tell- Initially developed for military applications, of lung cancer patients and 93% of colon tale markers of disease, which our Breath the Owlstone technology is a miniature cancer patients can be cured with treatments Biopsy platform is able to detect. Our chemical sensor on a silicon chip, based that exist today. vision is to change the way we currently on a technique called Field Asymmetric Ion Working with clinical and pharmaceutical diagnose and monitor serious disease; we Mobility Spectrometry (FAIMS). Spun out of partners, Billy has demonstrated the aim to be become the global leader in the Cambridge University in 2004, Owlstone Inc. diagnostic power of FAIMS across a range non-invasive early detection and precision grew into a profitable business, winning >$25 of infectious and inflammatory diseases as medicine for cancer, infectious disease and million in defense contracts, and providing well as different types of cancer. In 2015 he inflammatory disease.” FAIMS technology for a range of military and led a project that resulted in the LuCID trial, industrial applications globally. a 3,000 patient study looking to develop The last year has been transformational a cancer breathalyser for early stage lung R for Owlstone Medical; having spun out from cancer detection, supported by a £1.1 million www.owlstonemedical.com its parent company Owlstone Inc. in March NHS contract. www.raeng.org.uk

Issue 22 Autumn 2017 University of Cambridge Department of Engineering 7 w

n Research students Ye Liu and Lizzie Gill Microfluidic-based cell culture: can be seen imaging living human cells in a thumb-sized microfluidic chip under is it fit for purpose? a light microscope

Bioscientist attitudes towards the future of microfluidics-based 3D culture technology and the search for their ‘ideal’ model have been revealed in a new research survey conducted by the Department of Engineering.

Organ-on-a-chip and vasculature-on-a- researchers expressed a clear interest on human derived cells rather than animal chip are examples of microfluidics-based in adopting microfluidic culture, either tests. This is because the latter are not 3D cell/tissue culture models which are performing it by themselves (50%) or with suited as a reference model for validation. created with microchip manufacturing collaborators (35.7%). “We hope that the results of our methods that arrange living cells to But the more complex the system, survey can be used as a type of ‘quality simulate tissues and organs. the greater the time needed for system check’ with regards to the functionality But a new research survey from installation and associated training needs. of 3D culture options and as a means the point of view of the end users – the Of the researchers surveyed, 61.9% of encouraging standardisation to be a biomedical community (including industrial indicated they would like to see the pathway for regulatory change. scientists)1 – has shown that a ‘significant completion of the preliminary training and “In order to achieve the ideal 3D culture gap’ exists between the desired systems setting up of a 3D culture platform within model and broader uptake, we believe a and the existing 3D culture options. four weeks. more ‘killer application’ may need to be The research, led by Dr Yan Yan Shery The survey showed that advanced- showcased; one which achieves the level Huang, Lecturer in Bioengineering, revealed career researchers (18 out of 42), with of ‘baseline’ complexity that the biomedical that those surveyed (42) had expressed more than seven years of experience in researchers desire, as well as improved concern that the reliability, functionality their fields, have higher expectations for system reproducibility, functionality and and validation of engineered tissues may the complexity, physiological relevance user friendliness. Any hesitation to do so prevent the uptake of new cell culture of a 3D culture system, and expressed may be a hurdle for new culture systems technologies, but that these obstacles interest in customisable products. to be accepted as valuable tools for should be overcome by future 3D models. Dr Huang and her co-authors Elisabeth fundamental biomedical research and drug Microfluidics often require specific Gill and Ye Liu believe this stark contrast screening in an industrial context.” training, ‘in-house recipes’ and can involve with the preferences of early-career complicated external setups such as researchers, points to the need for greater syringe pumps. The challenge, therefore, consideration in the design and marketing 1 A total of 42 researchers completed the questionnaire. They include 15 research group lies in simplifying user operation, while of 3D culture systems. leaders, 24 lab-based researchers and three ensuring that future microfluidics continue “Interesting microfluidic models have industrial scientists. Their research covers to create possibilities for tissue engineering been engineered, such as organ- and areas including cancer, neuroscience, stem cell, toxicology, endocrinology and ageing. and next generation drug testing. vasculature-on-a-chip, but microfluidics When questioned about their usage of are not without their weaknesses. Our 3D culture systems, such as microfluidic survey is a first example to take a look at chips, the majority of the researchers the potential use of microfluidic cell culture surveyed did not have previous technology among biomedical researchers, experience (only 7.1% were familiar with at a time when there is a clear drive R this technique). However, 85.7% of the towards more predictive models based www.eng.cam.ac.uk/profiles/yysh2

8 University of Cambridge Department of Engineering Issue 22 Autumn 2017 , Students from Wimbledon High School at the British Paediatric Respiratory Society conference

Student-led designs could help prevent childhood

asthma deaths Lloyd Mann Credit:

Solutions designed by secondary school students as part of an innovative classroom design and technology programme could help reduce the number of unnecessary deaths from childhood asthma.

The programme, called Designing Our include a pack shaped like a cat where the the most from, and it involved collaborating Tomorrow, was founded by researchers at inhalers become mice that are stored in a with an unusual partner for the NHS.” the University of Cambridge, and brings smaller box shaped like a wedge of cheese; Each of the students was given all of real-world problems into classroom design and a folding pack that can hang on a door the tools which a child with asthma or their and technology sessions in secondary for easy access at home but can be quickly carer would need to manage their condition, schools, and encouraging the next zipped up and put in a bag to take out. including inhalers, spacers, and emergency generation of UK designers and engineers. Several of the designs have been made instructions. Through a set of classroom As part of their classroom curriculum, into initial prototypes by UK packaging lessons, the students’ way of thinking was students from different secondary schools company DS Smith, with the aim of piloting developed in order to help them understand have been learning about what makes an them in partnership with the NHS in London how to be creative by breaking fixation effective and useful design. Their goal was through the Healthy London Partnership. through the use of stimulus. to design a type of packaging which would “It has been great doing something Fixation is a common problem in design contain everything a young child with asthma which is able to change and improve – for example, if you’re trying to design a would need, whether they’re at home, at children’s lives and help them get better,” new type of chair and all you’re shown are school or elsewhere; and one which would said Sascha, aged 12 from Wimbledon other chairs, you’ll just end up designing a help reduce anxiety of children with asthma High, one of the students who presented variant of what already exists. “If I want to by using child-friendly design themes. her design at the conference. design a new chair, the last thing I should “In other words, we want to make it Asthma affects one in 11 children in the look at is a chair,” said Bill Nicholl from fun,” said Ian Hosking of Cambridge’s UK. On average, there are three children Cambridge’s Faculty of Education, who Department of Engineering, who co- with asthma in every classroom in the UK, co-leads the DOT programme. leads the Designing Our Tomorrow (DOT) and a child is admitted to hospital every 20 The students from Wimbledon High also programme, in collaboration with the minutes due to an asthma attack. gained valuable experience working with Faculty of Education. “We want to re-frame This DOT project has focused industry by working with DS Smith, who what education can be – projects like these specifically on asthma in children under six will help refine the students’ concepts into start to form a broader evidence base of years of age. It addresses the anxiety that something that can be manufactured what’s possible.” a child feels in the early stages of treatment in large volumes. Five of the best designs were presented and the co-ordination of the equipment and “I feel like I am doing something for by students from Wimbledon High School their instructions to help ensure compliance a purpose and it makes me feel happy GDST at the British Paediatric Respiratory with their treatment plan. that I am helping people,” said Charlotte, Society conference on Friday June 30 “DOT is a fascinating project which aims aged 11. “I feel accomplished and proud in Cambridge. to bring real-world problems into classroom of what I have done because it was a long Students were not merely designing design and technology sessions in process but it was all worth it.” packaging but an experience. Themes secondary schools,” said Sara Nelson from included a monkey character where the the Healthy London Partnership. “It’s one inhaler and spacer become a banana of the more rewarding pieces of work that I R that the child can ‘feed’ the monkey with have had the pleasure of being involved in www.eng.cam.ac.uk/profiles/imh29 and then copy themselves. Other themes during the last year, the one I have learned www.education.designingourtomorrow.com

Issue 22 Autumn 2017 University of Cambridge Department of Engineering 9 Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls Credit: Canadian Space Agency Credit:

n ABOVE LEFT: Kayla Barron Cambridge engineers enter training ABOVE RIGHT: Dr Jenni Sidey during the to become astronauts second series of aptitude tests

Dr Jenni Sidey, Lecturer in Internal Combustion Engines, and alumna Kayla Barron, who achieved a Master’s degree in Nuclear Engineering, have both been recruited as astronauts this summer.

Dr Sidey was chosen as one of two new and when she came back to earth I was astronauts by the Canadian Space Agency, fortunate enough to see her speak in Back in 1992, Roberta Bondar following a year-long evaluation. Gates Calgary. I remember looking up to her, being “ Cambridge Scholar Lieutenant Barron excited at the idea of being a scientist, being flew on the Space Shuttle (Peterhouse 2011) joined NASA from the U.S. a Canadian and having the opportunity to Discovery and when she came Naval Academy, where she has been serving explore places beyond our world. back to earth I was fortunate as the flag aide to the superintendent. “So today I’m grateful to have had that enough to see her speak in Dr Sidey has relocated to Houston, Texas, role model, and that memory makes this Calgary. I remember looking to start the two-year Astronaut Candidate moment so powerful for me as a woman up to her, being excited at the Training Program at the Johnson Space and as a Canadian.” idea of being a scientist, being Center as a member of the 2017 NASA While at Cambridge, Kayla – a qualified a Canadian and having the astronaut class, alongside Kayla Barron. submarine warfare officer – conducted opportunity to explore places The programme includes scientific research on modelling the fuel cycle for a beyond our world. and technical briefings, intensive instruction next generation, thorium-fuelled nuclear in International Space Station (ISS) systems, reactor concept. Dr Jenni Sidey simulated extravehicular activities (EVAs, or Speaking at the NASA astronaut spacewalks), robotics, physiological training, Announcement Ceremony from Johnson flight training, Russian language courses, Space Center, Kayla said: “I think we and sea and wilderness survival training. (the Astronaut Candidates) all share the Dr Sidey is one of the Department’s common bond of having come from some ambassadors for Engineering Diversity. She amazing teams that really challenge us. helped form Cambridge Robogals in 2014, “For me, I’m a submarine warfare an international, not-for-profit, student-run officer so I was lucky enough to be part of organisation that aims to increase female the navy’s team that operates in confined participation in STEMM. It does this through spaces with limited resources in the hostile fun and educational initiatives aimed at girls environment of the ocean, so I think there R in primary and secondary school. are definitely a few parallels with what www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/astronauts/ Addressing the crowds on Parliament Hill astronauts are doing on the space station canadian/active/bio-jennifer-sidey.asp www-engineeringdiversity.eng.cam.ac.uk on the day her position was announced, and what we’ll need to learn how to do in robogals.org Dr Sidey said: “Back in 1992, Roberta order to be successful on long duration, www.nasa.gov/astronauts/biographies/ Bondar flew on the Space Shuttle Discovery deep space exploration missions.” barron-kayla

10 University of Cambridge Department of Engineering Issue 22 Autumn 2017 , PhD student Charlotte Coles sets up an experiment in the supersonic wind tunnel in the Baker Building Credit: Canadian Space Agency Credit:

Positive steps taken by the Department of Engineering to promote a culture in which all staff and students feel valued, respected and supported, have been acknowledged by the Athena SWAN scheme.

The Silver Award honours the significant consulted widely about the development progress the Department has made of the submission and action plan. Achieving the Silver Award since it received the Bronze Award in “ shows potential staff and 2013 and recognises the Department’s Department achievements that have students that we are committed comprehensive plan to ensure that this been officially recognised by the Silver to creating a supportive and progress is sustained. Award include: The Equality Challenge Unit’s Athena inclusive working environment. • The appointment of four new female SWAN Charter is a national scheme originally lecturers and a female professor in the Professor David Cardwell, established to support and advance past 12 months. This is highly significant Head of Department women’s careers in STEMM subjects – given the low proportion of academic science, technology, engineering, maths women engineers currently in the sector and medicine. The scheme was recently expanded to address gender equality more • The introduction of a peer mentoring identify priorities and to produce an action broadly, rather than just focusing on barriers scheme for new researchers which is helping plan to address these challenges. to progression for women. to improve the experience of postdocs “Achieving the Silver Award shows To better reflect the expansion of the potential staff and students that we are • An increase in the proportion of women Athena SWAN Charter and help promote committed to creating a supportive and who are admitted to the Tripos and the inclusivity in the Department more broadly, inclusive working environment. It also year-on-year growth in the proportion the Women in Engineering initiative will enhances our grant-winning potential: of women awarded firsts at BA level be known as ‘Engineering Diversity’. some government bodies require research and distinctions in the MEng While a focus will remain on improving partners to hold a Silver Award – and the experience of women in engineering, • The positive impact the Women in now we can say that the Department of it is hoped that Engineering Diversity Engineering initiative has had on Engineering is one of them.” will encourage more members of the increasing the visibility of female Over the next three years, the SAT Department to get involved in the initiative. engineers, overcoming subconscious will carry out an action plan which aims The Silver Award submission and related bias and providing role models, as to continue to improve the working initiatives are co-ordinated through the demonstrated by the Inspirational Women environment for all members of the Department’s Athena SWAN Self-Assessment Engineers poster competition currently Department, as well as raising the public Team (SAT). This group is led by Head of displayed outside the Department’s library. consciousness of engineering as an exciting Department, Professor David Cardwell and and diverse discipline. Deputy Head of Department (Teaching), Professor David Cardwell said: “To Dr Claire Barlow, supported by Secretary achieve the Silver Award, the SAT undertook R to the Faculty Board, Madeline McKerchar. an honest appraisal of the Department www.ecu.ac.uk/equality-charters/athena- The SAT also includes an academic using data from the 2015 staff survey and swan ‘champion’ from each Division, plus many other sources plus feedback from www-womeninengineering.eng.cam.ac.uk postdoc and student members, who staff and students. This enabled the SAT to www.eng.cam.ac.uk/profiles/dc135

Issue 22 Autumn 2017 University of Cambridge Department of Engineering 11 Institute for Manufacturing Design Show 2017

The Institute for Manufacturing’s (IfM) 2017 Design Show challenges Manufacturing Engineering Tripos (MET) students to develop a new product, with real business potential.

Teams of three or four students in the first year of the two-year MET course have spent the past year working on their projects. Having first identified a customer need, they then researched the market, developed original design concepts and created a full business plan. The students are also encouraged to produce and show working prototypes wherever possible. The MET course is a programme for 3rd and 4th-year Engineering students who have successfully completed the first two years of an engineering degree. The 2017 projects are outlined below, summarised by the students in their own words:

n Slabstic Team (from left): Sarah Wolman, Sam Ellwood, Jack Bennett, Alkistis Kyriakopoulos. Slabstic medium of wax in order to bridge the before being distributed to consumers. Slabstic is a super low-cost process educational gap that exists between for manufacturing volume-efficient the manufacturing industry and school WEB Composites paving slabs to improve the standard curriculums around the country. of living in refugee camps and other Educational and exciting to watch, WaxWorks has adopted a service off-grid areas, entirely on-site, using the WEB composites weaving machine business model, delivering value entirely only plastic waste and other readily scales down an industrial process, through the workshops that we host with available materials. and allows it to be used in design our unique production kit. The WaxWorks studios and universities. The basic principle is simple: plastic and kit resembles a real life manufacturing sand are stirred and heated inside an production line and consists of a storage This is especially relevant for design oil drum (which can be easily found in module, a melting module, adaptable enthusiasts who have a natural curiosity most areas), and this mixture is then put casting moulds, a freezing module and towards studying and examining into a mould. The plastic melts and acts a drilling module. mechanical processes. WEB Composites as a binder which adheres to the sand, also targets universities and educational forming a very strong material. Starting institutions that value the importance of from this basic concept of casting EcoButts the practical aspect to learning and strive the slab, our research has focused on EcoButts has designed, tested and to offer well-rounded knowledge and optimising the process for efficiency and manufactured a greener filter for experiences to their students. practicality in the face of low-resource cigarettes that is non-toxic, made from manufacturing environments. natural materials and biodegrades D6 Modular Shelving Solution The slabs will be produced on site, in the within six months to ease the case of refugee camps, within the camp environmental problems caused by This project provides a new end-of- by the refugees themselves, using only current filters. life recycling solution; transforming materials found where they live. waste paper into furniture such as Our filters are made from a natural fibre bookshelves and coffee tables. blend of flax, hemp and cotton, with WaxWorks charcoal additions to ensure the filter The overall vision was to produce a remains a powerful barrier to the toxic product that could act as an end-of-life WaxWorks aims to demonstrate design substances in cigarettes. They will be solution for waste paper before it is no and manufacturing processes using the wrapped in organic hemp rolling papers longer a viable material.

12 University of Cambridge Department of Engineering Issue 22 Autumn 2017 Plarn Plarn Co. has developed an original, innovative system to automate the recycling of hazardous waste plastic bags by spinning them into a fine, strong, weaveable yarn.

The end solution is a modular machine, to be distributed as a kit, which in turn cuts, tensions and spins the bag into yarn.

ReFuse ReFuse is an educational recycling machine designed to inspire the next generation of engineers and scientists. Bringing industrial processes into the classroom, ReFuse converts plastic milk bottles into fusible beads. n ReFuse Team (from left): Jenny Shepherd, James Porter, Luka Novovic, Cheri Chung

ReFuse offers a hands-on demonstration of a recycling process, making learning engaging, memorable and enjoyable. Unlike traditional classroom learning, which rarely links to real-world applications, our equipment allows the demonstration of concepts used every day in industry. To achieve this, we have focused on downsizing a large-scale extrusion process to a level that can be explored in the classroom. Focusing on recycling milk bottles (material: HDPE) into fusible beads, ReFuse can be used as the centre of interactive lessons and workshops to introduce children to materials science and manufacturing.

n BotTile Team (from left): Alice Kavanagh, Akos Fenemore, Ekaterina Essina, Hampton Guo Shen Tao The Big Picture and the planet before profits. We engage Sunlight is reflected onto a distillation Aimed at individual consumers and multiple stakeholders: those who live in chamber using a parabolic mirror, and businesses in the food and beverage inadequate housing, those who earn a this energy is then used to boil dirty industry, this is art revolutionised. living by salvaging waste for sale, and water. Pure water will evaporate, which By reusing wine-stained corks, those who aspire to build small businesses. is then collected in a container through our machine creates spectacular, condensation for personal use. personalised, contemporary artwork The long term vision of BotTile Inc whilst upcycling waste. is to improve global housing through The product is built to a size catered better roofing, while enabling economic specifically towards five-person Our overall aim has been to create a empowerment and promoting social households, although the modular design working prototype that successfully mobility. means that our product can easily be produces a 30x30 cork piece of art. scaled up or down.

H2Flow BotTile The Still2Flow is an innovative solar BotTile is a machine that repurposes water still, used to purify water in waste PET bottles into roof tiles, economically underdeveloped villages. R therefore giving people living in By partnering with water-based www.ifm.eng.cam.ac.uk/education/met/ inadequate housing a chance to organisations, we aim to impact as design improve their quality of life. many families as possible. View all the photos from the Design Our business is founded on principles of The basic technology behind the Show: www.flickr.com/photos/ sustainable development and puts people Still2Flow is simple to keep costs low. cambridgeuniversity-engineering/albums

Issue 22 Autumn 2017 University of Cambridge Department of Engineering 13 n Undergraduates via Target Oxbridge (L-R): Supporting high-achieving Timi Sotire, Bez Adeosun, Michael Harvey (Engineering), Daniel Oluboyede, Leah Grant black students and Fopé Jegede.

The University is sponsoring Target Oxbridge, a free programme which aims to increase successful undergraduate applications from black students.

Target Oxbridge provides 16–18 year old That’s what Target Oxbridge is about”. black African and Caribbean students with Jon Beard, Cambridge’s Head Anyone with the right attitude positive role models and practical advice. of Undergraduate Recruitment, said: “ The development programme runs over the “We’re delighted to be strengthening can achieve and excel here. course of a year and involves residential our relationship with Rare through our My advice for people thinking visits and academic sessions. When they sponsorship of Target Oxbridge, and look of applying would be to put visit Cambridge, participants will have an forward to welcoming to Cambridge more in the work because the rewards immersive experience of life at the university, of the high-achieving aspirational black are more than worth it. including taking part in tutorials and meeting students that the programme supports. both staff and current students. The University and the Colleges are Michael Harvey, Engineering student Since 2012, 46 Target Oxbridge committed to widening participation by students have already gone on to receive raising aspirations and attainment. Working offers from the two universities. Eleven with partners including the Sutton Trust, former participants are currently studying The Brilliant Club and Target Oxbridge is an at Cambridge and have welcomed the important part of our approach.” attitude can achieve and excel here. My new sponsorship. Michael Harvey, an Engineering student advice for people thinking of applying would The University’s support, alongside at Homerton College, said: “Coming from a be to put in the work because the rewards Oxford’s, will help Target Oxbridge to background in which you weren’t expected are more than worth it.” expand its places from 45 to 60 in 2018, to study at a place like Cambridge and double the number available in 2016. then making it here gives a constant feeling The programme is run by Rare, a of accomplishment. To know that you’re specialist diversity recruitment company, working among some of the best thinkers of and its patron is Cambridge alumna, Zadie the future, to know you’re at that level and Smith, who has previously said: “Going to to be encouraged to push even further is Cambridge changed my life. Nothing I have great. Once you’re here the sky is really the R done would have been possible without it. limit, anything is achievable. www.targetoxbridge.co.uk I want more people from backgrounds like “It may seem a daunting task to get in www.undergraduate.study.cam.ac.uk/find- mine to have that life-changing experience. from the outside, but anyone with the right out-more/widening-participation

14 University of Cambridge Department of Engineering Issue 22 Autumn 2017 ALUMNI UPDATE Meet the energy leader of tomorrow

Engineering alumnus Faraz Ahmad (Churchill 2006) has been selected by the World Energy Council onto its exclusive Future Energy Leaders programme.

Faraz is one of just 37 participants globally response and prosumers (producer/ proven very useful to my career, as I have to have secured a place on the FEL-100 consumer), as well as the potential dealt with a wide range of technologies and programme designed to inspire, grow impact on energy efficiency following applications. Understanding the engineering and develop the world’s energy leaders the implementation of these concepts. fundamentals behind each application is of tomorrow. In particular, the taskforce will analyse a skill that I have had to apply to a host of Currently living in the United States, the role of information and communication problems. These include areas linked to my Faraz now works as an Operations technologies in energy efficiency specialisation such as communications, Director for GE Oil & Gas. He hopes management by reviewing existing controls and robotics but also wider through his work with the World Energy implementation and adaptation of engineering fields of power generation, Council to inspire students to pursue a efficiency concepts. The objective materials and manufacturing processes. career in the energy sector. will be a final publication on the future potential, both in terms of magnitude Describe your career since graduation Faraz, what does it mean to you to and geographical spread. This is a My fourth year MEng project was completed have been selected to take up a place fantastic fit for my education and in collaboration with Cambridge Silicon on the FEL-100 programme? experience across engineering, Radio plc (now acquired by Qualcomm), I’m tremendously honoured and humbled electronics and the energy sector. who were a semiconductor company to have been selected as one of the 37 providing wireless chips for mobile phones global candidates for the Future Energy What did you enjoy the most about and consumer electronics. This led to a Leader programme of the World Energy your studies at Cambridge and how permanent role based in Cambridge. In Council. This is a one-year appointment has this helped you in your career? 2011, I joined GE Energy and completed with the possibility of renewal for up to I studied Engineering at Cambridge and several assignments across multiple three years. It is an opportunity for me to completed Electrical and Information industries in different countries; power contribute to the World Energy Council’s Sciences during my Part II Tripos, generation, renewables, grids, rail, mining mission and be part of a unique platform graduating in 2006. I spent my third year and marine. I was the Strategy Director for of energy professionals to help shape as part of the Cambridge-MIT Exchange the Subsea Systems and Drilling business future energy solutions and frameworks. where I studied at MIT, completing classes unit of GE Oil & Gas in 2013. Last year, I I’m excited at the opportunity to build in Electronic Engineering, Computer was accepted onto GE’s newly formed on the creative ideas from the network Science and also Management at the MIT Accelerated Leadership Programme. I and the innovative potential we have as Sloan School of Management. relocated to Houston, USA, to manage participants to challenge conventional I really enjoyed the intellectual operations in the offshore drilling business thinking and explore new strategies. It challenge of solving real world problems. which manufacture and service Blow Out also allows me to further my professional I appreciated the rigorous education on Preventers (BOPs). The BOP controls the development, particularly in relation to the fundamentals of each discipline and well pressure during drilling to prevent an critical issues on the energy agenda. enjoyed applying this to real case studies. uncontrolled release. I’m responsible for the I particularly enjoyed the applied deployment of the BOP monitoring systems What is first on the agenda for you classes and projects in my fourth year on across GE’s global installed fleet. as part of the programme? control systems, digital signal processing I’m joining the task force on energy and management of technology. The R efficiency, which will study demand interdisciplinary nature of the course has www.worldenergy.org

Issue 22 Autumn 2017 University of Cambridge Department of Engineering 15 , From left, team CUBE: Zhi Hao Kok, James Liew, industry tutor Niki Fanouraki, Julian Ting and Ziqing Liew. Credit: Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB)

Cambridge leap to second place in hotly contested final of construction competition

A team of Cambridge Engineering students have finished second place in a global competition which challenged them to manage a virtual construction company.

Team CUBE – Ziqing Liew, Julian Ting, Zhi “Thanks to our strengths in analysis Team CUBE’s industry tutor Niki Hao Kok and James Liew – entered the and pattern recognition, we were able to Fanouraki, a geotechnical engineer at final of the Chartered Institute of Building turn the tides in our favour and outbid our Atkins, said: “This was a suspenseful (CIOB) Global Student Challenge in Hong rivals in the subsequent rounds, rising from competition with the University of Kong recently, and battled against five fifth place to second place.” Cambridge gaining second place and other student teams from the UK, China James Liew, leader of team CUBE, valuable experience in its first-ever Global and Australia. It was the first time that the added: “We would definitely recommend Student Challenge MERIT game, let alone University of Cambridge had entered a team. other Cambridge undergraduates to the final phase. The competition tested the teams’ participate next year as the finals were truly “There was good preparation, planning strategic, marketing and financial skills. a rewarding experience. In Hong Kong, and decision-making, fantastic camaraderie It is run as an online interactive game and apart from the competition, our team also among the team members, and an utilises MERIT (Management Enterprise Risk attended mentoring sessions, where we exceptional demonstration of resilience Innovation and Teamwork). The game is got to meet and have discussions with when the team rebounded from fifth to designed so that each team member takes distinguished industry leaders. second place. After the closing ceremony, on a role such as managing director or “We would like to express our gratitude there was already talk of assembling a new financial manager. to Laing O’Rourke’ Construction Centre, team for next year’s MERIT competition.” Unlike earlier periods of the competition, Civil Engineering division and Atkins for in which the teams were given one week sponsoring our entry fees and T-shirts. We to make decisions for each round, the finals would also like to thank our mentor Niki stretched team CUBE to their limits as Fanouraki, from Atkins, for providing useful decisions had to be made within an hour, insights and getting through sleepless sometimes within 45 minutes. nights with us during the competition.” Julian Ting said: “As the only team Team CUBE’s academic tutor, Dr from a university which entered the Ioannis Brilakis, recruited the Cambridge competition for the first time, let alone the team through the construction modules finals, I sincerely think we made a solid (Constructionarium, 4D16 and 4D4). He attempt at tackling the challenges we faced. said: “I encourage all Part IIA and IIB Looking back at the competition, although students to participate in this competition R we made some mistakes in hindsight, we in the coming year if they really want www.eng.cam.ac.uk/profiles/ib340 have not committed ourselves to glaring to get a feel of what it is like to manage gsc.ciob.org blunders despite the time pressure. a construction company.” www.construction.cam.ac.uk

16 University of Cambridge Department of Engineering Issue 22 Autumn 2017 n The majestic metal peacock Creating a legacy sculpture which was unveiled during Cambridge hosts world’s leading the theatrical performance conference on shaping metal

A conference dubbed the ‘Olympics of Metal Forming’ was hosted by the Department of Engineering, including a new activity to attract more young people into the metals industry.

This was the first time the five-day Department and was created using several International Conference on the Technology new processes, originally developed by the ICTP is the world’s leading of Plasticity (ICTP) had been held in the UK, University of Cambridge under the leadership conference “on shaping metal, and it was attended by 600 delegates from of Professor Allwood. but this is the first time this across the globe. More than 600 pupils from schools in community has specifically aimed A highlight of the conference was the Cambridge area were invited to attend to connect to teenagers before they an opening theatrical performance at the opening ceremony, rubbing shoulders the Cambridge Corn Exchange, which with the world’s leading researchers and choose their A-level subjects. celebrated metal forming in the UK. It was industrialists who gathered to discuss the Professor Julian Allwood presented by actor Sir Tony Robinson and advances being made in forming metals into staged by theatre producer Julius Green, cars, aircraft, medical devices, coins and with multiple acts including dance and much more. music performances by pupils from Parkside The conference was sponsored by many “ICTP is the world’s leading conference Federation Academies in Cambridge. industrial partners. on shaping metal, but this is the first time this The performance was based on a newly Professor Allwood said: “Metal forming community has specifically aimed to connect written book by Julian Allwood, Professor – the art and science of shaping metal – has to teenagers before they choose their A-level of Engineering and the Environment, and a low public profile but a high impact on our subjects. The committed support of our chairman of ICTP 2017, tracing the story of everyday lives. Our cars, offices, bicycles, industrial sponsors has allowed us to bring metal forming to its origins. coins, jewellery, drink cans and rail track are together a world-beating creative team to To celebrate the conference and to leave all made by metal forming and the art deliver a spectacular theatrical event that will a lasting legacy, Cambridge architect David of metal forming is still evolving today. also lead to a fantastic legacy film.” Carmichael worked with the Department of “The conference programme featured Engineering to design and build a majestic the presentation of 408 papers as the R metal peacock sculpture which was world’s leading researchers shared their Watch the opening theatrical performance: unveiled during the theatrical performance. most important advances to inspire the youtu.be/_VIu5i4UEaI It is now positioned in the grounds of the next generation. www.ictp2017.org/conference

Issue 22 Autumn 2017 University of Cambridge Department of Engineering 17 , Measur ement of brain activity in a patient with phantom limb pain

Cause of phantom limb pain in amputees, and potential treatment, identified Credit: Osaka University Credit:

Researchers have been exploring whether engineering could play part in a potential treatment for phantom limb pain, as an alternative to drugs.

The researchers, led by a group from were still there. Between 50 and 80 per cent associated with their right arm, or vice Osaka University in Japan in collaboration of these patients suffer with chronic pain versa. When they were trained in this with the Department of Engineering, have in the ‘phantom’ hand, known as phantom counter-intuitive technique, the patients discovered a potential method of treating limb pain. found that their pain significantly decreased. phantom limb pain – which occurs in the Study co-author Dr Ben Seymour, from As they learned to control the arm in this vast majority of individuals who have Cambridge’s Computational and Biological way, it takes advantage of the plasticity – had limbs amputated – using artificial Learning Laboratory, within Information the ability of the brain to restructure and intelligence techniques. Engineering, said: “Even though the hand learn new things – of the sensorimotor The researchers also found that a is gone, people with phantom limb pain still cortex, showing a clear link between ‘reorganisation’ of the wiring of the brain feel like there’s a hand there – it basically plasticity and pain. is the underlying cause of the chronic, and feels painful, like a burning or hypersensitive Although the results are promising, currently untreatable, pain in those with type of pain, and conventional painkillers Dr Seymour warns that the effects are amputations and severe nerve damage. are ineffective in treating it. We wanted temporary, and require a large, expensive Using a brain-machine interface to train to see if we could come up with an piece of medical equipment to be effective. a group of 10 individuals to control a robotic engineering-based treatment as opposed However, he believes that a treatment arm with their brains, they found that if to a drug-based treatment.” based on their technique could be available a patient tried to control the prosthetic In the study, Dr Seymour and his within five to 10 years. by associating the movement with their colleagues, led by Takufumi Yanagisawa “Ideally, we’d like to see something that missing arm, it increased their pain, but from Osaka University, used a brain-machine people could have at home, or that they training them to associate the movement interface to decode the neural activity of the could incorporate with physio treatments,” of the prosthetic with the unaffected hand mental action needed for a patient to move he said. “But the results demonstrate decreased their pain. their ‘phantom’ hand, and then converted the that combining AI techniques with new Their results, reported in the journal decoded phantom hand movement into that technologies is a promising avenue for Nature Communications, demonstrate that of a robotic neuroprosthetic using artificial treating pain, and an important area for in patients with chronic pain associated intelligence techniques. future UK-Japan research collaboration.” with amputation or nerve injury, there are “We found that the better their ‘crossed wires’ in the part of the brain affected side of the brain got at using the associated with sensation and movement, robotic arm, the worse their pain got,” and that by mending that disruption, the said Yanagisawa. “The movement part pain can be treated. The findings could of the brain is working fine, but they are also be applied to those with other forms of not getting sensory feedback – there’s a chronic pain, including pain due to arthritis. discrepancy there.” In most cases, individuals who have had The researchers then altered their a hand or arm amputated, or who have had technique to train the ‘wrong’ side of the severe nerve injuries which result in a loss brain: for example, a patient who was R of sensation in their hand, continue to feel missing their left arm was trained to move www.neuroscience.cam.ac.uk/directory/ the existence of the affected hand as if it the prosthetic arm by decoding movements profile.php?bseymour

18 University of Cambridge Department of Engineering Issue 22 Autumn 2017 The engineer who

keeps the clock ticking Paul Ashley Photography Credit:

He never intended to take a PhD — or to present television documentaries. Dr Hugh Hunt, Reader in Engineering Dynamics and Vibration, is an all-rounder who combines his interest in things that bounce and spin with a passion for music and mending things.

At Trinity College, I’m Keeper of the Clock. My props include bouncing balls and I guess he’d asked for them to be sent The clock tower is one of the oldest parts boomerangs. Over the years I’ve acquired to me so I filled them in. Peter Joubert, of the college. The bells you hear striking dozens of objects that help me demonstrate if you’re reading this, thanks! every quarter of an hour date from 1610. the basics of spin and angular momentum. For 20 years I’ve been working on The current clock mechanism was installed Public lectures paved the way how to make trains quieter. The CrossRail in 1910. It has a double three-legged gravity to television appearances. In 2011, project in London is brilliant. I think you’ll escapement. Someone has been looking I researched and presented the two-hour find the trains are quiet and the ride is after Trinity’s clock, winding and resetting Channel 4 show Dambusters: Building the smooth, which is good news for those it, for more than 400 years. For now, that Bouncing Bomb. It was watched by an living and working up above. There are lots person is me — with help from many others. estimated 5 million people and won a major of hotels, hospitals and recording studios Follow @clockkeeper on Twitter! award. I also presented a programme about along the route of CrossRail. The PiPmodel We need to look after things. With the design of the Zeppelin which terrorised that I’ve been developing with some great climate change, we must learn to be more the British population in the First World War. students has been very useful. resourceful and extend the lifespan of the More documentaries are in the pipeline. My current research includes stuff we own. To fix things, you need to I grew up in Melbourne, Australia. looking at ways of cooling the planet. understand how they work. If a key jams Dad was an engineer professor but more I got into this through a project called on your keyboard, instead of chucking it interested in theoretical mechanics than SPICE (Stratospheric Particle Injection for out, you can take it to bits. As Dame Edna in making things. I was a bit different: Climate Engineering). SPICE investigates Everage said about fashion: why throw it I made all kinds of things starting with rabbit the benefits, risks, costs and feasibility of away, possums, if you can still wear it? hutches and progressing to a complete Solar Radiation Management through the I’m fascinated by things that bounce refurbishment of the garden shed, including deployment of reflective aerosols in the and spin — the dynamics of rigid bodies. the electrics — which is how I learned the stratosphere. It’s all pretty scary, but if we Back in 1999, Professor Mark Warner hard way about health and safety. do nothing we face desertification, flooding and I were invited to give a lecture called Music is important to me. I’m one of and sea-level rise. ‘Spinning into Space’ for National Science five children and we all played instruments. Another geoengineering project has Week. We did lots of on-stage experiments Mine was the French horn. I studied caught my attention recently. How can we and won an Institute of Physics award. engineering at Melbourne University but extract non-CO2 greenhouse gases — such Requests to do more lectures poured in. being part of the Choral Society was what as methane and nitrous oxide — from the I’ve learned to say yes to invitations I enjoyed most. It made me realise that it’s atmosphere? These gases are almost as — especially for outreach events. It’s vital important to do something you love doing. important as CO2 for climate change and to share your enthusiasm. By jumping in I didn’t plan to do a PhD. When I they are easier to dispose of. But we have at the deep end, I learned that I’m quite graduated I went to work for an engineering to come up with a way of handling about good at getting young people excited about company in Melbourne. At the end of my one cubic kilometre of air per second if we’re science and engineering. I give lectures first year there was a party. One of my going to make any meaningful difference. to audiences of up to 800, organised by former professors came up to me. In that We need to be doing the research now. initiatives such as Maths Inspiration and blunt Aussie way, he said: “Hunt, you’re The Training Partnership. My talks have an an idiot, you should be doing a PhD.” R element of chaos but, like any pantomime, Two weeks later, application forms from www.eng.cam.ac.uk/profiles/hemh1 it’s all well-rehearsed. Cambridge University arrived in the mail. medium.com/this-cambridge-life

Issue 22 Autumn 2017 University of Cambridge Department of Engineering 19 Credit: The Adecco Group Credit:

n The Adecco Group CEO Alain Dehaze hands Graduate becomes alumnus Ed Broadhead his contract for the position of global ‘CEO for One Month’ ‘CEO for One Month’

A Cambridge Engineering graduate has been appointed as global ‘CEO for One Month’ of The Adecco Group.

Ed Broadhead (Homerton 2017) was chosen “Not only could I practise skills such and career support, giving young talent a from 117,500 applicants from 48 countries as teamwork, collaboration, and problem career kick-start and boosting their skills, and will now help run a Fortune 500 company solving, but I could also learn more about confidence and employability. for one month under the guidance of Alain the workforce solutions world, and really Dehaze, global CEO of The Adecco Group. appreciate the passion for people this Ed impressed the jury with a business requires. I cannot wait to start combination of genuine passion, openness working with Alain Dehaze and to continue Ed has all the credentials to and learning agility including strong this amazing journey.” “ become a successful leader communication skills, which make him a The Adecco Group CEO Alain Dehaze natural entrepreneur and leader. said: “Ed has all the credentials to become and I look forward to working He will shadow CEO Alain Dehaze on a successful leader and I look forward closely with him. The goal a day-to-day basis, attending international to working closely with him. The goal of of ‘CEO for One Month’ is to business reviews with top management, ‘CEO for One Month’ is to bridge the gap bridge the gap between school contributing to strategy meetings, offering between school and work by giving young and work by giving young people fresh ideas about innovation, global staffing people unique on-the-job experience and unique on-the-job experience and and labour market trends, and attending skills training. skills training. investor meetings. “Our aim is to inspire them to keep Prior to being appointed to the position, dreaming and to keep working towards their The Adecco Group CEO Alain Dehaze Ed spent four weeks as ‘CEO for One dreams, while we also benefit from their Month’ of The Adecco Group UK and dynamism and fresh ideas. We hope this Ireland. He was chosen from eight finalists programme encourages other employers following a rigorous assessment day to find new ways to offer opportunities where he impressed with his initiative and to young people, boosting their talent excellent people skills. pipelines and, eventually, shaping a better “I’ve enjoyed the ‘CEO for One Month’ future together.” programme since the very first day: living a The Adecco Group’s ‘CEO for R top leader life within The Adecco Group UK One Month’ is part of its Way to Work Follow Ed’s global ‘CEO for One Month’ leadership team at my age is unique programme. The global initiative strives to journey: twitter.com/ed_broadhead and gave me an unparalleled experience,” address high youth unemployment through Watch our interview with Ed: said Ed. work experience opportunities, internships youtu.be/BuBVRRQ5vM4

20 University of Cambridge Department of Engineering Issue 22 Autumn 2017 The Seduction of Curves The Lines of Beauty That Connect Mathematics, Art, and the Nude

A lavishly illustrated book that explores the language of curves that spans the human body, science, engineering, and art.

Curves are seductive. These smooth, In an accessible discussion illustrated understand the maths of stability theory, it organic lines and surfaces – like those of the with photographs of the human nude, changes the way you see the life model – human body – appeal to us in an instinctive, McRobie introduces these curves and and the world around you,” he said. visceral way, in a way that straight lines, or then describes their role in nature, science, “You start to notice shapes and features the perfect shapes of classical geometry, engineering, architecture, art, that you hadn’t previously noticed. It is a never could. and other areas. two-way process, with a genuine synergy In this lavishly illustrated book, Allan The reader learns how these curves between the maths and the model.” McRobie takes the reader on a fascinating play out in everything from the stability of Before joining the University of exploration of the beautiful curves that oil rigs to the study of distant galaxies to Cambridge, McRobie worked as an engineer shape our world – from our bodies to rainbows, from the patterns of light on pool in Australia, designing bridges and towers. Salvador Dalí’s paintings and even to the floors, and even to the shape of human space-time fabric of the universe itself. genitals. McRobie also discusses the role Reviews The book focuses on seven curves – of these curves in the work of artists such “McRobie, a mathematician with a deep the fold, the cusp, the swallowtail, and the as David Hockney, Henry Moore, and Anish knowledge of the visual arts and the human butterfly, plus the hyperbolic, elliptical, and Kapoor, with particular attention given to the body’s curves, has written a startlingly parabolic ‘umbilics’. It describes how the delicate sculptures of Naum Gabo and the original book. The Seduction of Curves is a origins of their taxonomy can be traced final paintings of Dalí, who said that Thom’s probing exploration of the parallels between back to mathematician René Thom’s theory ‘bewitched all of my atoms’. nature and the constructed world – and the catastrophe theory. A unique introduction to the language of most striking illustrated mathematics book beautiful curves, this book may change the I’ve ever seen.” – Michael Harris, author of way you see the world. Mathematics without Apologies: Portrait of a Allan McRobie is a Reader in the Problematic Vocation Department of Engineering where he teaches stability theory and structural “This is a mathematics book, a science engineering with specialist interests in book, and an art book – a seductive and dynamics and stability. It was during a life richly illustrated work of cultural synthesis, drawing class at the Department (classes in which the visible and hidden folds and that McRobie had introduced to broaden surfaces of our bodies are described the horizons of the Engineering students), by modern geometry and connected to that he first recognised the strong unifying engineering, optics, and other applications.” resonances that exist between his lecture – Michael Berry, University of Bristol notes on stability theory and the shapes in front of his eyes. R “Not only can life drawing help you to Take a look inside the book at: understand the more difficult mathematical vimeo.com/236094081 aspects of stability theory but if you press.princeton.edu/titles/11108.html

Issue 22 Autumn 2017 University of Cambridge Department of Engineering 21 , Hannah with one of the robots she uses to study how humans learn motor skills

Women in Engineering An interview with PhD student Hannah Sheahan

As part of our Women in Engineering series, we meet Hannah Sheahan, PhD Candidate in the Computational and Biological Learning Lab (CBL).

Hi Hannah, how did you get into to tackle several at once: I’m developing How have you managed to balance family engineering? research with potential to improve life and other interests with your career? At high school I became interested in maths function and access to general society for Honestly, I haven’t always been very good and physics, mainly because it was the people with motor disabilities, while also at keeping balance. In the past when first time I’d been encouraged to think and challenging gender and class inequality I’ve become particularly fascinated by problem solve. However when I thought simply by succeeding as a female engineer something I’ve tended to develop tunnel about applying to university, dealing only with from a lower socioeconomic background. vision. Now I’m trying to keep everything numbers every day seemed like it might be a Engineering can be used to build all sorts of in moderation, including moderation. Sport little dreary, so I ultimately chose Engineering bridges, and some of them are social. helps a lot. I have no excuse not to exercise because it could provide technical challenge What has helped your career? since I study human movement, but playing as well as a creative outlet through design. Female role models in STEM have been football for the University and running in Thankfully, I enrolled, despite some less hugely influential on me. The first time I the summer forces me outside to breathe than favourable advice from my high school remember being challenged at school was some fresh air and focus completely on careers advisor. “What could a female do in because of a high school math teacher who something simple for a few hours. engineering?” she laughed, when I told her let me choose problems I found difficult or I believe it’s critical to make time for my plan. interesting in the textbook for homework. friends in different fields to ensure your She turned math into my favourite class, subject doesn’t become all you think or What are you doing now and what are and without that support I probably know about – they do their best to stop me your plans for the future? wouldn’t have considered a career as an becoming a boring person. I moved to Cambridge from New Zealand engineer. Later on, leadership and academic in 2014 to start a PhD in the Computational scholarships helped instil confidence that Do you have any advice for women and Biological Learning Lab with Professor while there were few women in my field, considering a career in engineering? Daniel Wolpert. there were successful engineers around I’m a strong believer than work should be Starting out as a mechatronics engineer, who believed in me. soul restoring, not soul destroying – so my I now work towards understanding the main piece of advice would be to choose a fundamental mechanisms behind the How have you overcome challenges career path you’re passionate about. What brain’s ability to control movement and and knockbacks in your career? engineering offers is a toolkit of skills to help learn motor skills. When starting my undergraduate design a different world, one that meets the At the moment I use human-robot engineering degree, and then again needs of women as well as men, which is interaction to see how people learn to move beginning my PhD in Cambridge, I ultimately empowering. in new physics environments. Hopefully, experienced quite substantial feelings of as we discover more about how the brain intellectual inadequacy. Couple this with learns motor control, technology can a tendency towards anxiety and being be designed to help people overcome noticeably different – one of the only differences in their physical abilities. women in my course or lab, and you have R the perfect recipe for Imposter Syndrome. Watch our interview with Hannah: What motivates you? Thankfully, as soon as I started openly youtu.be/AeJP9AW-KNg Generally speaking I’m easily frustrated by discussing these feelings, I realised how www.eng.cam.ac.uk/profiles/hrs40 inequalities. Studying motor control under common they were and eventually reasoned www.eng.cam.ac.uk/profiles/dw304 an engineering framework enables me that they probably weren’t grounded in truth. www-engineeringdiversity.eng.cam.ac.uk

22 University of Cambridge Department of Engineering Issue 22 Autumn 2017 Since its launch in 2012, 14 million Honours, awards Raspberry Pis have been sold, making it the bestselling British computer in and prizes history. It was conceived in the Computer Laboratory at the University of Cambridge Lecturer Dr Jenni Sidey has been as a means to spark children’s interest in honoured with the Royal Academy coding and boost applications to study of Engineering’s (RAEng) Young Engineer computer science. of the Year Award Superconductivity expert awarded Early She is one of five young engineers to win Career Fellowship the RAEng Engineers Trust Young Engineer of the Year competition in recognition of the Dr Mark Ainslie of the Bulk Superconductivity ‘major impact’ she has made in the field Group has secured a five-year £1.1 million early on in her career. Early Career Fellowship from the EPSRC.

Dr Ainslie will build a research team to develop portable, high magnetic field charging of bulk superconductors for practical engineering applications.

Alumnus wins award Engineer’s career honoured with Sir Alumnus Keno Mario-Ghae has been Frank Whittle Medal announced as a 2017 award winner of the BrightSparks Design Engineers of Emeritus Professor Tomorrow. Lecturer recognised for teaching Andrew Schofield excellence has received a RS Components partnered with Electronics prestigious medal by Weekly on its inaugural EW BrightSparks Dr James Moultrie has been awarded one the Royal Academy programme to celebrate the achievements of the University of Cambridge’s Pilkington of Engineering of the UK’s most talented young electronics Prizes - awarded to individuals who have in recognition design engineers and help to inspire and shown teaching of exceptional quality. of sustained encourage new entrants to the industry. Senior Lecturer in Design Management achievement Keno, a project engineer at Imagination at the Institute for Manufacturing (IfM), Dr throughout his career. Moultrie is one of just 12 individuals from Technologies, was described in his across the university to receive the award. Professor Schofield FREng FRS is nomination as ‘an exceptional professional’. responsible for transformational research in soil mechanics and geotechnical Professor receives Knighthood from the engineering and has been a leading voice in Italian Republic the field since the 1960s. Professor Andrea Ferrari has been awarded the decoration of Knight Officer of the Order of the Star of Italy.

The order was awarded by Pasquale Professor and graduate make Smart List Terracciano, Ambassador of A Cambridge professor and an alumnus Italy to The United Kingdom, on June have been nominated for the 2017 19, on behalf of the President of Italy, WIRED Smart List after being identified as in recognition of Professor Ferrari’s individuals who will become ‘global forces’ in the future. contributions to science as well as his Raspberry Pi wins accolade promotion of Italian science and scientists. Professor of Information Engineering The ceremony was attended by former Cambridge-based microcomputer maker Zoubin Ghahramani (left) and alumnus Italian Prime Minister and President of the Raspberry Pi has won Britain’s highest award Tim Mamtora, Master Engineer of Integrated European Commission, Romano Prodi. for innovation in engineering, the Royal Circuit Design at Broadcom in Cambridge, Academy of Engineering’s MacRobert Award. Professor Ferrari is the founding Director have made WIRED magazine’s ‘ones of the Cambridge Graphene Centre and of Among those accepting the award were to watch’ list after being nominated by the EPSRC Centre for Doctoral Training in alumnus Dr Eben Upton CBE, CEO (St industry leaders. Graphene Technology. John’s 1996).

Issue 22 Autumn 2017 University of Cambridge Department of Engineering 23 Leaf vein structure could hold key to extending

battery life pixabay Credit:

The natural structure found within leaves could improve the performance of everything from rechargeable batteries to high-performance gas sensors, according to an international team of scientists.

The researchers have designed a porous The team, led by Prof Bao-Lian Su, level of pores, resulting in a three level material that utilises a vascular structure, a life member of Clare Hall, University Murray material. such as that found in the veins of a leaf, and of Cambridge and who is also based at The team successfully fabricated these could make energy transfers more efficient. Wuhan University of Technology in China porous structures with the precise diameter The material could improve the and at the University of Namur in Belgium, ratios required to obey Murray’s law, performance of rechargeable batteries, adapted Murray’s Law for the fabrication enabling the efficient transfer of materials optimising the charge and discharge of the first ever synthetic ‘Murray material’ across the multi-level pore network. process and relieving stresses within the and applied it to three processes: Co-author, Dr Tawfique Hasan, of battery electrodes, which, at the moment, photocatalysis, gas sensing and lithium ion the Cambridge Graphene Centre, part of limit their life span. The same material battery electrodes. In each, they found that the University’s Department of Engineering, could be used for high performance gas the multi-scale porous networks of their added: “This very first demonstration of sensing or for catalysis to break down synthetic material significantly enhanced a Murray material fabrication process is organic pollutants in water. the performance of these processes. incredibly simple and is entirely driven by To design this bio-inspired material, Professor Su said: “This study the nanoparticle self-assembly. Large scale an international team comprising demonstrates that by adapting Murray’s manufacturability of this porous material scientists from China, the United Kingdom, Law from biology and applying it to is possible, making it an exciting, enabling United States and Belgium is mimicking chemistry, the performance of materials technology, with potential impact across the rule known as ‘Murray’s Law’ which can be improved significantly. The many applications.” helps natural organisms survive and grow. adaptation could benefit a wide range of The team proved that its Murray material According to this Law, the entire network porous materials and improve functional can significantly improve the long term of pores existing on different scales in such ceramics and nano-metals used for energy stability and fast charge/discharge capability biological systems is interconnected in a and environmental applications.” for lithium ion storage, with a capacity way to facilitate the transfer of liquids and Writing in Nature Communications, improvement of up to 25 times compared minimise resistance throughout the network. the team describes how it used zinc to state of the art graphite material currently The plant stems of a tree, or leaf veins, for oxide (ZnO) nanoparticles as the primary used in lithium ion battery electrodes. The example, optimise the flow of nutrients for building block of their Murray material. hierarchical nature of the pores also reduces photosynthesis with both high efficiency The team arranged the ZnO particles the stresses in these electrodes during the and minimum energy consumption by through a layer-by layer, evaporation- charge/discharge processes, improving their regularly branching out to smaller scales. driven, self-assembly process. This structural stability and resulting in a longer In the same way, the surface area of the creates a second level of porous life time for energy storage devices. tracheal pores of insects remains constant networks between the particles. During along the diffusion pathway to maximise the the evaporation process, the particles R delivery of carbon dioxide and oxygen in also form larger pores due to solvent www.eng.cam.ac.uk/profiles/th270 gaseous forms. evaporation, which represents the top www.graphene.cam.ac.uk

Department of Engineering University of Cambridge Telephone: +44 (0)1223 748228 Trumpington Street Email: [email protected] Cambridge CB2 1PZ www.eng.cam.ac.uk