News Summer 2011

President’s column 2 News of Fellows 3 Policy and public affairs 4 Research 5 International 6 Development 8 Events and awards 9 Education 10 Public engagement 11 Obituaries 12

Academy Awards 2011 On 6 June 2011, more than 350 Fellows, representatives from leading companies and their guests, award finalists and prize winners once again filled London’s historic Guildhall for the Academy’s annual awards evening.

The compère for the ceremony was Radio 4 Today programme presenter Sarah Montague, who introduced Academy President Lord Browne of Madingley FREng FRS and guest of honour the Rt Hon Vince Cable MP, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills.

The UK’s most valuable engineering innovation prize, the £50,000 MacRobert Award, was presented to a Cambridge-based team from Microsoft Research for their work in helping to create Microsoft Kinect for Xbox 360, the world’s first truly hands-free gaming system, which holds the Guinness World Record as the fastest-selling consumer electronics device in history.

The five winning engineers, Professor Andrew Blake FREng FRS, Mat Cook, Dr Andrew Fitzgibbon, Toby Sharp and Dr Jamie Shotton, won the 42nd annual MacRobert Award for cracking the problem of motion-capture in real time, giving Kinect its unique functionality and opening up a new world of possibility in the IT world. It is anticipated that such hands-free computer control devices could revolutionise the way surgery is performed around the world.

The second annual Rooke Medal for the Public Promotion of Engineering, named after former Academy President Sir Denis Rooke OM CBE FRS FREng, went to Professor Chris Bishop FREng FRSE, also of Microsoft Research, for his ongoing work in engaging members of the public in the work of engineers and their contribution to society.

Four Silver Medals for commercial success in engineering were awarded to Dr Shaun Fitzgerald (Breathing Buildings Ltd and University of Cambridge) for his work on natural ventilation for buildings; Dr Karin Hing (ApaTech and Queen Mary, University of London) for research in the bioactivity of bone graft substitutes; Professor Doug King (King Shaw Associates and University of Bath) for contributing to some of the most ground breaking sustainable buildings of the past two decades; and Professor Eric Yeatman (Microsaic Systems Ltd and Imperial College London) for offering the world the first micro-electrical mass spectrometers and a desktop instrument for liquid analysis.

Receiving the President’s Medal for promoting excellence in engineering was Professor Anthony Kelly CBE DL FREng FRS. Known globally as the ‘father of composite materials’ he has held many posts in his 60-year career, including Vice Chancellor of the University of Surrey and President of the Institute of Materials. His book Strong Solids, published in 1965, is still seen as the seminal work in the field of composite materials.

The ERA Foundation Entrepreneurship Award for early-stage researchers who exhibit a combination of business awareness, entrepreneurial potential and complementary personal qualities in the field of electro-technology, was presented to Dr Sithamparanathan Sabesan and Dr Michael Crisp, both from University of Cambridge’s engineering department, for their research into a low-cost location sensing system, which could have major benefits for a wide range of businesses, including retailers and airlines.

The Academy’s awards evening was made possible by the generous support of title sponsor BAE Systems and sponsors Arup, Bosch, BP, E.ON, Petrofac, Shell and Thales.

Right: London’s Guildhall provided a historic backdrop RAEng News Summer 2011

PRESIDENT’S COLUMN London’s most deprived areas. The project attracted deep engagement from several large engineering employers and is now providing a sound foundation for the National HE STEM programme.

Our founders’ vision was for the Academy to promote engineering for the national benefit, for progress in wider society and for the future of humankind. We know what success will look like. We want to see a much better understanding among the public and opinion formers of what engineers do and can achieve. That will be reflected in a policy framework that encourages, not hampers, an innovation From left to right: Professor Anthony Kelly CBE FREng FRS, Sir Alan Rudge CBE FREng FRS, the nation. We will have more research and President, Professor Cyril Hilsum CBE FREng FRS and Professor Michael Kelly FREng FRS pictured ideas that businesses can profitably turn at the Academy’s annual awards evening into substance and wealth. Above all, success will bring an education system that Thirty five years ago this year, 130 of the satellite navigation system. With our inspires and encourages young people to nation’s finest engineers assembled at partners in the engineering institutions, choose a career in engineering. Buckingham Palace for the first meeting we have created a highly effective vehicle of the Fellowship of Engineering. We have for advising government on all aspects of I am grateful to all our Fellows and come a long way since then – from a engineering education and skills. We have colleagues for their efforts in supporting, small organisation with big plans to a fully streamlined the way that government promoting and developing our Academy. fledged national Academy of 1,500 Fellows receives engineering advice on policy and I wish our new President every success and serving a global engineering community. produced joint studies on water security, shall continue to give my fullest support as nuclear power plant construction and the Immediate Past President. I have had the privilege of serving as your resilience of infrastructure in the face of President for the past five years. My goal climate change. has been to see engineering move to the centre of society. With the support of the Our lectures and debates have provided Fellowship, the Council, the Academy’s staff platforms for some of the world’s most and our many partners and supporters, we influential speakers in engineering industry, have made real progress. research, teaching, policy and politics. Between them they have addressed some In my view, there has never been a of our most pressing engineering issues more exciting or important time to be and debated the burning questions of the Meetings and visitors an engineer. In the wake of the difficult day – a great precedent for the UK’s new financial situation of recent years, there is Forum for Engineering. The President recently met: a growing acceptance that rebalancing our economy around a strong core of I am delighted to report that our making Robert Dudley productive, knowledge-based industries things better development campaign Group Chief Executive, BP is both essential and achievable. The has now passed the major milestone of Sir Paul Nurse PRS Academy is working to ensure that it raising £10 million. We could not have President, The Royal Society supports government, industry and the done this without the extraordinary, research community in stimulating and sustained generosity of our Fellows, all Ray O’Rourke KBE maintaining innovation and encouraging of whose donations, at every level, are of Chief Executive, Laing O’Rourke plc new engineering talent for the future. great value. I thank you all most sincerely for your contributions, which will create a Sir Adam Roberts KCMG Over time, the Academy’s contribution place to inspire and engage national and President, The British Academy to engineering policy has grown international audiences and enable us to significantly. Our Fellows have undertaken develop our crucial work in education and Sir Kevin Tebbit KCB CMG a body of authoritative and influential engagement. Chairman, Finmeccanica UK work on some of the key national and international policy challenges, including I have been deeply impressed by the the dilemmas of privacy and surveillance, Academy’s drive to widen diversity and autonomous systems, options for future participation in engineering. The London energy provision, the electrification of Engineering Project has worked with transport and the security of our global 25,000 pupils in 50 schools in some of

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Hinton Lecture News of Fellows

On 11 April, Bob Dudley, Group Chief Dr Cecil Balmond is the 2011 Winner of Executive of BP plc, gave the 2011 the IED Gerald Frewer Memorial Trophy. Hinton Lecture. His talk, entitled Engineering challenges at the energy Dr Hermann Hauser CBE has been frontiers, outlined the history of oil awarded the 2011 Visionary Award exploration and BP’s role in innovation from the SDForum and this year’s from onshore drilling to offshore and BCS Lovelace Medal. to present deepwater operations. Dr Vanessa Lawrence CB has been

awarded the Geospatial Personality of The lecture was hosted by Academy the Decade by the Geospatial World Forum. President Lord Browne. Bob Dudley spoke at length about last year’s Deepwater Professor Martin Lowson has been Horizon accident, how it occured and given the Aeroacoustics Award 2011 the lessons arising from it for the whole for his work on the generation and industry. the prediction of helicopter rotor, compressor and wind turbine noise. He said that the changes that have been made after accidents and disasters have Dr Alan Mann has been awarded the often been about creating independent 2011 Gold Medal by the Institution of and expert scrutiny and challenge – and Structural Engineers. that is what BP is doing. He quoted the US Admiral, Hyman Rickover as saying: “You Bob Dudley giving the Hinton lecture Professor John McCanny CBE has been get what you inspect, not what you expect.” awarded the Cunningham Medal. BP is now implementing the lessons of the last year’s accident and working with industry to continue meeting the challenges of engineering at the frontiers of energy. Professor Nick McKeown has been made a member of the National Watch the Hinton Lecture at www.raeng.tv Academy of Engineering, USA. Dr Norbert Morgenstern has been awarded the 2011 H Bolton Seed Medal. 2011 Birthday Honours Dr Adam Neville CBE has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws by the University of Calgary, Canada. Congratulations to the following Officers of the Order of the Fellows of the Academy who have been British Empire (OBE) Professor David Owen has been made recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Professor Nigel Brandon, Director, a foreign associate of the National Honours list. Energy Futures Lab, Imperial College, Academy of Engineering, USA. for services to UK/China relations in Knights Batchelor science. Professor Ian Poll OBE has been Professor Peter Gregson, President and appointed Chairman of the Defence Vice-Chancellor, Queen’s University of Joanna G Da Silva, for services to Scientific Advisory Council. Belfast, for services to higher education. engineering and to humanitarian relief. Professor H Vincent Poor has been Professor Mark Welland, Chief Scientific Professor Richard Darton, Professor of awarded the 2011 IEEE Eric E Sumner Adviser, Ministry of Defence. Engineering Science, University of Oxford Award. and President, European Federation of Commanders of the Order of the Chemical Engineering, for services to Dr Charles Vest has received the British Empire (CBE) engineering. 2011 Vannevar Bush Award for his Dr Paul Golby, Chief Executive Officer, distinguished public service leadership E.ON UK, for services to the energy Dr Robert John, Lately Chief Executive in science and technology. industry. Officer, Welding Institute, for services to industry. Professor Sir William Wakeham has Terence Malcolm Hill, Chairman, Arup been elected President of Institution of Group, for services to civil engineering. John Neil Loughhead, Executive Chemical Engineers. Director, UK Energy Research Centre, Dr Michael G J Howse, for services to technology. Professor Nigel Weatherill will be the Senior Consultant, Rolls-Royce plc, next Vice-Chancellor of Liverpool John for services to engineering. Moores University.

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POLICY AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS PolicyNet new media debate Nuclear engineering

On 12 April, the Academy hosted a session for PolicyNet on How does new media affect Since the Japanese earthquake and the quality of the science conversation? Chaired by Jane Sutton, Communications Manager subsequent incidents at the Fukushima at the Academy, it featured Andrew Cohen, Head of BBC Science, and Michael Kenward nuclear power plant, the Academy’s policy OBE, former Editor of New Scientist. The session discussed the way new forms of media team has been more heavily involved in such as Twitter, Wikipedia and iPlayer feed into and inform the science conversation. nuclear policy work.

Both speakers focused on the need for scientists, engineers and science related The Academy and partners in engineering organisations to ensure accurate online content by contributing to frequently used institutions helped to identify potential sources such as Wikipedia, to update all web pages on a regular basis and ensure that experts to join the review led by Dr the new media are treated as a connected web of information. Mike Weightman FREng on Japanese earthquake and tsunami: Implications for Andrew Cohen spoke about the great power of platforms such as Twitter to deliver the UK Nuclear Industry. Academy staff instant feedback on television programmes, the rise of the iPlayer in allowing people assisted the Nuclear Industry Association to catch up on programming they may have missed and the increasing importance of in informing the nuclear industry’s public mobile apps. He added: “The new media and their ability to fuse traditional science and response to the Fukushima incident. broadcasting are very interesting areas for us. Traditional websites are on the wane for The Academy’s public relations team us. The way science content is going to be consumed will be more interactive. “ were active throughout, helping to put Academy Fellows with nuclear expertise The purpose of PolicyNet is to provide a forum for discussion on aspects of policy with in contact with the media. government, Parliament and other organisations. Another facet is providing networking opportunities for policy staff from a range of organisations such as learned societies, The Academy was at the fore in producing research councils and think tanks. a response from the Engineering the Future alliance to the House of Lords Science and Technology Select Committee on the UK’s Policy roundup nuclear R&D capabilities. The response The Academy policy team is planning activities in the following areas from early argued strongly that the UK needs to autumn onwards: Smart Infrastructure – a small discussion meeting on the idea of smart continue to work on nuclear R&D in all infrastructure, from the grid to water pipes; Sustainable ICT – discussing how to reduce the fields, including generation IV reactor carbon footprint of computing; and Water in the UK – a series of seminars on water recycling, design and decommissioning. Professor water transfer and consumer behaviour. The discussions at these events will be published. Dame Sue Ion CBE FREng presented the response at an oral hearing in front of the Select Committee. Offshore wind In 2008, the Academy responded to a Following a roundtable meeting with industry representatives on 11 March, the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority Academy hosted a meeting in Parliament on the offshore wind supply chain. Informed consultation on credible options for by the discussions, the event on 13 June, was chaired by Lord Browne and involved the managing the UK’s plutonium stockpile. Associate Parliamentary Renewable and Sustainable Energy Group and the All Party Defra has now consulted on taking Parliamentary Maritime and Ports Group. The meeting was addressed by the Energy forward the preferred option of re-use Minister Charles Hendry MP. A report of the proceedings Making green growth real has in mixed oxide (MOX) fuel. The Academy been published and is on the Academy’s website at www.raeng.org.uk/offshorewind again agreed with this strategy but also noted that re-use as MOX fuel does not entirely avoid requirements for storage and final disposal.

The Engineering Policy Committee is now considering an activity on the long term future of the UK nuclear industry. This would look at the opportunities and prospects beyond the next generation of new build nuclear plants.

The recent Nuclear Lessons Learned report is available on the Academy’s website at www.raeng.org.uk/nll and contains recommendations for the UK’s future Thanet wind farm, situated in the English Channel, opened in September 2010 nuclear plans.

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RESEARCH Public affairs round up Research Chairs The Academy’s Research Chairs and Senior Research Fellowships schemes are co-funded by the Academy and industry partners to enable top-level, internationally recognised academics to build on links between industry and UK universities. This is achieved by establishing and developing a research centre of excellence as a focal point for collaborative research. Two new Research Chairs have recently been appointed since March.

Professor David Smith has been appointed to the RAEng/Rolls-Royce/ EDF-Energy Research Chair in Structural Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg (right) and Academy Chief Executive, Philip Greenish (sec- Performance of Energy Systems at ond left) at a career’s fair in South London, for the launch of the government’s Social Mobility the University of Bristol, which is the Strategy © Crown first Academy Chair to be held at the University. Professor Smith’s research The Academy has met and briefed a number of parliamentarians and officials on aspects addresses the impact residual stresses of engineering. Those consulted included Tim Yeo MP for Suffolk South and chair of have on material failure mechanisms and the Energy and Climate Change Select Committee; Lord Popat; Emyr Roberts, Director corresponding methods to determine General, Children, Education, Lifelong Learning and Skills at the Welsh Assembly; the remaining lifespan of materials and Professor John Harries Chief Scientific Adviser for Wales and Professor Anne Glover, components. Chief Scientific Advisor for Scotland. Meetings have also taken place with officials at the Department of Business, Industry and Skills (BIS) including Martin Donnelly, the The Academy has also awarded a permanent Secretary at BIS, and Philip Rutnam, Director General, Business and Skills. Research Chair to Professor Andrew Neely at the University of Cambridge. The On 5 April, the Academy took part in the launch of the Social Mobility Strategy, Opening five year Chair, in Complex Engineering Doors, Breaking Barriers, with the Deputy Prime Minister, Rt Hon Nick Clegg. The Academy’s Services, is being co-sponsored by IBM participation was reported on the Sky News and BBC News websites as well as by the Press and BAE Systems. Manufacturing firms Association. Philip Greenish CBE was also interviewed live on the subject by BBC Radio Wales. are placing increased importance on offering service support for their products On 25 May, Philip Greenish spoke at the National Manufacturing Debate 2011 at Cranfield and Professor Neely’s research will be University where Mark Prisk MP, Minister of State for Business and Enterprise, gave a focusing on improving the integration of keynote speech. The event focused on how UK manufacturing can contribute to long term technology, processes, organisations and job creation and regional balance through investment, incentives and innovation. information to develop new business models which better encompass service support and so adapt to this change in Energy: inquiries and consultations business strategy. The last few months have been a busy time for government and parliamentary inquiries on energy. The most significant of these has been the long awaited consultation on Global Research Awards Electricity Market Reform. This outlined the government’s proposals to adapt the Professor Fu-Chun Zheng of the market to ensure the supply of secure, low-carbon, affordable electricity. Four main University of Reading will be spending mechanisms are planned: a carbon price floor (led by the Treasury); feed-in tariffs for nine months at the Georgia Institute low-carbon generation; capacity payments to ensure adequate generating capacity; and of Technology, USA, as part of the an emissions performance standard to limit the level of carbon emissions from fossil fuel Academy’s Global Research Award plants. The Academy led on a response for Engineering the Future to the Department of scheme. There he will investigate the Energy and Climate Change’s (DECC) consultation. The main message was that, whatever Impact of Relay Transmission in Cellular decisions were taken, a timely resolution of the matter was crucial in order to give the Networks on Energy Efficiency. With industry confidence to invest in the necessary infrastructure. four billion mobile phone subscribers in the world today all requiring electricity, There were also two inquiries by the DECC on a European supergrid and the security reducing the energy consumption and independence of the UK’s energy supply. Responses were submitted to both these of cellular networks has become an inquiries led jointly by the Academy and the Institiute of Engineering and Technology. important issue, one which Professor Oral evidence was given to the energy security inquiry in July 2011. Zheng’s research seeks to address.

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INTERNATIONAL The economic and social life of synthetic biology

On 13 and 14 April, the Royal Society biotechnology. He also cautioned that the and the Academy jointly hosted a two new technology posed important public day symposium bringing together the policy questions in the areas of industrial expertise and networks of the six national competitiveness, safety and ethics. science and engineering academies. Participants came from the UK, China Other speakers, who were drawn from and the USA to discuss the economic the worlds of business, academia, and social impact of synthetic biology. government and the law, included The symposium explored the potential Dr Drew Endy, Assistant Professor of for synthetic biology research to develop Bioengineering at Stanford University and novel tools and technologies, as well as the President of the Biobricks Foundation; challenges provoked by these innovations. Professor Guoping Zhao, Director of the Laboratory of Synthetic Biology The symposium was co-chaired by at Shanghai Institutes for Biological Professor Richard Kitney OBE FREng, Co- Sciences; Lionel Clarke, Global Strategic The Rt Hon David Willetts addresses Director, EPSRC Imperial College Centre Programme Manager, Shell Global the symposium for Synthetic Biology and Innovation, and Solutions; and Dr Ioannis Economidis, Professor Peter Leadlay FRS, Herchel Smith Advisor to the EU US Working Group on aspects of this emerging field. The second, Professor of Biochemistry, University of Synthetic Biology. examining the technical challenges to Cambridge. be faced by researchers, will take place The conference was addressed by UK in China in October 2011 while the third, Dr George Poste CBE FRS, Chief Scientist Science Minister, Rt Hon David Willetts, looking ahead to the next generation at Arizona State University, delivered a who spoke of the UK government’s of technologies and the research keynote speech demonstrating how support for synthetic biology and the infrastructure needed to cope with them, the field builds on the intellectual and importance of international collaboration. will be held in the USA in early 2012. technical foundations of four decades of progress in molecular and systems biology, The UK event was the first in a series View all the presentations on genetic engineering and industrial of three symposia exploring different www.raeng.tv

CAS energy storage workshop On 25 and 26 May, a joint workshop energy strategy. Speakers from the A key message from the workshop was between the Academy and the Chinese UK also included representatives from that it would be extremely difficult Academy of Sciences entitled The future Imperial College London, National Grid in both countries to increase the of energy storage technologies and policy and the Energy Technologies Institute. proportion of national energy needs was held at the Institute of Process from low carbon energy sources without Engineering in Beijing. The workshop, They discussed current storage capacity a renewed focus on energy storage which followed a similarly themed event policies and priorities and exchanged technology research. Both academies will in the Academy in January, was intended future plans with some of China’s top collaborate on a report which will contain to highlight key strategic needs in energy engineers and scientists working in the policy recommendations for both the UK storage research and identify areas for energy field. and Chinese governments. bilateral co-operation. It was co-chaired by Professor Richard Williams OBE FREng, University of Leeds, and Professor Jinghai Li, Vice-President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

The welcome address by Professor Jianlin Cao, Vice-Minister, Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology, highlighted the policy demand for the development of electrical energy storage in China. Professor Brian Collins CB FREng, Chief Scientific Advisor at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills, gave a presentation outlining the UK’s national The UK delegation with hosts from the Chinese Academy of Sciences

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Research exchanges with China/India scheme

Twenty-two Awards have been made laser joining graphene flakes for large China/India and supports the expansion in 2011 under the Research Exchanges area engineering applications, and to of international networks of excellence. with China and India scheme. develop long term research collaborations The scheme funds two types of Awards: Collaborative projects funded under the between the two institutions in laser Short, for exploratory or networking scheme include investigations into the processing and related areas. visits, and Major, for visits of 3 to 12 predictive power of online communities months, building longer-term UK-China/ and the laser joining of graphene. Four The Research Exchanges with China India partnerships. A full list of awardees of the awards were made to Indian and India scheme promotes academic is available at: www.raeng.org. uk/ researchers, while the rest involved collaboration between high quality research/researcher/reci/current.htm researchers in China. engineering researchers in the UK and

Prof Lin Li at University of Manchester has received a Major award with Prof Minlin Zhong at Tsinghua University to develop laser joining of graphene for engineering applications. The potential applications of graphene include the next generation of ultra-compact computers, flat screen displays, sensors, solar cells, conducting plastics/ceramics and micro-electro- mechanical devices.

The objectives of the exchange are to carry out joint research investigating the feasibility and characteristics of Graphene, an atomic-scale lattice made of carbon atoms © AlexanderAIUS/Wikipedia

New visa route Follow up visit to the Olympic site for exceptionally Following the high level of interest in the first Fellows’ visit to the Olympic Games’ site last talented researchers November, the Academy was offered another opportunity for a tour which will took place on 27 April. Dr Peter Bonfield, Chief Executive of BRE (Building Research Establishment) The Academy has agreed to act as one and Leader for Construction Products of the Olympic Delivery Authority guided of four competent bodies advising the Fellows and Academy staff through the park. He shared his experiences of the park’s UK Border Agency on applications for development and showed recently completed sports venues such as the velodrome. the Tier 1 Exceptional Talent route. This The London 2012 Olympics is the first summer games to embed sustainability in its is a points based system for visas – a planning from the outset. It aims to minimise carbon emissions and reduce waste niche category for exceptional people in through design and recycling. It will reuse 90% of the demolition material in order to research and the arts who wish to pursue achieve this. careers in the UK. The Academy will join the Royal Society, the British Academy and the Arts Council in assessing whether individuals who make applications under the scheme are “exceptionally talented”. They will relay this advice to the UK Border Agency, which will be responsible for any decisions to issue visas under this scheme. The scheme is being operated on a pilot basis for one year until April 2012.

The scheme was drawn up by the Home Office and the UK Border Agency in response to concerns about the implications of an immigration cap on attracting world-class talent to the UK. The intention is that up to 1,000 world class scientists, engineers, artists and performers will benefit from the scheme each year. A view of the Olympic Stadium and ArcelorMittal Orbit, currently under construction.

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DEVELOPMENT Celebrating the Campaign’s ongoing success On 4 May, Lord Browne and Sir John Parker hosted an event to mark the success of the making things better Campaign. Since the Campaign was launched in March 2010, £10.2 million has been raised; £6.1 million for the creation of the Forum for Engineering at 3 Carlton House Terrace and £4.1 million for ongoing education and engagement activities.

Donations to the Campaign have come from a variety of sources which was reflected by the diverse mix of guests who attended the event. These included, representatives from leading engineering companies, charitable trusts and foundations, as well as many Fellows and friends, who have all generously contributed. A significant personal donation from Lord Browne was announced during the evening.

In addition, the Academy was delighted From left to right: Sir John Parker FREng, artist Sam Keil and Lord Browne FREng FRS to receive the gift of a distinctive sculpture by artist Sam Keil. The artist who dimension to her work. The sculpture With £400,000 still to raise, donations of donated the large bronze eagle and plinth attracted a great deal of attention at the all sizes will help close the gap to the has a love of physics and taught herself event and is currently on display in the £6.5 million project budget. quantum mechanics to bring an extra Academy’s reception area.

Building bridges Connecting teachers The Academy is pleased to BG Group has joined other leading announce an exciting new engineering companies to support gift towards the Forum for the Academy’s education activities. Engineering project from A generous gift worth £750,000 over Babcock International. three years, will enable the Academy to Babcock apprentices at create a national network of support for the Rosyth Dockyard all STEM teachers. This will complement will be constructing the existing Academy activity in schools. S-shaped bridge across the new courtyard garden The programme will begin in late leading into the Academy’s summer 2011, when the Academy will reception area. This select specialist STEM teachers in each of contribution will materially Babcock apprentices working on a model of the sinuous bridge the 12 UK regions to build up networks help reduce project costs and of schools and share their expertise add an interesting engineering story to the Forum. with non-specialist STEM teachers. New resources will be developed to help The story of the bridge’s construction will help the Forum and engineering to deliver inspirational and dynamic STEM come alive to a wider audience. It will also create the opportunity to emphasise the education. These resources will also be importance of skilled technicians to industry and the wider UK economy, linking well made available online. with the Academy’s own extensive activity in this area. BG Group staff across all levels and Archie Bethel CBE FREng, Divisional Chief Executive, Babcock Marine and Technology, areas of the business, including Sir who was key to securing the gift said; “There is a great excitement around Rosyth at Frank Chapman, Chief Executive, will be the moment as the new Queen Elizabeth Aircraft Carrier begins to take shape and the trained as STEM Ambassadors to link up S-shaped bridge being built by the apprentices adds to that excitement.” with teachers and students and bring current applications of engineering into the classroom.

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EVENTS AND AWARDS President’s Medal Rooke Medal Professor Anthony Kelly CBE DL FREng FRS, known across the world as the ‘father of Professor Chris Bishop FREng FRSE, has composite materials’, has been awarded the been awarded the 2011 Rooke Medal President’s Medal. for his “persistent drive” in engaging members of the public and making them Since graduating with a first class physics aware of the vital work of engineers and degree from the University of Reading in their contribution to society. 1949, Professor Kelly, now 82, has been a leading light in engineering. He held the He followed in the footsteps of Michael post of Vice-Chancellor at the University Faraday, Sir Frank Whittle and Sir David of Surrey; was a lecturer at the University Attenborough by presenting the Royal of Cambridge; was appointed Deputy Institution Christmas Lectures in 2008. Director of the National Physical Laboratory; and held the Presidency of Professor Bishop, Distinguished Scientist the Institute of Materials. He also holds at Microsoft, is the Vice President of the honorary degrees from the UK, Spain, Royal Institution of Great Britain. He has a USA and South Korea in recognition of his Chair in Computer Science at Edinburgh distinguished career. University, and holds Fellowships at Darwin College Cambridge, the British Professor Kelly is best known for his work Computer Society, the Royal Statistical in high-performing composite materials. Society, and the Royal Society of His book on the subject, Strong Solids, first Edinburgh. published in 1965, is still regarded as the seminal work in the field. Nominating Professor Bishop for the award, his colleague Professor Andrew Nominating Professor Kelly for the Blake FREng FRS, said: “Chris is an ardent award, Professor Sir Colin Humphreys promoter of science and engineering to FREng FRS of the Department of Materials the public. He is a regular speaker at the Science and Metallurgy at the University Professor Anthony Kelly collecting his award major UK science festivals and continually of Cambridge, said: “Professor Kelly is an from the Academy President pursues and tests new ways to promote exceptional engineer. Not only has he computer science, through novel given birth to a new field in materials engineering, composite materials, he has also demonstrations, interactive websites headed a university, created a science park and been a director of companies. It is rare and video, to name but a few.” to find contributions that are so distinguished and yet so broad.”

Forthcoming events

Thursday 22 September 2011 Monday 7 November 2011 Annual Research Forum New Fellows’ Briefing Venue: The Royal College of Physicians Venue: The Royal College of Pathologists, Contact: [email protected] London SW1 Contact: [email protected] Friday 23 September 2011 London Design Festival Monday 7 November 2011 Innovation Hothouse Final New Fellows’ Dinner Chair: Professor Brian Cantor FREng Venue: Drapers’ Hall, Thogmorton Venue: Institute of Materials, Minerals Avenue, London EC2N and Mining Contact: [email protected] Contact: [email protected] Thursday 24 November 2011 Thursday 13 October 2011 View from the top Lecture Series Technology Visionaries Lecture Series Speaker: Malcolm Brinded CBE FREng, Speaker: Professor Andrew Viterbi, Group Managing Director, Royal President, The Viterbi Group LLC Dutch Shell Venue: TBC Venue: Royal Society of Medicine Professor Chris Bishop collecting his award Contact: [email protected] Contact: [email protected] from Professor Dame Julia Higgins FREng FRS

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EDUCATION BAE Systems inspires the next generation of National Curriculum engineers in Barrow Review On 2 March, BAE Systems opened its doors to more than 140 local school pupils On 14 April, Education for Engineering and sixth form students to inspire the next generation of engineers. The Future (E4E), the body hosted by the Academy Engineers day saw students from the Barrow Engineering Project (a regional variant to represent the professional engineering of the London Engineering Project, centred on Barrow-in-Furness) spend the day community on education policy at BAE Systems Submarine Solutions. There they undertook a number of hands-on matters, submitted its response to the engineering tasks, spoke to BAE Systems employees and toured the giant Devonshire government’s review of the national Dock Hall to see submarines in various stages of development. curriculum in England. The response emphasised the message that schools It was the first time that BAE Systems had hosted an event of this kind, and Managing should provide a blend of theoretical and Director John Hudson FREng, who hosted the day, said: “The day was all about practical education. inspiring young people and opening their eyes to all the exciting opportunities which engineering offers them.” E4E argued that Design and Technology as a subject provides this blend and should remain in the national curriculum up to Key Stage 3. The submission also said that there should be coherence across mathmatic subjects within the curriculum and that connections between different subjects are explicitly made. E4E also called for a complete rethink of the ICT curriculum and supported the re-establishment of computing as a subject topic.

The full submission can be found at: www.educationforengineering.org.uk/ E4E_NC_Review

Supporting STEM

Students at BAE Systems in Barrow discovering how smart metals can be comparable to a Clubs human muscle Insufficient finance and expertise are often the reasons why schools cannot provide extra-curricula activities like Boosting ambassadors STEM Clubs. Through the Engineering Engagement Project at the Academy Through its partnership with BAE Systems, the Academy has been working with a number of schools are getting STEMNET, the national provider of STEM Ambassadors, to deliver ‘booster’ training to the opportunity to overcome these engineering ambassadors from the UK. The training devised by the Academy helps obstacles by receiving a small grant ambassadors to think about engineering in a positive way and understand how, by to set up a club and continuing adapting the way they present engineering, they can engage girls as well as boys. The professional development (CPD) for training also allows ambassadors to develop their own ideas for engineering activities, the club leader. The additional CPD giving them the supports club leaders in bringing confidence to become engineering and technology to their stronger leaders. club and helps them to introduce girls to engineering. The leaders also So far over 300 receive a set of engineering resources ambassadors have been to help get their club started and offer through this training with a a springboard to try other engineering target of 500 by July 2012. based activities in their club. The CPD is being delivered as a pilot across Left: A STEM Ambassador three regions during the summer term delivering engineering (North West, Yorkshire and Humber and activities to students at the London) with national roll out planned Big Bang Fair in London for September 2011.

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PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT Higher Education Ingenious ideas STEM Programme The public will be able to find out about The National Higher Education STEM the art of structural engineering through Programme is a £21 million three-year knitting with engineers. The Continuous Loop initiative funded by the Higher Education Project will use the processes and structures Funding Councils of England and Wales. in knitting as a starting point to discuss It has been rolling out activities structural engineering, the materials used developed by four pilot projects, and the importance of tension. The project including the London Engineering is one of 20 recently announced in the latest Project (LEP). The Academy is leading round of Ingenious awards – the Academy’s the engineering strand in partnership public engagement grant scheme. The Steve Mould demonstrating his flame tube with the Higher Education Authority project coordinators from the University of at a Guerilla Science event Engineering Subject Centre. West England, Bristol will use the funding to partner with engineers and travel to public grants are awarded to projects that help Between March 2010 and March 2011 the events across the country. position engineers at the heart of society. Academy opened three calls to distribute funds for engineering activities within Other grant recipients include Guerilla An Ingenious Fellowship was awarded to Higher Education Institutions in England Science, who will showcase cutting-edge Dr Jeremy Wells, from the University of and Wales. The main purpose was to engineering to adult audiences at music York. He will explore the understanding support the transfer and wider adoption festivals. I’m an engineer - get me out of here! and perceptions of the work that recording of the best practice learnt through the will take engineering into schools through engineers undertake and how engineering LEP into the wider engineering HE sector online debate. Blood on the floor is an activity contributes to music technology. and other STEM subjects. As a result, the enabling people to find out more about Academy funded five large- and 61 small- engineering and science by engaging with The Ingenious programme has funded over scale projects worth £678,000. a crime scene investigation plot. 75 projects to date and many engineers involved in the projects over the last five The accepted projects feature innovation, Ingenious is funded by the Department years have continued to champion public research, outreach and employer for Business, Innovation and Skills and the engagement in their work. engagement. They include examples such as training undergraduate students as student ambassadors to assist outreach X marked the spot at the activities in local schools. They also create new engineering modules like the Nuclear Cheltenham Science Festival Island project – a design and build exercise The annual Cheltenham Science Festival began on 7 June, it included a range of debates for engineering undergraduates. For the and events co-organised and supported by the Academy. This annual week-long festival complete list visit www.thelep.org.uk/ is one of the UK’s finest, with high profile speakers, topical debates and a range of national/projects interactive activities designed to excite both adult audiences and younger visitors.

In September 2011 the Academy is Marking a double anniversary, the Academy celebrated its 35th birthday (11 June) in the organising two dissemination events in same week as the festival celebrated its 10th, hence its chosen theme of ‘X’. The Academy Coventry and Bradford. These events are was a first time ‘Principal Partner’ of the festival, and hosted seven events over the week- designed to provide an opportunity for long programme, aimed at engaging visitors in the unique contribution engineering all our project leaders to present their makes to today’s society. work and conduct workshop sessions on evaluation, case studies, dissemination Following its recent report on the vulnerabilities of GPS and satellite navigation systems, and sustainability. the Academy raised awareness of Life without GPS with an expert panel including Dr Martyn Thomas FREng and Professor Paul Cannon FREng. All project teams will submit a case study and a final evaluation report In a debate on X-Men and Bionic Women, Professor John Fisher FREng discussed on completion by March 2012. The biomedical engineering, exploring whether humans aged 50 years old and over can be HE STEM team at the Academy is ‘restored’ in order to achieve fitness and mobility more typical of a younger person. monitoring the progress and will perform an overall evaluation to learn Another Academy event, Mobile Health, led by Professor Lionel Tarassenko FREng, looked any common themes or lessons that at how today’s smartphones can help patients manage chronic medical conditions. emerge from the programme. For more Dr Mike Short FREng discussed how we can design for the future to reduce the information on the programme, please enormous amount of waste in a debate entitled Disposable Britain. visit www.thelep.org.uk/national or contact the National HE STEM team More information about this year’s festivals activities can be found at at [email protected] www.cheltenhamfestivals.com/science and www.raeng.org.uk

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Temporary closing Staff news Obituaries Juliet Benning has left the Academy to go of 3 Carlton House travelling around Central America. Dr Joseph Gibson CBE FREng died Terrace in January 2011 aged 94. Before his Adam Hawkins has left the Academy to retirement he was Board Member for Final approval of the Forum for join Situp as a technical analyst. Science, National Coal Board. Engineering renovation project will be considered by the Academy’s Council Kim Turner has joined the Academy as Dr John Newbery died 23 June 2011 aged in July. If the green light is given, the Head of Executive Services. 84. He was formerly Chief Engineering Fellows Room and all public rooms Geologist for Binnie and Partners. will then be closed from 22 July 2011 Holly Wright has joined the Academy until May 2012. The staff will remain in as International Policy Advisor. She To read personal tributes to past Fellows situ and Academy meetings and events was previously a political researcher at or contribute an expression of your will be held elsewhere. DeHavilland. appreciation of another Fellow’s life, you can visit www.raeng.org.uk/appreciation Keith Davis bids farewell Media mentions The Academy featured in the national and local press on numerous occasions over the past three months. The most widespread coverage came from the reporting on the Academy’s annual awards.

The MacRobert Award winners, Microsoft Research, received comprehensive coverage in both the national press (the Financial Times and The Times), as well as major engineering publications and local press.

Elsewhere, Boris Johnson mentioned the Academy in his Daily Telegraph column in reference to a UK water grid conference being held at Carlton House Terrace this October. There was also an opinion piece on North Sea wind power by Lord Browne Keith Davis has retired from the Academy after 22 years on the staff, 20 of them as a Head in The Times as well as coverage of the of Department and Director. He joined in January 1989 as Manager, Engineering Policy Academy’s making things better Campaign after a successful first career in civil engineering consultancy and left the Academy as in the Financial Times. Director, Strategy and Planning.

Keith has been a key player in developing the Academy’s work, impact and reputation and has worked with a great many Fellows over the years. Among his many achievements, he has had a pivotal role preparing the Academy’s submission to the last three government spending reviews. He has also been a staunch guardian of the Academy’s reputation. In recognition of widespread respect in which he is held, many Fellows wrote tributes for a leaving book and attended his leaving reception.

Keith has been succeeded by Dr Hayaatun Sillem, known to many Fellows as Head of International Activities. Keith will continue to provide part time support in some key areas of development. The Academy wishes him the very best for his retirement and The MacRobert Award winning team thanks him for his outstanding contribution to the work of the organisation for nearly from Microsoft with Professor Andrew two thirds of its existence. Blake FREng FRS holding the gold medal

News Summer 2011 – printed on 100% recycled paper

Published by The Royal Academy of Engineering The Royal Academy of Engineering 3 Carlton House Terrace, London SW1Y 5DG promotes excellence in the science, Tel: 020 7766 0600 Fax: 020 7930 1549 www.raeng.org.uk art and practice of engineering. Edited and designed by Juliet Benning Registered charity number 293074

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