LynchPin Bristol Engineering Bristol

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LynchPin Bristol Engineering

. 02 LynchPin Bristol Engineering [email protected] article for LynchPin please contact: If you are interested in writing an publicity/lynchpin.html engineering/staff/ www.bristol.ac.uk/ LynchPin Bristol 2010 Aeolus vehicle Cover environmentally friendly inks using vegetable based recycled paper stock Printed onRevive 100% Portishead Press Ltd Print and reproduction Carrie Wattling Design and production Caroline Higgins Carrie Wattling, Sam Hodder, John McWilliams, Emma Weeks, LynchPin team University of Bristol the Faculty of Engineering, LynchPin is produced by LynchPin

. : The University of is available online at Autumn 2010 internship attheUniversity ofManipal Hamish Ferguson describeshis 14 Indiansummer International Aeolus competition team andtheirparticipationinthe Feature articlefromtheBristol Aeolus 12 Racingagainstthewind spills ofstartingupanewcompany George Millsoutlinesthethrillsand Lifeinthefastlane 11 the Bristolbranch up todatewiththelatestnewsfrom Peter CooperandEva Linnellbringus 08 Engineers Without Borders his daysasanundergraduate high flyerEdStrongmanlooksbackto Gorochowski take thetopawards, and Alexey Likhoded, SalmanIqbaland Tom 06 Studentnews news andvisits Appointments, awards, conference Faculty Newsclipsfrom04 around the welcome gratifying to see that many years of work of years many that see to gratifying us.is It join can partners if asking conversations telephone of flurry a with met is area this in call new any Indeed, research. of area growing internationally an of hub the at ourselves find now we and spectacular, of short nothing been has Bristol on ground. effect The the of out appearing park science the on site million £25 a see will Bristol North visiting you of those Centre: Composites National the on apace continues Work respect. every in students current our for model role a is he – things great achieve to on went and Bristol from graduated for He Airbus. pilot test chief the is who Strongman, Ed alumnus, high-flying truly a about is edition this in articles our of one you! You’ll notice of all from things great expect we but then, pressure No University. entire the within qualified highest the Faculty, also the but in seen we’ve that quality highest the only not was intake year’s this that know to you interest may It around. buzzing students with place exciting more and livelier far a welcome. is Faculty The extremely are you you, Toof postgraduate. all and undergraduate both students, outstanding of intake an it with along and arrived has year academic new The Sciences andLaw of Engineering, Scienceand Social partnership betweentheFaculties Paul Harperreportsonthismajor new Focus24 on theCabotInstitute about hislife Alan Champneysspeakspersonally 23 Faculty people Society The UniversityofBristolEngineering From thearchive21 Steve Bullockcomesfullcircle 20 Teach First -studylater his ResearchFellowship toKyoto and DrNikolaos Nikitastellsusabout News ofahighprofilevisitto ACCIS, 19 Faculty linkswithJapan the latestdevelopments Professor IanCraddock writesabout 17 Breast cancerdetection commitment must remain solid. solid. remain must commitment this ever than Faculty. more the Now in activities the all of quality the increasing and maintaining to committed completely aware,am I be will me know who you of quality. those As highest the of faculties and universities to attracted be naturally will students potential that realise to research our of profile the and students incoming our of calibre the at look to have regard. only We this in most than placed better is Bristol Fortunately quality. to migration a be will there that be would effect likely its on observation main My frisson. minor a than more caused it that say to fair is community.It Education Higher the of trepidation the to emerged report Browne awaited long- the course, of month, last the In overseas. and UK the from industry with working area the in research for point focal national the as act will Centre The Communications. in Centre Training Doctoral UK’s the awarded been has Bristol that delighted also am I continue. this may Long us. with work to world the in people best the brings research in mass Critical profile. international leading truly a to led now has group Composites the by 06 19 23 entertain us for several years to come! to years several for us entertain to demands external and internal both be will there sure I’m complacent. be not must we said, future. being the That for well bodes which positive, very is regard this in trajectory the Fortunately 24 20 07 Professor Nick Lieven Nick Professor Dean of Engineering of Dean

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03 DAVE PRATT LynchPin Bristol Engineering . 04 LynchPin Bristol Engineering newsclips Dr Raf Theunissen Professor Andy Nix Dr NeillCampbell materials (Richard Trask), carbon nanotubes bio-inspired multifunctional composite overview ofcurrentresearch work, including during themorningsession toprovidean research. ACCIS staffgavepresentations collaboration andsponsorshipof ACCIS many ofwhomareinvolvedinthe industrial andacademiccommunities, Representatives ranged widelyacross and applicationofcompositematerials. with acommoninterestintheresearch Building. Over150delegatesattended, took placeon15SeptemberinQueen’s The thirdannual ACCIS conference ACCIS conference initial stepstoobtainaPIVsystem. (LDV) systemrunningagainandhasmade department’s LaserDoppler Velocimetry At presentheisworkingongettingthe obtained experimentaldata. he worksontechniquestopostprocessthe extending ittothreedimensions. Inaddition improve theflowanalysiswithPIVand development ofadaptivealgorithmsto Raf’s researchisfocussedonthecontinuing years at Alstom LtdinSwitzerland. turbine developmentengineerfornearlytwo University inSeptember, Rafworked asagas outstanding paperaward. Beforejoiningthe Measurement Scienceand Technology Velocimetry (PIV)earnedhimthe2007 interrogation methodsinParticle Image on adaptivesamplingandwindowing Vrije UniversiteitBrussel(VUB). Hiswork framework between TUD, the VKI andthe awarded hisPhDin2010acollaborative in hishomecountry, Belgium. Hewas Karman InstituteforFluidDynamics(VKI) on opticalflowmeasurementatthevon in 2003, whileconductinghisresearch of Technology (TUD)intheNetherlands both hisMScdegreefromDelftUniversity Experimental Aerodynamics. Heobtained Aerospace engineeringasLecturerin research groupintheDepartmentof Raf Theunissen hasjoinedthe Aerodynamics Department. of theElectricalandElectronicEngineering Communication Systems, isthenewHead Andy Nix, Professorof Wireless Department. is thenewHeadofComputerScience Neill Campbell, ReaderinComputerScience New appointments around theFaculty and events from The latestnews design andbuildtest rigs. Laterhetookover workshop, where hehelpedmanystudents manufacturing technician inthemain Department. He worked initiallyas a technician intheMechanicalEngineering joined theUniversity27yearsagoasa suddenly on5thOctober2010. Richard the deathofRichard Wadham whodied It iswithgreatsadnessthewereport Richard Wadham for Universities&Science, David Willetts MP. journalists andakey notespeechby Minister policy makers, majorfiguresfromindustry, Surrey universities), withattendeesincluding Partnership, (Bath, Bristol, Southamptonand The eventwas hostedbytheSETsquared usage weseetoday. of commercialandpersonalmobilephone involved allowedforthemassiveexpansion security, andhowtheencryptiontechniques scrambler begananewera ofhigherpolice the 20exhibits. Itdemonstrated howthe Award forInnovation in1992, was oneof the CCR, finalistforthePrinceof Wales The inventionofthespeechscrambler by around theworld. research andhowithaschangedlives wide-ranging globalimpactofuniversity October 2010, heldtodemonstrate the exhibition in Westminster onthe13th (CCR) participatedintheChanging Worlds The CentreforCommunicationsResearch Changing Worlds exhibition programme. within theI-CompositesGrand Challenge detailing theresearchtheyareundertaking given bytheprogramme’s industrialpartners of compositematerials. Presentationswere simultaneously improvingthefunctionality and wastage inmanufacturingwhilst basis forreducingenergyconsumption Composites Centre, aimstoprovidethe Aerospace andsupportedbytheNational programme. This programme, ledbyGKN I-Composites Grand ChallengeResearch the Technology Strategy Boardfunded An afternoonsessionwas hostedby developments. posters showingtheirownrecentresearch and studentsfrom ACCIS presented composites (BruceDrinkwater). Researchers Rahatekar) andfuturedirectionsinNDTof based multifunctionalcomposites(Sameer see http://www.ieee-cas.org). with over9000members (formoredetails largest amongthe38 societiesoftheIEEE in January 2011. IEEECASisoneofthe Systems Societyforatwo-yeartermstarting Vice Presidentofthe IEEE Circuitsand Engineering Mathematicshasbeenelected Systems andControlintheDepartment of Mario diBernardo, ProfessorofNonlinear IEEE Circuits andSystemsSociety go tohisfamily. and studentsalike. Ourdeepestsympathies Faculty andhewillbegreatlymissed bystaff in thefuture. Richardgavesomuchtothe a wishtocontinuehelpingthedepartment retire thisacademicyear, hehadexpressed which was agreatupsettohim. Dueto his motherwhosadlydiedearlierthisyear, A careful, caringmanhewas devotedto Triumph GT6. masterpieces, orworkingonhismuchloved and repairinghisbicycles, manyofthemrare mechanical andspentmanyhoursbuilding he was neverfaraway fromsomething engines inhislab. OutsidetheUniversity or manufactureitemstomaintainthetest to helpstudentsgettheirprojectsworking for use. Hefrequentlyworked after hours that thelabsandequipmentwereready time andheworked tirelesslyinensuring always willingtogivestudentsandstaffhis sized manhehadthelargestofhearts, which becamehisprideandjoy. A medium the InternalCombustionEngineLaboratory where hewillbeworking toquantifythe Engineering asaResearch Collaborator, has joinedtheDepartment of Aerospace Adam Grasch, fromKentucky intheUS, of Bristol. design andbuildofaircraft attheUniversity world, tocarryoutresearchintothefuture prestigious awards programmes inthe Scholarship Award, oneofthemost a FulbrightCommissionPostgraduate A talentedaerospaceengineerhasreceived Scholarship Award Fulbright CommissionPostgraduate alleles detection in wheat genome. drastically speed up the problem of rare and coding theory. Such techniques can similar problems arising in communications of those solutions are based on insights from implementations of efficient algorithms. Many analysis of genetic data, as well as practical understanding of problems arising in the in the development of formal mathematical undertaking cross-disciplinary collaboration and bioinformatics. The researchers are representations in information theory, coding the compressive sensing field and sparse Professor Milenkovic is one the pioneers of Sciences). School ofMathematicsandBiological Compressed SensinginGenotyping”. (CCR, and Information Theoretic Perspectives of EPSRC cross-disciplinarygrant “Algorithmic Research (CCR)recentlyaspartofthe visited theCentreforCommunications University ofIllinoisUrbana-Champaign, Professor OlgicaMilenkovic ofthe Visit ofProfessor OlgicaMilenkovic ACCIS Conference delegates atthe of ACCIS chatwith Wisnom, Director Professor Michael Eric Thomas and The Vice-Chancellor, Adam Grasch Fulbright scholar Dr John Parry Biological Sciences) Dr Barker (Schoolof (Urbana-Champaign), Professor Milenkovic of Mathematics), Sejdinovic (School Dr Johnson, Dr Dr Piechocki(MVSE), the EnginesLab undergraduates in with ateamof (second from left) Richard Wadham top left: Clockwise from a researcherinfatigue andthebehaviourof in thefieldofMaterials andMechanics colleagues knewhim asanexcellentteacher to teachonapart-time basisuntil1991. His in 1985asaSeniorLecturer; hecontinued remained intheDepartmentuntilheretired Apart fromabriefspellinindustry, he under aerialattackbyGermanbombers). Tower asafirespotter(Bristolthenbeing had tospendmanynightsupthe Wills undergraduate and, apartfromhisstudies, Mechanical Engineeringin1943asan John Parry joinedtheDepartmentof Bob Adams writesforLynchPin: 9th August. Former colleagueProfessor Dr JohnParry sadlypassedaway onthe Dr John Parry HIV/AIDS andglobalwarming. challenges, suchastheeconomiccrisis, make vitalcontributionstotoday’s global and UK, fieldsofstudyandbackgrounds geographic regions, institutionsintheUS scholars representabroadrange of to become, leadersintheirfield. Fulbright research whoare, orhavethepotential people fromanyareaofscholarshipor Fulbright Scholarshipsareawarded to programme. year ofapostgraduate degreeorresearch which isofferedtoaUScitizenforthefirst the US-UKFulbrightCommissionaward, record numberofapplicationstoreceive performance. Adam was selectedfroma tremendous gainsinfuelefficiencyand configuration mid-flight, makingpossible aircraft whosewingscanchangeshapeand research projectonthedesignandbuildof shapes. Hisworkwillcontributetowards a phenomena ofdeformedormorphingwing control characteristics andaeroelastic

Adrian Prize. been namedjointwinner fortheDaiwa in PhysicsandElectrical Engineering, has Jeremy O’Brien, Professorial ResearchFellow Daiwa Adrian Prize Computer ScienceDepartment. technologies andSeniorLecturerinthe expert inmany-coreparallel processing chaired bySimonMcIntosh-Smith, a world- Supercomputing Conference(MRSC)willbe The 2011Many-coreandReconfigurable processors andreconfigurable computing. emerging technologiesofmany-coreparallel computing conferencefocusingonthe host Europe’s largesthighperformance The ComputerScienceDepartmentis to conference 2011 High Performance Computing Fullarticleonbackpage. the University’s Wills MemorialBuilding. took placeonMonday15thNovemberin The officiallaunchoftheCabotInstitute The CabotInstitute laboratory, butalsointheworkshop. engineer parexcellence, notonlyinthe hydrostatic pressure. Johnwas apractical behaviour ofpolymersundershearand worked withIM Ward inPhysicsonthe of polymerssuchasNylonforICI. Healso thick-walled tubesusedintheproduction pressures (gunbarrels)tothedesignof thick-walled cylindersunderrepeatedhigh stresses. HeextendedMorrison’s workon materials underhighpressureandcomplex

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. 06 06 LynchPin Bristol Engineering student news Iqbal Isikveren andSalman UK), Dr Askin Robin Brown (Airbus Mr SandyMitchell, Alexey Likhoded Dr Tom Richardson, (Airbus UK) Etienne Coetzee, L tor: top award Alexey takes the in 15different categories. students were shortlisted year’s work. Forty five exceptional qualityofthis judges paidtributeto the university inEurope and received from every major numbers ofentrieswere of Engineering. Record members oftheFaculty the Year includedtwo Technology Studentof Science, Engineering& The finalistsofthe2010 2010. Aeronautical Engineering Student given the Airbus Award for theBest Hilton Hotelwhere Alexey was the awards ceremonyinLondon’s Both studentsandlecturersattended Dr Askin Isikveren. Thrust Vectoring System’supervisedby Integration ofNovelUnidirectional and SalmanIqbalfor ‘Design and UAV’ supervisedbyDr Tom Richardson Based RecoveryofaRotary Wing Bristol. Alexey Likhodedfor ‘Vision Awards (SET)in2010camefrom & Technology Studentofthe Year Student intheScience, Engineering Airbus Best Aeronautical Engineering Two outofthethreefinalists forthe various people. The gymtherewas the relevant skills andtonetworkwith University ofIllinois inordertodevelop five leadershipcoursesofferedbythe helping outwithotherissues. Iattended Society, organisingvarious eventsand involved withtheInternationalStudents abroad scheme, where Iwas heavily USA formythirdyearonthestudy I wenttotheUniversityofIllinoisin personal andleadershipskills. last twoyearsdevelopingmyphysical, engineering foundation. Ispentmy my timetogettingastrongacademic Avionic students. Idedicatedtherestof I was therepresentativeforfirstyear football team, themotorsportclub, and involved intheFaculty ofEngineering Throughout myfirsttwoyearsI was good balancewithacademicstudies. while atthesametimemaintaininga in asmanyactivitiespossible university experience by getting involved one Idecidedtomake themostofmy in Aerospace andComputing. From year because Ihavealways hadaninterest to study Avionic SystemsEngineering the bestdecisionofmylife. Ichose “Going totheUniversityofBristolwas undergraduate intheFaculty below. this experienceandhistimeasan Alexey Likhodedsummarisesboth University ofBristol. for theEngineeringFaculty atthe by bothstudentsandafantasticresult This was anoutstandingachievement day beforetheprogram launch.” receiving the Airbus award onmylast graduate program atGE Aviation than imagined abetterway tostartmy engineering andIcouldnothave prepared mefortherealworldof The fouryearsofmystudyhave fully different partsofthesystem. the calculationsandintegration of data, externalinfluencesexcludedin imperfections suchasthenoisein the real-lifeworldanddealingwith going fromthetheoreticalworldinto problem. The mostdifficultpart was acquired frommydegreetoapractical me toapplythetheoreticalknowledge to completemydegree, sinceitallowed target. The projectwas theperfectway three rotationaldisplacementstothe calculate thethreetranslational and target ofapre-determinedshapeand used avideocamera torecognise a onto amovingtarget. The helicopter landing ofasmallunmannedhelicopter algorithm toenabletheautonomous which concernedthedesignofacontrol time Idedicatedtomyfinalyearproject, the jobresponsibilities. The restofthe and organisinglargeeventsoutsideof by workingfortheInternationalOffice Erasmus studentsinBristolUniversity once againgettinginvolvedwiththe My finalyearIspentbackinBristol, physical development. seemed agoodplacetostartmy largest universitygyminUSA, soit

AIRBUS UK brilliant motivation to battle onwards!” at times, but recognition like this is a biological systems is a real challenge computational methods to understand for the prize. Using mathematical and display, it was a real honour to be chosen having seen the excellent research on first biology focused conference and Tom is delighted: “with ICSB being my adapt in time.” in applications whose structure evolve and behaviour of complex networked systems to understand, model and control the networks is of fundamental importance “Tom’s work on evolving dynamical School of Biological Sciences, said: Professor Claire Grierson from the joint supervisor of Tom’s PhD with Engineering Mathematics Department, Professor Mario di Bernardo of the co-ordinated behaviour of social animals. evolution of gene regulation, or even the of protein interaction networks to the range of behaviours; from the dynamics be used to model and analyse a wide many biological systems, these tools can With dynamics and evolution integral to presented in the poster. computational tools such as Net Evo resulted in the development of several and how this evolves over time. Thisnetworked has structure of complex systems, on understanding the dynamic and for Complexity Sciences, focuses his workTom, a PhD student at the Bristol Centre Systems Biology. Session at the International Conference on the Computational Methods and Tools selected as the best in its category in network dynamics and evolution, was a computational toolkit for investigating biology conference. His poster, illustrating for his work at the world’s leading systems Tom Gorochowski has been commended Systems Biology Conference on International wins award at PhD student Ed Strongman Tom Gorochowski and hemadethefirst flightofthis in thedevelopment ofthe A340-600 A340 family. Ed was particularlyinvolved appointed projectpilotforthe A330/ He joined Airbus in1995wherehewas Norman andHarbinaircraft). Embraer, Cessna, CASA, PilatusBritton (including Airbus, Boeing, Dassault, of awiderange ofjetandturboprops pilot hewas involvedintheapproval Authority (CAA). As acertificationtest the UnitedKingdomCivil Aviation Officer ofthetestsquadronandjoined In 1986EdleftBedfordasCommanding and civilsystems. of helicopters, developingbothmilitary transport andfighterplanesa range flying awide range ofaircraft, including the Royal Aircraft EstablishmentBedford returned totheUKandspentsixyearsat Base inCalifornia. Ongraduating he Test PilotSchoolatEdwards Air Force and attendedtheUnitedStates Air Force he was selectedfortestpilottraining in 1974ontheHerculesC130. In1979 Ed startedhisoperational flying career as apilotintheRoyal Air Force. Bristol University before qualifying degree inElectrical Engineeringat Cornwall, England, andgaineda Ed Strongman was bornin1949 Hi flying npowe job asChief Test PilotMilitary at Airbus.” career andfundamental tomypresent at Bristol, havebeenfundamental inmy for independentthought, both gained engineering knowledgeandtheneed up awholenewworldforme. The broad ideas andmake newfriends, allopened to listenlivemusic, andto exchange opportunity totake partinnewactivities, However, thestudentway oflife, the student politicsoftheday. I was notfullyinalignmentwithallthe flower-power yearsaround1968, a studentonanRAFscholarshipinthe covering alltypesofengineering, andas I foundtheacademicschallenging, shock bothsociallyandacademically. My firstyearatuniversity was quitea opening upnewtechnicalcapabilities. subject findingoptimumsolutionsand it ispractical aswellatheoretical “I chosetostudyengineeringbecause 11000 flighthoursintest. spent morethan7000hoursofhis A400M and Airbus tanker aircraft. Ed has responsibility forthedevelopmentof presently Chief Test PilotMilitarywith test developmentprogramme. Heis extensively involvedinthe A380 flight on allthe Airbus aircraft andhasbeen aircraft in2000. Hecontinuestowork alumni

AIRBUS UK

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. 07 09 07 LynchPin Bristol Engineering . . 06 08 08 LynchPin Bristol Engineering water system Eva inspects a rural minimum wage third of the national for $80 a month, a who works hard Ecuador with Anibal Eva Linnell in Borders Without Engineers 15,000 childrenin theBristolareawere Estimates suggest thatlastyearover at Bristolcontinuestoflourish. ever-growing nationalrecognition, EWB a plethora ofnewsuccessfultalksand With recordbreakingoutreachfigures, around theglobe work onprojects athomeand community, ourmemberscan by theEWB-UK Supported poverty andimproving lives. technology’s role intackling young people tolearnabout provide for opportunities engineering. Ourprogrammes progress through cutting-edge that removes barriers to development organisation (EWB) isprimarily a Engineers Without Borders When bettertogetinvolved? this project–watch thisspace. available toEWBmembersinrelation a worldofopportunitiescouldsoonbe Discussions arestillinthepipeline, but with potentiallylife-savingresults. a realworlddevelopmentproject choose, design, implementandmanage proposed -achanceformembersto of EWBmembers, aBranch Projectwas harness theenthusiasmandintelligence Government ofGhana. Aiming to lunch witharepresentativefromthe committee findingthemselvesat encounter ledtotheEWBBristol of EWB’s reputationandachance even beinthecountry. A combination So borderlessinfact, wemaynot Next yearwillbeparticularlyborderless. the remainderof Talks Programme. applause, Joesetthebarveryhighfor students andclosingtocheers anecdotes. Openingtoover100eager the audiencewithhisoff-the-cuff wealth generation andJoefascinated offered afreshlookatthebenefitsof historical influencesofEngineering, educational, Joe’s talkcapturedthe favourite JoeQuarini. Entertainingand EWB’s talksopenedwithFaculty progressive discussionoftheprofession, Continuing thereputationfor is allabout. of engineerthatepitomiseswhatEWB world ofincreasinguncertainty; thekind for ethicalandanalyticalengineersina event aimstofulfilthegrowingneed and LeadershipinEngineering’, the in thenearfuture. Entitled ‘Innovation hosting aCareersFair intheFaculty hunting agencyFutureBoard, willbe graduate partner, specialisthead- doesn’t stopthere. A longstanding sponsorship agreements, butthefun are currentlycentredaroundcreating day-to-day worktocomeEWB. Talks developments, tookabreakfromtheir the epicentreofUK’s automotive University. Jaguar-Land RoverResearch, In addition, over15speakers visitedthe strength tostrength. committee, wefeelaregoingfrom and withmanyfreshfacesonthe member ofEWB. Nowover800strong found thetimetosignupbecomea year, oneinthreenewundergraduates power andappealofengineering. This outrageously fundemonstrations ofthe which wereinteractive, creativeand involved inanOutreach Workshop, President, EWB Bristol Peter Cooper, programmes/placements/wanttovolunteer involves see:www.ewb-uk.org/ For more info on what a placement course for their generous sponsorship. Many thanks to the Engineering Design together with how they can be removed. operators to highlight contaminants are planning an education program for water committee. For this reason we was not identified as a priority by the improved the spring capture, though it For example, in “Limones” we have this has been a convoluted process. their wants and needs, and at times members of the community to understand Our work has involved getting to know unpaid technical support from peoplelike PRODECI likeis greatly us.increased through capital investment. The reach of charities modest wage, leaving no funds to cover a month doesn’t even cover the operator’s Unfortunately the basic water rate of $2 committee, maintenance and billing. line with national law, to appointing a establishing a water constitution in run their own water system - from 35 families such as “Limones” who It is amazing to find a community of in the Intag region of northern Ecuador. construction of small rural water systems in July, is a volunteer role to realise the The six month placement, which started Engineering Design course. Matos in 2005, who was also on the placement every year, starting with Eddie a Bristol University student going on this Russell) I am continuing the tradition of to go to Ecuador (along with Tom placement. As one of two people selected Design degree was to do an EWB about after finishing my Engineering The only real plan that I was passionate selection criteria is who will gain the most. by the fact that part of the placement of supporting young people is embodied enough to receive. For me their ethos the education we have been fortunate work the chance to get out and share with no prior experience in development organisation that gives young people Engineers Without Borders is the only Eva Linnell - [email protected] It’s all for Charity! crossings, one-armed nomads and a steppe. Hitchhikers, Czech castles, border stops to dirt tracks in the Mongolian into tents everywhere from German truck Countless nights were spent crammed white knuckle river crossings in Mongolia. mangled drive shaft in Russia and several snapped leaf spring in Kazakhstan, a It also involved a tyre blow-out and a amusement of all the other passengers). onto and off the ferry at Dover, to the push starts than hot dinners (including start, and this journey involved more ambulance just a few miles from the For example, they had to push start the weren’t any problems along the way... the finish line. But that’s not to say there vehicle, the team made it successfully to totally reliant on a totally unreliable credible driving experience and being severely under-equipped, lacking any Renault Master ambulance. Despite being from Goodwood racetrack in their ancient friends - had set off six weeks before Scott (Engineering Design) and three Lethbridge, Josh Tomlinson and George The team of six undergraduates - James Granny would use for shopping. steppe was tackled in a vehicle your through deserts, mountains and 10,000 miles of adventuring bliss adventure of epic proportions. the capital of Mongolia after an triumphantly into Ulaanbaatar, Mongol Wonder Squad’ drove Rally team known as the ‘Super On 2nd September 2010 the Mongol Aeronautical engineer Paul Andrade writes about the world that flew by flew that world the about writes Paul Andrade engineer Aeronautical In Ma cheering at the roadside in Berlin. and gave support both in Bristol and by donated, helped at the coffee morning a massive thank you to all those who £1000 donated. Neil would like to say sponsorship was reached with just over coffee morning raising £110, the target the Faculty of Engineering, including a Red Cross. With huge support from in order to raise money for the British Marathon on a wet September day Aerospace Engineering ran the Berlin a PhD student in the Department of cold, early morning runs, Neil Buckney, After six months of preparation and many mongolrally.com/supermongolwondersquad For the full story or to donate go to www. of those who contributed in their own way. chance at life) and would like to thank all children in Mongolia and Vietnam a new provides homeless and abandoned Foundation (a truly worthy cause that UK and the Christina Noble Children’s raised almost £2,000 for Cancer Research remotest parts of Asia. So far they have local people living in the some of the from the sponsors at home and the of generosity from start to finish, both The team experienced astounding levels the adventure of a lifetime. noticeable lack of roads all contributed to Engineering Design with Study in Industry James Lethbridge (MEng) Thames towards Henley-on- team rowing hard Bristol Boat club The University of the Mongolian border. with after crossing they stayed the night Mongolian family who and members of the rally team mates (arms raised) with James Lethbridge navy blue), and George Scott (in Tomlinson (in yellow), students Joshua Engineering Design completion ofsuchagreatfundraiser. everyone was thrilledwiththe continued lateintothenight, and just aftersunset. The celebrations which theydid, makingitinto Henley of completingthecoursebeforedark, different boatstakingpart, inthehope of racingstylechasesbetweenthe even managedtoputinacouple Boat Clubcompetitivespirit, theteam and verybeautifulscenery. With true number ofinterestingstoppingpoints, The coursewas veryexcitingwitha arriving atHenley-on-Thames at5pm. and withdifferinglevelsofmorale, day invarying weatherconditions the teamrowedhardthroughout the firstglimpseoflightat6.30am; The rowingstartedatOxfordwith just shyof£3000hasbeenraised. itself. The targetis£4000andsofar Help forHeroesandtheboatclub challenge was toraisemoney forboth on theRiver Thames. The aimofthe marathons, inonedaytotake place of 80kilometres, orjustundertwo club foragrandrowingchallenge with theUniversityofBristolBoat of Engineeringstudentstookoff chilly SundayinlateOctoberagroup Long beforethecrackofdawnona Mechanical Engineering MEng James Diaz-Sokoloff Co

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. 10 LynchPin Bristol Engineering fancy dress enjoy anightoutin Members of TUBES Football team2009 Society (TUBES) Bristol Engineering The Unviersity of competition Student Robotics in the2010 Teams takingpart R 1000 members, but since signing up students comprise the cohort of over Both undergraduate and postgraduate University of Bristol Engineering Society. clue as to what it means: TUBES is The one could be forgiven for not having a the acronym around the University, but Staff and students might have seen is run, in its entirety, by a team of and distributed by us. Student Robotics colleges use is designed, built, tested colleges. All of the kit the schools & competition for sixth-form schools and Student Robotics run an annual robotics universities around the world. organisations running in various Both groups are part of much wider as a possible career path for them. engineering, science and technology school children to think twice about that use robotics to encourage of two new student run organisations Last year Bristol saw the foundation obotics TUBES - TUBES have. have. might you suggestions or queries any with directly committee TUBES and upcomingthe events,contact and where you can find details for all past to the society by re-vamping our website, year we’ve really increased accessibility all engineering students take on. This relaxation from the busy work schedule for engineers to provide some fun and and in organising events and nights out to do well in the intramural leagues, high quality who consistently manage maintaining inclusive sports teams of a organiser. It has been very successful in TUBES functions primarily as an events forgotten what TUBES isanddoes! at theFresher’s Fair, somemayhave dispel some of the stereotypes that are about their experiences and to try and volunteers to go into schools and talk global organisation arranges for student engineering. The Bristol section of this suggests, is to get more girls involved in The main aim of Robogals, as the name See: http://studentrobotics.org as materials for the robot and motors. budget to help towards other parts such given the electronics kit for free and a for very little or no cost: each team is allow schools and colleges to participate Bristol. One of the main aims for us is to university students with a branch here in in Engineering

Bristol University’s largest Society

. Readahistoryof TUBES onpage21. www.tubes.org.uk what we’ll be up to over the year! So check us out on the web and find out internships. section to help students to find jobs and In addition we’re developing a Careers Mason, KPMG and Barclays Capital. have secured sponsorship from Analysis new members, and we are proud to we’ve had a record intake of over 300 to strengthen our identity. This year produced some promotional banners so we’ve updated the TUBES logo and We’re also trying to improve our visibility Robogals President Rosanna Tulloch Student Robotics Branch Leader Sam Phippen around the Faculty in the coming year. Meanwhile look out for our events recruits and ideas so do get in touch. Both organisations are looking for new See: http://bristol.robogals.org.uk have a robotics programme. primary schools that would not otherwise workshops and competitions for local also organises and runs robotics associated with these subjects. Robogals , , Toby Lin, Vice President See: www.bristol.ac.uk/red/students/ can be used to gain the Bristol Plus Award. are delicious. In addition, the Spark course atmosphere is dynamic, and even the meals and increases commercial awareness. The hidden talents, developscurrentskills, is alifechangingexperience. Ituncovers Finally, participatingintheSparkcourse could effectively change your life forever. meeting with one influential or driven person and motivational dreams. Quite simply, a the country and students with inspirational to mingle with some of the top investors in enormously valuable. It is an opportunity Secondly, the networking experience is £350,000 fromhisownbusiness. student whoturnsagrossprofitof we metafourthyearcivilengineering your currentbusiness. During thecourse start yourownbusinessoreffectivelyrun discover anddeveloptheskillsneededto Firstly, thecourseisagreatopportunityto course toyou? So whywouldIrecommendtheSpark whole hostofusefulskillsforthefuture. my vibrant businesssideandtaughtmea enterprise idea. This coursebroughtout successfully pitchingaprofitablesocial we finishedsecondinthefinalroundfor our teamwas theDragons’ Den, where problems’. The mostexcitingsessionfor Innovation’, and`Solvingrealbusiness `Opportunity spotting’, `Creativity& including: `Whatisanentrepreneur?’, Spark 2010comprisedseveral sessions astonishing andelectrifyingexperience! I foundthiscoursetobeanamazing, attended toteachteamworkskills. firm IPGroup. Membersofthe Armyalso and Mark Warne fromventurecapital Alumni Jaya Chakrabarti fromNameless, Centre, EnterpriseRoleofHonour the SETsquaredBusiness Acceleration Nick SturgeandGrevilleComminsfrom businesses, andguestspeakers included students turntheirbrightideasintonew Burwalls thissummer. The coursehelps Bristol’s annualSparkstart-upcourseat Engineering, attendedtheUniversityof Department ofElectricalandElectronic David Dijemeni, anundergraduate inthe Spark 2010 Dowling Kimmett, Shaun Yoav Farbey, Neil Blenkinsopp,Robert Fan, BiancaMurad, George Mills, Ziwei l tor: The FIxbioteam course atBurwalls the Sparkstart-up David Dijemeniat

JAMIE CORBIN lane fast the in Life web applications applications web mobile and Android Google iPhone, quality high producing on focused company development software a Fibixio, founded Farbey and Yoav Mills George year this May In ac.uk/red). Enterprise Development (www.bristol. business people at Research and able to get help from experienced stages of our business, and we’ve been service to support us in the early grant from the University’s careers Basecamp also helped us find a further developers are Computer Scientists. and company work since most of our easy to move between University Venturers Building. This makes it very use of their office space in Merchant businessbasecamp.co.uk) and have loan of £5000 by Basecamp (www. up the company. We were given a support of the University in setting We feel really lucky to have had the have worked withustodate. small proportionofthepeoplewho In factthephotoaboveonlyshowsa interns, allmembersoftheUniversity. summer holidaysbyagreatgroupof Science. We werejoinedforthe student inDepartmentofComputer my co-founder, Yoav Farbey isacurrent (Mechanical Engineering2008)and a recentgraduateoftheUniversity million usersintheUKalone. I’m with thepotentialtoaccess16.9 Android devices, andthemobileweb, apps for Apple iOSdevices, Google e-commerce solutions. Fibixio develops businesses, andspecialiseinmobile create smartphoneapplicationsfor applications formobilephones. We started acompanymakingsoftware In May2010aclosefriendandI better atiteveryday. is abalancingact, butwe’re getting Running a startup while studying really will continuetodosointhefuture. worked withussofar, andhopefully hugely from the help of everyonesupport available. whoWe havebenefited has also givesusaccesstoallthehelpand Being intheheartofUniversity helps ustobeefficientwithourtime. regular check-ins. However, Ithinkit have toworkflexiblehoursand the sameroomwholetimesowe that asfounderswe’renotworkingin of workonallthetime. Italsomeans studying, itmeansthatthereisalot managing torunthecompanywhile hard workoftheteam. Intermsof because theyarepurelydowntothe but thehighsreallyareincredible emotionally chargedcareerchoice, highs andlows. This isdefinitelyan all founderswilltellyoutherearereal Life inourstartupisexcitingandas managed to. people weotherwisewouldn’thave that wehavehadmeetingswith people totake usseriouslyandmeant time job. Ithasalsoallowedother make itanabsolutepriority; it’s myfull us totake thebusinessseriouslyand Having allthissupporthasallowed www.fibixio.com George Mills

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. 11 LynchPin Bristol Engineering . 06 12 12 LynchPin Bristol Engineering feature the race during testingbefore at Membury Airfield The Aeolus vehicle students fromacross theFaculty were In total, approximately 20undergraduate and chassisstructure. turbines, electricaltransmission system aspects ofthevehicle’s designsuchasthe which werefocusedonoptimisingspecific Engineering and Aerospace Engineering, in ElectricalEngineering, Mechanical of undergraduateresearchprojects was thendevelopedthroughanumber the vehicle’s preliminarydesign. This a rangeofdesignstudiestocomplete the Faculty ofEngineeringconducted of studentsandacademicsfromacross vacation period, amultidisciplinaryteam challenging project. Duringthesummer GL GarradHassantotake onthis leading renewable energyconsultancy 2009, whenwewereencouragedby the Our involvement in Aeolus began in spring electrical vehicle. Paul Harper reports. ever to complete the race using an turbine design, was the first entry competition and using its unique twin- became the first UK team to enter the September 2010, Bristol University most efficient use of the wind. In and determine which can make race their custom designed vehicles teams from across the globe to place annually, bringing together wider public. The competition takes both amongst engineers and the inspiring interest in wind energy by wind turbines and is aimed at competition for vehicles powered Aeolus is a unique international The Bristol The Bristol Aeolus Team ontheirinvolvement in report Aeolus -theInternational Against theWind Against what was a toughday. Ourmaindownfall a bitofliquidrefreshment andreflecton vehicle relaxesinthe hanger, weturnto As theeveningdraws toacloseandthe and thelongerwerunit, thebetteritgets. news isthatthevehicleworkingwell to keep thevehicleaccelerating. The good start therewas simplynotenoughpower first race was adifficultone. Afterthepush With windspeedsalmostnon-existent, our start 1: Day tough A Race website listedattheendofthisarticle. version canbeaccessedthroughtheteam Dave Druryduringthecompetition. A full edited extractsfromtheblogcompiledby 2010 raceisprovidedbyaselectionof A tasteoftheteam’s experienceat the The 2010Race to Denmark. driver andshejoinedtheteamfortrip we appointedSusanasourofficialrace efforts (Susanmayphrasethisdifferently!) arrange traveltotherace. To reward these order partsforthevehicle, andtohelp patience withourconstantrequeststo Administrator, whoshowedamazing help ofSusanPywell, aFaculty Finance became increasinglydependentonthe the vehicleintimeforrace. We also Winter andCliveRendall, tocomplete of ourworkshopstaff, inparticularLee expertise, supportandgeneralgoodwill students becameheavilyreliantonthe urgency onvehiclemanufactureandthe timescales involvedplacedevermore As theracedrewcloser, theshort Dr Askin Isikveren(EngineeringDesign). Burgess (MechanicalEngineering)and (Aerospace Engineering), ProfessorStuart (Electrical Engineering), MrPeter Bunniss four mainacademicleads: DrDaveDrury and theyworked undertheguidanceof involved inthedevelopmentof Aeolus competition for vehicles poweredcompetition for vehicles by windturbines Racing and finalrace, wemanagedtocrossthe What amoraleboost. Intheday’s second attempt ataspeedy repair. the trackandbackintohangerfor an after thestart. The carissadlywheeledoff when welosethesecondcontrollerjust Things thenbecomeevenmoredesperate attempt theracewithasinglecontroller. controllers fails, butwearestill able to day’s firstrace, oneofourtwomotor Disaster strikes! Beforethestartof the last at 3:Success Day Race tomorrow. to demonstratingourimmensepower spirit ishigh, sowearelookingforward still workingwelland, amazingly, theteam do, ifanything, tothevehicletonight. All is strategy fortomorrow, decidingwhatto sights. We are nowcontemplatingour the lineisstillatargetfirmlywithinour winds arepromisedtomorrowsocrossing to astandstillafterthepushstart. Higher 3.5m/s andonbothofourraceswecame day. The windvaried between0m/sand Race day2was asfrustratingthefirst again it against 2:Up Day Race turbines andwheels). purely mechanicaldrivetrainsbetweenthe teams (alltheothervehiclesareusing track despitepreviousattemptsbyother electric drivetrainvehicletorunonthe increase thelikelihood ofushavingthefirst reduce ourchancesofwinningbutwill angle ofourblades. These changesmay management systemandreducethepitch we aregoingtomodifyourthrottle to operateatlowwindspeedstomorrow, the race. To improvethevehicle’s ability then werestop-startforlargeperiodsof using extremelylowgearratiosandeven The vehiclesthatmadeitoverthelinewere was alackofrawresource, windenergy. project hasalsosparked interestamongst application fortheknowledge gained. The Power, givingstudents arealpractical Engineering Design for Wind andMarine such asElectricalEnergyManagement and undergraduate teachingmodulesintopics Aeolus directlycomplementsexisting a rangeofresearchanddesignprojects, In additiontoprovidingaplatformfor support staffacrosstheFaculty. commitment fromstudents, academicsand Holland, willagainrelyonenthusiasm and which istotake placeinDenHelder, improvements intimeforthe2011race, Refining andimplementingthese will increasethewindenergyextracted. ducts tosurroundtheturbines, which and thedevelopmentofaerodynamic This includesavariable pitchmechanism optimisation ofthetwoturbinemodules. focus willbeplacedonthere-designand will enhancetheexistingvehicle. Primary implement designimprovementsthat the restofFaculty’s Aeolus teamto students havenowjoinedforceswith lessons learntfromthisyear’s race, these of theirfourthyeardesignproject. Using improved entryforthe2011race, aspart had alreadybegunworktodevelopan team of Engineering Design undergraduates Aeolus vehiclewas complete, asix-strong Even beforemanufactureofthe2010 The Future next year. about howwecancrushthecompetition with somevaluable experienceandideas vehicle. The race todayhasalsoprovidedus was toprovetheviabilityofanelectric 46secs. We didwhatwecametodowhich stretch oftherunway inacool29mins slowed usdownbutwemadethe500m yaw systemfailedhalfway throughwhich finish lineina4-6m/scrosswind. Our Motorcycles.” Aeolus inmyresearchprojectwith Triumph design andmodellingskillsgainedthrough Centre andwillbeapplyingsomeofthe (EngD) degreewiththeFaculty’s Systems I havejuststartedanEngineeringDoctorate involved inapractical engineeringproject. work andtheuniqueexperienceofgetting significant workload, Ihugelyenjoyedthe performance. Although thisinvolveda to modelthestructureanditsdynamic Aeolus chassis, usingarange ofsoftware research projectinvolvedthedesignof “My 3rd Year MechanicalEngineering The Inside View: Faculty canbetrulyproud. Bristol for many years to come, of which the Aeolus willremainaflagshipprojectat For thesereasons, wesincerely hopethat and evenarecentBBC TV documentary. displays, outreachevents, newsarticles the widergeneralpublicthrough development of Aeolus.” and lookforward tosupportingthefuture started aPhDinElectricalEngineering to developmypractical skills. Ihaverecently programme andgavemeanidealplatform knowledge beyondthescopeofmydegree provided aperfectopportunitytoexpandmy motors. Applying someofthisworkto Aeolus generators andbrushlessdirect-current characterisation ofpermanentmagnet Engineering designprojectwas the “The focusofmyfinalyearElectrical Tim Hutchinson, SystemsEngDPostgraduate James Baker, ElectricalEngineeringPhD student (formerlyElectrical Engineering (formerly MechanicalEngineering undergraduate) undergraduate) hangar take placeinthe Final preparations Faiz Abd Razak Clive Rendall Susan Pywell Dr David Drury Kneeling ltor: Andrew Franks James Baker, Neil Wydenbach, Jon Cresswell Simon Knibbs, Faisal Mazlan, standing ltor: Team Br1stol for thestart The teamsprepare top left: Clockwise from

. great experiencein 2011. underway, wecanlookforward toanother to developanimproved vehiclealready to travelnextyear’s race, sowithwork Alumni Foundation forateamofstudents been awarded fundingfromtheUniversity’s StopPress: The Aeolus Team havejust at: www.teambr1stol.co.uk please visittheBristol Aeolus teamwebsite For furtherinformationabouttheproject, How doIfindoutmore? ‘contacts’ page on the team website. of the project can contact us through the and supporting the future development interested in joining our team of sponsors Port Company and Boeing UK. Any company Garrad Hassan (main sponsor), the Bristol project has been generously funded by GL In addition to the Faculty of Engineering, the Acknowledgements remaining partoftheprojectinfuture.” fantastic experienceandIlookforward to from acrosstheContinent. Overall, itwas a from andsocialisewithsevenotherteams provided auniqueopportunitytomeet, learn team thattravelled totherace itself, which and mechanics. Iwas alsopartofthe expanding myknowledgeofaerodynamics course toapractical application, whilstalso learnt overthefirsttwoyearsofmydegree applying allthetheoreticalknowledge wheels. The project was agreatway of generators totheelectricmotorson taking powergatheredbytheturbine consisted ofafullyelectricdrivetrain for system, whichunlike ourcompetitors, I helpedtorefinethevehicle’s electrical “As partofaSummer Vacation project, Neil Wydenbach, 3rd Year Electrical Engineering Student

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Institute Microelectronics Officer, National Chief Executive with Derek Boyd, Steven Fisher (left) Manipal at the University of Hamish Ferguson Indian summer occupied working alongside Indian worldwide. So while my days were cultural exchange amongst students experience as well as promoting a the opportunity for relevant work engineering and science students with The IAESTE initiative aims to provide was exciting to be part of it. that is industrialising so quickly, and it course, plays a vital role in any country diverse country as India. Engineering, of backgrounds of such an incredibly different work attitudes and educational but an intimate insight into the very only a worthwhile technical experience, months I spent in Manipal gave me not as sorting and quality control. The three variety of agricultural processes such processing techniques applied to a investigating the use of different image I became part of an ongoing project eight kilometres from the Arabian Sea. in the southwest of the country, about rocky hinterland of the Malabar Coast the state of Karnataka located in the Manipal in India. Manipal is situated in research internship at the University of by the British Council, I secured a abroad. Applying to IAESTE, organised to carry out technical work experience opportunity that turned up in my inbox standard internship, I jumped on the that could offer me more than a While looking for a summer placement Experience (IAESTE). Exchange ofStudentsfor Technical International Association forthe project foundthrough the a veryworthwhileandenjoyable Engineering, spentthesummeron student in Avionics Systems Hamish Ferguson, afinalyear are only a train ride away. Goa, Mumbai and the beaches of Kerala office is not so bad when the likes of to anybody. Even the hardest day in the working abroad and I’d recommend it there is so much more to be gained from important for us undergraduates, but Work experience is increasingly opening and fun. and nationalities. It was both mind- students from such varied backgrounds was sharing my time with like-minded the biggest gain from this experience Tanzania, Germany and Korea. For me, of other countries, including Columbia, students and those from a multitude were spent socialising with both Indian researchers in the lab, out-of-hours video products. Stephen helped to design development of innovative wireless- has played a leading role in the engineer. For the last four years Stephen as a research and development University of Bristol spin-off company, ProVision Communcations, itself a and practical skills. He then joined for the best combination of academic he won the prestigious Siemens medal Electronic Engineering. In his final-year first-class MEng degree in Electrical and from the University in Bristol with a In 2006 Steven Fisher, 26, graduated (NMI) Young Engineer of the Year. the National Microelectronics Industry Steven Fisher has just been named Engineer of the Year named NMI Young Bristol Graduate villagescreen2010.wordpress.com 2010 Village ScreenBlogathttp:// For moreinformation seethe in futureprojects.” my experienceinthefieldofinteraction screens, andIlookforward tofurthering making dailyappearances onthe with thehugeGlastonburycrowds, LoopFrogs applicationwentdownwell was aninvaluable experience. The and developerswhileatGlastonbury well knowninteraction designers, artists opportunity toworkwithanumberof in publicsettings. Also, tobegiventhe groups andcrowdsinteract withsystems from myfinalyeardissertationonhow directly ontheexperienceIhadgained really excitingopportunity, asitdrew Steve said “This commissionwas a aspects ofthegenerated music. the moreemphasisisplacedoncertain they danceinregionsofthescreen, generate music; themoreenergetically dance behindsixvirtualfrogsinorderto ‘LoopFrogs’, allowsuserstomoveor The applicationhecreated, called project attheGlastonburyFestival 2010. the BBC/Cultural OlympiadBig Screens to createaninteractive application for graduate thisyear, was commissioned Stephen Beckett, aComputerScience Musical LoopFrogs National Microelectronics Institute. Derek Boyd, Chief Executive Officer, Steven (below) received his trophy from industry as a whole.” credit to himself, his company and the of in the right environment. He is a young engineering talent is capable fantastic to see what the cream of reference to Steven he said: “It’s simply as “uplifting and inspirational.” With described the strength of candidates of ARM, presented the award and Bill Parsons, Executive Vice President computers, smartphones and tablets. supports large screen TVs, as well as wirelessly around the home. The system channels of high definition television a system that reliably streams multiple

Gold medal team modelling software output of the team’s Screen shot of the Team logo Coyte, Tom Layland Matyjaszkiewicz, Kat Roz Sandwell, Antoni Tom Todd, Neeraj Oak,l to r: Kira Kowalska, The agrEcoli team effective teachingmethod. an exceptionallymotivating and design andcompetitionformatis them inlivingcells. This project biological systemsandoperate parts oftheirowndesigntobuild they usethesepartsandnew own schoolsoverthesummer, Biological Parts. Working attheir from theRegistryofStandard at thebeginningofsummer given akitofbiologicalparts competition. Studentteamsare undergraduate SyntheticBiology (iGEM) isthepremiere Engineered Machinecompetition The InternationalGenetically biological circuits usingstandardised engages students inthesynthesisof A student-ledsummer project, iGEM overall Third Place. Best Food orEnergyProject prizeand has broughthomeagoldmedal, the (MIT) inNovember, theBristolteam Massachusetts Instituteof Technology Engineered Machinecompetitionat the InternationalGenetically Competing with128teamsin T and fundingwas providedbythe Gorochowski and Petros Mina(BCCS), taking partwere Oli Purcell, Thomas Sciences). Postgraduate students Hogan (BristolCentreforComplexity Claire Grierson(Biology)andJohn Savery, Paul Verkade (Biochemistry), (Engineering Mathematics), Nigel Tsaneva-Atanasova, CarolineColijn Mario diBernardo, Krasimira Kat Coyte(Biology), advisedby Tom Layland(Biochemistry), and Centre forComplexitySciences), Neeraj Oak, Tom Todd (Bristol (Engineering Mathematics), Matyjaszkiewicz, RozSandwell team wereKiraKowalska, Antoni The interdisciplinarystudent development ofafunctionalprototype. completeness andfocusonthe judges wereimpressedbytheproject’s to considerthehumanimpact, the and ahypotheticalpublicitycampaign bacteria-environment interactions, computational modellingtopredict emissions andeutrophication. With fertiliser use, associatedcarbon nitrates -aimstoreduceexcess emit visiblesignalsinresponseto Escherichia coliingelbeadsthat The Bristolentry, ‘agrEcoli’ -modified modelling andpublicengagement. parts, encompassinglabwork, ([email protected]). 2011 team, contactMariodiBernardo, For information aboutjoiningthe Further detailsathttp://www.igem.org. projects. so highlyamongstmanyworld-class on theiGEMmaphavingachieved As oneofsixfinalists, Bristolisfirmly Sciences, SIGNETandSyngenta. Biochemistry, BCCS, PredictiveLife of BiologicalSciences, Schoolof Engineering, BBSRC, EPSRC, School Merchant Venturers Schoolof Department of Engineering Mathematics,

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. 15 Bristol Engineering LynchPin Bristol Engineering Future developments in offshore wind energy Bristol Engineering One of the biggest challenges facing our generation is the development of an

alternative power source to supply domestic energy for the 21st century. Civil Engineering’s Suby Bhattacharya and James Cox explore the problem LynchPin

At the current time the United Kingdom foundations but for the new projects, imports large quantities of gas and coal which will be situated a greater distance to meet the ever increasing demand for from shore in much deeper water, and electricity. However, the security of these with far larger turbines, monopiles 16 supplies has been shown in recent years become uneconomical due to the size . to be highly questionable. and complexity of installation. In response to the ever growing To overcome this problem, the Carbon threat of global climate change, Trust has launched a competition closely attributed to anthropogenic with the aim of generating alternative CO2 emissions from fossil fuels, the foundation solutions, the most Government passed the Climate Change promising of which will then be Act of 2008, which pledges to reduce demonstrated at full scale. Several the UK’s emissions to 80 per cent of proposals have been submitted, each 1990 emission levels by the year 2050. outlining a novel solution to the Further to this the EU has stipulated problem of deep water construction. that by 2020, the UK must obtain 20 Some of the more innovative are: a per cent of its energy from sustainable drilled concrete monopile; a concrete sources. In real terms this means that in gravity base structure; a suction the future 40 per cent of electricity will bucket tripod; a single suction bucket need to be sourced from renewables; at monopole; a three legged piled jacket present the figure stands at five per cent. structure; and a floating tension leg platform. Each of these new solutions In order to meet this challenge the UK has the promise of reducing costs and Government has embarked on a massive speeding up the rate at which new scheme of investment in offshore wind energy projects can be constructed. power development. At the moment 1GW of electricity comes from offshore To increase the knowledge base wind farms, but to meet the EU target associated with these new types of an additional 28GW will be required foundations, the Civil Engineering by 2020. The number of wind turbines Department has embarked on a scheme will need to increase from the existing of research into the dynamic properties 350 to more than 6000. This presents of offshore wind turbine foundations. a number of problems for the British The ultimate aim is to provide beneficial offshore engineering industry. First and information to further the capabilities of foremost is that the current method of the offshore industry. So far preliminary constructing offshore wind farms will be research has been carried out on unsuitable for the proposed schemes. both monopile and suction caisson Presently the majority of our offshore foundations. ISTOCK.COM

research turbines are built with steel monopile ISTOCK.COM Breast Cancer Professor Alan PreeceandDrMike in afullclinicaltrial, undertaken by the firsttofield aradar-based device the worldleaderinthisfieldand was non-ionising. The teamisundoubtedly cheap, portable, comfortableand The technologywouldberelatively potentially life-threateningdisease. radar technologytodetectthis Research Grouphasbeendeveloping in theFaculty’s Communications A teamledbyProfessorIanCraddock on self-examination. younger womentheemphasisis women from around age50andin screening programmes onlytarget for thesereasons thatnational not actuallyveryreliable. Itis and, inyoungerwomen, are exposure toionising radiation be uncomfortable, involvesome not ideal-theyare expensive, may the existingimagingmethodsare amongst women. Unfortunately it isaleadingcauseofdeath cancer duringherlifetimeand chance ofdevelopingbreast A womanhasaoneineight D device. that interfacebetween patientandthe with theuniqueceramic materials sourced fromaroundtheworld, along switches, connectors andcableswere be specified. Hundredsof custom RF the complexhemisphericaldesign to mechanical modellingthatallowed David Gibbinsundertookthe3DCAD antennas andtheanalyserwhileDr switching systemtointerfacethe Leedertz designedahighperformance world. Dr Tony HorsemanandJack frequency measurementdeviceinthe is arguablythemostpowerfulradio Analyser from Rohde and Schwarz that around anew8-port Vector Network 60 antennaelements, was designed system. The newsystem, featuring electromagnetic performanceofthe Maciek Klemmtooptimisethe on NVIDIAGPUswereusedbyDr electromagnetics codesrunning 2010. Stateoftheartcomputational work onanewprototypeinearly That experienceledtheteamtostart clinical applicationforthefirsttime. arise whenaprototypemeetsreal understand thenumerousissuesthat Centre. There theteamsoughtto Shere atFrenchay’s BreastCare etection

edge imagingdevice. undertake trialsofthistruly cutting- and cancerpatients, theteamwill co-operation oftheclinicians, nurses Frenchay where, thanksto the will betransportedtotheclinicat After laboratorytesting, thesystem an astonishingtenseconds. completes 1700suchmeasurementsin feat ofengineering; thenewdesign was itselfregardedasaremarkable measurements ofthebreastand to complete465sweptfrequency previous prototypetook90seconds and thearrayisoperational. The Construction isnowcomplete team. to thepatient, hardworkoftheentire time. This isaconsiderabletestament every singlecomponentfittedfirst electronic complexityofthedesign Despite theobviousmechanicaland in theEngineeringFaculty workshops. Pearce, Mike Penney andIanPlummer technician), Will Thompson, Neil skills ofKen Stevens(theCCR’s RF Construction benefitedfromthe

and connectors antennas, cables of 60UWB Mass production and cables Microwave switches patient the couchfor the system, from apart The complete top left: Clockwise from

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. 17 Bristol Engineering LynchPin Bristol Engineering

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. 18 LynchPin Bristol Engineering EPSRC grant for SYMPACT project beyond and I Robot.. Robotics Laboratory setup attheBristol testing therobot Corina Grigore safe boundaries, still allow useful useful allow boundaries, still safe within behaviour robot’s adaptive the keeping that, while requirements of exploration the was Theproject’s focus hand. with arm robot adaptive an and capability tracking gaze head Robot”with a wasdrinks “Hot study of Thesubject robots. human‐assistive trustworthy of design the during verifiability and adaptability between trade‐offs the explore to project week ten a for summer this Bursary EPSRC an awarded was student, Science Computer Grigore, second-year a Corina Elena reader devices. reading or the uptake of electronic of the shift from paper to online news behavioural change, such as models speculative models of technological and and emissions analyses with more combination of quantitative energy systems approaches, allowing the life-cycle assessment techniques into The modelling approach will integrate result of digital technology innovations. the news industry might look as a of different future scenarios as to how Environmental Strategy to build models and the University of Surrey Centre for partner with Guardian News and Media Yearworth in the Systems Centre, will Preist in Computer Science and Dr Mike The SYMPACT project, led by Dr Chris such transformations may bring. impact on climate and energy use that the next ten years, and the resulting transform the newspaper industry over to assess how digital technology could through Digital Innovation’ programme EPSRC ‘Transforming Energy Demand an EPSRC grant of £350k under the Paul Shabajee have been awarded Dr Chris Preist, Dr Mike Yearworth and Eder, Department of Computer Science, Eder, Computer of Department Kerstin Dr by supervised was Theproject robotics. on conference international an to submission under now are project this of imperatively? The results more drink the offer to enough safe it is useful, e.g.remain still to satisfied not are constraints safety set when do should robot the what also and drink, the release to robot the for safe be would it when investigated Elena hand, robot the on sensors pressure systems, tracking,and voice gaze position, hand human the on data with working adaptations. By behavioural affect the environmental impact? How advances open up, and how will they new business models do technological might this happen in the future? What customer behaviour now, and how How is digital technology changing technology alter this impact over time? and online media? How will changes in environmental impact of both print a number of questions. What is the this understanding by considering The SYMPACT project aims to support decisions it makes? climate implications in the strategic understanding of the future energy/ industry? Can the industry embed an requirements of the news and media decrease or increase the energy gas emissions. Will the transformation energy availability and greenhouse a time of increased concern over This transformation is coming at over traditional offset approaches. flexibility that digital printing offers devices such as the Kindle, and the and 3G phone, specialised eReader the web accessed both through PC through the movement of activity to news, media and publishing industries, Digital technology is transforming the a direction for when I graduate.” I when for direction a Robotics,also of and field complex the into insight an me gave deal. It great a learned have I whom from experts with collaboration close in work to and environment research a experience to me.opportunity the had I for rewarding and interesting extremely been has project said “this Elena run. was project Laboratory, the where Robotics Bristol the of Pipe,Director Deputy Professor Tonywith collaboration in Innovation programme. Energy Demand through Digital is funded through the Transforming Media and the University of Surrey, and conjunction with Guardian News and This project is being carried out in industries. allow future application to other This will be done in such a way to impact of the digital transformation. exploring models of the environmental to play a role in building, critiquing and stakeholders from diverse backgrounds tool, which will allow large numbers of embodied in a distributed web-based The modelling framework will be representation of uncertainty. scenario development and qualitative environmental life cycle analysis, which combine systems modelling, develop a new modelling framework To tackle these questions, the project will transformation have? sustainability implications might this Beyond energy and climate, what other behavioural drivers within this system? carbon pricing, act as business and will environmental factors, such as

between delegates through the day. atmosphere and engaging discussions networking, a great collaborative with plenty of opportunities for It was an extremely successful day, (sponsoring company Renishaw). prize going to Stephen Bryant session, with the afternoon session Presentation prize of the morning company PCIP) was awarded the Best Tierney. Dominic Ash (sponsoring Professor Alison Hodge and Dr Mike 5. Keynote talks were given by both REs from the newly recruited Cohort Systems Centre Industrial Partners and delegates attending: academics, the Review Conference. There were 50 to host the first End of Second Year On 13th October 2010 we were able study in a quiet office. research and challenges, or simply to their ideas and to discuss ongoing every day to work in groups, to share laboratory and many are coming here newly created IDC in Systems research 20 REs have been working in the Since the opening of the Centre over doors on Monday 11th October 2010. new look Systems Centre opened its was completed in five weeks and the Phase 1 of the refurbishment project project to commence. the go-ahead for the reconstruction and the University Estates team gave the architects White Design Associates report was subsequently provided by Centre stakeholders. A feasibility study point for networking with all Systems peer learning and provide a focal dedicated to RE self study, peer to aim was to create an environment helped generate design solutions. The didn’t work in its current form and the Knowledge Exchange Suite (KES) examined why the space allocated to staff took part. The workshop almost 20 REs and Systems Centre and facilitated a workshop in which Doctorate Centre in Systems designed Montgomery from the Industrial (REs) Phil Hampshire and Matt In March 2010, Research Engineers for Systems ‘New Look’ Centre Systems Centre at the ‘new look’ The doors are open bridge span cable-stayed example of a multi Bridge in Greece - an The Rion-Antirion many years. After all, the longest span engineering has been outstanding for Japanese innovation in bridge institutes for wind engineering. Kyoto, one of the world’s most famous spending six months at the University of out this collaborative research I will be existing and future bridges. To carry enhance the wind-proof capacity of knowledge of bridge-cable design and this Fellowship is to extend and improve Promotion of Science (JSPS). The aim of proposal to the Japanese Society for the Japan following my recent research I have been granted a Fellowship to details of the wind-flow characteristics. further research into the microscopic currently a formidable task, which requires along cables. Modelling their interplay is shows that chaos and complexity “fight” wind-tunnel tests, performed recently, “dry-galloping”. A series of large scale excitation mechanism of cables, so called mysteries of an alarming wind-induced in the Faculty attempts to unveil the My research with Dr John Macdonald millions of pounds and even lives. small, cable breaks on a bridge can cost cost of a broken string on a guitar is very make you think again). Also while the cables, wind-action should definitely will ever try to play music with the bridge structure (and if you argue that no hand compared to the rest of the bridge the cables look extremely vulnerable cable-stayed bridges, where size-wise could be applied to today’s long-span that it has to be replaced. This analogy will either snap or deteriorate so much strings. After playing for a while, a string that the most fragile parts of it are the Anyone who has played a guitar knows Research Fellowship links with with links Faculty many spare strings to break! renowned Japanese classical guitars with new friends…and possibly one of the Japan is experience, new findings, What I will try to bring back from allow for a fruitful future collaboration. Universities of Bristol and Kyoto that will establish strong links between the engineering (and other) culture and I hope to learn about the Japanese designed and built there. During my stay bridge in the world (Akashi Kaikyo) was some benefit for the future. and helped the Southwest region reap research and industrial collaborations, assisted in promoting the composites and information exchanges have from Churyo Engineering. These visits short one-to-one meeting with delegates an engaging discussion session and a the NCC. The visit was concluded after introduction on the recent progress in the discussion and gave a brief National Composites Centre, attended Chivers, Executive Director of the the composite research facilities. Peter composites and showed the delegates within the Faculty with the focus on introduction to the research activities and SWRDA. Professor Weaver gave an The visit was co-ordinated by the UKTI headed by Mr Fumio Kawaguchi. Churyo Engineering (Subsidiary of MHI) Aerospace Technology Centre and the Chubu Economic Federation, Chubu hosted the visit of a delegation from Research Director, and Dr Peng of ACCIS Professor Paul Weaver, the Faculty visits ACCIS Japanese delegation Japan Dr Nikolaos Nikitas -

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. 20 16 16 LynchPin Bristol Engineering Harshit Patel with hisformer pupil Steve Bullock(right) teaching & learning T many activities outside the classroom. curriculum and getting involved in of Head of Physics, developing the year, then a third, taking on the role of fun to teach. I stayed for my second that my new students could be a lot but I found my feet and discovered syllabus. There were ups and downs of inner-city kids was not in the Aero Bristol, but tackling a classroom full wracking. I’d learned a great deal at The first few weeks were nerve- challenging schools. supporting them over two years in keen and committed graduates and across the country by recruiting educational divide that is evident Teach First aims to counter the secondary classroom. Thus began my second journey into the a new graduate scheme,Teach First. saw a poster in Queen’s Building for pondering my future career until I Throughout my final year I’d been Control. a research PhD in Dynamics and returned in September 2010 for in Aeronautical Engineering. He Bristol in 2006 with a Masters Steve Bullock graduated from - studylater each first www.teachfirst.org.uk Find out more about Teach First at anyone else!” say that engineers teach better than says “from what I experienced I can Aero undergraduate at Bristol, who students, Harshit Patel, now a first year Teach First, as would one of my former other engineers to consider joining on my students. I would encourage like to think I left a lasting impression the two schools in which I worked. I’d I’m very proud of what I achieved in in a few years’ time. kids - maybe I’ll go back as Dr Bullock run my day is novel, but I do miss the teenage ones, and not having a bell to focusing on one project rather than 90 after four years is great! I’m enjoying teaching, but coming back to Bristol opens up quite a few options after such as Accenture and Deloitte. This government and some big City firms Teach First is funded by the London kids into top universities. school is going all-out to get inner- With a motto of ‘whatever it takes’ the Academy, in a deprived area of London. a brand new school, King Solomon teachers (five from Teach First) to found and worked with seven amazing Last year I was looking for a change

boblectures.org.uk/ line-up, please visit http://www. Bristol Lectures and see the full To read more about the Best of will have been involved. of the series over 2,000 students 1.10 pm. It is hoped that by the end (Music Department) starting at lunchtimes in the Victoria Rooms to all, and are held on Thursday Bristol. The lectures are free, open ordinating the series right now in Design undergraduate, is co- George Cave, a current Engineering good, so I fully support this.” celebrating and displaying what is a peculiar embarrassment about the idea. Bristol has always had Dean of Engineering: “I really like includes Professor Nick Lieven, The final line-up of 11 lecturers fantastic experience.” allow other students to share this with the Best of Bristol Lectures to things I did at university. I came up to be one of the most rewarding lecturers in action. This turned out going to see my friends’ favourite but spent a lot of my time at Bristol new ideas. I studied engineering because I love being inspired by Tom says: “I came to university should take part in the series. from all areas of the University, to help select which of the lecturers, staff and alumni, a vote was taken the support of over 1,300 students, to the student body. After gaining the University and showcase them inspirational lecturers from across high profile talks to celebrate Lectures, which are a series of a petition for the Best of Bristol Design programme, organised graduate from the Engineering In early 2010 Tom Corfield, a recent Best of Bristol organise ‘The Engineering Lectures’ students Bristol He issixteenyears old. from rightinthe frontrow. Engineering, can beseenfourth that timestudyingElectrical famous physicistwhowas at uniform. Paul Dirac, theworld and ties, someareinmilitary all arewearingovercoats, hats All ofthestudentsaremen, motorcycles formilitaryuse. supplier, makingaround70,000 had becomeamajormotorcycle During World War One, Douglas in Kingswood, Bristol. Douglas EngineeringCompany Engineering Societytothe 1919 bytheBristolUniversity The pictureshowsavisitin Archives Engineering From the more diversetitles suchas “Colour to engineeringmatters, butsometimes discussed atmeetings, mostlyrelating Ancient Rome”. Papers werereadand “The buildingsandwater supplyof from “Progress inEngineering” to inaugural addressonsubjectsranging President oftheSocietydeliveringan students andtheFaculty Dean, each Lectures weregivenbymembersofstaff, engendered bytheSociety. the cordialstaff-studentrelationships a lessformalbasisandthusenhance Students wereabletomeetthestaffon focus formembersoftheFaculty. and toprovideasportingsocial engineering throughvisitsandlectures to fosteraninterestinthefieldof The originalaimoftheSocietywas oldest society of its kind in the country. of a Staff President and Treasurer, is the committee of undergraduates with the aid Engineering Society, which is run by a Founded in 1884, the Bristol University Freshers (see articlepage10). in lateryearswho assistandhelpthe with a ‘parenting’ schemeforstudents trips. Recentlytheyhave hadsuccess interest, andorganisessocial eventsand talks byvisitingspeakers on topicsof Universities. Itprovides aprogramme of arranges ‘friendly’ matcheswithother societies intheIntramural League, and to playagainstotherdepartmentsand Rugby, NetballandBasketball teams to allEngineers. ItorganisesFootball, University, andmembershipisopen one ofthelargestsocietiesin Engineering Society(TUBES)is These daystheUniversityofBristol of theprogramme tobuildConcorde. Anthony J. Lawleroutlinedtheprogress “Speed andthemaninstreet” by advertisements. In1963apaperentitled with picturesandpoetry, articlesand papers andreportsofeventstogether as Matrix, thejournalcomprised a recordofSocietyaffairs. Laterknown a journaltopublishpapersandprovide In 1946theSocietybegantoproduce factory) inKeynsham. Messrs. J. S. Fry &SonLtd(thechocolate The Post Office Telephone Exchangeand The Bristol Aeroplane Co. Ltd, Filton; The Generating Station, Portishead; included: Messrs. W. D. &H. O. Wills; end upworking. In1951thesevisits conditions inwhichtheywouldprobably to givestudentsanideaofthekind Visits werearranged tolocalfactories were presented. Photography” and “British Guyana” University Florida State University Libraries, Image courtesy of March 11th, 1919 Kingswood, Bristol, Engineering works in visit theDouglas Engineering Society Bristol University

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. 15 21 17 LynchPinLynchPin Bristol Bristol Engineering Engineering . 22 LynchPin Bristol Engineering faculty people Wilcox Professor Paul Craddock Professor Ian Weaver Professor Paul Millard Mrs Mary Research team members ofour a closerlookat Manager andtakes the new Faculty LynchPin welcomes much asshe’d like!) get totravel tohomegamesatGoodisonas and watching football(althoughshedoesn’t with herfamily, reading, walking, running In hersparetime, sheenjoysspendingtime and settledinClevedonwithherhusband. to havefinallyunpacked herboxes ofbooks in sucharange ofplaces, Maryisveryhappy Originally fromtheMidlands, buthavinglived launched in August 2010. and InternationalStudies(SPAIS) which create thenewschoolofSociology, Politics and playedakey partintheprojectteamto Manager inthePolitics Departmentin2008, the UniversityofBristolasDepartmental administrative processes. Maryjoined the opportunitytocreateandestablish across theinstitution, shedelightedin complete disparityofsystemsandprocedures recovered fromtheshockdiscoveryof in theHistoryDepartment, andonceshe’d a newroleasDepartmental Administrator began! Stillat Warwick, Marymovedinto of universityorganisationandmanagement her fascinationwiththeendlessintricacies School, Universityof Warwick. From there MBA programme at Warwick Business Career DevelopmentDepartmentonthe environment, shetookupapostinthe However, eagertoreturnaneducational in Germanywithover14,000delegates. companies, toathreemonthlongcarlaunch small weekend breaksforpharmaceutical working onahugerange ofeventsfrom project managerforalargeeventscompany, On herreturntotheUK, Maryworked asa student experience. a profoundinterestineducationandthe international companies, shedeveloped from stateschoolspupilstotheMDsof working withaneclecticmixofstudents students fromagefourto75yearsold, and Spanish inMexico, SpainandItaly. Teaching skills furtherwhileteachingEnglishand and Spanish, Marydevelopedherlanguage Andrews withafirst-classdegreeinEnglish After graduating fromtheUniversityofSt thriving Faculty. challenge ofjoiningsuchadynamicand an excitingopportunity, andisrelishing the Manager inOctober. Shefindshernewrole Mary MillardjoinedtheFaculty asFaculty performance, e.g. buckling resistant structures, anisotropic properties forenhanced He isespeciallyinterested inexploiting performance, particularlywithcomposites. shape andmaterialpropertiesonstructural in theinterrelationshipsbetweenstructural group andhismainresearchinterestsare Paul isamemberofthe ACCIS research RA recruitment. them withgrant submissionproceduresand seeking fundingopportunities, andtosupport Glenise Morgan)toassistacademicswith the Faculty ResearchOffice(headed up by research flourishes. Hewillbeworkingwith implementing aplantoensurethatour responsible fordevelopingastrategy and Research DirectorinJune2010andis Professor Paul Weaver becameFaculty

dance teacher, choreographer and performer. elderly motorbike and a part-time career as a demands of two young daughters, one slightly Outside of work he tries to keep up with the applied (Imaging for Breast Cancer detection). (Computational Electromagnetics) to the highly research interestsrange fromthetheoretical each others’successesandfailures. Hisown intelligence, discusspolicyandlearnfrom Groups areabletoshareresearchfunding Research Committee, inwhichtheHeadsof REF2014 assessment. HechairstheSchool’s prepared andresourcedasweapproachthe to ensurethattheyareproperlybriefed, of theSchool’s staff; tosupportthemand function istoaddvalue toresearchactivities Venturers SchoolResearchDirector. His Professor IanCraddock istheMerchant is veryboring. projects. Now hehastwosmallchildrenand roller-coasters, art-punkbandsandepicDIY When notatwork, Paul usedtoenjoy caving, destructive testing. and imaging, mainlyforapplicationsinnon- dynamic wave propagation, signalprocessing visitors. Paul’s ownresearchisonelasto- open researchgroupmeetingsandacademic weekly “What’s OnInQSE” guidelisting collaboration, thesitewillalsocontaina journal impactassessments. To encourage examples ofsuccessfulgrant applicationsand that willcontainresearchresources, suchas initiated. A QSEintranet siteisbeingsetup internal andexternalspeakers isbeing school-wide seminarswithamixtureof For thisreason, aweeklyprogramme of can promoteactivitiesthatencourage it. forced tohappen, theResearchDirector Although “research excellence” cannotbe in thepreparation oftheQSEsubmission. is onthehorizonandPaul willbeinvolved The ResearchExcellenceFramework (REF) expect avisitationifhehasn’tseenyouyet! informally abouttheirresearchinterests– is tomeeteveryacademicinQSEtalk facing andtheResearchDirector’s firsttask Research Director. The roleismostlyinward- Professor Paul Wilcox istheQueen’s School long cyclerideswithhisyoungfamily. to keep fit, coacheskidsfootballandgoeson When notworkingPaul playsfootball, tries the performanceofcompositesstructures. exploit tow-steeringtechnologytoenhance from BristolandBathexamininghowto he co-leadsateamofresearchersandstaff latest projectiswith Airbus andGKN, where technology forafastmovingindustry. His comprises eightresearchersandisdeveloping Vestas Wind Systems. The teamcurrently the PreferredPartnership inCompositeswith NASA, andherecentlyenjoyedsettingup including Airbus, Westland, Dowtyand industry, mostlywith Aerospace companies flourish. Paul hasalways worked closelywith very capablestudentsandwatch them found itverysatisfyingtorecruitandnurture ACCIS DTC(EPSRC£7.1million)andhas He alsoenjoyshisroleasDirectorofthe turbine blades and helicopter rotor blades. aeroelastic tailoring and morphing of wind Speaking personally Speaking Interview by Emma Interview Weeks Engineering Head ofQueen’s Schoolof Non-linear Mathematicsand Professor of Applied Alan Champneys is quit. BeforeIcould sayanythinghetold supervisor’s officeandtellhimI wanted to wasn’t good enough, Idecidedtogomy stress ofdoingaPhD was toomuchandI One particulardaywhenIfeltthatthe your life? What singleeventhasmostchanged vegetables untilIwas 16!) then andnotparticularlystrong(Ididn’t eat “He isablebutveryslow”. Iwas quitesmall comment fromtheP.E. departmentstuckout: Most ofmyreportswerepositivebutone report? What waswrittenonyourschool could arguethatI’vefulfilledambition. work behindabigdeskandwritebooks. You up tomuch. SoIdecidedthatwanted to Johann Cruyff), andmysingingskills weren’t Boy withthe Two LeftFeet (inreferenceto nickname thenwas JohannChampneys, the a popstarorfootballer. However, my Like mostboysIdreamtofbeingeither were achild? What didyouwanttobewhen Indies atcricket. time inagesthatEnglandbeatthe West summer of1995. Irecallitwas alsothefirst Probably atthebirthofmyfirstchildin Where andwhenwere youhappiest? more rockmoodsthan anythingelse. All threedepending on mymood, butIhave Classical, jazzor rock? you squareacrosstheeyes. it myCBC- “Cricket BatCoffee” -asithits of espressoisveryimportant! The kidscalled Probably mycoffee-maker. Mymorningmug your housewasonfire? Which singleitemwouldyousaveif academics. on beingbusy. We’re aquirkybunch, we best whenI’mabitover-committed, Ithrive something positive. Iactuallyworkatmy However Ihavelearnedtoturnitinto the senseofnotbeingquitegoodenough. My owninadequacy. It’s whatdrivesme, What worriesyou? the absurdityofasituation. meeting whereyouandacolleaguebothsee A niceview, awittyjoke, thatmomentina What makes yousmile? only gethalfway there”. “Aim highbutdon’tbedisappointedifyou ever beengiven? What isthebestpieceofadviceyou’ve rounded, feistyindividuals. Emma, 10)aregrowinguptobewell- That mychildren(Max,15, Dominic,13and What are youmostproud of? Impatient, enthuser, optimist, eclectic. Describe yourself infourwords? of hisofficefeelingtotallydifferent. conversation changedeverything. Icameout should writeapaperonthis”. The resulting me “I thinkyou’vedoneagoodjob, you personally things tohappen. And withlaughter. As somebody who had ideas but also enabled remembered? How wouldyoulike tobe achievements. and seegreatervalue placedonideasand to killoffthemediaobsessionwithcelebrity handsome andbetteratfootball), I’d want Apart fromtheusual(I’d like tobemore If youcouldchangeonething...? e.g. forpeoplewithmentalhealthproblems. foundation soIcouldgivesomethingback enormous. I’d alsolike tosetupacharitable although mycarbonfootprintwouldbe second homein Australia orNewZealand, Buy alargerhouseinthecountryand If moneywere noobjectI’d… interesting, wouldn’tit?) (a combinationofthetwowouldbe Stand-up comedianormaybePrimeMinister. who orwhatwouldyoube? If youcouldcomebackinanotherlife, of One Tree Hillin Auckland, NewZealand. I haveaveryhappymemoryofbeingontop Favourite placeintheworld? walking inthehills. friends andfamily, havingspenttheday In acountrypub(anywhereinBritain)with Where wouldyourather benow? everything’s ascandal. everything hastobesomebody’s fault, is tiresome(andalotofitmedia-driven); there was moreofit. Too muchnegativity Positivity -it’s agreatqualityandIwish What wouldyoulike toseemore of?

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. 23 LynchPin Bristol Engineering focus on podium. David Clarke atthe Chancellor Professor with Deputy Vice- Professor RicParker, Crispin Tickell, Julian Hector, Sir Brendon Gormley, Jonathon Porritt, the HonSir debate, seatedltor: ‘Question Time’ The panelfor the

UNIVERSITY OF BRISTOL Cabot Institute Cabot the of Launch strengths thatEngineering cancontribute. steering committee, highlightedthe and amemberofthe CabotInstitute Head ofQueen’s SchoolofEngineering the University, Professor Alan Champneys, presentations fromkey academicsacross for collaboration. Duringaseriesof of thenewInstituteandopportunities were invitedtohearabouttheaims November, arangeofexternalpartners At therecentlauncheventon15th visitor programmes. multidisciplinary researchteamsand by 2012, whichwillformahubfor accommodation intheUniversity plans, theInstitutewillhavededicated for theEnvironment). Initsambitious Futures Institute(BRIstol Technologies Affairs (BIPA), andEngineering’s BRITE strand oftheBristolInstituteforPublic Centre (BRISK), theGlobalInsecurities Water, theBristolEnvironmentalRisk research theme, aspecialinitiativeon pre-existing entities: aGlobalChange programmes. Itunitesanumberof variety ofmultidisciplinaryresearch environmental changethrougha address thechallengesofglobal Sciences andLaw, whichaimsto of Engineering, ScienceandSocial partnership betweentheFaculties The CabotInstituteisamajornew These include: l l l l the ElectricalEnergyManagementGroup. Centre forCommunicationsResearchand Technologies, throughgroupssuchasthe and LowPower Communication Networks, EnergyManagementSystems with industryandmany oftheprojects Engineering, where studentsworkclosely Centres inComposites andSystems as Engineering’s twoDoctoral Training by neweducationalprogrammessuch strengths arenowbeingcomplemented Many oftheseexistingresearch environments. development ofmoresustainableurban guidance forriskmanagementandthe and industrialprocesses, throughtopolicy design oflowcarbontransportsystems which hasapplicationsrangingfromthe and nuclearsafetysystems. flood forecasting, earthquake engineering man-made disastersthroughexpertisein for ageingbuiltenvironmentinfrastructure. transport applicationsandreinforcements and solarpowerdevices, lightweight composite technologiesforwind, marine collaborations developingadvanced Centre. ACCIS currentlyhasmajorindustrial new BristolbasedNationalComposites (ACCIS), soontobecomplementedbythe for CompositesInnovation andScience groups suchasthe Advanced Centre ExpertiseinSystemsEngineering, Mitigatingtheriskofbothnaturaland World-class materialsresearchin The developmentofSmartEnergy www.bristol.ac.uk/cabot visit theCabotwebsite at: and thecontactdetails ofkey staff, please Institute, opportunitiesforcollaboration research beingpursuedthroughtheCabot For furtherinformationontherangeof questions ofourtimes.” tackle someofthemostpressingglobal genuinely beingbroughttogetherto is theway thatthesestrengthsare What reallyexcitesmeabouttheInstitute a widerangeofindividualdisciplines. strong senseofresearchexcellenceacross Engineering, stated: “The Universityhasa Professor NickLieven, Deanof of Researchand Technology. Professor RicParker, Rolls-Royce Director Disasters EmergencyCommitteeand Brendon Gormley, ChiefExecutiveofthe Founder DirectorofForum fortheFuture; Programme; theHonSirJonathonPorritt, Tickell, DirectorofthePolicy Foresight makers andcampaigners: SirCrispin leading environmentalscientists, policy Julian Hector, thepanelconsistedoffour uncertainty?’ ChairedbytheBBC’s should welivewithglobalenvironmental which addressedthequestion ‘How debate opentomembersofthepublic, culminated ina ‘Question Time’ style The eveningofthelaunchevent environmental technologies. are focusedonthedevelopmentof