News Spring 2012

President’s column 2 News of Fellows 3 Policy and Public Affairs 4 Public Engagement 5 International 6 Awards 7 Research 8 Events 8 Development 9 Education 10 Obituaries 12 Forum for engineering On 16 April, The Royal Academy of Engineering will reopen following a nine-month building redevelopment project that will transform the Academy’s public space. The project, which is running to time, budget and specification, has been made possible by a fundraising campaign that, despite challenging economic conditions, raised the £6.5million required. The campaign, led by Academy President Sir John Parker FREng, drew on the extraordinary generosity of our supporters within the Fellowship and beyond, and in the process helped the Academy to forge valuable new relationships and revitalise others. The transformation begins outside: a striking, sinuous bridge (see photo), built by apprentices at Babcock’s Rosyth Dockyard and set within a small landscaped garden, leads to a new entrance. Inside, the ground floor has been remodelled to create four large interconnected rooms that will enhance the presentation of the Academy’s meeting and events programme. On the first floor, a 170-seat lecture theatre has been created with capacity for a further 50 in an adjacent room. The rooms are configured for flexible usage and are equipped with high quality acoustic and audio-visual facilities. A new Fellows’ room will be named after the late Lord Wolfson HonFREng, whose family foundation is one of the many generous donors to the project. One of the main rooms will be known as the David Sainsbury Room, in recognition of Lord Sainsbury’s exceptional support of the Academy’s education programmes over the last two decades. The building itself will be named Prince Philip House, in honour of the Academy’s Senior Fellow. The Senior Fellow will also be celebrated in a specially commissioned portrait by renowned artist Paul Brason. Commissioned by Dame Stephanie Shirley FREng, it will be unveiled when the building is formally opened in October. The public rooms in Prince Philip House will be collectively referred to as the Forum for engineering. This reflects the Academy’s aspiration that the venue will act as a focal point for the engineering profession and contribute towards raising the visibility and recognition of engineering. It will underline the Academy’s leadership role and will support more frequent, systematic and effective engagement with key audiences. A lively programme of events and activities is in development, including an international conference and exhibition on rehabilitative and sports engineering to coincide with the London Paralympics, and a series of activities during the September 2012 London Design Festival. The Forum will host the Academy’s AGM in July 2012, which will be an excellent opportunity for Fellows to see the new facilities at first hand.

The sinuous bridge being lifted into position. The bridge will allow access to the Academy for wheelchair users and pedestrians alike. Photos of the construction project can be seen at http://bit.ly/v6Ej0C RAEng News Spring 2012

PRESIDENT’S COLUMN Sheffield Forgemasters and the Advanced Manufacturing Research centre in Rotherham. My next visit will be to Wales, with plans to visit some of the English regions later in the year. Earlier this year I co-chaired a half-day event which brought together several of the UK’s leaders in the field of innovative construction techniques. It reminded me that innovation is not just about the economy but making sure we are the best at what we do, we are the most efficient we The President visits Sheffield Forgemasters Steel Ltd. L-R: Mark Tomlinson, Operations can possibly be and we take into account Director, Sheffield Forgemasters; Dr Chris Coulter, Fellowship Manager, The Royal Academy the environmental impact of our work. of Engineering; Sir John Parker FREng; Sarah Philbrick, Director of Development, The Royal Topics included the government’s role in Academy of Engineering; Andy Garner, Forge Shift Manager, Sheffield Forgemasters. encouraging innovative construction, how The UK is an engineering nation to the Research is of course a key driver of an sustainability can promote innovation and core, and we are home to several of the innovation nation and we need to find reduce building costs, and the use of smart world’s great wealth-building engineering ways of translating more of the fruits technologies in infrastructure. We plan companies. As one of the leading of research directly into commercial to model future Academy events on this economies, we have a massive challenge application. The Academy’s new knowledge-sharing template. to remain internationally competitive, as Engineering Enterprise Fellowship Our Academy can play a key role in creating rising global economies, especially China, scheme aims to do just that by allowing a culture of engineering where research, are shifting strategy from cheap mass entrepreneurial researchers to develop innovation and business can flourish across contract production to high-tech, high- their work in a university setting. Six the UK. value engineering design and production. of these prestigious Fellowships have In my view, we can only meet this challenge recently been awarded and will provide by focusing more intently on our capacity funding and support to allow researchers for innovation, supported by an industrial to spend 12 months developing the strategy for the future of the UK as a commercial potential of their research, nation that designs, makes and exports plus access to business angels and world-beating technology. venture capitalists (see page 8). In February, I addressed an event in London The Academy has for many years been organised by the Academy and supported supporting research at the highest level by BAE Systems, where over 100 of the and we currently fund just over 100 Meetings and visitors UK’s leading industrialists, academics permanent posts in UK universities, many and commentators gathered to discuss of them with the support of business and The President recently met: how engineering can drive sustained industry. In March, I had the pleasure of Ian Barlow economic recovery. Speakers included meeting one of the Academy’s funded Senior Advisor, KPMG Shadow Innovation and Science Minister researchers who also became a Fellow The Rt Hon David Cameron MP Chi Onwurah MP and Nigel Whitehead of the Academy in 2010. Professor Anne Prime Minister FREng. Through all of their contributions, it Neville is the first holder of the Academy’s was clear that the UK needs a sustainable Chair of Emerging Technologies, and I Vivienne Cox industrial strategy with engineering at was delighted to attend her lecture. It was Chairman, Climate Change Capital its heart. titled Nature and Nano – it’s all going on Martin Donnelly at engineering surfaces. Her talk explained New opportunities can also be found by Permanent Secretary at the Department for how research into surface interactions Business, Innovation and Skills taking a broader view of manufacturing at the nanoscale can offer engineering as a strategic activity within business. The solutions across the oil and gas, Sir Peter Gregson Academy has published the results of a biomedicine, and automotive industries. Vice-Chancellor Queens University Belfast study, chaired by Professor Steve Garwood FREng, on capturing value from industrial Professor Neville spoke at the Academy’s Sir Paul Nurse systems. The report outlines how production annual regional lecture which took place President, Royal Society this year in Leeds. The fact that we are a is vital for the UK to stay competitive Chi Onwurah MP national Academy is very important to me internationally because it enhances Shadow Minister for Innovation, Science and and I have recently had the opportunity research and enables commercialisation, Digital Infrastructure while providing infrastructure for other to travel and meet with a number of businesses, protecting intellectual property, Fellows across the UK where they live Mark Prisk MP and maintaining the UK’s skills base and and work. I have visited Babcock Marine Minister of State for Business and Enterprise, quality processes. in Scotland, Queen’s University Belfast, Department of Business, Innovation and Skills

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Nominations open for Queen Elizabeth Prize Professor Amanda Chessell, Professor Dame Anne Dowling, and Sir Martin for Engineering Sweeting received certificates for the responsible for a ground-breaking Honorary Fellowship of the Institution application of engineering that benefits of Engineering Designers, presented by humanity. Nominations are open now, HRH Prince Philip. and close on 14 September 2012. Professor Phil Coates has been The international judging panel, appointed a ‘Famous Overseas Scholar’ chaired by Lord Broers FREng FRS, by the China Ministry of Education and comprises eminent international a ‘leading overseas professor’ at Sichuan The £1 million prize, which will be given figures representing the range of University. in the name of Her Majesty the Queen, engineering disciplines. The panel Professor Michael C Forde has been recognises outstanding advances in includes leading academics and heads awarded the Bridge Engineering engineering that have changed the of corporations. For more information Research Award by the Bridge world. The prize will be awarded to about the prize and information about Engineering Association (USA), has been one person or up to three people how to make a nomination, go to the made a Fellow of the American Concrete whom the judges find to be directly prize website www.qeprize.org Institute and an Honorary Member of the Engineering Institute of Serbia. Professor Steve Furber CBE and Fellows recognised Professor Keith Ridgway OBE Sophie Wilson have been appointed - Research Director, Advanced Fellows of the Computer History in the New Year Manufacturing Research Centre, for Museum. Honours List services to manufacturing research. Dr Paul Golby CBE has been appointed Chair of the Engineering and Physical Congratulations to the following Professor Sarah Springman - Head of Sciences Research Council and Fellows of the Academy who have been Institute of Geotechnical Engineering, non-executive director at National Grid. recognised in the New Year Honours list: ETH Zurich, for services to triathlon. Dr David Grant CBE has become Knights Bachelor - Knighthoods Professor Philip Sutton - formerly Chairman of STEMNET’s Board of Director, Science and Technology Trustees. John Alexander Armitt CBE - Chairman, Strategy, Ministry of Defence. Dr Dame Sue Ion has been elected Olympic Delivery Authority, for services a Foreign Associate of the National to engineering and construction. Professor Lionel Tarassenko - Academy of Engineering. Director, Institute of Biomedical Michael David Bear - Lord Mayor, Engineering, University of Oxford, Professor Stuart Littlejohn has been City of London 2010-2011, for for services to engineering. given a lifetime achievement award services to regeneration, charity by the International Conference on and the City of London. Dr Andrew Oliver Tyler - formerly Chief Grouting and Deep Mixing. Operating Officer, Defence Equipment Professor Adrian Long OBE has been Professor Christopher Maxwell and Support, Ministry of Defence. awarded the Institution of Civil Engineers Snowden - Vice-Chancellor, University Gold Medal for 2011. of Surrey, for services to engineering Order of the British Empire - Members Professor Geoffrey C Maitland recently and to higher education. of the Order of the British Empire - MBE chaired the Maitland Report on the UK Order of the British Empire - Knight Faith Wainwright - Director, Arup, offshore oil and gas regulatory regime, Commander of the British Empire - KBE for services to the built environment published in December 2011. and engineering professions. Sir John Parker has received an Jonathan Paul Ive - Senior Vice honorary degree from Aston University. President, Apple Inc, USA, for Professor Richard Parry-Jones CBE has services to design and enterprise. News of Fellows been appointed Chairman Designate of Sir Peter Bonfield CBE has been Network Rail. Order of the British Empire - appointed Loughborough University’s Commanders of the Order of Chair of Council. Professor John Perkins CBE has been the British Empire - CBE appointed Chief Scientific Adviser to the Sir David Brown has been appointed Department for Business, Innovation Professor Alan Bundy - Professor Deputy Chairman and Chairman and Skills. of Automated Reasoning, Designate of the British Standards Institution. Professor Rod Smith has been University of Edinburgh, for appointed Chief Scientific Adviser to the services to computing science. Professor John Burland CBE has Department for Transport. received the honorary degree of Doctor David Jonathan Flint - Chief of Science from the University of Professor Sir John Meurig Thomas has Executive, Oxford Instruments, for Hertfordshire. been awarded the Kapitza Gold Medal of services to business and science. the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences.

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POLICY AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS Sustainable ICT Policy roundup

On 2 December, Professor Andy The Academy, in partnership with the Hopper FREng chaired a half-day Royal Society, has announced a study meeting to discuss sustainable entitled Shale gas extraction in the UK: computing at a roundtable of industry a review of the scientific and engineering and academic experts. There are 15 evidence. quadrillion (15,000,000,000,000,000) A new report, Heat: degrees of comfort, bytes of data generated every day, and published in January, looks at the 10 times more data were stored in 2011 challenges of matching the UK's demand than in 2006, with rates continuing for domestic heating with the binding to rise. requirement to reduce our overall The growth of the information carbon emissions. It examines new and computing technology sector technologies including heat pumps, has raised increasing demands considers options such as district heating on energy and raw materials. and combined heat and power schemes As new developments such as and looks at incentives and drivers for cloud computing and thin client the creation of new markets. (server-dependent) computing gain momentum, future sustainability issues need to be considered. Panelists asked whether the world has the energy needed to run more powerful and growing numbers of servers; whether cheaper and more efficient computing is beneficial or whether it leads to faster consumption of finite, and increasingly costly, resources; and whether constantly available and highly responsive computing is a realistic aspiration. The report can be downloaded from the A report of proceedings from the event can be found at Academy website http://bit.ly/zXjGDq www.raeng.org.uk/futurecomputing

on Nuclear Lessons Learned, examining as well as longer term challenges across Manufacturing issues for those engaged in delivering major areas of national infrastructure. Summit the new fleet of nuclear power plants. This work was referred to in HM In March, the alliance of professional Following this, EtF has published a Treasury’s National Infrastructure Plan, engineering organisations, Engineering series of best practice guides on safety published at the end of 2011. the Future (EtF), held a Manufacturing culture, welding and concrete for the The alliance also supported a series of Summit which brought together nuclear new build supply chain and meetings on water recycling, security people from industry with government related industries. and behaviour change and demand to debate the way forward for growth. The alliance developed a set of management. A report summarising Last year, following a request from timelines showing planned and the key points will be published DECC, the alliance produced a report expected infrastructure development this spring. Public affairs roundup Chief Executive Philip Greenish was As part of the public affairs including four Fellows: Dr Paul Golby called to give evidence to the Science programme for the Academy’s FREng; Dr Mike Lynch FREng; Colin Smith and Technology committees in the Biomedical Engineering Panel, FREng and Professor Chris Snowden House of Lords (25 October) and the Jim Cunningham MP for Coventry FREng FRS as well as the Presidents Commons on behalf of the Engineering South, visited The Institute of Digital of the four national academies. the Future (7 December) alliance. He Healthcare on 9 December. discussed the role of Chief Scientific Professor John Perkins CBE FREng Advisers in government with the Academy President Sir John Parker took up his post as the Chief Scientific Lords committee, and the interface FREng attended the Council for Science Adviser at the Department for Business, between engineering and government and Technology (CST) meeting with Innovation and Skills on 10 January. with the Commons committee. His the Prime Minister on 6 February. The Professor Rod Smith FREng has been comments were recorded for an CST was reconstituted a year ago with appointed Chief Scientific Adviser item on the BBC News website. the appointment of 11 new members to the Department of Transport.

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Innovation in Scotland construction The Academy is keen to increase its policy and public affairs activities in Scotland, The President and Peter Hansford, and to engage further with Scottish Fellows, MSPs, civil servants, policymakers, and Immediate Past President of the the science and engineering community. In conjunction with The Royal Society of Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) Edinburgh, the Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders in Scotland, the Engineering chaired a conference on Innovation Policy Group Scotland and Scottish Engineering, the Academy has organised an in construction, jointly organised with Oxford-style debate on the motion: ‘This House believes that Scotland's energy ICE, and the University of Cambridge’s industry will be the envy of the world’. Centre for Smart Infrastructure and The debate took place on 27 March at the Royal College of Surgeons and was chaired Construction. by Gordon Masterton FREng. Speakers for the motion were Dr Simon Harrison CEng Ray O’Rourke KBE HonFREng, Chairman FIET, energy expert and visiting professor at the University of Southampton, and and Chief Executive, Laing O’Rourke, Professor Stuart Haszeldine FRSE, Scottish Power Professor of Carbon Capture and set out a vision of 90 per cent of Storage, University of Edinburgh. construction being completed offsite to boost efficiency and make a huge Speaking against the motion were Dame Sue Ion FREng, Non-Executive Director, reduction in time and the associated UK Health and Safety Laboratory, and Dr John Constable, Director of the Renewable costs of today’s traditional ‘block and Energy Foundation. build’ approach. The ability for sensor technologies to PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT monitor infrastructure across its lifetime was discussed by Professor Robert Ingenious grants Mair CBE FREng FRS, Head of Civil and sporting developments while, at the V&A Environmental Engineering, University Museum of Childhood, sports engineers of Cambridge. will be on hand to answer visitors’ questions Bill Hewlett, Technical Director, Costain, both online and in person. focused on the advantages of sharing innovative ideas and research, as well Among the other projects funded by as risk. Ingenious is ~Flow, a floating tide mill on the River Tyne, which creates sounds Dr Scott Steedman CBE FREng, and data in response to its changing Director of Standards, British Standards environment. The Ingenious funding Institution, said tough sustainability will allow ~Flow to extend its events targets and aspirational standards programme, giving audiences the chance could promote innovation and reduce to meet engineers involved in its creation. building costs. Professor Kathy Sykes brainstorms ideas The government’s role in encouraging with finalists at the FameLab Masterclass The successful competition FameLab, innovative construction was outlined which asks experts to describe their work in by Paul Morrell, Chief Construction As London looks forward to the arrival of just three minutes, has also been awarded Adviser to the UK Government. the Olympics, visitors across the UK are to an Ingenious grant to run heats especially A fuller account of the meeting can be be given the chance to learn more about for engineers. read here: http://bit.ly/yCVWKq the engineering behind the games, thanks to a number of projects funded by the Ingenious is funded by the Department of Academy’s grant scheme, Ingenious. Business, Skills and Innovation. This year, 22 projects have been funded by the scheme

Smart i The Science Museum will play host to a to encourage and train engineers to nfrastructu re: th e future series of debates and discussions on recent engage the public in their work.

Visual identity refresh The aim of the project is to refresh and Eight years after the Academy’s visual redevelop the Academy’s current visual identity was adopted, plans are underway identity in order to maximise its impact, to refresh and bring it up to date. With and ensure it is effective across digital the imminent launch of the Forum as well as print formats and that it is A report on Smart Infrastructure, for engineering, the Academy will be accessible to the Academy’s diverse range launched at the conference, can be reaching out to a wider audience than of target audiences. Further details will be downloaded here: http://bit.ly/y2cE6e ever before. published in the next newsletter.

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INTERNATIONAL Exploring Mars International research schemes Awards have been made for two Academy international research cooperation schemes.

The Research Exchanges with China and India scheme promotes academic collaboration between high-quality engineering researchers in the UK and China and India. It also supports the expansion of international networks of excellence.

In the 2012 round, 30 awards have been made. Collaborative projects have been funded under the scheme on topics including computational flow study Dr Charles Elachi delivers the ERA Foundation International Lecture of large-scale tidal turbines, grain-size effect in materials for energy storage and Dr Charles Elachi, Director at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), delivered the nanocomposites for bone implants. Academy’s ERA Foundation International Lecture on 5 March, titled Engineering and technological challenges in robotic space exploration. Dr David Hann at the University of Nottingham and Professor Wei Dai JPL has been at the forefront of space exploration for more than 50 years. In 1958, it from the Chinese Academy of Sciences built and operated the first US satellite, Explorer 1, and over the following decades in Beijing have jointly received an sent robotic spacecraft to the moon and then to all of the solar system’s planets. It award to fund research into efficient currently has 23 spacecraft and 10 instruments conducting active missions, including thermoacoustic engines for refrigeration its new flagship Mars rover mission, the Mars Science Laboratory, named Curiosity, and electrical generation. This exchange and the most distant human-made objects from Earth, Voyagers 1 and 2. will develop research that leads to more efficient, cheaper engines that may Dr Elachi talked about the organisation’s history and future plans, focusing on the provide a more affordable alternative to engineering challenges of designing the Curiosity rover, and the planning involved solar and wind power and will help to for its landing on Mars on 6 August 2012. Dr Elachi led the project to design the 100kg improve the lives of those who live off- rover which will analyse rock samples to search for evidence of life on the red planet. grid in developing nations.

He explained how the rover will fire a laser at rocks or drill them with its arm to take The Distinguished Visiting Fellowship dust samples. These will be analysed with an onboard mass spectrometer and X-ray scheme provides funding to enable an equipment. Like its predecessors, Curiosity has stereo cameras and can be controlled academic engineering department at remotely by NASA to grasp and analyse particular rock samples. a UK university to be a host for up to a month to a Distinguished Visiting Fellow The lecture was chaired by Professor Sir William Wakeham FREng, Vice-President and from an overseas academic centre of International Secretary of the Academy. The Rt Hon David Willetts MP, Minister for excellence. Five collaborations were Universities and Science, attended the event along with many senior figures from the funded in this round, including visitors UK space industry. from Australia, Japan and the USA. Details A video of Dr Elachi’s lecture, in which he talks about the engineering behind the of the next round will be announced in planned rover landing, is available on www.RAEng.tv April 2012.

UK and China storage technology in both the UK for Business, Innovation and Skills. The energy storage and China. meeting examined the draft report of the The roundtable followed on from joint workshops in the context of recent roundtable two joint energy storage workshops technical and policy developments in the On 14 February, Professor Richard organised last year by the Academy field of energy storage in both countries. It Williams OBE FREng of Birmingham and the Chinese Academy of Sciences. discussed a set of final recommendations University and Professor Jinghai Li Participants included two UK for UK-China cooperation in this field and FREng, Vice-President of the Chinese departmental Chief Scientific Advisers identified potential follow-up activities. Academy of Sciences (CAS), jointly (CSAs), Professor David MacKay FRS, CSA The final joint RAEng-CAS report will be chaired a roundtable meeting with a at the Department of Energy and Climate released later in 2012 and will contain group of key stakeholders exploring Change, and Professor John Perkins policy recommendations for both the UK ways to develop and implement energy CBE FREng, CSA at the Department and Chinese governments.

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AWARDS Tier 1 Exceptional Sustained Talent visas awarded Achievement Award The Academy is one of the designated Dracos Vassalos, Professor of Maritime competent bodies advising the UK Safety at the University of Strathclyde and Border Agency on applications for Director of the Ship Stability Research the Tier 1 Exceptional Talent route of Centre, has won the 2011 Royal Academy the points-based system for visas. The of Engineering Sustained Achievement Academy has endorsed five applications Award for his career-long achievements under both the Exceptional Talent route, and their profound impact on his for world leaders in their field, and the discipline. Professor Vassalos received his Exceptional Promise route, for researchers award from the Academy's Senior Vice who have the potential to be world class. President, Professor Sir William Wakeham Dr Rogieh Azerinezhad FREng, on 1 December. An Iranian chemical engineer, Dr Roghieh Samsung Electronics, has successfully Azerinezhad, has been successful in applied under the Exceptional Talent applying under the Exceptional Promise route and will take up a Chair in Electrical route and will take up a research position Engineering at the University of Oxford. at Hydrafact, a spin-out company of Heriot-Watt University. A Korean researcher, Further information on these visa routes is Professor Jong Min Kim, currently at available at: http://tinyurl.com/74uh978

Natural Resources in the Global Economy – water debate

Professor Dracos Vassalos Professor Vassalos has spent 32 years researching and developing ship stability and safety, through initiatives such as the SSRC, a centre of excellence for ship stability and safety research, which he established in 1996, and Design for Safety, an initiative which brought The third debate of the Academy’s L-R: Dr Jean Venables CBE FREng, Trevor together industry and academia in an ‘Natural Resources in the Global Bishop, Chris Binnie FREng, and Dr Sue Cavill unprecedented effort to help catalyse Economy’ series took place on 17 continuous safety improvement in the Head of Water Resources for the January. The motion debated was: ‘This maritime industry. House believes that when water is in Environment Agency. During his career, Professor Vassalos has short supply, engineers should prioritise Chris Binnie and Sue Cavill argued that overseen over 100 major research contracts human needs over environmental while the environment should not be to the value of more than £25million concerns’. Speaking for the motion were ignored, the human right to water should and has supervised 41 PhD students. Chris Binnie FREng, an independent be the priority in cases of severe drought. He has also served as a government consultant with over 30 years' experience In response, Jean Venables emphasised advisor and lectured around the world on in the water sector, and Dr Sue Cavill, a the need to attend to the environment in maritime safety. water supply and sanitation expert and order to meet human needs, and Trevor Associate Programme Officer at Engineers Bishop argued that water supply policies Against Poverty. Speaking against the needed to be adaptive to environmental Newsletter contact motion were Dr Jean Venables CBE needs in order to be sustainable in For queries or contributions: FREng, Chief Executive of the Association the long term. Following an animated Emily Bick (Copy Editor) of Drainage Authorities and Chairman of audience discussion, the motion Email: [email protected] Crane Environmental, and Trevor Bishop, was defeated. Tel: 020 7766 0645

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RESEARCH EVENTS Engineering Enterprise Fellowships Technology Visionaries

The Academy recently awarded the Professor Nigel Shadbolt FREng, Professor first Engineering Enterprise Fellowships of Artificial Intelligence at the University of to six outstanding entrepreneurial Southampton, addressed a packed theatre researchers at UK universities. on 22 February as guest lecturer in the Academy’s Technology Visionaries series. His One of the recipients, Dr Susannah lecture, Open data: powering the Information Clarke, is a design engineer specialising in Age, examined applications of public data medical devices. She has degrees in both for public benefit, from generating maps for engineering (University of Cambridge) relief efforts to pinpointing crime hotspots. and industrial design (Royal College of Art) Dr Susannah Clarke and has won numerous awards for her design concepts. She has been awarded the Fellowship to establish a spin-out company from Imperial College London which will develop devices to improve orthopaedic surgery and increase its accuracy. She will be developing these products with Professor Justin Cobb, chair in orthopaedic surgery at Charing Cross Hospital, Imperial College NHS trust. Professor Cobb is globally recognised as a leading surgeon and investigator into the use of technology to improve surgical precision. Professor Nigel Shadbolt FREng The Enterprise Fellows will spend 12 months developing the commercial potential Professor Shadbolt is currently working of their research. Business training will also be provided along with the support of on the midata project, which aims to get experienced engineering business experts, drawn from the Academy's Fellowship. consumers' data back from government and Details of all six Enterprise Fellows and their work can be found on our website business and put in a format which makes it http://bit.ly/yICgux easy for consumers to organise and control the use of their information, proving that this type of data can empower individuals. New Research Chairs appointed He described the benefits of the linked web (or semantic web) and called for the use of more open licences and structured data with unique Uniform Resource Identifiers to facilitate the beginning of a linked web of information. A video of the lecture is available to watch at RAEng.tv Vodafone lecture Speaking at the Royal Society on 27 February as part of the Vodafone lecture series, Tom Standage, Digital Professor Akid’s research will address the effects of extreme environments on the performance Editor of The Economist, examined how of materials used in the oil and gas industry mobile phones were driving economic growth in developing nations. Professor Robert Akid has been appointed Professor Peter O’Hearn has been to the BP/Royal Academy of Engineering appointed to the Microsoft/Royal He attributed the spread of the mobile Research Chair in Corrosion and Materials Academy of Engineering Research phone into some of the world's at the University of Manchester. Professor Chair in Logic and Software Verification poorest countries to standardisation, Akid’s research addresses a number of at University College London. As the effect of Moore's Law, (whereby prominent corrosion-related structural a co-inventor of separation logic, the number of transistors that can be integrity problems in the oil and gas sector Professor O’Hearn is internationally placed inexpensively on an integrated through a mechanistic understanding of regarded for addressing some of circuit doubles approximately every two damage mechanisms. This research work, the key concerns in the practical years leading to rapid improvements in in collaboration with BP, will develop more applicability of logic and software processing performance of electronic robust predictive models for materials verification. The partnership with devices), the use of microfinance and performance, and will further strengthen Microsoft will provide opportunities to pre-paid billing to make mobiles more the engineering research portfolio of the generate further industrial interest in affordable, and deregulation. To view the University of Manchester. this area. lecture, visit RAEng.tv

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DEVELOPMENT Forthcoming Campaign board thanked events With the opening of the Forum for engineering and the launch of the Queen Elizabeth This is a selection of Academy events; Prize for Engineering, a new medium-term fundraising strategy has been agreed by the for a complete list visit: Academy’s Council. A development advisory board, chaired by Dick Olver FREng, will be www.raeng.org.uk/events created to sustain the benefit delivered by the campaign board over recent years.

30 April - 2 May 2012 More than £11 million has been raised by the campaign board members: Sir John Parker UK visit of Professor Zhou, President FREng, Ian Barlow, Lord Broers FREng FRS, Vivienne Cox, Alex Dorrian FREng, Syamal Gupta of the Chinese Academy of FREng, Lady Judge, Dr Gordon Masterton FREng, Terry Morgan FREng, Dick Engineering Olver FREng, Sir Simon Robertson, Sir Ian Robinson FREng, Edmund Wallis FREng and Lord Venue: 3 Carlton House Terrace Browne FREng FRS when President. This includes: £6.5 million for the Forum and £4.5 Contact: [email protected] million for education activities benefiting thousands of young people and their teachers. 16 May 2012 Designing better care for older people: how technology can make Nuffield Foundation grant a difference The Nuffield Foundation, one of students to gain practical research A conference organised by Academy the UK’s most eminent educational experience during their summer Panel for Biomedical Engineering charities, has awarded the Academy break and will help build the UK’s and Age UK a grant of £100,000 to support a future research capabilities. Details of Venue: Electric Works, Sheffield bursary programme for undergraduate the programme can be found on the Digital Centre, Sheffield S1 2BJ engineers. The bursaries will allow Academy website http://bit.ly/yesjD8 Contact: katherine.macgregor@ raeng.org.uk

24 May 2012 HRH portrait Summer Soirée and Exhibition Dame Stephanie Shirley DBE FREng has generously commissioned a triptych portrait of Engineering a better society HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, for display in the Academy’s refurbished building. Host: Cardiff University Artist Paul Brason is currently working on the project; examples of his work can be seen In the presence of HRH The at www.paulbrason.co.uk. Princess Royal Venue: Cardiff University A noted art collector, Dame Stephanie has commissioned many works over the years, Contact: [email protected] including portraits of Professor Sir Tim Berners-Lee OM RDI FREng FRS and Professor Stephen Hawking CH CBE FRS, both on display at the Royal Society. 26 June 2012 We are grateful to the Senior Fellow for consenting to the commission. The work will Academy Awards Dinner further recognise the Senior Fellow’s central role in the founding and development of In the presence of HRH The the Academy. Princess Royal Venue: Royal Opera House, London Contact: [email protected] Room naming Inheritance tax relief

16 July 2012 Rooms in the Forum for engineering As a registered charity, the Academy can benefit from forthcoming changes to the AGM will be named for major benefactors to inheritance tax regime. From April 2012, Chair: Sir John Parker FREng the project. The first floor lecture theatre the rate of inheritance tax will be cut Venue: 3 Carlton House Terrace will be known as the Al-Qasimi Lecture from 40% to 36% for those who leave at Contact: [email protected] Theatre, after H H Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohamed Al Qasimi. least 10% of their estates to charities. At 27 August - 14 September 2012 present inheritance tax is only payable on Side by side: innovation in Adjoining rooms will be known as the net estates worth more than £325,000. engineering at the Paralympics ERA Foundation Room and the Michael An estate of £500,000 would therefore A programme of events combining Bishop Foundation Room; the Fellows see beneficiaries receive £430,000 and a conference, workshops, lectures, area will be named the Wolfson Rooms. HMRC £70,000. However, if 10% of that reception and an exhibition estate above the £325,000 threshold were Contact: [email protected] The ground floor major rooms will be given to the Academy, the beneficiaries named for National Grid, Rolls-Royce, would receive £425,800, HMRC £56,700 12 September 2012 Sir Kirby Laing and David Sainsbury. and the Academy £17,500. Engineering Research Forum The garden entrance and reception Information on leaving a legacy is Venue: 3 Carlton House Terrace area will honour Past President, Lord available on the Academy’s website Contact: [email protected] Browne FREng. http://bit.ly/xDN4cA

9 RAEng News Spring 2012

EDUCATION Wheelchair resource Diversity programme

The diversity programme has hosted two significant events over recent months. In December, the Academy convened a working meeting to consider diversity data collection. This brought together the organisations that are currently the main collectors of diversity data within engineering. Discussions centred on identifying the gaps in the existing data picture and how they could best be filled in future. In February, the Academy ran a collaborative workshop hosted by the Institution of Civil Engineers. The focus of the event was to share examples of good practice in diversity and inclusion, with invited speakers from Arup, the Institution of Engineering and Technology, the Law Society, the Royal Institute of British Architects and the Academy. One purpose of the event was to identify subjects and participants for funded Students at Cotswold School, Bourton-on-the-Water, assemble and launch a racing wheelchair pilot projects and we are now in the The Paralympics provide opportunities for athletes to compete at the highest level. process of defining three projects across There are many wheelchair sports and the Academy has created a classroom resource at least six engineering institutions. that enables students to compare the wheelchairs used for track events and basketball. The Academy will receive the report and results of an assessment against the SET The three-wheeled racing chair is constructed for speed, whereas the four-wheeled Fair Standard during March. Plans for basketball chair is made for manoeuvrability. Students can create their own communication and follow-on action are scaled-down versions and find out how the designs of wheelchairs used in competitive being prepared and will provide a catalyst sports are tailored for their specific uses and examine for renewed focus on inclusive practice how they can give athletes a competitive edge. across all the Academy’s activities. For more This new resource will help teachers and STEM information about the programme, please ambassadors deliver a context-based activity that contact [email protected] clearly demonstrates the links between the STEM subjects. Scheduled to be delivered by Easter 2012, CPD for lecturers this resource will be available for use in schools from the summer term. As part of the BP-supported Engineering Further Education Programme, the Academy has developed a hands-on CPD session on do students find this contextualisation Visiting Teaching smart materials for college lecturers who of theoretical material invaluable, they teach engineering. The aim of the CPD Fellows are also able to gain an insight into the session is to allow lecturers to develop an The Academy’s commitment to enriching challenges they may potentially face if understanding of smart materials. A range of student learning experience at university they choose to work in industry. smart materials such as self-healing polymers, through experience-led education Faraday film, shape memory alloys and continues with the appointment of This latest cohort of Visiting Teaching quantum tunnelling compounds is covered 13 new Visiting Teaching Fellows at 11 Fellows is drawn from a broad spectrum as part of the session. The first event ran at universities in the UK. Similar in scope to of high-tech industries and will be the University of Liverpool on 24 February the highly successful Visiting Professor instructing students in areas including and was attended by delegates from 16 programme, the Visiting Teaching Fellows wave and tidal renewable energy, colleges. A second event hosted by Jaguar at initiative involves early-stage practitioners advanced materials characterisation, their Castle Bromwich site on 26 March was who relate and apply curriculum teaching water management and sanitation, oversubscribed within 12 hours of advertising material to the operational challenges international development, sustainable and 34 lecturers registered to attend. and real-life engineering problems design in the built environment and Another CPD session using programmable students address on a daily basis. Not only wellhead subsea systems. microcontrollers is currently in development.

10 RAEng News Spring 2012

Connecting STEM teachers The Big Bang Fair

The Academy’s A record number of people attended Connecting Teachers the annual Big Bang Fair and National project offers professional Science and Engineering Competition at development training the Birmingham NEC in March. The event to teachers of science, was attended by 55,000 visitors across the technology, engineering three days, including live shows from TV’s and maths (STEM) across Brainiac and Bang Goes the Theory and a the UK. Connecting show floor that featured exhibitors from all Teachers gives these areas of science, engineering, mathematics teachers the tools and technology. to increase STEM engagement among The Academy’s stand at the event was greater numbers of visited by a continuous stream of young students. people involved with hands-on activities and curriculum resources which the Good teachers can Academy has developed through the BAE inspire young people to Systems-funded Engineering Engagement engage with STEM, which Project. The Academy is grateful to all the is why the Academy is volunteers who gave up their time to help recruiting experienced us during the fair. secondary school teachers of STEM subjects from across the UK as teacher coordinators to provide professional development opportunities for other teachers in their local schools. These teacher coordinators are a central component of the Connecting Teachers project. They are responsible for building a STEM support network for their local schools and providing training in key areas, such as contextualising STEM learning, supporting greater diversity in engineering and challenging young peoples’ misconceptions about engineering. Mark McEvoy, winner of the Royal Academy of Engineering prize ,with Dr Paul Golby To ensure the teacher coordinators make a strong start in creating their local FREng and his teacher (far left) and father school networks, the Academy has held two induction days at BG Group’s offices (far right) in Reading. These featured training in the use of the Academy’s STEM teaching and learning resources. During the induction sessions, BG Group, which provides The Royal Academy of Engineering prize support for the Connecting Teachers Project, demonstrated an internet-based for best engineering project based on meeting space for the teacher coordinators and their school networks, which engineering principles was awarded to will be another invaluable source of support and ideas for them. Feedback Mark McEvoy from St Colman’s College from the induction training was very positive and showed that all the teacher in Newry, Northern Ireland. His project, coordinators left feeling confident to perform their role. ‘Multilift’, is an adaptor for farmyard machinery to lift 500kg fertiliser bags and The Academy has now recruited 16 of the planned 24 teacher coordinators with heavy equipment. It stood out among the eight English regions and Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales now having at other high quality competition projects. All least one teacher coordinator. A further round of recruitment to strengthen the the components in the structure, designed project’s UK-wide coverage is starting now. by 16-year-old Mark, were underpinned by force calculations and force diagrams Another aspect of the Connecting Teachers project is the creation of an expert which would normally be tackled at panel to provide high level strategic advice on the direction of the project and undergraduate level. He then went on to how to maximise its impact. The expert panel comprises representatives of the teach himself MIG welding and plasma Academy, BG Group, the STEM support community, policymakers and teacher cutting to build the structure, which was coordinators. The inaugural meeting of the expert panel took place in January. very much a finished article. He has already It provided an excellent insight into the STEM landscape in the UK’s regions and been approached by JCB who were in stimulated discussion about the key areas of focus and priorities for the project. attendance at the show.

11 Obituaries Staff news

Sir Sidney Bacon CB FREng died aged Geomorphology and Senior Research Chris Dixon, Resource and Training 93 on 14 February 2012. Before his Fellow Imperial College London. Coordinator, is returning to teaching at retirement he was Managing Director Acton High School. of the Royal Ordnance Factories. Mr Ian Phillipps DL FREng died aged Heather Hawthorne, Project Director, 86 on 28 July 2011. Prior to his retirement HE STEM Programme – Engineering, has left Sir Alan Cottrell FREng FRS died aged he was Chairman,The BSS Group plc. to work at Engineering UK. 92 on 15 February 2012. At the time of his death he was Research Associate, Professor Roger Pollard FREng Ed Holmes, Press and Communications Department of Materials Science and died aged 65 on 3 December Officer, has left to work at St Paul’s Cathedral. Metallurgy, University of Cambridge. 2011. At the time of his death he Melissa Obi has joined the Academy as was Consulting Engineer, Agilent Events Manager, as maternity cover for Dr Walter ‘Eric’ Duckworth OBE FREng Technologies, Santa Rosa, CA, USA. Helen Berrington. Melissa previously died aged 86 on 4 February 2012. Prior to worked for Euromoney Conferences. his retirement he was Managing Director, Mr Barry Smale-Adams OBE Jon O’Neill, Corporate Development Fulmer Ltd. FREng died aged 79 on 21 February Manager, has become father to a son, 2012. Prior to his retirement he Rowan Timothy George. Dr William Forrest OBE TD FREng was a Consulting Mining Engineer, died aged 93 on 15 February 2012. Rio Tinto Zinc Corporation plc. Melanie Washington, Project Manager, Before his retirement he was Deputy Education, has left to work at STEMnet. Director (Mining), National Coal Board. Mr John Speechley OBE FREng died Jenny Young, Head of Diversity, was aged 88 on 22 January 2012. Prior elected to the Fellowship of the IET. Mr Bryan Hildrew CBE FREng died to his retirement he was Managing aged 91 on 11 January 2012. Before Director, Westland Aircraft. his retirement he was Managing Membership news Director, Lloyd's Register of Shipping. Professor Hugh Sutherland OBE Last year, 2011, saw the highest ever He was a Founder Fellow. FREng FRSE died aged 91 on 20 number of new nominations for December 2011. At the time of his death Fellowship of the Academy, 112 in all. Professor John Hutchinson FREng he was Emeritus Professor and formerly For this, all the Fellows who have worked died aged 84 on 21 December Dean of the Faculty of Engineering hard to propose, second and assess 2011. Prior to his retirement he was and Head of Department of Civil these nominations must be commended Emeritus Professor of Engineering and Engineering, University of Glasgow. and thanked for their efforts. However, this burgeoning number of nominees means that there is now ever greater and Council nominations Publications donated more intense competition for the limited As a Fellow of the Academy, you will have to the Academy number of places available for New Fellows recently received an invitation to nominate each year. Consequently there will be more disappointment, but this ought not candidates for election to Council. The David Royle has donated two to deter Fellows from continuing to put Academy would like to remind Fellows publications to the Academy. A book, forward nominations from among the best that they have the option of nominating From Vintage to Classic to Amphibian, and leading engineers whom they know. candidates for election to the Council describes the world’s first high-speed Ultimately, more high quality nominations either by post or online by logging onto amphibious vehicles, and a DVD shows will lead to an enlarged and strengthened the private area of the Academy’s website; the machines in action. the deadline for doing so is 30 April 2012. Fellowship. The same options will be subsequently Professor J Helszain OBE FREng has The Academy continues to encourage offered to Fellows for voting on the donated the following books: Radiation new nominations, in particular from the nominated candidates to Council. The and Scattering of Waves by Leopold B less well-represented areas and sectors Council nomination and election process Felsen and Nathan Markuvitz; Electrical of engineering and for nominees from is an important part of the Academy’s Network Theory by Norman Balabanian under-represented groups. If you would governance and Fellows are urged to and Theodore A Bickart, with like to discuss a potential nomination participate by whatever method suits them. contributions from the late Sundaram; please contact Fellowship Manager, Chris However, the online option does have the and Methods of Theoretical Physics by Coulter (phone 020 7766 0687 or email advantage to the Academy of a significant Philip M Morse and Herman Feshbach. [email protected]) for advice saving in administrative effort and cost. and assistance.

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