On 18 March 2013, the First Queen Elizabeth Prize
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QueenQueen ElizabethElizabeth PrizePrize n 18 March 2013, the first Queen Elizabeth Prize for for engineering that has had global Engineering was awarded to five pioneering and impact on humanity. The Prime Oextraordinary individuals. Dr Robert Kahn, Dr Vinton Cerf, Minister, Rt Hon David Cameron Louis Pouzin, Sir Tim Berners-Lee FREng and Marc Andreessen were MP, said: “The Internet and announced as the winners of the £1 million prize for collectively and the World Wide Web … are collaboratively creating one of the most complex and exceptional engineering innovations that systems imaginable: the Internet and the World Wide Web. The have enabled new industries, announcement was made by Chair of the Prize Foundation, Lord a huge number of jobs and Browne of Madingley, in the presence of HRH The Princess Royal. enabled the world and its people to access information The distinguished panel of international judges made their decision and knowledge as never before.” at a meeting on 13 March, chaired by Lord Alec Broers FREng and including Professor Lynne Gladden FREng and Paul Westbury The announcement of the winners generated worldwide coverage FREng. This followed a long and detailed process over the preceding in print, radio, broadcast and social media channels, reaching months involving two groups of Academy Fellows – the search millions of people across many different countries, contributing to group who encouraged nominations from across the world and the one of the main objectives of the Prize – to raise the profile of sifting group who sorted through hundreds of nominations. engineering and emphasize its importance to society. Vinton Cerf described this succinctly: “The Queen Elizabeth Prize for The Internet and the World Wide Web have revolutionised the Engineering is a stunning and welcomed recognition of the power way we communicate and access information and are integral to of engineering to effect change.” the lives of over 2 billion people worldwide. Kahn, Cerf and Pouzin developed the Internet, which provides the infrastructure needed The trophy and £1 million prize will be awarded by Her Majesty the to connect billions of computers to each other. Berners-Lee’s Web Queen in June at a reception in Buckingham Palace. Following the built on this, disseminating and holding information. Andreessen presentation of the award, the next stages will be equally made this information infinitely easier to access, with the creation important: encouraging young people to think deeply about of a user-friendly browser. engineering, and society to appreciate its breadth and scope. “I firmly believe our field’s best days are still ahead of us,” said Lord Broers said of the winners: “These five visionary engineers, Andreessen, “and I can’t wait to see what the next generation of never before honoured together as a group, led the key engineers will accomplish.” developments that shaped the Internet and Web as a coherent system and brought them into public use.” Top: Immediate Academy Past President Lord Browne, with Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering winners Dr Robert Kahn and Louis Pouzin The inaugural winners are outstanding exemplars of what the Above: Royal Fellow HRH the Princess Royal and Academy President Sir John prize was established to do – to recognise and celebrate a feat of Parker GBE listen to the presentation President’s column 2 Innovation and entrepreneurship 6 Newsletter Global Grand Challenges Summit 3 People and talent 8 Technology and society 4 Business and production 10 Spring 2013 Infrastructure and transport 5 Academy roundup 11 Energy and natural resources 6 Obituaries 12 Queen Elizabeth Prize 1 The first winners of the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering were recently President's announced and the first UK Global Grand Challenges Summit was a great success, as was the Big Bang Fair for young scientists and engineers, in which the Academy column is a leading partner. These major, high-profile initiatives, and the need for increased engineering skills in the government’s growth agenda, are creating a strong sense that engineering is on the map. We have been at our busiest since I became President, and it is heartening to see the Academy, its Fellows and partners working together to promote and celebrate engineering so successfully. The contribution of engineers to humanity was highlighted by the five pioneering creators of the Internet and the World Wide Web winning the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering. The Global Grand Challenges Summit also had an international reach, involving the national academies of engineering of the US, China and the UK, bringing together leading international thinkers and innovators to explore new approaches to addressing some of the most pressing challenges of the 21st century. Of course, all of our Fellows have made significant contributions to the wellbeing of society, and I am pleased to see more of them now receiving the recognition they deserve as engineering once more captures the imagination of the public. It was very good – and entirely right – that Professor Dame Ann Dowling FREng, Professor Dame Wendy Hall FREng, Dame Sue Ion FREng and Dame Stephanie Shirley FREng featured in BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour Power List. I hope that their achievements will inspire more young women to pursue careers in engineering. The Academy has recently been working with the Science Museum and partners to celebrate a Century of Innovation. Members of the public have voted for the most Meetings and visitors important British innovation of the last hundred years that will have the greatest impact in the future. But the real point is to raise awareness of, and stimulate debate In his capacity as President, on, Britain’s incredible track record of innovation. Sir John Parker has met: HRH The Princess Royal Having visited many UK engineering-led companies and universities, I am heartened HRH The Duke of York by the high quality innovative engineering and advanced manufacturing that are Martin Koffel – Chairman and CEO of contributing valuable growth to the economy. To reinforce these links, the Academy URS Corporation has launched the Engineering for Growth campaign, which shows how engineering Sir John O’Reilly – Director General makes a major contribution to the wealth, health and wellbeing of society. Knowledge and Innovation Queen Elizabeth Prize Judges Engineering already makes up 28% of the UK economy and employs over Dr Jian Song – Chairman of the 5.4 million people. By 2020, we will need 1.28 million new science, engineering Chinese Academy of Engineering and technology professionals and technicians. Engagement with the next Governing Board generation of potential engineers is central to the Academy’s work. Sir Mark Walport – incoming Chief Scientific Adviser The Academy is a partner in The Big Bang Fair, run by EngineeringUK. This event is Will.i.am – recording artist, songwriter the UK’s largest celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths, attended and record producer by some 65,000 young people. As well as leading on a significant element of the Big Bang Fair's programme, the Academy ran an interactive exhibition, which this year He attended the following events took disaster recovery as its theme with the strapline: Engineers save lives. and meetings: Council for Science and Technology To support future progress, the Academy and its partners in the engineering Meeting with the Prime Minister profession need government to work across departments to provide inspiring curricula 1851 Royal Commission – Presidential for students. We are connecting with government to ensure that a programme is Dinner created to enrich and modernise the D&T curriculum and include substantial elements Foresight Future of Manufacturing of computer-aided design, advanced manufacturing methods and engineering High Level Stakeholder Group modern design techniques to encourage creativity and problem solving. Such skills Global Grand Challenges Summit are greatly desired by UK employers, especially in growth areas such as robotics and Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering – advanced materials, which the government has highlighted in its support of a new Prize Announcement industrial strategy. Regional Visit to the Health and Safety Laboratory and the University of Manchester He was interviewed by the following: Robert Lea – Industry Editor, The Times 2 President's column Global Grand Challenges Summit On 12 and 13 March 2013, the Academy brought together over 450 leading engineers, scientists, economists, educators, artists, designers and policy makers from across the globe for the inaugural Global Grand Challenges Summit in London. The summit, organised by the Academy in partnership with the national engineering academies of the US and China, sought to provide a new platform for the world’s leading thinkers to share their ideas with the next generation of engineers on how to develop the international frameworks, tools and collaborations needed to address our In his keynote speech on sustainability, common global challenges. economist Professor Jeffry Sachs said that the "juggernaut" of the global economy The stellar lineup of speakers at the and widespread political confusion meant summit included: Professor Dame Ann that humankind had now passed the Dowling FREng, Professor Jeffry Sachs, boundaries of what the planet could Bill Gates, Dean Kamen, Professor provide. Yet models based on continued Robert Mair CBE FREng, Dr Mike Lynch economic development, social inclusion OBE FREng, Professor John Loughhead and environmental sustainability could OBE FREng, Professor Calestous Juma provide “viable ways forward”. HonFREng, Professor Chris Wise RDI FREng, Professor Andy Hopper CBE On health, the Massachusetts Institute of FREng, Jo da Silva OBE FREng, Dr Regina Technology (MIT) Professor Robert Langer Dugan and Dr Paul Golby CBE FREng. FREng saw significant opportunities in the adoption of engineering materials Highlights from the first day included and methods within areas where previous a plenary address by Dr Craig Venter, innovation had been largely in the hands Founder of the J Craig Venter institute, of the medical profession.