ISSUE TWENTY SPRING 2014

Now 32 Pages In this issue... 5 ASSOCIATION NEWS & REVIEWS FEATURES 3 Presidents Report 11 Bioengineering is here to stay 4 The rise of the New CGCU Anthony Bull, Jenna Stevens-Smith 5 RSMU has another smashing year / Bottle match 12–13 RSMA Prize-winning essay: 6 CGCA Annual Dinner / Christmas Luncheon The Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill 7 CGCA AGM Notices Leo Robertson 7 CGCU Welcome Dinner for Freshers 14–17 The El Salvador Project 2013 8 RSMA Annual Dinner 18–20 Structural Monitoring in Tunnels 8 RSMA Peter Harding Medal using a Novel Wireless System 8 RSMA AGM Notice Simon Maddison 21–23 Revolution in Ocean Science Richard Jenkins FACULTY NEWS 9 New President for Imperial ALUMNI NEWS & VIEWS 9 Team turns waste into awards 24 Diary / West Coast USA / ICE Gold Medal 10 New catalytic converter reduces cost 25 44th Triodes reunion 10 SET for Britain 26 Decade reunion / Chem Eng 60 / Mining 61 10 Data Sciences Institute 27 Letter / BBOXX / Spider.io 27 Racing reunion / Engineers in fashion 28–31 Obituaries

Cover: HRH Prince Harry at the opening of the Royal British Legion Centre for Blast Injury Studies (CBIS) at Imperial. See page 11. 12 18 21 Photograph by Imperial College London

Imperial ENGINEER EDITORIAL BOARD CORRESPONDENCE and ENQUIRIES Peter Buck (Editor) Teresa Sergot David Bishop, Tim Cotton, Engineering Chapter Paul Holmes, Chris Lumb, Level 2, Faculty Building Bill McAuley (Emeritus Editor), Imperial College, London SW7 2AZ Colleen Shilstone Richardson, Tel: +44 (0) 20 7594 1184 Teresa Sergot Email: [email protected] Website: www.imperial.ac.uk/engineering/alumni/ PRODUCTION AND DESIGN Alison Buck CGCA website: www.cgca.org.uk RSMA website: www.union.ic.ac.uk/rsma/ PRINTING Bishops Printers, Portsmouth Short URLs at the end of news items indicate more details online. All the links in this issue can also be found in our IE20 bundle at: http://bit.ly/IE20links STORY IDEAS FOR THE NEXT ISSUE BY AUGUST 4 2014 FINAL COPY DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 15 2014

!e editorial board of Imperial ENGINEER reserves the right to edit copy for style and length. Imperial ENGINEER is printed on Forest Stewardship Council registered paper.

2 Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2014 It seems hard to believe but this will be the last occasion on which I shall be writing a Presidential Piece for Imperial ENGINEER; I hand over to my successor, Roger Venables, in the summer. Have I enjoyed being President of CGCA? – Immensely. Will I miss it? – Of course but other opportunities will take its place. Was it successful? – "at’s for you to judge. However, reflecting on the past (almost) 700 days, I do believe that the Association has increased its range of activities, has ensured that some established events for whom the present champion was stepping down will continue to be well looked-after, has tried (but not yet been particularly successful) to ensure that all its members pay the correct subscription and has revised aspects of its structure and method of working to better reflect current and future demands and opportunities. But my most important priority is, very much, a long term aspiration – and one that will, I trust, be continued by future presidents – to make it automatic that on graduation our students continue their membership of CGCA. Our most recent activity was the Annual Dinner, held at the Cutler’s Hall and, after last year’s David once in a lifetime One Hundredth, deliberately configured to be cosy and intimate. It certainly was, with a capacity attendance, an alumnus (Philip Dilley, chairman of Arup) as guest speaker and a response from Sir Keith O’Nions, attending his last CGCA dinner as the serving Rector Nethercot of Imperial. We also had a spread of previous experience of CGCA dinners from those attending their first event up to an attendance for at least the 70th time. I won’t make 70 but I will certainly be adding to my number as I move into being part of the history of the Association. "e previous issue of Imperial ENGINEER was the second to be produced under the charge of Peter and Alison Buck. Readers should have noticed the exceptional cover picture and the strong link with Imperial of all the features. Since many of you will have at least one interesting story to tell, don’t be shy about contacting our Editor with an offer to write. I might even contribute something myself. PRESIDENTS REPORT

It has been a busy few months since the last edition of the Imperial ENGINEER with the prime focus being on the renewed membership drive and funds appeal. In collaboration with the college alumni office approximately 5000 e-mails were sent requesting alumni to either join the RSMA, renew their membership if lapsed, or upgrade their membership, together with a funds appeal to all members. Around 60% of the letters were to potential new members. Issuing the letters in November was probably not the best time of year but the response was mildly encouraging with about 100 responses including 57 new members and many upgrading their membership to the annual subscription of £15. As a prime objective of the Association is to assist students where appropriate, all funds go to a deserving cause and the response of members is much appreciated. "e RSMA is also strengthening its activity through the social media outlets, with a significant presence on LinkedIn and Facebook and it is hoped that these outlets will also lead to an increase in membership. Elly Jay continues to John do an excellent job in upgrading the website and members are encouraged to send in news or items of interest to members (including births, marriages, obituaries etc.). Any regular events can be freely advertised on the website. Increased web traffic = increased RSMA chatter around the globe, which O’Reilly is an easy way to improve contact with former colleagues and alumni. In November a presentation was given, by committee members, to the RSM students on the history, aims and membership benefits of the RSMA and expectations were exceeded with about 80 students attending. It was an excellent opportunity to closely interface with the current generation of students and make them aware of what the RSMA stands for. "anks are due to Lorraine Craig, RSMU President Emily Pennington and secretary Jack Judd for their efforts in encouraging the student participation. "e annual dinner was held at the Rembrandt Hotel in Knightsbridge and a splendid evening was enjoyed by about 80 members, students and guests. Guest speaker was former double Olympian high jumper and past president of the RSMU, Geoff Parsons, who entertained the gathering with tales of his time at RSM coupled with an illustrious athletics career. "e Rembrandt proved an excellent alternative venue to the Polish Club which was under refurbishment. "is year the Association will celebrate its 130th anniversary dinner which will be held on Friday the 28 November again at the Rembrandt Hotel. As many members as possible are encouraged to attend. On the sporting front RSM had a successful trip to Camborne in February and given the horrendous weather and floods in the South West it was pleasing that the matches were able to proceed. "e Bottle was retained in a 6-6 draw in the Cornish mud; squash, men’s and ladies’ hockey were won (fortunately played on artificial surfaces) but unfortunately we went down in the football and netball. All in all a creditable performance and congratulations to all who participated and supported. "e 2014 Annual General Meeting will be held on "ursday 26 June at 58 Princes Gate and will be followed by the Final Year Bar-B-Q at the same address. All RSMA members are welcome to attend the AGM and to then interact with the students.

Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2014 3 NEWS & REVIEWS The Rise of the New CGCU: it’s all about Traditions, Old and New by CGCU President – Lejon Chua

The CGCU has undergone extensive restructuring over the past year, [MXL SYV VIJYVFMWLIH SJ½GI ERH website, reorganisation of positions, revised publicity methods, as well as the new vision of “Integrating Engineers”. Moreover, we have gone the extra mile to revive many ¾EKWLMT XVEHMXMSRW XLEX [IVI PSWX over the years, as well as introduce novel ones. The Meet the Union event was LIPH JSV XLI ½VWX XMQI EX >IXPERH Arms Pub to usher in the new academic year with our alumni association. Basking in a fresh new ambience, 30 esteemed Alumni and CGCU representatives relished the warm experience of engaging over good food and drink. The Welcome Dinner, which took a break last year, was brought back with record-breaking attendance of more than 280 and concluded with Xiaoliang a roaring Boomalaka. David (CGCA Lin President) and Chris (OC Trust The 2013-14 CGCU Committee at the CGCU Welcome Dinner (Café De Paris) Chairman) graced the occasion and spoke to introduce the Association and the Trust to all attendees. celebrate Advent with everyone provide engineering students with over lunchtime fun and games. Our Highlights of the night, nevertheless, ERHVEMWIXLITVS½PISJXLI'+'9 a glimpse into industry. We were vintage mascot, Boanerges, was also were virtuoso performances from further. Committee members very grateful to have David chair present, giving students free tours Vice-President Dominic and myself brought delight to the faces of many a panel with three distinguished in its inimitable style. The initiative that set the audience ablaze. by giving out Mince Pies along Dalby speakers, Amish (Consulting), Jill turned out to be an unprecedented We also resurrected the Mince Court. (Software) and Atula (Finance), success, sparking off greater Pies Party, which went missing from The autumn term ended with the who shared their wealth of insight interaction between students from the Guild’s calendar for 5 years, to CGCA Careers Evening, aiming to and experience from their relevant different departments. ½IPHW8LIIZIRMRKGEQIXSEGPSWI Indubitably, the legacy of the 2013- with a networking session over wine 14 CGCU committee will be, along and snacks. the lines of our new vision, a more The spring term could only united engineering community and commence on an even higher note; renewed C&G spirit within Imperial. our traditional CGCU bar night saw I would like to express my ERSZIV¾S[MRK9RMSR&EV8SXSTMX profound gratitude to the CGCA all off, we kick-started the inaugural and the OC Trust for their generous City & Guilds Week (2014) - a week support, without which this of exciting activities on Queen’s phenomenal year could not have Lawn to be held annually. The taken place. We are truly privileged event provided the rare opportunity and honoured to be associated with for more than 450 of our CGCU you and are keen to continue with members to let their hair down our successful partnership. Lomax

passerby

kind

/ /Duncan

Chua Chua

Lejon Lejon CGCU Vice-President Dominic and President Lejon Members of the CGCU committee bouncing on Space-Hoppers with Boanerges during the C&G Week during the Inaugural C&G Week

4 Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2014 NEWS & REVIEWS RSMU has another smashing year By RSMU President – Emily Pennington The 2013-2014 year has been good Bottle Match this year was hosted very popular dinners. Spring dinner, new committee; I have the greatest for the Royal School of Mines! First by Camborne so a few coachloads of which was introduced last year, faith that the incoming committee term saw a brilliant batch of freshers RSMU travelled down to Cornwall showed ongoing popularity with a can keep the Royal School of Mines arrive and the immensely popular to take part in and support at the high attendance of 150 undergrads, at the high standard of conduct and RSMU events run as smoothly as Bottle Match Weekend. Of the Sports staff, postgrads and alumni. Many popularity that has been shown for usual with great turnouts to every played, RSM won: Squash, Women’s awards were given on the evening many years past. occasion. Christmas Dinner at Hockey, Men’s Hockey; Lost: Football, alongside the announcement of the the Royal Overseas League was Basketball, Netball; and managed to well attended and the number of retain the bottle with a try-less draw staff and postgraduates present in the Rugby. A grand weekend was GSR½VQIH XLEX XLI [SVO SJ XLI had by all, despite the bitter rivalry previous committees to get a varied between RSM and CSM; friendly attendance at RSMU events has social interactions took place in paid off. The RSMA dinner saw a the Stannary afterwards (see Jack’s change in venue to the Rembrandt, match report below). South Kensington and really was More recently have been the a wonderful evening enjoyed by a Materials Alumni Dinner and RSMU number of students and alumni. Spring Dinner; both of which were 4th Year students at the RSMU Spring Dinner. The 112th Bottle Match by RSMU Hon. Sec. – Jack Judd This year’s Bottle Match, the 112th The Football team got underway We travelled to Penryn Rugby since its conception, was an away at a revised time of 10.30am, seeing 'PYF JSV XLI ½REP WLS[HS[R [MXL affair, battled out in Cornwall’s a much larger crowd than they’d all but the players looking somewhat ¾SSHIH HITXLW %JXIV RIKSXMEXMSRW experienced in recent years. This worse for wear (and one or 2 with staff a departure time was year’s squad are currently top of their having already fallen by the wayside). settled, and at 1pm on Friday 21st local league and were expecting an Despite amiable conditions that February 150 excitable students upset against the recently dominant afternoon, the adverse weather began their arduous trek to 'EQFSVRI SYX½X,S[IZIVHIWTMXI in recent days/weeks/months had Newquay. Despite a questionable a number of shots and headers on taken its toll and the pitch was heavy route through central Bristol at goal, as well as a graze across the and sticky, making hard work for the rush hour, and some even more [SSH[SVO 671 GSYPHR´X ½RH XLI players. In the end, the relatively UYIWXMSREFPI MRGSEGL ½PQ GLSMGIW back of the net. The CSM boys were inexperienced RSM team, with many we made good time, arriving at the more fruitful, scoring 3 goals, though representatives from the MSc cohort campsite before 9pm. all agreed the score-line did not (and one Chilean international), After wrestling with the caravans’ VI¾IGXXLIQEXGL battled well to hold the Camborne

miniature cooking appliances, the Men’s Hockey, not to be outdone Miners to a 6-6 draw. This resulted Simon Bräu athletes among us hit the hay, with by the female counterparts, chalked in a dead tie for the weekend overall. The night ended in traditional the sensible supporters following up a strong 3-0 victory, making it the Thanks to a strong win at home in WX]PI[MXLEPGSLSPERHEHERGI¾SSV soon after. At 7am the coaches to ½VWXXMQI XLEX[IORS[SJ [LIVI 2013, the RSM were the current takeover at the Sailor’s Arms in Camborne got underway, delivering the RSM has won both Hockey holders of the Bottle, and so retain Newquay, followed by a sleepy taxi the hockey players and footballers matches. the Bottle this year. ride home to the caravan site. On ½VWXJSPPS[IHF]XLIWYTTSVXIVW Before leaving for the Rugby Club Following the suspense of the Sunday a brutal 8am wake-up call 8LI ½VWX ½\XYVI SJ XLI HE] [EW the two Mining Schools squared off sport we all headed to the Rugby found us all accounted for, except Ladies’ Hockey, in which the girls on the netball and basketball courts. Club Bar for a jar or two, pending the one hockey player who had been fell behind early. Soon they were With an RSM victory in Squash (3-2) opening of the Camborne Student waylaid at the Camborne Union by 2-0 down, but undeterred. After ERH E ¾SSHMRKVIPEXIH GERGIPPEXMSR Union. At 6.30pm, we made our an attractive young lady, and upon an encouraged comeback the RSM in Golf, the RSM were leading 3 way over for a dinner of curry, rice, his return we departed for London. drew level, and then surpassed matches to 1 overall. Unfortunately and poppadoms. Basic as the meal After a rare weekend, the RSM their opponents, eventually claiming the pressure was too great, and both was, it was nice of the Camborne managed to bring the Bottle home an historic 3-2 win in what has sides fell to their opponents, leaving committee to heed our request not once more, to sit behind the Union GSRWMWXIRXP]FIIREXSYKL½\XYVIMR the weekend at a tie in the run up to serve pasties, which have haunted Bar for another year. recent years. to the Rugby. us since 2012. Simon Bräu Simon Bräu The victorious Hockey teams

Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2014 5 NEWS & REVIEWS CGCA Annual dinner CGCA Christmas Luncheon and Lecture 2013 As is customary, CGCA held its Arup – started in 1946 by Sir Ove annual dinner on Friday March Arup – had been conceived very 14th in a livery hall in the city of much as a philanthropic rather than London. As in 2012, the venue was an outright commercial organisation. Cutlers’ Hall. Our livery halls are To this day the company’s primary astonishing tributes to the heritage WLEVILSPHIVW EVI XVYWXW MXW TVS½XW SJ ½RI GVEJXWQIR ERH [SQIR are shared amongst past and present and Cutlers’ Hall is no exception. IQTPS]IIWERHMXHMVIGXWEWMKRM½GERX Although there was a lot of cutlery proportion of its efforts towards on the tables, most of the impressive projects which seek to help and ornamentation on the walls was a WYTTSVX VEXLIV XLER TVS½X JVSQ mixture of fearsome swords from those who use its services. HE]W SJ ]SVI ERH WLMIPHW ¾EKW ERH The other principal guest was the banners. We were fortunate to be in President and Rector of Imperial such surroundings. College, Sir Keith O’Nions. In This year’s dinner followed the what is his last year in post before much larger 100th annual dinner of handing over to James Stirling as Lumb 2013, which was held at the Mansion Provost and Alice Gast as President,

House. Despite the tremendous Sir Keith replied to Mr Dilley’s Chris support of so many alumni last year, address to thank him on behalf of when some 320 people turned out the association and guests. We were 'PSWI SR ½JX] KYIWXW EXXIRHIH XLI stating that global companies can in their black tie and decorations, honoured to have Sir Keith with annual CGCA Christmas Luncheon invest their funds anywhere in the there was still a very respectable us again, and many commented on and Lecture, which was held at 170 world and, as London is the one of attendance of 100 people at this how successfully he has steered the Queens Gate on 12 December 2013. the most expensive places to carry year’s event. College since 2009. We wish him After a cordial sherry reception, the out research, in order to compete The honoured guests were led by well. CGCA President, David Nethercot, for such funds on merit and not on Mr Philip Dilley, chairman of Arup, the I must mention two other opened proceedings with a warm price, Imperial needs its research PEVKI ½VQ SJ GSRWYPXMRK IRKMRIIVW customs of the annual dinner. welcome to members and their capabilities to stay world-class and Somewhat as a complement to last Firstly, two students receive awards guests, in which he light-heartedly it needs to move towards becoming year’s address by Sir John Parker of each year from the Association’s informed the guests that the two a more agile, globally-networked the Royal Academy of Engineering charitable arm the OC Trust. This principal activities of the association and transnational university. A lively on the importance of engineering year Miss Victoria Solly was named were “nostalgia and conviviality” question and answer session then to the world at large, the CGCA sportsman (sports-person?) of the and that the luncheon was an ideal ensued, mostly around this last president David Nethercot had year, whilst Mr Mateusz Marcin opportunity to partake in both. point. asked Mr Dilley to address us Gocek was recognised for achieving He then introduced the lecturer all on the more altruistic side of XLI LSRSYVIH TSWMXMSR SJ SJ½GMEP Edward Astle, who had been Imperial engineering. Given his career at Bo driver. Both students received a College’s Pro-Rector (Enterprise) Arup he was well-placed to do this, cheque and an engraved tankard, and until July 2013. as many of those present heard how from what I could tell from talking Mr Astle, in an engaging and to them afterwards were suitably informative talk titled “University / awestruck by the whole experience. Business Interaction: Challenges and Also, I cannot fail to mention the Opportunities”, gave a fascinating exceptional job done by this year’s insight into how and why industry CGCU president, Mr Lejon Chua, invests in university research and in leading the assembled alumni in a how Imperial College is placed to Boomalaka. It is always best attacked FIRI½X JVSQ XLSWI MRZIWXQIRXW with courage, gusto and complete 1V%WXPI½VWXWIXXLIGSRXI\X[MXL abandon, and in this respect Lejon some remarkable statistics, amongst Lumb goes down in my memory as one of which were: industries invest about

the best! £16bn per annum in university Chris David thanks Edward Astle All in all, what with the marvellous research worldwide, less than half surroundings, excellent speeches, of that is from the US and Europe; delicious food and excellent wine of UK universities, Imperial College The President then thanked and port – as usual from the attracts the second highest such Edward Astle for giving the lecture Association’s own cellar – the dinner investment (the highest, if clinical and Teresa Sergot for organising the [EWE½RII\EQTPISJSYVXVEHMXMSR trials are excluded); if Imperial event, and invited the assembled Lam ERH[IGERPSSOJSV[EVHGSR½HIRXP] College were a university in the US, members, students and their guests to many more of the same in years it would be one of the ten highest to enjoy a very good traditional,

Gordon to come. recipients of research funding from three-course, Christmas luncheon. Philip Dilley addressed us Peter Chase industry; Imperial’s research funding As usual, despite the attendance of from the private sector is two to a handful of students, the average three times more than that from age of guests was noticeably on the the funding councils. Next, Mr Astle older side: the welcome presence explained some of the criteria that of Rogers Knight (City and Guilds industries apply to universities in College, ‘34 - ‘38) just six days after choosing which to partner with. his 98th birthday increasing it only Amongst them were: excellence slightly. Perhaps we should encourage in research; interdepartmental co- younger members and students operation; the willingness and ability to attend next year. They would to collaborate long-term with other WYVIP]LEZIFIRI½XIHJVSQWYGLER university and industry researchers; absorbing lecture and enjoyed the Lam and, perhaps most pertinently for conviviality if not the nostalgia at the CGCA, alumni relationships. Mr dining tables. Gordon %WXPI XLIR ½RMWLIH LMW PIGXYVI F] Charles Parry CGCU and CGCA executive with Spanner and Bolt

6 Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2014 NEWS & REVIEWS CGCA AGM / President’s Evening CGCU creates its own High Society One of the delights of occupying delights that lay in store for them The 2014 Annual General Meeting of The venue for the AGM and talk a position such as the CGCA and professional-standard music the City & Guilds College Association is the Pippard Theatre, Level 5, in the Presidency is that it provides from some of the students. With a will take place on Wednesday, 4th 7LIV½IPH &YMPHMRK-QTIVMEP 'SPPIKI opportunities to be surprised. The June, starting at 17:30. This year sees South Kensington. Refreshments evening of Tuesday 18th October Professor Nethercot, our president will available on the landing outside of last year was one such occasion. since 2012 stand down and Roger the Theatre from 17:00. It is free to Having pushed my way through Venables will take the reins for attend the AGM and Roger’s talk. the crowds in Leicester Square the next two years. The AGM will As is traditional there will be a hot – assembled I was later informed include the presentation of a revised supper following the AGM, served in because of the premiere of one constitution for the Association. the Senior Common Room on Level SJ XLSWI ½PQW XLEX TISTPI SJ Q] After the AGM Roger will give SJXLI7LIV½IPH&YMPHMRK%PPHIXEMPW generation know nothing about – I a talk titled “Sustainability and and supper ticket prices are included was greeted at the entrance to the Infrastructure: crucial connections in a booking sheet packaged with this Cafe de Paris by an intimidating line and challenging contradictions” issue of Imperial Engineer. Please of large ‘security’. Noting my grey which will look at challenges make sure you book your place at hairs and laboured gait they invited faced by various engineering the AGM and supper by 19th May. me to bypass the waiting queue disciplines involved in delivering the so that I could join the guests at infrastructure demanded by modern the CGCU Welcome Dinner for society. Freshers. What a surprise! Inside were males in dinner jackets and Revised CGCA Constitution, 2014 David Nethercot – CGCA At the 2013 AGM a proposal to never been covered within our smart suits and females who looked amend the City & Guilds College constitution is the Data Protection as if they should have been at the Association Constitution to %GX ERH E HI½RMXMSR SJ [LEX HEXE EHNEGIRX ½PQ TVIQMIVI ¯ ZIV] sellout attendance of over 250 and VI¾IGX E QSZI XS (ITEVXQIRXEP we need to hold about members, different from the universal grunge an obvious buzz of enjoyment, this Representatives was carried what it is used for and who has favoured by today’s students. For this was a wonderful evening. Of course, unanimously, and further the EGGIWW XS MX% HI½RMXMSR SJ XLSWI the three representatives from QIIXMRK KEZI XLI XEWO SJ ½REPMWMRK responsibilities was also added and OC Trust, College and CGCA had the wording of the document at the General Committee meeting the foresight to plead the need to into the care of the General on 10th December the wording of travel home as the reason for leaving Committee. That work started in the new constitution was reviewed NYWX EW XLI ¾SSV [EW FIMRK GPIEVIH the autumn of 2013. In addition to and approved. – presumably for the dancing and the Departmental Representatives A new constitution document more boisterous aspects of the the General Committee took the has now been prepared and will evening – so we will never know opportunity to update other parts of be presented for approval at the how the event concluded. But I XLI 'SRWXMXYXMSR XS VI¾IGX GYVVIRX AGM on 4th June 2014. Copies of practice, for example that presidents the document will be distributed now serve a two year term. electronically before that meeting. Another major area that has

Chris Lumb – the OC Trust

was an event organised by CGCU especially to make newly-arrived Engineering students, many of whom were experiencing London for Jad Habib and Lejon Chua XLI ½VWX XMQIJIIP TEVX SJ -QTIVMEP – CGCU And how well they succeeded. Just have no doubts that it continued to the right opening from the CGCU be highly successful, brought great president Lejon, animated and credit to those who organised it and convivial conversation at the dinner deserves to be a regular feature in XEFPIWERSTTSVXYRMX]XSLIEVFVMI¾] the Imperial student calendar. Well from OC Trust, the College and done. CGCA about the opportunities and David Nethercot Yang

Yuebi

and

Xiaoliang

Lin

by

photographs

Dinner

Welcome

Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2014 7 NEWS & REVIEWS RSMA Annual Dinner Notice of the RSMA Annual General Meeting This year the annual dinner was president of RSMU regaled us with and Final Year BBQ. held at the Rembrandt Hotel in tales of his time at college, as well Thursday, 26th June 2014 Knightsbridge. About 80 members, as his career as a double Olympian students and guests had an enjoyable high jumper. The Annual General Meeting of the just completed their academic evening. Geoff Parsons, past Royal School of Mines Association studies. The BBQ will be held in will take place on Thursday, 26th the Garden Room and Terrace at June 2014, starting at 18:30 in the 58 Prince’s Gate. College Room, Level 5, 58 Prince’s We look forward to welcoming Gate / Prince’s Gardens, London. as many RSMA alumni as possible The meeting will include the to the AGM and joining in with IPIGXMSRSJSJ½GIVWJSVXLI XLIGIPIFVEXMSRWJSVXLI½REP]IEV 2015 academic year. students and welcoming them Following the AGM, at 19:00 our into the association. Please see President, John O’Reilly will host a XLI IRGPSWIH ¾]IV SV GSRXEGX

Conner BBQ for alumni and the Final Year Teresa Sergot for more details and

students of the RSM who will have bookings. Sean

Peter Harding Memorial Medal Photographs: Brian Wallace, Geoff Parsons, Mike Nott, John O’Reilly, John The recipient of the peers and has Horsburgh, Bill Hooley, (front) Arthur Smith, Pete Hoddinott 2013 Peter Harding proven an ideal Memorial Medal forum for social was Harry Burgess, and business and was awarded interaction. He for services to the was at one time an RSMA in Toronto. Overseas Council Harry read Member for the Mechanical old Institution Engineering in of Mining & City & Guilds from 1963 to 1966, Metallurgy. Anyone from RSM he then saw the light and took visiting Toronto is always welcomed the conversion course to Mining by Harry, and in his semi-retirement Engineering at the RSM from 1966 he is now able to participate for to 1968. After 12 years in Africa, on longer at the lunches!! XLI>EQFMER'STTIVFIPXERH7SYXL He could not attend the annual Africa, he migrated to Toronto in dinner in November to receive his Past RSMA presidents Coen Louwarts (L) and Kurt Budge (R) 1980. He soon thereafter started the award as he was preparing to head “last Friday of the Month” RSM lunch XS WYRRMIV GPMQIW MR 2I[ >IEPERH which later changed to encompass all to escape the Canadian winter, but IC alumni and is now so famous that sent a thank you note, accepting the it embraces much of the Toronto honour, which was read at the dinner. mining community, but is still known Coincidentally the RSMA President by all as the RSM lunch, and 33 years spent Christmas and New Year with on is still organised by Harry. It him in Wanaka, and presented him provides an excellent opportunity the medal before heading out to play for mines persons visiting Toronto KSPJMRXLI2I[>IEPERHWYRWLMRI to catch up with alumni and industry

“Material Old Boys” Elly Jay and Simon Pike behind (R) and Douglas McIlwraith (on left with moustache), with geology undergraduates

Presidents John O’Reilly (RSMA) and Emily Pennington (RSMU)

8 Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2014 NEWS DEVELOPMENTS AROUND THE ENGINEERING FACULTY Professor Alice Gast to become sixteenth head Awards for process to turn waste into plastic ERH½VWX[SQERXSPIEH-QTIVMEP A cross-disciplinary team of Imperial one day be used to deal with the students have been recognised for global challenge of how to dispose their project, which uses harmless of ever increasing levels of waste,” IRKMRIIVIH FEGXIVME XS XYVR PERH½PP added team member Margarita waste into a biodegradable plastic Kopniczky. “Perhaps in the future or bio-plastic. The team say the bio- we will have household appliances plastic could be used in healthcare that contain engineered bacteria to make syringes and other that turn domestic waste into new disposable devices used in hospitals. 3D printed bioplastic objects such They have also developed a method as a plastic container to store the for breaking down the bio-plastic leftovers from a meal.” so that it can be easily disposed of Since the competition began in when it is no longer needed. 2003, Imperial has entered a team The students won their awards nearly every year in the iGEM at the International Genetically competition. Each year, successive Professor Alice P. Gast will succeed Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory. Engineered Machine (iGEM) Imperial teams have reached the Sir Keith O’Nions as President of She has been a US Science Envoy competition, winning a gold medal ½REPWM\ Imperial from September 2014. to Central Asia and is currently a JSV XLI TVSNIGXGSQMRK ½VWX MR XLI Professor Richard Kitney, Co- Professor Gast is currently Board Director of the Chevron manufacturing section and third Director of the Centre for Synthetic President of Lehigh University Corporation and Trustee of King overall out of total of 200 teams Biology and Innovation at Imperial and former Vice President for Abdullah University of Science and worldwide. and team mentor, said: “Coming Research and Associate Provost Technology in Saudi Arabia. The iGEM competition sees third overall in the world is a great at the Massachusetts Institute of Responding to her appointment university teams experimenting achievement for our team and we Technology. Professor Gast said: in their labs over the summer, would like to thank our colleagues As President, Professor Gast will “I have always been excited competing to develop microscopic for supporting the iGEM team and lead the College’s strategy, including by what goes on at Imperial, one devices that can be used to help in particular the team’s advisor Dr the development of its new 25 acre SJ XLI [SVPH´W KVIEXIWX WGMIRXM½G the environment, advance health Richard Kelwick. One of the reasons campus, Imperial West, and its links to universities. With its unique focus on and medicine, improve IT and make why our teams do so well each year government, industry, philanthropists science, engineering, medicine and food and energy production more is that students take full ownership and alumni. Her appointment business, and its integrated mission sustainable. The teams make their of their project, which is important concludes an international search to teach, research and translate devices from harmless bacteria and for their development.” for Imperial’s new President and MXW [SVO JSV XLI FIRI½X SJ WSGMIX] cells such as yeast, re-engineering The team consists of Jemma completes the appointments within Imperial has a great leadership role their DNA to perform pre- Pilcher, 3rd year undergraduate in a new leadership model announced in the world. I am therefore deeply determined functions. Biochemistry; Margarita Kopniczky, by the Chairman of its Council, honoured by this opportunity to Teams from universities all 3rd year Biology; Iain Bower 4th year Baroness Manningham-Buller, in serve as its President. over the world descended earlier Biology with Management; Wenqiang April 2012. “I look forward to getting to this month on the Massachusetts Chi, 4th year undergraduate in An internationally renowned know its whole community of Institute of Technology in the USA, Biomedical engineering; James Strutt, WGLSPEV MR XLI ½IPH SJ GLIQMGEP staff, students, alumni, friends and presenting their inventions at the MSc in Stem Cells; Matthew Chin engineering and a leader in higher supporters, and to helping Imperial annual iGEM competition. The MSc in Biomedical Engineering and education, Professor Gast has served to grow and to continue to push the projects were judged by a panel of Sisi Fan, MSc in Bioinformatics. as President of Lehigh University in boundaries of learning, discovery and leading scientists and engineers. The students learn both Pennsylvania since 2006. innovation over the coming years. The Imperial team re-engineered WGMIRXM½GEPP] ERH TIVWSREPP] HYVMRK At Lehigh she has focused on “Sir Keith leaves a wonderful the genetic code of harmless E.coli the competition. This includes the quality of undergraduate and legacy and Imperial and the global bacteria so that they can break developing a research project from postgraduate education and their science community are much HS[RPERH½PP[EWXIERHXYVRMXMRXS scratch and getting to experience integration with research. She has stronger thanks to his leadership. bio-plastic. Current methods for the realities, rigour and challenges led a campus-wide strategic planning Imperial’s future looks very bright, making bio-plastics rely on plants as of carrying out laboratory research. and implementation process, and I am honoured by the invitation the main ingredient, but this means They also learn to work as a team, and launched major initiatives in to help shape it.” valuable agricultural land has to be communicating their ideas to sustainability, inquiry-based learning, Professor Gast, 55, was born in used to grow the plants. The team external parties and presenting their neighbourhood revitalisation and Texas and earned her bachelor’s say their process could be scaled work formally. This year the team campus master planning. Professor degree in Chemical Engineering up to industrial levels and that using presented their work to nearly one Gast has overseen a 47% increase from the University of Southern waste material instead of plants thousand colleagues. in the size of Lehigh’s campus California (1980) where she was could free up agricultural land so that Professor Paul Freemont, Centre estate, expanded the university’s class valedictorian, before completing it can be used more productively for Co-Director and team mentor, international presence, concluded its a master’s degree (1981) and Ph.D. agriculture. said: “Professor Kitney and I get $500 million fundraising campaign, (1984) in Chemical Engineering from Imperial team member Jemma enormous satisfaction in seeing a and helped to raise an additional Princeton University. Pilcher said: “In the future, our system group of young colleagues develop $225 million during her tenure. Professor Gast is married to could provide a sustainable way to their professional skills over the Before Lehigh University, Bradley J. Askins, a computer make an environmentally friendly summer. It never ceases to amaze Professor Gast was Vice President consultant, and they have two alternative to petroleum-based me how creative our teams can be for Research and Associate Provost children. As President of Imperial, plastics, which would reduce our in tackling major global problems at the Massachusetts Institute of Professor Gast will live on campus dependency on oil. Additionally, this and how extraordinarily determined Technology and held the Robert T. at the residence above 170 Queen’s system would divert rubbish away they are in being successful. Already Haslam chair in chemical engineering. Gate, South Kensington, an historic JVSQ PERH½PP WMXIW ERH MRGMRIVEXSVW this project has received a lot of She was previously at Stanford building that is used by the College which have very negative effects on attention from the waste industry, University from 1985 to 2001 as a JSVEVERKISJSJ½GMEPGIVIQSRMEPERH the environment by releasing toxins, which may lead to potential research professor of chemical engineering meeting functions. and instead use it as a resource.” collaborations in the future.” ERH EW EJ½PMEXIH JEGYPX] EX 7XERJSVH http://bit.ly/IE20President “Technologies such as ours could http://bit.ly/IE20IGEM

Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2014 9 NEWS DEVELOPMENTS AROUND THE ENGINEERING FACULTY New catalytic converter could cut fuel Data Sciences Institute opens consumption and car manufacturing costs A new catalytic converter that could potentially help manufacturers In the last two years the world researchers with cutting-edge could cut fuel consumption and to reduce their costs. Drivers could has produced more data than in facilities to build the next generation manufacturing costs has been EPWS FI E QENSV FIRI½GMEV] SJ XLMW all of human history. Developing of big data applications. These designed by an Imperial engineer. device, which could save on fuel insights from better analysis of partnerships build on the College’s Tests suggest that the new design costs and ultimately lead to reduced this information will enable us to long-standing collaborations in data could reduce fuel consumption in CO2 emissions.” improve our predictions of diseases science with companies such as IBM a standard vehicle by up to three A conventional catalytic in people, stimulate innovation, and Thomson Reuters. per cent. It could also deliver converter is a ceramic block, which unleash waves of productivity and Professor David Gann, Vice President IRZMVSRQIRXEP FIRI½XW F] VIHYGMRK is honeycombed with microscopic create new consumer services. (Development and Innovation), says: the amount of CO2 that each vehicle channels that are coated in a rare The Data Science Institute (DSI) at “Data is the lifeblood of the twenty emits. metal such as platinum. Emissions Imperial aims to capitalise on this ½VWX GIRXYV] 1IHMGEP MRRSZEXMSR Catalytic converters are travel from the engine to the exhaust data revolution, by underpinning disease prevention, climate change expensive to manufacture because system and through the channels, multi-disciplinary collaborations VIWIEVGL XLI EREP]WMW SJ ½RERGMEP they use precious metals such as where the precious metal causes between the College’s academic markets and consumer behaviour, and platinum to eliminate emissions. a chemical reaction to occur that experts and research partners in the development of cities capable of These metals currently account for eliminates the harmful pollutants. EVIEW WYGL EW LIEPXLGEVI ½RERGMEP accommodating population growth, up to 60 to 70 per cent of the cost The researchers have advanced services, climate science, and all require us to gain insights from of the component. The new design an existing manufacturing process city infrastructure to create new large, complex data sets. Imperial’s uses up to 80 per cent less rare to improve the structure of the solutions to complex problems. Data Science Institute will act as an metal, a development that could microscopic channels, increasing the The DSI will also foster the next international hub within Imperial WMKRM½GERXP]VIHYGIGSWXWJSVZILMGPI surface area and enabling the rare generation of data scientists and West, the College’s innovation and manufacturers. metal in the device to be distributed engineers by developing a range of translation campus, providing an The prototype is also predicted more effectively so that less metal postgraduate and executive courses. important location for researchers to perform better than existing is used. The increased surface area Sir Keith O’Nions, President and industry to collaborate together models because the rare metal also makes the catalytic converter’s & Rector of Imperial College MRXLMW½IPH² degrades less over the lifetime of chemical reaction process more London, says: “Imperial is uniquely Professor Yike Guo, Director of the component. Laboratory tests IJ½GMIRX placed to play a leading role in the DSI at Imperial, said: “From the suggest that it deteriorates by only The new design of the device data science. Our critical mass development of large data sensor four per cent over a distance of MRGVIEWIW JYIP IJ½GMIRG] FIGEYWI MX SJ WGMIRXM½G QIHMGEP IRKMRIIVMRK networks to mitigate the effects 100,000 kilometres, compared to prevents ‘back pressure’, which is and business expertise puts us in SJ ¾SSHMRK MR XLI 9/ XS YWMRK 35 per cent for a standard catalytic a build up of gases that can make a strong position to harness the information collected from satellites converter. the engine work harder, affecting its power of the data generated by to understand how changes in the The prototype device was performance. SYV VIWIEVGL ;I EVI HI½RIH F] Sun may affect our climate, there developed by Dr Benjamin Kingsbury, Dr Kingsbury has been awarded multi-disciplinary collaboration is already a wealth of research, 4VSJIWWSV/ERK0MERH(V>LIRXES funding from the Royal Academy of ERHXLIPEVKIWGEPISJSYVWGMIRXM½G which the Data Science Institute is Wu who are all from the Department Engineering to take his prototype to and engineering collaborations at seeking to harness. The Data Science of Chemical Engineering. the marketplace. Dr Kingsbury and home and internationally. Industrial Institute will extend our ability to Dr Kingsbury says: “Catalytic his partners worked with Imperial partnership is a key component EHHVIWW XLI JVSRXMIVW SJ WGMIRXM½G converters are the most important Innovations to establish an Imperial of our work to apply the fruits of research in the big data era. This component in a vehicle for start-up company in December XLMWVIWIEVGLJSVXLIFIRI½XSJSYV launch is an invitation to industry controlling exhaust emissions. 2013 to market the prototype society and economy. I would like and academia to let you know that Yet their design has not changed device. A key next step is to develop to thank all the corporate partners the Data Science Institute is open WMRGI XLI] [IVI ½VWX HIZIPSTIH a production process for mass who are helping to make our vision for business. We are looking forward in the 1940s. The prototype I have manufacturing. a reality.” to working with all of you to put developed could make cars cheaper http://bit.ly/IE20Cat The DSI is developing a range data at the core of research and to run because they use less fuel. It of industrial collaborations. For innovation with the aim of building example, Imperial and Huawei signed a healthy and sustainable modern an agreement last year to develop a world.” Imperial engineer impresses politicians at data science lab to bring together http://bit.ly/IE20DSI House of Commons research showcase Imperial researcher Dr Claire Exhibitors were shortlisted award, particularly when the calibre XLI 4EVPMEQIRXEV] ERH 7GMIRXM½G Donoghue was awarded a silver from hundreds of applicants, and of other entrants was so high, and Committee, said: “This annual medal at the national SET for Britain [IVI IRXIVIH MRXS ½ZI GEXIKSVMIW I really enjoyed getting a chance competition is an important date in competition held at Parliament this Engineering; Biological and to discuss my research with MPs. the parliamentary calendar because week. Biomedical Sciences; Chemistry; The event highlighted some of the it gives MPs an opportunity to speak The event, hosted annually by Physics; and Mathematics. exciting research taking place across to a wide range of the country’s the House of Commons, aims to Dr Donoghue, a postdoctoral UK universities and it was great to best young researchers. These early- promote Britain’s early-career researcher in the Department of be a part of this” career engineers, mathematicians researchers and give them the Bioengineering, was awarded the Anthony Lim, a PhD student from and scientists are the architects of chance to discuss their work with silver medal in the Engineering the Department of Physics who also our future and SET for Britain is Members of Parliament. category for her work in designing exhibited his work at the event, politicians’ best opportunity to meet Over 200 researchers, including software that can interpret MRI said: “Increasing and improving them and understand their work.” twelve from Imperial, exhibited scans without human assistance and communication between scientists Other Imperial researchers their work at the competition, with predict osteoarthritis - potentially and MPs is really important, as often presented work at SET for Britain prizes being awarded on the basis allowing for earlier treatment of the both sides lack an understanding from Chemistry, Materials, Electrical of outstanding research coupled disease. of the work and pressures of the and Electronic Engineering, Civil with the ability to effectively Speaking of her success, Dr Claire other. SET for Britain gave us an and Environmental Engineering, communicate their work to those Donoghue said: “I am thrilled to opportunity to bridge this gap.” Mathematics and Physics. [MXLSYXEWGMIRXM½GFEGOKVSYRH have been chosen to receive this Andrew Miller MP, Chairman of http://bit.ly/IE20SET

10 Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2014 FEATURES Bioengineering is here to stay In this second article on Bioengineering at Imperial, Prof. Anthony Bull and Dr Jenna Stevens-Smith JSPPS[XLIPEWXMWWYI´WHIWGVMTXMSRSJXLITEWX½JX]]IEVWSJFMSIRKMRIIVMRK[MXLEPSSOEXXLIRI\X½JX]

"e last article described the history of the past (HO), which is the process by which bone landmines. "is is a reminder that although fifty years of bioengineering, placing it into tissue forms outside of the skeleton, to testing there is an emphasis of CBIS on military context, alongside the Imperial definition of prescription boots and blast mats for their blast, the research and subsequent findings are the three pillars of bioengineering: biomedical ability to mitigate the blast transferred to applicable to civilian scenarios such as impact engineering, biological engineering and the soldier in an armoured vehicle. A recent injuries sustained through car accidents, plane biomimetics (biologically-inspired design). development is the extension of the work into crashes and other major trauma incidents "is article focuses on the next fifty years, blast injury rehabilitation in collaboration including terrorist actions. "e World highlighting a few key areas of development in with Headley Court, the Defence Medical Health Organisation state that 15,000- bioengineering at Imperial. Rehabilitation Unit. 20,000 civilians are killed through landmine "e Department has five main research "e Centre’s work is a very real application explosions each year and each month there are themes covering the breadth of the discipline of bioengineering to a topical issue and has 1,000 explosions across the world. and, as befits possibly the largest such already had quantifiable societal impact Another expanding field of research in department in the world, is able to go into through influencing standards for vehicle the Department is neurotechnology. "e depth in most of these. In addition to the testing, surgical training and medical care. Department has strength in the diversity of research themes, the Department also leads As such, this high profile work has attracted its research in this area, from Dr Aldo Faisal’s on some major research centres that address public interest from HRH Prince Harry, who eye movement work, Professor Etienne current biomedical challenges. "ese centres officially opened the Centre’s new laboratories Burdet’s rehabilitative devices and Dr Simon work across engineering, medicine and on 17th October 2013, and Anna Soubry MP, Schultz’ research on “reverse engineering” the natural sciences and examples include Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and the information processing architecture of the Centre for Neurotechnology, Medical Veterans. the brain to investigate the basic principles Engineering Solutions in Osteoarthritis, and of information-processing in cortical circuits. Synthetic Biology. "ere is set to be further development of "e most recent addition to this list is the this area of human-machine interfaces as our Royal British Legion Centre for Blast Injury knowledge of the neuronal system develops Studies at Imperial College London (CBIS), alongside advances in technology. Some of whose mission is to progress understanding of the research into biomimetics falls under the blast injury through research and education, neurotechnology banner, with Dr Holger in order to improve clinical treatment and Krapp researching the neuronal system of flies. rehabilitation and influence strategies such Investment by the government and industry as equipment design. It is a unique centre in in the £10M Centre for Doctoral Training in that the collaboration of engineers, biologists, Neurotechnology for Life and Health led by physicists and medics is not only embedded Dr Simon Schultz illustrates the recognition of in the civilian research world, but also serves the importance of this area to funders. as a research centre directly supported by What is clear from all of these expanding the military. "e clinical lead for the Centre areas is that bioengineering has arrived and is is the Defence Professor of Trauma and here to stay. It’s recognised in four of the eight Orthopaedics, Colonel Jon Clasper, and there is great technologies proposed by Rt Hon David currently a handful of military medical officers Willetts MP in 2013, which include Big Data

conducting full-time research on the South London Revolution and Energy-Efficient Computing,

Kensington Campus. Led by the Department Robotics and Autonomous Systems, Where

of Bioengineering, CBIS looks at the effect of College, Dry Meets Wet – Life Sciences, Genomics and blast injury from cellular through to whole Synthetic Biology and Regenerative Medicine.

organ and limb level, with research looking at Imperial All areas which have seen further investment a range of systems including: musculoskeletal, HRH Prince Harry opened the Centre from the current Government. lungs, head (traumatic brain injury), nerve, But we don’t have to hear from government testes, and hearing (noise-induced hearing "e Centre also works closely with charities to know that bioengineering is important. loss). Research in the Centre spans a broad such as Find a Better Way, founded by Sir Changing demographics, lifestyle and medical remit from understanding the mechanism that Bobby Charlton (who also attended the care as well as opportunities in the life sciences causes muscle cells to turn into bone cells in official opening), which is a charity that helps mean that bioengineering is set to grow from a condition known as Heterotopic ossification civilian communities affected by the effect of strength to strength.

Prof Anthony Bull (Mech Eng 95) (left). After completing his sponsorship duties with Ford Motor Company, he returned to Imperial for a PhD in Biomechanics, and then after a series of postdoctoral positions, moved to the Centre for Biological and Medical Systems in 2000. This Centre became the Department of Bioengineering, and Anthony was appointed Head of Department in 2012. Dr Jenna Stevens-Smith (right). After studying bioengineering at undergraduate and doctoral level, Jenna moved into a career in science communication. She founded Science Brainwaves in 7LIJ½IPH[LMPIHSMRKLIV4L( XLIRQSZIHXS0SRHSRXSVYRXLITYFPMGIRKEKIQIRXQIHMEERH events for the Society of Biology. Jenna returned to her bioengineering roots in June 2013 when she joined the Department of Bioengineering as Outreach Manager.

Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2014 11 FEATURES "e Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill MSc student Leo Robertson won the RSMA Essay prize with this article about the causes of the environmental disaster that devastated the Gulf of Mexico in 2010.

Keeping the casing central is important so the cement can flow evenly around the pipe (as shown in the diagram below). It was planned to have fifteen extra flown in, but since they were of a different design, this was cancelled. It was thought that it would be better, as is standard industry practice, to do an unsatisfactory cementing job and subsequently correct it, rather than risk the complications caused by using differently designed centralisers.

2 It was decided to use a nitrified cement foam, produced by the company Halliburton. Pilot tests run by Halliburton Leftwich showed that the cement did not retain Monica

the design composition. It did not remain by homogeneous, and nitrogen was coming out of dispersion. "is was not expressly photo, communicated to BP. Guard

After it was thought that the well was sealed with cement, to be turned into a production U.S.Coast Fire boat response crews battle the blazing remnants of the off shore oil rig Deepwater well later, it was given a positive and negative Horizon April 21, 2010. pressure test, which test the robustness of the cement seal under different pressure conditions. On the 30th of May, 6 days after the biggest of Mexico, was being sealed off by cement to be "e negative pressure test involves a reduction oil spill in history, 11 lives ended, oil still temporarily abandoned before being used for of pressure in the well to test whether or not flowed from the well causing unprecedented production. "e well was notoriously difficult, oil and gas enters, simulating the conditions damage to beaches, sealife, wildlife, fishing a “well from hell”, with several unexpected during temporary abandonment of the well. communities, the lives of BP employees; then problems during drilling. Deepwater drilling If oil and gas entered, the pressure in the well BP CEO Tony Hayward tells reporters ‘I’d like inherently presents more complications that would rise and would signify a leak, and indeed my life back’. drilling on land, since none of the mechanisms there was indication of a rising pressure in the In choosing a topic related to environmental on the ocean floor can be accessed manually well. Both how to perform this test and how to issues, there’s hardly one of recent times that once installed due to the pressure and interpret its results are experience-based: there has had more impact on the environment than temperature conditions at that depth, 5000ft is no exact methodology. "e reading of the the BP Oil disaster. Perhaps it would be more in the case of Deepwater Horizon. Also, at test was thought to be a false positive created worthwhile trying to appreciate the subtleties these depths, it is not possible to use a rig that by the hydrostatic pressure of the column of of the everyday impact of modern life on the is connected to the ocean floor: the Deepwater fluid on a valve that was kept closed, known environment, rather than the few instances Horizon rig floated on the surface of the water, as the “bladder effect”. Later analysis of the when something goes terribly wrong. However, and thrusters were controlled via satellite to negative pressure test revealed that it had given back in 2010 when it happened I was a keep the rig positioned over the well, thus it is indication of a lack of equipment integrity, chemical engineering undergraduate, working a more complex process than using a fixed rig. and was wrongly interpreted. as an intern for an Oil and Gas consultancy Once the well was set up, it was then plugged company. I heard environmental, chemical, with cement, so that it could be left alone until civil and mechanical engineers talking about the Deepwater Nautilus rig arrived to extract it every day, giving each other updates and the oil and gas. In this operation, the cement opinions. It was an exciting place to be, I had has to flow down a pipe, or “casing”, which a rare opportunity to gain a deep insight into is within another wider casing, and once the what happened, ask questions, understand. cement reaches the bottom of the centre casing And I did absolutely nothing to inform myself it spreads out and occludes the lumen of not about the disaster. "ere’s nothing wrong with only the central casing but the wider casing as me exactly, in fact I’m probably representative well. Both keeping the casing in the centre of of a much larger populace, not only of the wider casing, and cement design, are two engineers, who find it difficult to connect to very important factors in ensuring a successful environmental issues. cement sealing. So, now to visit, and not revisit, the disaster, provide a brief overview of the technical However: problems involved, and consider what happens 1 Six centralisers, pieces of springy equipment next. that keep the casing central, were used, "e Macondo well, off the coast of the Gulf where twenty-one were recommended.

12 Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2014 FEATURES drilling in the Gulf of Mexico if one eighth of the population stops driving. However it might be better to ask if it really is desirable to end deepsea oil drilling: it is a feat of engineering, and the industry has learned a lot of lessons from the Macondo incident. If one eighth of the American population stops driving, it’s not to say that the oil won’t be needed in the future, it’s a finite resource after all, and the extraction of it has potentially already peaked. Not to mention the fact that in almost all developed countries oil is behind the scenes of our everyday lives, giving us the lifestyles that we seem to have decided we are owed, even though only one hundred or so years ago the advantages of oil that we benefit from every day, were unheard-of and not taken Observatory

for granted. "is leads on to the questions raised by this incident on a grander scale. What is it about NASA/Earth these disasters that we can’t connect with? Do we care? If we don’t, why not? What can we do

Courtesy to help? If we can help, how can the horrific Sunlight illuminating the lingering oil slick off the Mississippi Delta on May 24, 2010, impact of such environmental disasters be captured by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s transformed into a tangible human impact that Terra satellite. the general public can tap into? Environmental issues, it turns out, are not only issues with the A short time after the cementing job was the flow, and the securing of a containment environment. completed, the well blew out, and oil and gas cap over the BOP to cap the spill. Both of "e truth is that deepsea drilling is here were forced up the riser (the pipe running these methods failed, too. It was the eventual to stay. No work is without risk, and in all from rig to seabed) and on board the rig. "ere construction of two relief wells that ended the occupations it is our duty to minimise that was a huge explosion, and a fire , killing 11 flow, by diverting the oil to newly drilled wells risk. However, it is only with some degree of of the crew. Oil started flowing continuously, where it could be safely capped. irony that it could be said that an incident uncontrollably from the well and into the Gulf "e Deepwater Horizon disaster has been such as the BP oil disaster will never happen of Mexico. called a series of failures, be they mechanical, again. "is is why it is so important to take the Particularly disturbing in this incident was human or managerial, with the overarching time to learn from it. the failure of the blowout preventer (BOP). driving factor of complacency. Jay Hakes of I do hope that we’re not done talking about "e BOP is a very large piece of equipment the National Oil Spill Commission stated the Deepwater Horizon disaster, because some that is designed to prevent oil from leaving the that ‘A lot of mistakes not only shouldn’t have of us, myself included, are a bit late to the well in an uncontrolled manner, and it does been made but [weren’t] even consistent with discussion. this by sealing off the line using small rubber normal industry practice’. During a speech ring-type devices to close the pipe annulus, as given at the Cambridge Union Society on well as rams that slam shut and close off the November 10th, 2010, Tony Hayward said Bibliography flow of material out of the pipe. "ere is also of the likelihood of the Deepwater Horizon BP. (2010). Deepwater Horizon Accident the blind shear ram (BSR), which cuts off incident that ‘all our corporate deliberations Investigation Report. the pipe completely using a high hydrostatic told us [that it] simply could not happen’. "e Horne, R. (2010, November 16). "e pressure, and allows the rig to separate off BP technical report for the incident identified Deepwater Horizon Accident: What from the well and float away. eight different safety mechanisms, from the Happened and Why? (Stanford University) cementing job through to the BOP, that were National Commission on the BP Deepwater "e BOP can be operated in one of three breached in order to create the resulting oil Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling. ways: spill and fire. Indeed, in 2009 when Hurricane (2011). Deep Water: !e Gulf Oil Disaster • Manually by pressing an emergency switch Ida hit the Gulf of Mexico, several oil rigs and the Future of Offshore Drilling. • Using a “dead man switch”, such that lack of used the emergency disconnect, including the Washington, DC: US Independent Agencies activity will automatically activate the BOP Transocean Marianas rig which was attached and Commissions. • Using an ROV vehicle, which can apply the to the Macondo well, and yet there was no Yergin, D. (2011). !e Quest: Energy, Security hydrostatic pressure directly to the device to such disaster from any of these rigs since they and the Remaking of the Modern World. set off the BSR “failed safe”. Penguin Group. Any one of these methods of activating the BOP could have prevented the disaster, and all Can the need for deepwater drilling be ended? three failed. Yes: the USA can end the need for deepwater

"e rig eventually sank, the fire raged on and thousands of barrels were spilled into the ocean every day until the well was eventually Leo Robertson is a 25 year-old process engineer from Glasgow, Scotland, closed off months later. currently working for Statoil in Stavanger, Norway. Last year he attended "ere were of course myriad attempts to Imperial College London, completing an MSc in Advanced Chemical cap the spill, including a “junk shot” in the Engineering with Process Systems. BOP, where a highly viscous liquid along with This essay was the winning entry of the RSMA Trust Essay Competition, “junk” such as pieces of string and golf balls and Leo wrote it while performing research for his novel ‘Findesferas’, were injected into the BOP to try and stem about an oil crisis in South America.

Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2014 13 FEATURES El Salvador Project 2013 CGCA’s Old Centralians’ Trust has for several years supported the El Salvador Project, which aims to help poor communities in El Salvador face natural disasters. Set up by the Civil Engineering Department in 2001, there have been Expeditions each year since.This article is based on the report from the 2013 Expedition team. within the organisation whom we are confident to work with. Before the beginning of each year’s project we contact REDES and establish a connection with the new project team. "e transition phase is usually aided by one of the translators who worked on the project in the previous year, a student from Imperial whom REDES will have already met. We propose a project to REDES which we are aiming to complete the following year; this will usually have been semi-designed already, based on previously identified needs, in collaboration with Arup. We ask for REDES to suggest any refinements to our proposal, usually based on the specific needs of the beneficiaries whom we ask them to help us identify. During the Project History with our partner organisations to develop a team’s time in the country, REDES is usually project for the summer expedition that is both our main source of contacts for materials and "e El Salvador Project is a charitable volunteer beneficial and financially viable. Our partner labour resources, and it acts as our general project that provides simple and effective organisations include the UK registered charity guide for the duration of the project. engineering solutions to poor communities in Engage for Development, the engineering Engage for Development is a small charity El Salvador who frequently face devastating consultancy Arup, an NGO in El Salvador group set up by Imperial alumni and past earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and landslides. called REDES, and Imperial College Union. project members of the El Salvador Project. "e project was first formed in 2001 within "is year preparations for the project "eir treasurer, Sebastian Kaminski, also works the Department of Civil and Environmental started a little later, in January 2013, and the for Arup and provides the project with many Engineering in response to two devastating expedition consisted of two stages. "e first of the designs which are implemented on the earthquakes that killed over 1,000 people stage (lasting one week) was an evaluation of ground. "e charity has a number of charitable and destroyed over 150,000 homes. "e first the project undertaken in 2011, which involved student-led projects and acts as an advisory expedition took place in the summer of 2002 the retrofitting of seismically weak houses to board, helping students gain confidence in and since then has become an established improve their resistance to earthquakes. Once running their own development initiatives. It annual undertaking in the student calendar. the team had carried out the evaluation and serves as a function to the El Salvador Project concluded that the retrofit is performing well, by providing us with credible backing, which Project Aims the team moved to a new community and helps greatly with fundraising, especially "e project this year has been redeveloped retrofitted 9 houses in a village called San through websites such as Virgin Money with a focus on three key areas: Engineering, Jose Villanueva located approximately 22km Giving. "e advice it gives is also valuable for Education and Evaluation. Our Engineering south of the capital city San Salvador. "is each year’s project leader, who may not always aim is to provide poverty-stricken second stage lasted three weeks to give a total be experienced in projects of this nature. Every communities in El Salvador with efficient expedition length of four weeks. year the project proposal is reviewed and and sustainable engineering solutions. Our approved by Engage before funding is allowed Education aim involves working with the Project Organisation to go through their accounts. local communities during the project in As a project run by students from Imperial, Arup is a leading UK engineering order to facilitate the sharing of engineering there is a society for the expedition which consultancy with offices across the world. knowledge and hands-on skills. "is ensures is registered under the student union. "e "eir main work deals with structural design that the development work can be maintained committee members of the society do not and they recruit many students from Imperial after the team’s departure. Our Evaluation necessarily go on expeditions themselves into their graduate positions each year. "e aim is to understand the effectiveness of our but liaise with companies to secure funding, designs which are implemented by the project engineering solutions and to make continuous recruit students for fundraising and interface teams are largely designed by Sebastian and ongoing improvements as necessary. with the union to gain approval for the project Kaminski and other practising structural Evaluation of previous projects is crucial for and to secure training and insurance for many engineers. Employees of Arup have designed understanding how well our work has actually aspects of the expedition. It is also through many engineering solutions for the project, all helped the beneficiaries. the union’s support that the project is able of which have been implemented, including: Preparation for the annual expedition to secure a large amount of funding from sanitation facilities such as latrines; rainwater generally starts in autumn of each year with the university, both from funds allocated for harvesting systems; retrofit designs for seismic the team leader recruiting a new team of student-led activities as well as the engineering resistance; and – a first for the 2012 project students for the project which takes place departments themselves who have an interest – eco-houses using locally-sourced materials the following summer for approximately 6 in the development of their students outside of in a design that it is hoped will be able to be weeks. Once a team has been formed, they an academic environment. implemented across the country in the future, work together to raise funds throughout the Fundacion REDES are the local NGO that on the basis of an encouraging evaluation academic year through corporate sponsorship, we work with in El Salvador. We have been report. grant applications and events. During this working with REDES for the entire history of time, the team leader is also working closely the project and have well-established people

14 Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2014 FEATURES Project Fundraising earthquake. In addition to the retrofit plan, the addition Project Brief 2013 "e team applied for various grants designed of a metal angle in the porch would ensure a to aid charity work or student development. rigid connection improving on the weak spot- Background Imperial College has a number of grants and welds already in place and avoiding collapse in Between 2002 and 2005 REDES and a funding opportunities available, including an earthquake. It was also important to ensure partner NGO constructed 225 low cost the IC Trust, the Old Centralians’ Trust of the walls of the houses stay as dry as possible, vara de castilla houses for poor communities the City and Guilds College Association to prevent water leaching into the bamboo across El Salvador. "ey consisted of a lightly and departmental funding. "e team were and causing rotting. "e bottom 60cm of reinforced concrete slab, a sub-standard successful in securing funding from all of these the walls, on the sides that were exposed to welded steel frame, cane, chicken mesh and sources. rain, would be painted with a water resistant cement mortar. After a structural assessment paint, and cracks in-filled with a material by Arup, the houses were considered unsafe "e Retrofit Project called cement plastico. "e houses would also in an earthquake or strong winds, and "e retrofit project was first proposed for the be given roof extensions on exposed sides to recommended to be retrofitted. 2011 project, following the evaluation of a reduce rain exposure. In 2011 the El Salvador Project successfully house design implemented across many rural retrofitted approximately 28 houses in the villages and communities in El Salvador. "e !e El Salvador Project 2011 high risk community of San Jose de Costa accommodation, called vara de castilla houses, In 2011 the project team travelled to the village Rica. "e retrofit consisted primarily of was originally designed by REDES. of Costa Rica in El Salvador to implement the the installation of timber beams fixed with "e construction involves a thin steel frame, first batch of retrofits on the vara de castilla simple steel connections. In addition, the made from square hollow sections, with the houses. During the six week expedition, the houses were given general maintenance, such walls built from horizontal bamboo rods which team completed 28 of the 30 houses in the as painting of the walls. were then clad in mortar to finish. "is design community, with the remaining two being has been used by REDES over a long period unoccupied due to extensive damage. "e Project of time, including some houses built during project was completed successfully, with a A very useful project for the El Salvador collaborating summer projects with Imperial. small leftover budget and within the forecast Project in 2013 would be the evaluation of timescale. It was decided that, subject to the 2011 project, followed by the retrofit evaluation of the design at a later date, the of other vara de castilla houses in another retrofit could then be used across the remainder community in El Salvador. Engage suggest of the vara de castilla houses in El Salvador. the following: • Visit the community of San Jose de Costa !e El Salvador Project 2013 Rica to conduct a thorough evaluation of "e official project brief that was written by the the project from both a technical and non- project leaders and agreed with the supporting technical perspective. charity, Engage for Development can be seen • Learn from the results of the evaluation to in the sidebar (right). adapt both the technical details and the "e main purpose of the project was to method of implementation of the retrofit, evaluate the retrofit from the 2011 project as appropriate. Building vara de castilla houses (2011) in Costa Rica and, following any necessary • Implement the retrofit fully in another modifications, to implement the same design high risk community within El Salvador. in another village. • Conduct a training workshop in the After a structural assessment by Arup, the "e community to receive aid from community, explaining the importance of houses were deemed to be weak, and fairly Imperial was identified by REDES, based regular maintenance. unsuited to an area of high seismic activity. on risk of seismic activity and willingness of • Provide a maintenance manual for the Although El Salvador has not suffered any large the inhabitants. "e identified community community. was around 45 minutes drive south of the earthquakes since 2002, the risk is high, and Prerequisites the original design could be unfit to sustain capital San Salvador. Villanueva is a large even low levels of seismic activity. A retrofit town with around 20,000 inhabitants and a For this project to take place, the following which could be implemented quickly and fairly developed centre. However the work to are prerequisites: efficiently across multiple houses was essential be conducted by the project team was to be • REDES must accept and be happy fully to ensure the safety of the beneficiaries. on the houses in the rural outskirts called San with the proposal. Jose Villanueva. "e El Salvador Project Team • A target community must be identified, !e Design of 2008 had previously worked in the town, and must be happy with the proposal. "e retrofit was designed by Arup, and was and had helped in the construction of the vara • Engage for Development must be happy specific to this particular type of structure. "e de castilla houses in accordance with REDES’ with the professionalism within the team houses were constructed in a very standard design. "ese were the houses that the 2013 from a project management perspective. manner against the original design, so it was project team retrofitted. • Arup must be happy with the anticipated that implementing the retrofit Following the evaluation of the initial professionalism within the team from a across many houses at high speed would be retrofit design in Costa Rica, it was decided site contractor perspective. plausible. "e design aimed to brace all four that the design was fitting to its purpose, with • "e team must raise adequate funds by walls of each room in the structure using large little or no disturbance to the beneficiaries’ the end of June – approximately £1300- wooden beams, fixed to the wall horizontally daily lives. "e village had experienced a £1400/ person for general costs + material at around a 2 metre height. "e beams would minor earthquake since the retrofit in 2011 costs of £500 per house; so assuming 20 be drilled and fixed to the walls internally and analysis showed the structures had houses retrofitted = £27,000. using threaded bolts, which connected to behaved as expected. Although the earthquake metal plates on the external walls. "e corners was not of a magnitude suitable to assess the of the rooms would also be reinforced using structures further, it was deemed satisfactory small metal angles to ensure full effectiveness for the same design to be utilised in San Jose of the beams. "e design would greatly Villanueva by the 2013 project. improve lateral resistance in the event of an

Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2014 15 FEATURES 2013 – Costa Rica through Isaias that the team rented a house to stay in for the three weeks spent in Villanueva. "e project began with an evaluation of the "e house consisted of one large room where original retrofit expedition in 2011, in the camp beds were set up, and another open village of Costa Rica. "e team of 2011, which plan kitchen area with a fridge and gas stove. included Elizabeth Liu, one of the team leaders Although the house had a plumbed toilet and for the 2013 project, retrofitted 28 houses in shower, the water pipe supplying the house had this community with the same design. It was a leak, therefore the team filled up a large tank hoped that the retrofit was successful in its periodically to avoid constantly flooding the purpose, and also that it did not negatively street outside. "e team also shared the house impact the lives of the beneficiaries. with one other tenant, a local shop worker In addition to the original retrofit plan, called Jordie. "e team cooked breakfast and the team of 2011 also rebuilt the walls of two dinner most days, and used a local comedor houses in the community, which had suffered for lunch. extensive damage due to landslides. Some of the houses were also fitted with roof extensions, Beneficiaries small plastic corrugations which extended the San Jose Villanueva has a total of 15 vara de roof edges by around half a metre, protecting castilla houses. Of these, 9 families agreed the wall underneath from water. "e team in to the remedial works and had their house 2011 did not have sufficient time to finish retrofitted. However, two of the houses were these, and had trained a group within the not the standard vara de castilla design and an community to continue the work after their Map of Costa Rica alternative impromptu retrofit design had to departure. Both walls and roof extensions were the house condition, with extra comments be produced. to be evaluated in addition to the retrofit, in encouraged where necessary. the scheduled two days. All houses which had been retrofitted in Operation 2011 were inspected. A rough map of their "e team used a local bodega as a wood store locations can be seen above. and a place to hold meetings. "e initial meeting with the community took place on team Part 2: Beneficiary Interviews Friday 26th July. At this meeting the whole A brief interview with the beneficiaries living team were able to meet the local villagers project in the retrofitted house. "e questions targeted who lived in the vara de castilla homes, and 2011 the work done by the students and how it had explain to them the benefits of the retrofit. A affected their everyday life. However it was schedule was then made for those who wanted also a point of interest to learn how the team the remedial works. "e whole team worked Photograph: Wall destroyed by a landslide in Costa Rica interacted with the community two years ago on the first house together, led by Elizabeth – whether they enjoyed the experience, or Liu who had undertaken the retrofit before in "e team travelled to Costa Rica village on felt like they had either learnt or contributed 2011. Having completed this house together, Monday 22nd July, with the aim of evaluating anything. the students split into two teams of five, and all 28 houses. Upon arrival, the afternoon retrofitted two houses at a time simultaneously. was scheduled for a village meeting with 2013 – San Jose Villanueva Each team consisted of one team leader and the community, a chance for the team to one translator, as well as any members of the familiarise themselves with the surroundings, !e Retrofit local community who wished to help. "is meet the people they would be visiting and Having carried out the evaluation in the was intended to provide knowledge transfer explain the purpose of the evaluation. It was village of Costa Rica, the team travelled to the and to help facilitate the maintenance of the also important to make sure that all members village of San Jose Villanueva on 25th July. "e houses after the team had left. "e teams were of the community were happy for us to overall conclusion of the evaluation was that also mixed up at various points throughout inspect their houses and to answer questions the retrofit had been a success, and no major the expedition to ensure that everybody got a as well as to make sure that we visited them changes needed to be made to the design. One chance to work with each other. at a convenient time. "e evaluation strategy minor addition was included however, which was extensively discussed with our supporting was the painting of the ends of the wooden Variant House charity, Engage for Development, and it was beams with preservative where they had been "e unexpected variation of the vara de castilla decided to split it into two parts. cut, in order to protect against termites. house required an impromptu design. "e house was rectangular in shape (as opposed to Part 1: Visual Inspection Living Arrangements the standard L-shape), and did not have any A visual inspection of the house by the In San Jose Villanueva the team had one porch attached to it. "e new design required students, with the areas of particular interest main contact called Isaias, who is part of a bespoke plates to be designed and ordered. agreed upon in advance. Most important were community group in Villanueva and also "ese plates were attached to the rafters in two elements such as rusting and quality of fixings has some involvement with REDES. It was locations. as well as signs of insects, damp and mould. Other factors that were to be noted besides the retrofit itself were the two walls that were rebuilt in 2011 due to damage caused by landslides, as well as the quality of the paint team and roof extensions. Each of the retrofitted houses was subject project to a visual inspection by 2 to 3 members of 2011 the team, with a list of criteria to examine at each location. A tick sheet was used by the team members, each aspect being given a score Photograph: out of 5, to provide a primary indication of 8LITVSNIGXXIEQ[MXLFIRI½GMEVMIWMR'SWXE6MGE

16 Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2014 FEATURES "e 2013 Expedition Team Each year the team members are selected primarily from the Civil and Environmental Engineering department, as well as from other engineering departments in the university. Each member was requested to write a short application, describing themselves and the reason for their interest in the project. Every applicant was interviewed by the team leaders before the final team was selected. It was important for the members of the team to be able to work well with each other and easily adapt to different situations, with past experience and construction knowledge becoming a secondary factor.

Map of San Jose Villanueva

Robert Wright Co-Leader Ph.D. Student Second Year Water Supply Systems Engineering

Elizabeth Liu Co-Leader Ph.D. Student First Year Non-linear Structural Mechanics

Maria Sunyer Pinya Spanish Translator Ph.D. Student (visiting) second year Flooding and Environmental Engineering

Carlos Poblacion Spanish Translator Undergraduate Second Year Aeronautical Engineering

Bradley Pring Health and Safety Undergraduate Second Year Civil and Environmental Engineering

Jack Wilkinson Expedition Treasurer Undergraduate First Year Civil and Environmental Engineering

Orrin Lancaster Expedition Treasurer Undergraduate First Year Civil and Environmental Engineering

Eric Leung Undergraduate First Year 4PERERHWIGXMSRSJXLIVIXVS½XXSXLIZEVEHIGEWXMPPELSYWIW Civil and Environmental Engineering (Courtesy of Arup)

Andy Xu Undergraduate Second Year Chemical Engineering http://bit.ly/IE20ElSalvador

Sam Simanjuntak gov.uk Undergraduate Second Year Civil and Environmental Engineering

Photograph: 8LITVSNIGXXIEQ[MXLFIRI½GMEVMIWMR7ER.SWI:MPPERYIZE

Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2014 17 FEATURES Structural Monitoring in Tunnels

This is a story about an interdisciplinary project utilising a combination of engineering and geological skills

Introduction Problem & challenges "ey thought that it should be possible to use this data to derive linear measurements It started with a chance meeting at Cambridge A very specific challenge in this project was of lining movement, and hence changes in (a University located in the East of England) that there would have to be little or no planned the two key parameters: squat (i.e. tunnel between Simon Maddison (Electrical interruption to the running train schedules. height) and horizontal diameter. Following a Engineering 67-70, Computing 72-73) All grouting works would have to be carried number of white-boarding sessions with the and Peter Wright (Civil Engineerng 71- out in LU standard ‘engineering hours’ which project’s tunnelling engineers, Simon dusted 74). Peter, associate director of tunnels at are between 01.10 and 04:30 in the morning off his structures and mathematics to generate Halcrow (now CH2M), needed a system for in this location. "is in itself was a very the necessary algorithms which provided a monitoring tunnel distortion whilst remedial ambitious goal, never done before on this scale convincingly conclusive argument that this engineering works were taking place on the whilst maintaining normal rail operations. would work. London Underground (LU). His company A crucial problem was how to monitor the "e sensor nodes are small battery-powered were contracted for the design work, for tunnel whilst the works were taking place. "e units, and with the use of wireless mesh which Peter was responsible. Simon is COO grouting could potentially result in changes networking protocols they provide a self- with Senceive, which is a pioneer in the use in tunnel shape, indeed in places corrective organising, robust and easy to deploy solution. of wireless technology for remote condition movement was desirable. But the question "e data hops from one node to its neighbours monitoring. Between the two of them they was how to monitor the changes, in real and finds its way back to a network gateway, thought that there might well be an original time, whilst the grouting was in progress, and in this case attached to a laptop for use in the way of using wireless sensors to solve the to ensure that the tunnel was subsequently tunnel. "e big attraction of using wireless tilt particular challenges of this project. stable. meters were the absence of wires, the ability to Conventional means of monitoring would provide measurements with all the crew and Background be impractical. A system of fixed wired sensors equipment in action, the speed with which In 2010 routine inspection of LU’s Jubilee would take months to install, some 2000 they could be deployed, and the ability to Line found water and sand running into sensor points at a prohibitive expense, and move them as required to the locations of the previously dry sections of the tunnel. It turned would involve a spaghetti of wiring that would particular shift’s work. out that this particular section of tunnel runs potentially interfere with access to the grouting Potentially this was a big risk for LU through an ancient sand channel, some 30m valves in the tunnel lining, quite apart from and the chief contractor, Costain Laing down and roughly underneath the line of the having to be installed right through the area O’Rourke to use, but thanks to Peter’s strong old Tyburn river, and similar in size to the from the start, rather than just at a particular recommendation, and Senceive’s confidence in "ames today. When built some 35 years ago, area of shift work. Optical systems would not its technology, they went ahead. the ground had been dry, but now for some work as there would not be the required lines But there was still much work to do. "e reason it was wet; apart from the water and of sight with the grouting crew in situ, with all tilt sensors (MEMs accelerometers integrated sand running into the tunnel, the water was their equipment, access scaffolding and pipes, into the wireless node) then used by Senceive causing the base of the tunnel to rise, but the and the same applied to manual methods. were not sufficiently sensitive to meet the roof being constrained by the clays above was requirements of this application. In order to not. "e tunnel was distorting and this was "e Wireless Solution detect segment and lining movements of less exacerbated by cavities developing between "e idea that Peter and Simon conceived was than a millimetre, they were going to have to the tunnel lining and the surrounding geology. to use Senceive’s battery-powered wireless increase sensitivity by an order of magnitude. "e net consequence was a compromise to the tilt meters, positioned around the cast iron Moreover, Senceive’s typical applications of essential and tight clearance envelope needed segments of the tunnel lining, to measure remote condition monitoring for rail and civil around the trains and the real possibility of any rotational movement in each segment. assets normally required at most one reading collapse in the future. per 20 minutes, and more typically per hour. By 2012 it was clear that back grouting "is application would need readings to be – filling the voids with fast setting cement - reported ideally every minute. Design of the was going to be necessary in order to stabilise system was going to require two systems of 48 the tunnel, and a substantial £4m programme sensors each, for the two work teams; at the was commissioned. "e overall system design time this was a large network and reporting involved mixing the grout on the surface, then data many times faster than for previous pumping it down to the work area, using a installations. system of fixed pipes and flexible couplings Data would need to be presented in an which could be configured as required on a accessible and friendly way for the monitoring shift by shift basis. "ese were routed down engineers so that they could interact in real through service shafts and passages to the time with the lead grouting engineer - a lot running tunnels, and then along the sides of of data from a large number of sensors. And the two tunnels to cover the area of the works. finally there was the question of how to Oh, and yes, as this stuff sets quickly the pipes mount the sensors quickly and robustly to the have to be flushed out with water at the end tunnel lining so that the sensors could all be of shift. Additional pumps and tanks were deployed by technical operatives in a matter situated in a small cross-passage between the of 10 minutes at the start of shift. Although Ltd two tunnels. the initial requirement was for the sensors to be used only during engineering hours, it was Senceive Sensors in place, ready to grout very quickly obvious that they should be left

18 Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2014 FEATURES using a novel Wireless System from right across the discipline spectrum of the Faculty of Engineering, or in other words – Guilds and Mines. in situ through normal running operations technology. Sometimes at the end of shift so that data could be collected post shift and Simon would write up a task list, hand it over demonstrate the stability (or otherwise) of the to the development team before heading off tunnel following grouting. for sleep, and having the team work through the day on enhancements and upgrades in Fast development time for the following night’s shift. Even ahead of the commercial commitment, One requirement that came up very quickly four streams of development were started. was to have the system continue gathering A very high resolution accelerometer was data during operational train running hours. identified after a painstaking search of the "e problem was that there was nowhere safe market, and the necessary design work started to leave the monitoring laptop – high winds to produce the interface circuitry to integrate can occur in cross-passages as trains pass, and it within the wireless node, along with the everything there needs to be secured, and it parallel firmware coding to manage the sensor is certainly not permitted for personnel to and extract the necessary data. be there. "e nearest accessible location with Senceive’s existing Web Monitor interface power was up a 30m shaft, complete with

was adapted and extended so that it would Ltd steel mesh stairs and platforms, up to a further be able to present the data in a suitably passage which linked to an electricity sub-

accessible way with neat graphical displays Senceive station round the corner. To get the wireless and incorporate the necessary computations Wireless sensor deployed on a ring next to signal back to this location, Senceive deployed of the data to compute the composite tunnel a grouting valve a number of ‘repeater’ nodes – in effect nodes distortion measures. It was also enabled to run the design (now patented) was established, without a sensor. "e data then piggy-backed on a laptop, rather than an internet accessible some dummy units were made up and to the new location of the gateway and laptop, web server, that could be used in the tunnels. positioned in a running tunnel for a couple to carry on collecting data, and was potentially Further design allowed quick configuration of of weeks, behind a mesh guard to ensure that accessible during the day. "e first shift this trigger levels on a ring by ring basis at the start nothing could fall on the track. "ey came was deployed, the repeaters were put in place of shift. through the test with flying colours and in the last 10 minutes before hand-back, key "e wireless protocols were tuned and with no evidence of movement at all. What locations being on the corners of the shaft and amended to allow the much higher data these trials did show however was the critical passages. It all demonstrated how flexible the flows through the network, whilst avoiding importance of removing loose material from system is. the potential problems and challenges in a the tunnel flange prior to fixing, to ensure an mesh network of data flooding. Some clever effective attachment – underground tunnels Project Outcomes wireless design meant that data was updated are dirty, with lots of iron oxide and brake dust In practice, it only took a couple of shifts to at one minute intervals, with individual node to be brushed away! train up the operatives to place the nodes with reporting rates squeezed up to the best that From a standing start all this was completed confidence, using a wire brush and a small could realistically be achieved at the time of in 3 months, to the point where the first hand spirit level. Once in place, the first data once per 4 minutes. Another factor was the batch of sensors was available for deployment comes back and the nodes can be ‘baselined’ start-up time of the network. When being in anger. Of course it did not stop there. to be ready for monitoring. Operatives were installed on a railway bridge for example, it Once this totally novel system went into quickly aware of the sensors, the need to avoid doesn’t matter if the network takes an hour to use, unanticipated requirements came up accidentally moving them, and to notify the settle down, but in this situation it all had to – this is a very common experience with new monitoring engineer if this did occur. When work out of the box in a matter of minutes. this did occasionally happen then it was And then there were the fixings. Initial straightforward to re-baseline the node, and thoughts were of a form of mechanical clamp, carry on. but Peter believed that the use of modern high Prior to the start, trigger levels were set power magnets would be practical and simple, up on a ring by ring basis, depending on the as well as quick to apply and remove. Initial history of the specific ring, and the degree of experiments were conducted in a section of distortion it had already experienced. In some above-ground tunnel at the Acton depot. A cases the trigger level was set as low as 2mm spring balance was used to assess the shear whereas for others it was as much as 20mm. force necessary to move the unit, and a simple Work was conducted on 10 ring ‘packs’, design evolved that, with the aid of a small and four rings of nodes, 6 to each ring, was spirit level, could be deployed on any ring sufficient to monitor this. "e monitoring segment in a matter of seconds. engineer, and for many shifts Simon himself, Modern magnets are strong. "e components was sitting on a rail crouched over the laptop selected gave a maximum of some 48kgf direct watching the data intensely through the shift, pull on the fixing – not something you want conducting shouted interactions with the lead to get your fingers trapped underneath - and as grouter as and when significant movements Peter discovered whilst doing some tests on his occurred. Ltd living room radiators, strong enough to take Manual measurements at the end of shift the paint off. Of course it was necessary to get prior to handback confirmed measurements the necessary acceptance from LU, and once Senceive from the wireless system, and were also cross- Cross-passages are congested!

Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2014 19 FEATURES Ltd

Senceive Monitoring engineer sits on a rail crouched over the laptop, intensely watching data Ltd

correlated where permanent long term sensors

were already installed, a significant vindication Senceive of Peter’s recommendations at the start of project. "e grouting project took four months to complete, and the use of Senceive’s wireless monitoring system saved an estimated £1 million pounds to the overall project cost. So enthused were all the parties, that the project was submitted for the prestigious International Tunnelling Awards, and won the Product

Innovation Category in the Autumn of 2012. Ltd

For Senceive this has been just the start of

its engagement in tunnel monitoring with Senceive wireless. "rough 2013 systems have been (EXEJVSQXLIWIRWSVWGSYPHFIIEWMP]GSR½KYVIHERHQSRMXSVIHMRVIEPXMQI installed in other LU tunnels, as well as a BT tunnel, to monitor the effects of tunnel boring, some following the work as it progresses and that can happen when a diverse group of for London Power Tunnels, underneath a some being left behind long term, to check on engineers come together to address a novel swathe of North London. Interestingly it was the tunnel stability post-works. and demanding challenge. Simon reflects found that data collected from the second "e system has been further developed on his undergraduate degree, taken back tilt axis of the sensor was able to accurately to serve this project, enabling the data to be in the 60’s, and all that seemingly irrelevant measure longitudinal tunnel settlement as well accessed not only from the nearest platform stuff he studied in the first, then common, as rotational distortion from the primary tilt at any time, as was originally required, but undergraduate engineering year – structures, axis. Moreover it is now being deployed on a 3 also subsequent to the initial trials, by the mechanics, fluids, thermodynamics, year long project for tunnel lining replacement engineers on the train but this time using a engineering drawing etc. Not what he thought that LU is carrying out on other parts of the WiFi-connected portable device. Further was relevant to a career in telecommunications network. Another extremely ambitious project, installations are in place right now, for long and its convergence with computing! But an a stretch of tunnel lining comprising concrete term tunnel monitoring connected with a large appreciation of all those disciplines has been segments is being progressively replaced with scale demolition and replacement construction invaluable throughout his career, providing the steel segments, shift by shift in engineering above four running LU tunnels. ability to think and communicate effectively in hours, using two specially designed trains. solving very diverse challenges and problems Senceive’s wireless tiltmeters are deployed ahead A final thought over the years – a great educational legacy of the works, leapfrogging ring by ring, and It is interesting to reflect on the interdisciplinary from his time at Imperial. further rings of sensors are deployed behind, nature of this project and the exciting things Lines Lines

Tube Tube Tunnel lining replacement in action

Simon Maddison (Elec Eng 67-70, Comp. 72-3) has some 40 years of experience in managing the development and market introduction of leading edge technology products and systems, as well as building new companies from scratch. He is a Chartered Engineer, and a Ltd Fellow of both the Institution of Engineering and Technology and the British Computer Society. He is an enthusiastic alumnus, Student Senceive Wireless sensors in the thick of it Opportunity Fund donor and recently served for three years as a Trustee for Imperial College Union.

20 Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2014 FEATURES Revolution in ocean science We asked land sailing speed record-holder Richard Jenkins (Mech Eng to, there was a lot of interest. It was quickly pointed out to us that, if successful, this could 1997-2000) what he’s been doing lately. His answer was quite surprising do a lot more than set records and would be an extremely valuable tool for ocean science. In March 2009, I set a new land sailing speed floats cause in drag. All the hulls can be wave- Currently ocean science operations are carried record of 126 mph. It was a mission that I piercing and of minimum surface area and out almost exclusively by large ships with started in 1998, during the second year of my volume. In high winds, the leeward float just very high operating costs, anywhere between Mechanical Engineering degree at Imperial. gets pushed under the water, to give a docile $30,000 and $100,000 per day. "ere are I had thought it was going to be an easy and gentle depowering. lots of other methods of collecting data, like challenge, but it took me 10 years to break "ere have been many autonomous boat buoys, drifters & gliders, etc, but they often the previous, American held record of 116 projects attempted before, but they all seem have limited deployment time and normally mph. It was all done on a tiny budget, while to be the product of programmers, who think still require an expensive ship for deployment I continually tried to find funding. Every they have solved the sailing logic algorithms, and recovery. If you could put the sensing potential sponsor I tried to seduce would so put a laptop inside a waterproof case and hardware onto an unmanned sailboat, deploy say: are there any commercial uses? Does the strap it to a conventional, normally soft- it from a dock, send it to any point in the ocean technology have any spinoffs? I would answer, sailed boat. Needless to say, the unofficial and have it send back data by satellite, without ‘Unfortunately, I don’t think so, unless you record for autonomous sailboats stood at only the need for a ship, this would be a huge cost- like sitting in the desert for months waiting around 100 miles before I started the project. saving. More crucially, as science budgets for wind!’ I truly believed I was evolving a very My approach was going to be the opposite; continue to get squeezed, it could also provide specific but commercially useless technology, start with the most robust and durable boat a way to collect many, many more samples albeit great fun! But, 5 years later, I am now design that was possible to achieve, then put than is currently achieved. As the world warms putting that learning to a much more valuable the most simple software on the boat. I felt up, ocean acidification is drastically changing use. reasonably confident about the boat design ecological systems, and could be one of the After setting the land record, I soon realised and hardware, but my Achilles heel was the most pressing concerns for the planet. To that kids, a job and bills was not nearly as software and electronics, of which I had only begin to understand the causes and effects much fun as chasing records; so I started work basic knowledge. Dylan Owens was a friend of ocean acidification, we need a LOT more on a project that I had been pondering in the working nearby on a deep-sea sonar project measurements for scientists to grapple with. back of my mind for a few years. "e objective and approached me when he heard I was "e only financially feasible solution to this was the first unmanned boat to sail around working on an autonomous sailboat. He was is going to be many autonomous vehicles, the world. I have done a reasonable amount planning a similar concept and had put a lot of sampling remotely. of offshore sailing and, truth be told, I don’t thought into the electronics, but had not yet Six months later we were lucky enough really enjoy it. Leaving a port after a fun stay started on the boat platform. Dylan graduated to get funding from the Marine Science and arriving somewhere new is wonderful, but from MIT, specialising in deep-sea robotics, Technology Foundation (MSTF) a non-profit the monotonous wet bit in the middle, well, with a lot of experience in sub-sea hardware organisation founded by Eric Schmidt, Google I’d be happy to hear the story in the pub of and electronics. It seemed like a perfect Chairman, dedicated to advancing technology how miserable it was, rather than have first- opportunity, so we joined forces and set to in Ocean Research. Eric’s belief in investing in hand experience. Even better, controlling a work, self-funding what quickly became an technology to solve big problems, then using boat remotely, from the bar, seeing in real time expensive model boat! We called it Saildrone. open source principles to share the collected just how rough it was out at sea appealed to As the boat progressed and word got out to data for the greater benefit of humanity, is my sense of humour! our friends and colleagues of what we were up revolutionary, especially in the ocean science "e big challenge for unmanned vehicles is power consumption and reliability. It was immediately obvious to me that the self- feathering wing we evolved for the land yacht, with its small, low power trim tab control was perfectly suited to this application. Sure, a single element wing would not produce the high lift coefficients of an Americas Cup style multi-element wing, but this was not a race against anyone but oneself. Endurance was the key and the robust, single element carbon wing with non-corrosive bearings might just prove to be the perfect solution for longevity. "e boat platform had to be equally robust, providing a self-righting capability, low drag and resistance to entanglement from seaweed and ocean debris. I revisited a model boat concept that I was playing with when I was about 16. It was a hybrid between a multi-hull and a mono-hull, picking some of the best qualities of both concepts. Internal lead in a LLC

deep keel provided self-righting behaviour, small outriggers gave good righting moment while keeping the rig upright – essentially you Saildrone get more thrust from the upright rig than the Preparing for the trip to Hawaii in July 2013

Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2014 21 FEATURES LLC

Saildrone world. His thinking could not have come at commands sent via iridium giving global is infinitely better at sailing the boat than a a better time, as governments and institutions coverage and only about 8 seconds delay from human. "e ‘brain’ assesses every input then struggle to maintain their ageing fleets of ships pressing send on the iPhone to the boat acting makes fresh decisions on tactics and boat and instrumentation. MSTF support enabled on the command. control 20 times per second, 24 hours a day. us to accelerate our development from a low- Power for the onboard electronics is provided No fatigued decision-making and no mistakes, budget side-project, to a dedicated project by solar panels on deck. Power consumption just logical, repeatable control. with 4 full-time employees. is one of our most significant breakthroughs, Collision avoidance was on our radar from Less than a year after I had teamed up with with the computer and actuator system day one. As soon as you mention unmanned Dylan, we launched Saildrone 1 (SD1) and drawing only 3 Watts with full duty cycle. or autonomous boats you get the normal began testing. It was immediately obvious that "is enables the boat to operate indefinitely retort of legal jargon and are told why ‘it is this was an extremely seaworthy configuration. (from a power perspective), even at extreme not possible’; but like it or not, autonomous I would love to claim credit for the sea- latitudes where light is short. Everything on vessels on land, sea and air are here to stay, handling qualities, but they were almost all the boat, down to the actuators and circuit so we decided to tackle it head on and evolve pleasant surprises. "e oversized keel provides boards is completely customised, and housed a solution. I am not going to address legal significant roll damping, so the boat is not in mil-spec submarine-grade housings, all minutiae here, but instead propose the logical, tossed around by the waves, moving more like rated to depth. "ere is a 100kg payload bay robust and safe system that we have developed. a 100 foot yacht rather than the small light 20 for scientific instrumentation, with power and As well as the normal navigation lights, we have footer that it is. With a very light wing and a serial data connection supplied from the 2 systems for collision avoidance. Automatic low centre of gravity, pitch forces are small, main electronics housing. With high precision Identification System (AIS) and an ‘Active enabling it to get though some very nasty seas, inertial measurement units and a computer Echo’ radar antenna. "e boat can receive and without moving the wing around very much. running at 20Hz, control authority was one of transmit an AIS signal and will autonomously "is is crucial as it keeps the flow attached on my biggest surprises. Put simply, a computer avoid any AIS target it encounters. "e active the wing airfoil, providing constant power as a result. Due to small reserve buoyancy, waves simply wash over and past the boat, rather than jerking it around as it would if it had high sides. Light wind conditions were initially my biggest concern, but we were again pleasantly surprised, with incredible light wind performance, moving Saildrone along at almost the wind speed in only 1 or 2 knots of wind. With almost no air drag, a slippery thin shape and no crew banging around on deck shaking the wind out of the rig, it simply glides along, not stressed about the slow progress that normally drives sailors insane! We slowly increased the levels of autonomy from a simple RC yacht into a fully autonomous vessel, able to get to any point in the ocean,

or follow a rhumb line within a few meters LLC without any human intervention, regardless of wind or tide. Monitoring and control is Saildrone done via our own iPhone app; telemetry and Even in light wind conditions the Saildrone has incredible performance

22 Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2014 FEATURES echo system listens for radar sweeps and upon hearing a signal, transmits back the same frequency at high power, appearing as a very large target on a ship’s radar. Using Iridium Satellite communications, the Saildrone reports what AIS or radar targets it encounters to mission control, who can give it additional instructions or actions if required. Finally we have a high power strobe on top of the mast, with variable flash settings. All the systems, AIS, radar and lights can be turned on or off remotely and we can run in silent listening mode if so required. As a very last resort, the bow of the boat is soft foam & rubber, which crushes on impact, so it is virtually impossible to pierce even the weakest of materials. Currently all inshore missions, where we might encounter non AIS-reporting targets, are escorted. We believe that the Saildrone, sailing at 3-5 knots with these measures, poses LLC infinitely less threat to shipping than the average single-handed sailor often travelling

at significantly higher speeds in much heavier, Saildrone less forgiving boats. We are currently working SD1 undergoing testing in San Francisco Bay with the US Coast Guard, who have been very supportive, to test these safety features and the Saildrone’s progress on my iPhone via ocean science community was overwhelming, explore the legal classification aspects. onboard WiFi. Our app gives us a plethora with almost every major research institution Our workshop is in Alameda, on the east of routing information, both measured and enquiring about the payload possibilities of side of San Francisco Bay, which provides the forecast, and as the wind was shifting, I sent the Saildrone platform. ideal testing ground for the Saildrone. Very it a new command to transition to apparent At the time of writing, 4 months after strong tides and the entire range of wind wind-following mode as opposed to the route the successful Pacific voyage, we are forging strengths enabled us to put the boats through it was currently on. As the airhostess filled ahead with a rapid expansion and have some the toughest tests before they were allowed out my wine glass, I noted the 12ft seastate and fascinating science missions in the pipeline. unaccompanied. In May 2013, we achieved the 26 knots of wind that the drone was We have taken on a few more staff; a full-time the first unmanned and autonomous rounding experiencing and smiled. If, only a few years programmer and another electrical engineer, of the Farallon islands (30 miles offshore from ago, someone had told me I would be flying with our objective for this next phase being San Francisco), departing and returning to at 30,000 ft controlling a sailboat 1000 miles to prove the scientific value of the platform. Alameda, covering 103 miles in 50 Hours. In away in real time, I would not have believed To achieve this, we have teamed up with some early July we sent SD1 to Hawaii, to try and it. More surprising to me was that monitoring brilliant scientists and are building a small fleet set the first trans-ocean record for a drone. It and controlling the boat via the very intuitive of Saildrones to be outfitted with precision covered 700 miles in the first 5 days, in 20- app was not only fascinating, it was strangely instruments. "ese drones will be deployed on 28 knots of wind the peak speed it reported addictive, leading to compulsive checking, some cutting-edge science missions over the back was 10.2 knots! About half way across, almost 24/7. Seeing the data pour in, then next 12 months in locations from the Gulf of 1000 miles out, we detected a small error in making an alteration and watching the speed Mexico to the Equatorial Pacific and northern one of the encoder values. Most likely salt change in real time was compelling. You are Alaska. water penetration to the encoder or wiring, your own navigator and captain, with an ever- Needless to say, we are very excited about but it meant the wing power control was alert and never-yielding crew. what the future holds for Saildrone. We compromised, so we turned the Saildrone One month later, on the 1st October 2013, have multiple patents filed and believe our around and headed for home. 27 days after we once again released Saildrone from San capability exceeds that of any of the competing departing San Francisco, we recovered it Francisco, to attempt the crossing to Hawaii. technologies. Not only could Saildrone at Santa Cruz harbour, just south of San 34 days later, the ‘Honey Badger’, as it was revolutionise ocean science, but there are Francisco. SD1 had covered 2100 miles on now affectionately known, sailed into Kaneohe many other roles, in sampling, policing and the journey and returned in control, in perfect Harbour in Hawaii, completing the first ever protection for industries such as fisheries, oil mechanical shape. "e problem turned out to ocean crossing by an unmanned sailboat and and gas, and border protection, to name just be a bit of corrosion inside one of the electrical setting a new world record by a considerable a few. I have also not forgotten the seed that connectors, which was an easy fix. margin. It had demonstrated speed, precision started the project, that of the first unmanned During that first pacific mission, I flew and durability far in excess of any other circumnavigation, and we may well be sending down to LA for a National Oceanic and autonomous ocean platform, but more a boat, or two, off from San Francisco with that Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) science importantly, it had silenced the critics, who had exact goal in mind soon. Watch this space. conference. During the flight I was monitoring denied it was possible. "e response from the

Richard Jenkins currently holds the world speed record for wind powered vehicles at 126.2 mph. He grew up spending QSWXSJLMWXMQISRXLI[EXIVIMXLIV½WLMRKSJJ;IWXIVR%YWXVEPMELMWJEQMP]LSQISVWEMPMRKMRWSYXLIVR)RKPERH where he went to School. At 14 years old Richard started designing boats and built a number of radical prototypes. At 17 he sailed across the Atlantic, then continued to do yacht deliveries around the UK and Mediterranean to help cover college fees. He read Mechanical Engineering at Imperial, where he set out to break the outright landsailing WTIIHVIGSVHSJQTL-XXSSO]IEVW HMJJIVIRXZILMGPIIZSPYXMSRWXS½REPP]WYGGIIH6MGLEVHXLIRQSZIH to San Francisco and, amongst other projects, founded Saildrone LLC, with the aim of using his wing and sailboat knowledge to produce an unmanned, autonomous vehicle to reduce the cost of ocean science measurements.

Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2014 23 ALUMNI NEWS & VIEWS Who’s doing what and where

Report from West Coast USA by John Gardiner (Civil Eng 66-70) DIARY I should be packing our house faced – and that’s saying something! IRXVIRGLIH MR XLI 4EGM½G 2SVXL contents for an imminent move, We’re both singing in our Spring west, I’m delighted to say! We’re Saturday May 10 so it’s an ideal time to drop you a concert shortly – I’m singing a also meeting new emigrants from Imperial College / Chapter line.... So we ARE moving house - all couple of verses of All Through the the UK and those who’ve been over Imperial Festival – Annual Alumni of 300 yards, and our alpaca farm is Night, in Welsh, solo – and we’re here awhile and have found this Reunion staying put. Christi and I led a group enjoying the incredible musical secret hiding place in Oregon, with South Kensington campus including schoolchildren to design talent – quality and diversity – of this its extraordinary geology, 50M years and construct a bioswale from a area, along with every form of Art without glaciation and 280 endemic Saturday May 17 large but lifeless ditch 320ft (100m) you can imagine! We’re well known ¾SVEPXE\E¯WIILXXT[SVPH[MPHPMJI CGCA London Walk long outside our local elementary for dancing – and lots more follow org/ecoregions/na0516. 10:30 Walk around the Livery school. We just completed putting YWSRXLI¾SSV3YVVMGLWSGMEPPMJI So put us on your itinerary, OCs Companies, rounded off with a 250 native plants in - now for the with an amazing number of friends all – you may need your phone GPS pint. All welcome. Please contact irrigation! whom we see every week (many units; hint – not all work here! As Alice Spain for further details -´Q½RHMRKRI[MRXIVIWXWEWEGMX] every day at the PO or library or the old adage might have put it [email protected] GSYRGMPPSVMRGPYHMRK½RHMRKPERHIXG shops, or just passing in the street) – East, West, West’s Best! Seriously, etc for a much-needed Little League is complemented by life with our you’ll never forget (or regret) a Wednesday June 4 &EWIFEPP ½IPH RIEV SYV JYXYVI EPTEGELIVH¯WSQISJXLI½RIWXMR trip down Highway 101 to see the CGCA Skateboard/BMX park, and leading the country, with now 5 streams of spectacular coastlines of Oregon AGM & President’s Evening an initiative to expand our Warming products, including delicious alpaca and California! we’re a hop, skip and Venue: AGM Pippard Lecture Shelter (for the hungry and homeless meat! a jump inland, near the California 8LIEXVI 0IZIP  7LIV½IPH &PH – 2 meals a day for 25 souls or more, I continue with river restoration border - a place called Cave Junction 17:30 and overnight accommodation in the – currently modifying two large box (near the famous Oregon Caves) Supper – Senior Common Room Immanuel United Methodist Church culverts under roads in northern that retains more than a whiff of the approx 19:00 when the temperature drops below 'EPMJSVRMEXLEXEVI½WLFEVVMIVWERH Wild West.....! South Kensington campus 40F - about 5C. The immediate need have just attended the biggest RR Please give my love to IC and ol’ (Booking form on the back of is for mobile showers and laundry conference in the USA, in the awe- London town – my birthplace and address carrier) (and more volunteers) and longer- inspiring Columbia Gorge – it was favourite city! term we need transition housing good to be back there after a break Thursday 26 June 2014 (no work without an address!) and of 8 years! Met many old friends, Cheers! John RSMA permanent homes for these folks. including Prof Colin Thorne of AGM / Final Year BBQ It’s the biggest social challenge I’ve Nottingham Univ, who is thoroughly Dr John L. Gardiner MBE PE Venue: 58 Prince’s Gate, South Kensington, Dr Robin Sham (Civil Eng 85) receives ICE Gold Medal AGM 18:30, BBQ 19:00 (Booking form on the back of address carrier)

Friday 12 September 2014 Faculty of Engineering Teaching Awards Ceremony Venue & Time: tbc

Friday 28 November 2014 RSMA 130th Annual Dinner Venue: The Rembrandt Hotel, 11 Thurloe Place, Knightsbridge, London SW7 2RS, 19:00 for 20:00

Saturday 29 November 2014 Dr Robin Sham has received the Gold CGCA Medal from the Institution of Civil 2014 Decade Reunion Luncheon Engineers (ICE). The medal is ICE’s Venue: Polish Club Ognisko, 55 premier award for civil engineering a milestone in my career, but not the engineers.” Exhibition Road,12:30 for 13:00 excellence for an individual whose ½REPIFIGEYWIXLIVIMWVIEPP]WSQYGL The medal was presented (Booking form inserted) sustained contribution to civil more to learn and to contribute,” by Professor Barry Clarke, ICE engineering over many years is of said Robin. “Three decades on president at the ICE Awards WMKRM½GERXQEKRMXYHIERHWXEXYVI-R and across several continents, ceremony in october (above left). For more information the nearly 200-year history of the new challenges still provoke in me Robin was also delighted to be or booking for ICE, only 20 gold medals have been boundless inspiration and enjoyment. reunited with Professors Nethercot, any events, presented. I certainly recommend a career in Burland and Lloyd Smith (above). ±8LMW QSQIRXSYW IZIRX WMKRM½IW civil engineering to aspiring young contact Teresa Sergot [email protected] WE WANT YOUR NEWS or phone Let us know your news or stories 020 7594 1184 Contact Teresa Sergot (address and deadlines on page two)

24 Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2014 ALUMNI NEWS & VIEWS Decade Reunion home. So the large house they had Eleven Triodes attended the City 44th Triode meeting 3rd January 2014 to build to accommodate them all as & Guilds Decade Reunion on 30th teenagers will have lots of space to November 2013 (see opposite), spare. Ideal for anyone interested in including Tony & Deborah Godber a holiday in Western Australia! and Paul Cheung! (We accounted On the work front, he’s still for about a third of the attendees!) working for Rio Tinto, continuing to After a meal, drinks and speeches expand their rail network to move at the Polish Club (opposite Mech lots of iron ore destined for China Eng), Peter Cheung kindly gave us (and elsewhere). Retirement is an excellent tour of Elec Eng where starting to feature in the plans, but we saw some very impressive probably not for 2-3 years. demonstrations including the fully Alice Spain took early retirement automated beer bottle orchestra, 3D in 2011 and has been enjoying the printing and some worried students new freedom. However, she wanted who wondered what their Head of something to get her teeth into. Department was doing there on a Over the past couple of years she’s Saturday afternoon! turned her hand to some technical 44th Reunion writing and teaching, not to mention Eleven Triodes appeared at the Hari Singh looked really well and years ago), he bought 1000 acres at XVEZIPPMRK XS JEV¾YRK TPEGIW  &YX George, braving storms and gales, when we commented on this he Jelenino. At the time, George said to at last she’s found a worthwhile and after a few pints we moved on said it was down to golf, he is now himself “enough was enough” and he project – a derelict property needing to have dinner at the Thai Square. playing of a handicap of 9! He still planned to relax and watch as things restoration. It’s in Norfolk so she’ll As tradition dictates we stopped at spends a few months every year in grew, nurtured by the sun, fanned by be moving there in the next couple the Triode Loo to convince some Goa, India, but when not playing golf the wind, watered by the gentle rain of months. There’s no heating and poor passer-by to photograph us he has serious granddad duties to etc etc. He has to face invasions of the roof leaks so it’ll be hard work (see above)! Of those that came: attend to. beavers (he has 50 acres of beavers for a while. The garden’s a bit of a Peter Cheung remains head of EEE Rut Patel is currently working so if anyone is interested in having wilderness too. But Alice is sure it at Imperial. He’s now been there for for the NHS as a Project Manager. a few, just come and collect), and will be worthwhile in the end… 5 years and will continue until at However, things may change in the chastise land-hungry neighbours Nick Hiscock sent me a note to least 2015. His offer of “free lunch” near future - watch this space. In who have invaded his territory. say he had “Man Flu” so he could not for any Triode visiting Imperial will the past year he has been busy as However he still hasn’t given up make it this year. But he says his wife HI½RMXIP] FI I\XIRHIH XS EX PIEWX his daughter got married and his his corporate responsibilities on Sue is still practising as a vet so he 2015! As is his offer of the use of daughter-in-law gave birth to boy the board of two public companies spends his “retired hours” collecting, the labs (and a few spare students?). all within a month. The baby, who and buying businesses in China (deal repairing, advising on and re-selling Peter Wright is now permanently was 2 weeks old at the time, even signed in Shanghai end of December), British and Austrian Cavalry Weapons on holiday as he has been retired attended his auntie’s wedding. Poland, France and Germany. (he was a weapons engineer in the from BT for a year now. He is Richard Lewis has decided to retire He and his now 1,000 deer RN for 27 years) and also searching working with the Scouts as he is from teaching, it just doesn’t seem wished us all a Merry Christmas and out arms for the folks (including currently District Secretary and also to be worthwhile, perhaps because a Prosperous New Year! a daughter who demonstrates Webmaster for his local group (and of his age he mused. But what next? Steve Glenn unfortunately couldn’t mounted skill-at-arms at the UK for the Triodes by the way). He and He is still pondering. join us because of the weather. Battle Proms each Summer). As he Peter Marlow have now completed Peter Marlow is still running his However, he told me that he is still has sold weapon spares to a bloke in their sporadic walk of the Pennine own business (Softcopy Limited) slaving away and is thinking about Australia he now also counts himself Way and he plans to write the book and is mainly occupied managing retirement maybe in three years or as an International Arms Dealer! (or read one!). IT projects for Government. His so. He has, of course, other duties However, he assures us that he is Phil Harris had a mini reunion of daughter is running in the London the main one being a granddad! otherwise sane and enjoying his former ITV colleagues in Yorkshire marathon, so he’ll be there on the (Seems to be a repeating theme!) retirement. on the top of Emley Moor tower Sunday to cheer her on and of course Hugh Culverhouse is now working Tim Dye did come to the Decade this year, he said it was a bit windy. Hugh. He said he was pleased to on a part-time basis, but on Sunday Reunion and I understand he’s also 8LI] ½RMWLIH [MXL E WTIGMEP HMRRIV complete the Pennine Way this year 14th April he runs in the London SR KVERHHEH HYXMIW FYX ½PPW MR LMW at the National Media Museum in with Pete Wright (see above). Marathon! At the Munich Marathon time with many more activities, Bradford, a great meal accompanied Sid Seth is still working on his in October 2013 he managed to especially pottering about in Norfolk by friends and technology from RI[MRRSZEXMSRW8LIMHIRXM½GEXMSR improve his personal best (from – sounds idyllic! Maybe he should those pioneering days. This year of assets business has taken some Prague 2012) by nearly 2 minutes to speak with Alice? he’s suggesting that he might retire shape and he is now developing 3:21:48 (which was good enough for Those that couldn’t make it and – we’ll see! LMKLIV HI½RMXMSR XEKKMRK IUYMTQIRX 19th place out of 167 in the German we haven’t heard from (can anyone John Harding has been working as a (maybe you should have a chat with Champs for his age group M60). He help?): Ian Heap, Geoff Banks, Pat consultant with CACI this year. He’s Peter Cheung?). He also has two pushed back some training barriers Mason, Graham Castellano, Martin been working at some of the bigger other projects running but they are this year with London 2014 in mind Clemow. mobile operators in the UK, advising of course secret! and his body is telling him that it’s The next two Reunions on OSS deployment. His wife Anne Martyn Hart. I left Gartner, the near the limit. He says there will be The next Triode reunion (it will LEW ½REPP] VIXMVIH JVSQ LIPTMRK US research company, in June 2013 no more marathons after London, be our 45th as we had two meetings people with their money problems and now work for my own company but we’ll see. in year one, two in 2003, and two in and is now a lady of leisure (creating (Extend) mainly in the public sector. Tony Godber’s travel budget (and 2013!) will be on Friday 2nd January money problems for John?). I’ve also stepped down as Chairman leave budget) unfortunately didn’t 2015 at The George, Fleet Street, (EZI 1ERW½IPH is still spending of the UK’s National Outsourcing run to a third trip to the UK within from 7 pm-ish. much of his time in retirement Association after 20 odd years - to a few months. But perhaps once he As a note for your diaries the looking after his 94 year old father devote more time to family stuff! retires he can make it one January. following year (2016), because the who has severe dementia but they Some of you will already have got ½VWX*VMHE] MW EFEROLSPMHE]MX [MPP now have a carer visiting every day. Those that couldn’t make it and an update in person when Tony was be on the next Friday - 8th January He has helped his elder son with the we’ve heard from: over in November for the Decade 2016 (Triode rule 2B). TYVGLEWI SJ XLIMV ½VWX TVSTIVX] MR George Gabrielczyk says he has been Reunion, but he says there has been the London area) which he is now busy retiring since his 35th birthday no major change since last year, Martyn Hart spending most weekends renovating and never more intensely than from other than the children seem to be Arch Triode to save his son more expense. the moment when, for his 60th (2 gradually moving out of the family

Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2014 25 ALUMNI NEWS & VIEWS RSM Mining, year of ’61 CGCA Annual Decade Reunion Lunch 2013

The Mining students, year of ’61, The traditional CGCA ‘Decade itself) and hops (or dances to the power cuts, the 3 day week and last graced the steps of the Royal Reunion’ took place at the newly youngsters) held regularly in the revising by candle light, yet they all School of Mines in August 2011 refurbished Polish Club (“Ognisko”), Union building. The ’63-ers were TEWWIH XLIMV ½REPW  1EVX]R LEH E (see a photo in IE issue 15 p23) opposite the college main entrance, part of a lucky generation; there lovely story about the overwhelming when we commemorated the 50th with a very respectable turn-out of were no fees, and there were grants resourcefulness of Guildsmen anniversary of our going up to Mines 48 alumni, students and guests. Of & awards into the bargain. (Tony is when put up against some London in 1961. Ten older and wiser ex- particular note was the group of one of the ‘63s Chemical Engineers Business School students. students, with spouses, attended that 12 alumni who graduated in 1973, who have founded a Chem Eng Speaking for the 1950’s, John get-together. Now, another three including eight members of the self- Scholarship offering £12.5K for 4 Stoton (Mech Eng 50-53) commented years has passed and we meet again styled ‘73s ‘triodes’ from Electrical years, as mentioned in IE issue 19). to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Engineering. Time was available for As the sole representative of the our graduation in 1964. This time, meeting old friends – and indeed ’93-ers, Mufeed Saleh (Civil Eng 93), we are meeting up in Bath from the meeting new ones – over an 17th – 20th June. Brian Calver has introductory drink, before taking arranged a full programme of city seats at table. tours, visits to the theatre, trips on President David Nethercot the river and even a game of golf for welcomed everyone on behalf the enthusiastic. And to close the of CGCA and explained that the Lumb proceedings, a reunion dinner on retiring London Walks organiser,

Thursday 19th June John Backhurst, and guide Malcolm Chris

Anyone who is not aware of this Dick, who was also standing down, Lumb that in those days, there was a much reunion, (we like to think we’ve together with their wives, had been better view of Guilds from Exhibition spoken to everyone), should contact invited to share in the reunion as a Chris Road. John remembered going for Julian Bennett on: ‘thank-you’ for their efforts over a [LSLEHQEREKIHXS½XMREZMWMXXS a management interview with what [email protected] number of years. In future the walks the UK from his base in Abu Dhabi, was a computer manufacturer right will be organised by Alice Spain, recalled how coursework tended at the start of that industry. He also who was also present to take up to get postponed with inevitable compared the capabilities of the XLIQERXPI %PMGI´W½VWX[EPO[MPPFI XMQI GSR¾MGXW [MXL I\EQ VIZMWMSR current pocket calculator run off 2 announced during late Spring). Mufeed is grateful for the reputation AA batteries to that of the devices Once the meal had begun, David of a top degree from Imperial and then, which required up to 100kW Law (organiser) invited volunteers its recognised reputation around the or more. John had strong memories Many of the best from each decade to take the world. of Morphy Day and at the same time engineers in the world ¾SSV FIX[IIR GSYVWIW MR SVHIV XS Martyn Hart (Elec Eng 70-73) RSXIH XLEX  [EW XLI ½VWX ]IEV are reading this. reminisce on their time at Guilds. that Imperial took students straight Tony Stock (Chem Eng 61-63) from school rather than solely ex- service men playing ‘academic catch- We are intending to up’ after the war. Perhaps this made some of the pranks more ‘junior’, as allow some limited he remembered seeing footsteps advertising in up a wall! John contemplated that if Queen Victoria hadn’t imported a Imperial ENGINEER. German husband, there would have been no Great Exhibition, and thus If your business wants RSKVIEX½RERGMEPWYVTPYW[MXL[LMGL Lumb

to purchase the 80 acres on which Lumb

to reach this audience Imperial was subsequently located, Chris and hence there would have been

of professional Chris recalled the 1970s as the time no Imperial. engineers, please recalled the King Kong Show, the of GB’s entry into the EEC, the 8LI ½REP WTIEOIV [EW '+'9´W contact the editorial building of Southside Halls (since US Watergate scandal, and the current President, Lejon Chua, who knocked down and rebuilt); The appearance of the Austin Allegro, talked about the current edition team. Collcutt Tower being saved for whilst noting that literally on the day of Spanner, reviewed the Union’s the nation by John Betjeman (and Richard Nixon claimed on TV: “I am roles, including social and welfare, wondering how it still stands as not a crook”, Monica Lewinski was and recorded the appreciation of it had been previously buttressed born! There were memories too the CGCU Executive for the strong by the Imperial Institute Building of “Mrs Thatcher – Milk Snatcher!”; support received from alumni through CGCA. Lejon then led the Chem Eng Group 57–60 Annual gathering at IC assembled company in a Boomalaka Our group met for the annual (after being reminded that in years new year gathering in the Beit past, the President held up the Quadrangle cafe/bar on 18 February Spanner above his head for the last, over lunch. Turnout was lower duration). The Spanner and Bolt than has been in the past – but I Bearers, Alexander Johnson and guess we are all getting somewhat Annabel Felton, were also present, older!! The barman was helpful (as and Boanerges had been brought usual) in taking photos - and the best along by driver and co-driver Mateusz is included herewith. Gocek and Ben Wainwright. Bo had Interest was expressed in a been parked in Princes Gardens at possible group outing in the summer the rear of the club, after a certain with partners. Weald and Downland amount of negotiation with Security, open air museum being a possibility. and several members were able to Tony Davis renew their acquaintance with Bo Attendees, from the left, were Don Latimer, Paul Gallagher, Tony after the meal. Davis, Malcolm Cross, Barry Daniels, Jim Friend, and Eric Schmidt. David Law

26 Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2014 ALUMNI NEWS & VIEWS Letter from John Moore (Mech Eng 62-65) Google lures spider into their web Dear Chris: face backwards to Chester since I A small London-based company, [MXL XLI GSR½HIRGI XLEX XLIMV EHW "ank you for your letter of wanted to face forwards in a good seat 18th December with its Christmas for most of the way! spider.io, founded by Computing are reaching real people, that results greetings. I was delighted to receive Boanerges and Spanner are hallowed alumni from Imperial, has been they see are based on actual interest. the print of the architect’s drawing of images for Guildsmen. So it was a EGUYMVIH F] +SSKPI XS LIPT ½KLX To grow the pie for everyone, we the original City & Guilds Building by great surprise one Sunday in 1965- online advertising fraud. Of the need to take head-on the issue of Alfred Waterhouse. As you said, that 66 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to WIZIRIQTPS]IIWXLI½VWXXLVIIEVI online fraud.” building was being demolished during see Bo’ with Professor Hugh Ford on Imperial alumni: CEO and Founder Over the last three years, spider. your time at South Kensington (1958- the cover of Parade Magazine in the Dr Douglas de Jager (Computing 04- io has been building a reputation 61), while I sensed its end briefly newspaper showing the start of their 05, 05-09), Chief Scientist Dr Simon JSVMXW[SVPHGPEWWEHJVEYH½KLXMRK during my entrance examination in London to Brighton run! Overell (Computing 01-05, 05- STIVEXMSRI\TSWMRKWSQILMKLTVS½PI 1961-62 and benefitted from the new I was most fortunate to live in building from 1962 to 1965. Princes Gardens, Room 27 in Weeks 09) and Chief Architect Dr Ashley scams in the past year – including In the bottom right hand corner of Hall, adjacent to the residential Brown (Computing 01-05, 05-09). fraudsters who hack into personal the print is Waterhouse’s signature. areas of South Kensington and Ashley Brown was CGCA liaison computers to create botnets that With my magnifying glass I tried to Knightsbridge. It was just a short SJ½GIV SR XLI '+'9 'SQQMXXII impersonate web user to generate make out the date – I think it is 1881. walk through the Mews and the Hole- and Lord Mayor’s Show coordinator; fake advertising views. In February, Is that correct, and when was the in-the-Wall to Brompton Road and in 2009-10 he was ICU President. Google announced that they had building completed? Harrods, which was always well worth “Advertising helps fund the digital acquired the company with the Of course the print brought back a visit. Hyde Park and Kensington world we love today,” says Neal MRXIRXMSRSJYWMRKXLIMVJVEYH½KLXMRK many happy memories of my time in Gardens were just a block away, and Mohan, Google’s vice-president expertise and including their fraud Kensington. I have taken the liberty of our housekeeper, Mrs. Turner’s boxer adding some images to the print in the dog, Max, loved to go on walks! for display advertising. “But this detection technology in Google’s attached jpg file, retaining the coats of Watching the high flying kites at the ZMFVERX IGSW]WXIQ SRP] ¾SYVMWLIW video and display ad products. arms and the main entrance as I seem Round Pond was fun on a Sunday if marketers can buy media online http://bit.ly/IE20spider to recall that on my first visit. afternoon. It was exciting to travel the 200 With all best wishes for the miles by train from Birkenhead continued success of Imperial Racing engineers reunion Woodside or Rock Ferry to Engineer, and continued recognition A group of over 70 alumni, students time on the team. One alumna, Chester, Wrexham, Shrewsbury, of the contributions and significance and staff met to network, celebrate Alice Rowlands (Mech Eng 06-11), Wolverhampton, Birmingham and of City and Guilds in the 21st century their achievements and catch up on recounted how she threw a pair of London Paddington. Chester was key; with prosperity for its teaching, the latest news from today’s student old boots into a washing machine, the train pulled in, changed engines training, engineering and research. engineers. strapped a battery pack on top, and pulled out backwards for the rest Yours sincerely, Since 2000, Imperial has switched the machine onto the of the journey to London; so I would John Moore formed interdisciplinary teams of fast cycle and then watched closely undergraduate students who design, as everything shuddered about make, test and race racing cars and violently. bikes. Since 2011 the focus has been This was not a new and on low and zero emission vehicles unconventional method to wash under the Imperial Racing Green dirty boots, says Alice. In fact, it is (IRG) banner. These teams have won one of her fondest memories of her a number of races and accolades, time working with the IRG team QSWX VIGIRXP] GPEMQMRK ½VWX TPEGI in 2010. Alice and her team-mates in the Class 2 Design category were testing the battery. EX *SVQYPE 7XYHIRX XLI ¾EKWLMT “We wanted to test how international race series organised vibrations from the vehicle affected by the Institute of Mechanical the performance of the battery,” said Engineers. Alice. “So we turned an old washing The reunion brought racing machine into a makeshift test rig teams past and present together for in the workshop. The experiment XLI ½VWX XMQI%QSRK KYIWXW [IVI worked perfectly and we even put alumni working at Mercedes, Rolls a picture of the ‘rig’ in our project Royce and Jaguar. report!” Engineers in fashion The group caught up on the latest “Working on an IRG car and Imperial spinout lands news on current students’ projects; doing all those fun experiments Silicon Valley investor Roma Agrawal (Civil Eng 05), author the battery electric vehicle being was a good way to demonstrate In the Autumn 2012 issue of IE of the Engineering Brand article built by Imperial Racing Green called to employers my interest in we featured BBOXX, a spinout about diversity in engineering in IE EV2, and the all-electric superbike motorsport and the automotive company from the e.quinox charity issue 19, has been chosen as part of being created by the IC+ team. industry in general,” said Alice. “I at Imperial that provides battery a select group of inspirational British Students delivered technical think the technical understanding I charging stations powered by [SQIR JVSQ E VERKI SJ ½IPHW ERH presentations about their work, gained was particularly important in renewable energy to communities backgrounds to feature in the new speaking about the electronic terms of my understanding of how not connected to a grid supply in Marks & Spencers Leading Ladies systems they are developing to hybrid and conventional vehicles developing countries. In the last issue campaign. “I am delighted to be control the cars, their methods to work,” Alice added. we reported that they were named representing engineers,” she told us. thermally manage the batteries to Alice now works for McLaren and Best Enterprise in the UK in the “I was thrilled to participate as this is improve performance, and their specialises in modelling and analysing Lloyds TSB 2013 Enterprise Awards. a unique opportunity to engage with improvements to the aerodynamics powertrains – the components that Since then the company has received a wider audience and break down of the cars. Updates from the pit generate power in a car. She also a US$1.5million investment from stereotypes surrounding women garage included the news that the develops computer models that Vinod Khosla, one of the founders of in science and engineering. We are EV2, which the team hope to enter enable engineers to analyse in more Sun Microsystems who now runs a real people, and can be fashionable into the 2014 Formula Student race, detail how the race cars perform on billion dollar venture capital business and feminine whilst professional and reached an important milestone last the track. In addition, she works on based in Silicon Valley. BBOXX also technical.” [IIO[MXLMXW½VWXWYGGIWWJYPXIWXSR a simulator to understand how the received a further US$400,000 =SYGER½RHSYXQSVIEFSYXXLI a dynamometer, a “rolling road” for car and driver interact to produce from the British venture capital fund campaign, including an interview testing a car’s performance. the best possible lap times during a Synergy Growth. with Roma, at Students past and present race. http://bit.ly/IE20BBOXX http://bit.ly/IE20Roma swapped experiences from their http://bit.ly/IE20Racing

Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2014 27 OBITUARIES A CAF Volunteer until he retired Innovative and distinguished engineer

DEREK (DARBY) A ALLEN (Mech 1975 to 1983 he worked for Delta. JOHN ROLAND CROOKALL funding from IGM UK to found and Eng 42-45) Darby ended his career doing (Mech Eng 61-62) chair a new Computer Integrated Born on October 1, 1925, in charity work behind the Iron Curtain Professor John Roland Crookall 1ERYJEGXYVMRK-RWXMXYXIEX'VER½IPH Gravesend, Kent, Derek died and was a CAF Volunteer until he was an innovative and distinguished a company Limited by Guarantee, peacefully at home on June 26, 2013, retired. He enjoyed writing books manufacturing engineer and which received the meritorious aged 87. on various subjects and drawing. university leader. commendation of the DTI 1986, and After an education at Cranleigh, (EVF]´W ½VWX QEVVMEKI XS .SER John was born in 1935, the the LEAD award of the US Society he obtained a BSc(Eng) and ACGI, Felton, was dissolved. His second only son of Dr Robert and Gladys of Manufacturing Engineers in 1991. from Imperial, becoming a Chartered was to Susan Lavender, who died Crookall. He was evacuated from He developed Masters courses Mechanical Engineer, CEng, MIMechE. 33 years later, and his third to 0SRHSR HYVMRK XLI ¾]MRK FSQF and programmes for industry, always For two years ‘Darby’, a naval Penelope Trevorrow, who survives period in WW2, to live with relatives encouraging his students to develop nickname by which he preferred him, together with two children in Barrow-in-Furness, where he their talents, and showing personal to be called, was a Sub Lieutenant JVSQ LMW ½VWX QEVVMEKI ERH E WXIT went to school. On returning interest in their progress. RN and served in the Glory and the daughter from his second. He was to London, he attended Dorking He was a founding member of Belfast. Later he was President of a wonderful husband to Penelope County Grammar School. the Oxford University Press Series TS Lion (a Sea Cadet training ship). for 17 years and a caring father, and % ½ZI ]IEV ETTVIRXMGIWLMT EX HI on Advanced Manufacturing. He was ,INSMRIH&IWXSFIPPMR½RMWLMRK grandfather to 8. Havilland Engine Co Ltd followed, a Fellow of the Royal Academy of as Managing Director in 1974. From Penelope Allen and John later joined the staff as a Engineering and on four committees performance and design engineer on devoted to scholarships for Industrial Award-winning academic aero-engines. He became a visiting Secondment, Travel, Professional LAWRENCE J AUSTIN (Chem Eng ½REP I\EQMREXMSRW MR 'LIQMGEP lecturer at Willesden College of Development, and a Trustee of the 58-61) Engineering and in the design Technology, took a postgraduate Panasonic Trust. He participated in Starting as an undergraduate project’; and was elected president DIC at Imperial and then went on the Academy’s study on “Productivity at Imperial in 1958, Lawrence was of City and Guilds Student Union. to take a PhD at the University in UK Manufacturing Industry”. awarded the David Spurr Memorial In 1961 and 1962 , he was awarded of Nottingham. Moving back to .SLR VIXMVIH JVSQ 'VER½IPH MR Medal (for Chemical Engineering the Salteres Industrial Research Imperial College, he became lecturer 1990 and became a consultant in student of greatest merit) in 1960. Scholarship. and course manager of the MSc intellectual property, patents and In the same year he was elected to In 1963, he became an assistant course in Production Technology. copyright, and an international Links Club. lecturer in the Chemical Engineering After nine years, he was made speaker on global manufacturing. In 1961, Lawrence graduated Department and was awarded Professor of Manufacturing He served on many committees, in Chemical Engineering with his PhD in 1966. Awarded the 7]WXIQW EX 'VER½IPH 9RMZIVWMX] including the UK Government’s WX GPEWW LSRSYVW XLI SRP] ½VWX Armstrong Medal and Prize, in 1966, later becoming head of the 'EFMRIX3J½GI%HZMWSV]'SQQMXXII class awarded by the university of for an outstanding piece of research, Department for Design of Machine on Science and Technology, (ACOST) London that year!). In the same he was appointed lecturer in Systems. Shortly after, he merged writing a report on “Advanced year, he was awarded: the Hinchley Chemical Engineering Department, his department with the School Manufacturing Technology” for Medal, by the Institute of Chemical in 1967. From 1966-1969, he was of Production Studies to form and XLI 4EVPMEQIRXEV] ERH 7GMIRXM½G Engineers, as ‘the student of greatest appointed examiner to Council of head the College of Manufacturing, Committee 1985-91 and the British QIVMX EX XLI ½REP I\EQMREXMSRW MR Engineering Institutions. the only such organisation in the Library Advisory Committee. Chemical Engineering’; the Royal In 1969, Lawrence left the country. In 1982, he obtained major John died in November, 2013. Society of Arts Medal, which is given academic world for a long and XS ³XLI SYXWXERHMRK GSPPIKI ½REP distinguished career both in the UK year student – in addition to high and abroad with Shell International academic standard, such qualities as Petroleum Company, from where he More complete versions of character and powers of leadership retired early on medical grounds in obituaries marked with an asterisk are taken into account’; the William 1995. Peck Prize, which is presented to He was always incredibly proud * can be found on our website a ‘student in the Department of of his association with Imperial http://bit.ly/ImperialENGINEER Chemical Engineering and Chemical College. 8IGLRSPSK] JSV TVS½GMIRG] MR XLI %VQ]SJ½GIV[LS[SRER1'ERHEHZERGIHWXERHEVHWEX&VMXMWL6EMP TRAVERS COSGROVE (Civil Eng educated at Marlborough before bridge was successfully launched. and the multi-functional cages for the 38-40 Hon Sec C&G Athletics Club going up to Imperial to read Civil The citation for his award of an parcel service, which he researched 39-40) Engineering. He gained a Blue for Immediate MC stated that his and designed. cross-country running. initiative, courage and resource had He worked on the development He joined the Corps of Royal played a vital part in the continued of fork-lift trucks and sorting Engineers, and was posted to 244 advance, and that he had “added to GSRZI]SVW ERH LI MHIRXM½IH WEJI Field Company Royal Engineers an already brilliant record of service distances from platform edges for (FCRE), landing in Normandy shortly yet another outstanding example of passengers, initially for the Advanced after D-Day. personal bravery”. Passenger Train but subsequently On March 4 1945, Cosgrove was Demobilised in 1946, he worked used on all platforms and indicated E WETTIV SJ½GIV XEOMRK TEVX MR ER ½VWX JSV XLI 0SRHSR  2SVXL by a yellow line. advance on Wesel. Reaching Issum, Eastern Railway, then for British In retirement, he recruited sapper where an attempt to lay a bridge had Railways Scottish Region and, later, veterans to attend annual reunions. John Travers Cosgrove, who has failed and a large armoured force the Western Region. In 1950, Travers He also used his expertise to help died aged 93, was awarded an MC was held up, he came under heavy Cosgrove married Elizabeth (Betty) restore and reopen the Keith & in 1945; he subsequently worked EVXMPPIV] ½VI;LIR XLI 6) SJ½GIV Davidson. Dufftown Railway, Morayshire, and for LNER and British Rail and was who had been trying to lay the From 1962 to 1976, he was the to assist people with disabilities to responsible for the design and bridge was injured and evacuated, 1EXIVMEPW ,ERHPMRK 3J½GIV SR XLI live full lives. introduction of innovative equipment Cosgrove took over, directing the British Railways Board, introducing Travers Cosgrove, died December and safety measures. operations of armoured bulldozers a number of innovations which 27, 2013. He is survived by Betty John was born on October 9, JSV XLVII LSYVW YRHIV MRXIRWM½IH became familiar sights, e.g. the and their daughters. * 1920, in British Columbia, and QSVXEVERHWLIPP½VIYRXMPE7GMWWSVW luggage trolleys at main-line stations

28 Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2014 OBITUARIES The last gentleman in the business Engineer and Physicist

of electromagnetic beam waves and RONALD A LAWES FREng (Elec of waveguide techniques. Eng 58-61, Physics 73-76) ‘He has an international Ron Lawes was born on reputation as one who stands in the September 26, 1938. forefront of microwave engineering, He studied Electrical Engineering and his contributions, particularly at Imperial, and combined an active to ultra high frequency power WGMIRXM½G VIWIEVGL GEVIIV [MXL measurements and open resonators, management responsibilities in large- are acknowledged as an outstanding scale government and industry- achievement.’ funded nanotechnology research Professor Cullen was awarded projects. He had particular interests the Royal Medal in 1984, ‘in in nanolithography processes (X-ray recognition of his many distinguished LIGA, electron beam lithography, contributions to microwave laser micromachining) and Chris Lumb engineering, both theoretical and technology transfer from academia Ron Lawes at Decade Reunion, experimental, and in particular for to industry. He researched the 29Nov’11 research on microwave antennae’. cost and manufacturing tolerances ALEXANDER LAMB CULLEN OBE In the same year, he received the associated with microsystems. he retired in September 2003. He FRS (Elec Eng 38-40) Faraday Medal of the Institution of He was a director of a small WYFWIUYIRXP]GSRXMRYIHLMWWGMIRXM½G It is with sadness that we Electrical Engineers (IEE, now IET). industrial microsytems start-up career as a Visiting Professor both announce the death on December Alex married Margaret in 1940, company - MiniFAB (Aust) Pty - at Imperial and at Birmingham 27, 2013, of Alex (Alexander Lamb) and they had a long and happy based in Australia, and SSTRIC Ltd, University. Cullen. marriage, with three children: a spin-out company from Edinburgh Ron was a Chartered Engineer, a Professor Cullen combined the Michael, Isobel and David. University. Chartered Physicist and a Fellow of WLEVTIWX SJ WGMIRXM½G QMRHW [MXL E Alex was an accomplished jazz Professor Lawes was Director the Royal Academy of Engineering gentle personality and a great sense musician, playing drums and clarinet, of Engineering at the Rutherford (FREng). of humour. He was born in London arranging and composing. In his Appleton Laboratory and the Ron died on November 3, 2013, in 1920, and was educated at Lincoln School days he had played Founding Director of the Central aged 75. * Lincoln School and Imperial College, music with fellow pupil, and later Microstructure Facility (CMF) until studying Electrical Engineering at broadcaster, Steve Race. The pair the City & Guilds College between kept in close touch throughout their 1938 and 1940. During WW2 he lives. 43 years dedicated to public service... worked on early radar at the Royal In January 1986, Cullen was a and golf Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough. signatory of a letter to The Times, In 1946 he took up a lectureship at calling on Prime Minister Margaret KEITH WILLIAM LEWIS AO CB his management skills and vision were UCL, where he worked with Harold Thatcher to ‘Save British Science’. (Civil Eng 55) most clearly demonstrated as he Barlow in microwave research. In This led to the foundation of the Keith Lewis’ remarkable vision, conducted a massive modernisation 1955 he was appointed to the Chair Save British Science pressure group immense capacity for hard work, of the Department. of Electrical Engineering at the (now the Campaign for Science attention to detail and commitment He held another 14 senior part- 9RMZIVWMX] SJ 7LIJ½IPH ERH LI [EW and Engineering, CaSE), which has to public service, over 43 years, left time positions for both the South awarded an OBE in 1960. In 1967, built up an enviable reputation indelible marks on the organisations Australian and Federal governments, Cullen returned to UCL, succeeding with politicians and the media with which he was associated. including: a secondment to create Barlow as Pender Professor and in representing the concerns of Keith was born in Adelaide, on the Department of Environment Head of Department. scientists and engineers. November 10, 1927 and grew up and Planning; sitting on the South When, in 1977, Professor Cullen Cullen was also a published during the Great Depression and Australian Commission for the River was elected Fellow of the Royal writer, of ‘Modern Radio Science’, Second World War. He attended Murray; and chairing many high level Society, the citation read: in 1988 and a biography of Harold Adelaide Boys High School, joined committees in the water and energy ‘Distinguished for his work Barlow, in 1990. SA Water as a junior draftsman aged sectors. in microwaves. He has shown When Eric Ash, who succeeded 16 and studied civil engineering at Keith was made a Companion of remarkable creative ability and a Cullen as Pender Chair in 1980, Adelaide University. the Most Honourable Order of the novelty of approach to the problems later left UCL to become Rector of In 1953, Keith was awarded the &EXLMRERHER3J½GIVSJXLI he has tackled, culminating in new Imperial College, he remarked that prestigious Rockefeller Foundation Order of Australia in 1994. He was knowledge of surface-waves, new Alex was ‘the last gentleman in the Travelling Fellowship to study public also elected an honorary member microwave measurement techniques, business’. There is no-one who health engineering at Imperial. of the Institution of Engineers of new principles for active antenna would disagree with that. * It was here, living at the Victoria Australia, became a Fellow of the arrays, new microwave applications League, that he met his wife of 55 Australian Academy of Technological years, Alison Fleming of Bulawayo, Sciences and Engineering in 1982, >MQFEF[I was inducted into the South Engineer and inventor Returning to Australia, Keith Australian Engineering Hall of Fame resumed his meteoric rise at SA and served as President of the Unley DAVID MARTIN LEAKEY (Elec Eng Company of Engineers, and the Water, eventually becoming, at 46, Lions Club. 50-53, 55-58) co-inventor of 9 patents. Leakey the youngest Director and Engineer- An accomplished golfer, Keith Born on July 23, 1932, Dr David became a visiting professor at the in-Chief for the Department in its won full-colours for Imperial and, for Leakey died, aged 81, on September University of Bristol in 1985 and was history. his many contributions, as a Member, 26, 2013. awarded an Honorary DEng from Key career accomplishments Captain and eventually President of Leakey was educated at Imperial the university in 1995. He retired, as include the controversial the Kooyonga Golf Club, he was College and worked in the Group Technical Advisor at British MRXVSHYGXMSR SJ ¾YSVMHEXMSR SJ made only their 8th Life Member. telecommunications industry, rising Telecom, in 1992, but continued to Adelaide’s water, the consolidation Keith died peacefully at his home, to hold several directorships and work in the telecommunications of the state water legislation into a on November 15, 2013. He is become a member of the Royal sector. single SA Water Resources Act, and survived by his wife Alison, daughters, Academy of Engineering in 1979. He From 2001 to 2007, David served the introduction of the Metropolitan grandchildren and a close extended was a Freeman of the City of London as a trustee of the IEE Benevolent Water Filtration and River Murray family. * and a Liveryman in the Worshipful Fund (now IET Connect) charity. Salinity Control Programs. However,

Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2014 29 OBITUARIES Long-serving MEP Natural curiosity and delight in ideas

JAMES MOORHOUSE (Aero Eng distribution system; in 1997 he DAVID J SPENCER (Chem Eng 55- the commissioning team of the 45-46) complained that the odds were 58) ½VWX GSQQIVGMEPWGEPI TPERX ERH Cecil James Olaf Moorhouse still stacked against exporting to David J Spencer died on 21 was later appointed site Technical was born on January 1, 1924. After Japan, with its distribution system September 2013. He is survived Manager. From 1981, until his St Paul’s School he went to King’s still closed and its markets heavily by Monica, whom he married in retirement in 1990, he was Group College and Imperial College, regulated. 1966, and 3 daughters, a son and 7 Process Engineering Manager. He reading Engineering and Advanced 8LSYKL ½VQP] SR XLI PIJX SJ grandchildren. was appointed a Fellow of the Aeronautics. his party, Moorhouse was not After graduating in 1958, David Institution of Chemical Engineers He joined de Havilland as a an instinctive rebel but, after the joined the Atomic Energy Research during this time. designer in 1946, moving to BOAC conclusion of the Maastricht Treaty, Establishment. After a couple of In retirement he continued his after two years as a project engineer, the party’s original MEPs came under years he moved to British Titan interests in music, playing bridge and then joining Shell in 1953, becoming increasing Eurosceptic attack for Products Co. Ltd, now Huntsman reading extensively. He became an its environmental conservation having “gone native”. Moorhouse Pigments, where he spent the excellent cook and developed a love advisor in 1968. From 1973 he was regarded William Hague’s refusal VIWXSJLMW[SVOMRKPMJI%X½VWXLI of gardening and, more especially, 68>´W KVSYT IRZMVSRQIRXEP EJJEMVW to contemplate membership of the worked at their Grimsby Plant. In visiting gardens. adviser, becoming a consultant after WMRKPI GYVVIRG] EW XLI ½REP WXVE[ 1962 he moved to the Group He had a natural curiosity, a deep his election as an MEP, in 1978. and, in 1998, he defected to the Process Engineering Department appreciation for that which was As a long-serving Conservative Liberal Democrats on Teesside and became involved in beautiful and a real delight in ideas. MEP, he became a spokesman for .EQIWQEVVMIHX[MGI½VWXMR the development of the manufacture He was a quiet family man who the Conservative group on subjects to Elizabeth Huxtable. They had of titanium dioxide pigments via applied his personal and technical from external trade to human rights, a son and daughter; the marriage the oxidation of the titanium skills with great effect as a team but made his mark mainly in the was dissolved in 1995. In 1997, he tetrachloride. leader and player. ½IPHWSJXVERWTSVXERHVIPEXMSRW[MXL married Catherine Peterson. In 1971 he was a member of Japan. James died on January 6, 2014, He urged Japan to open up its aged 90. * internal market by reforming its A Guildsman, through and through

ROBBY (EATON three years. Turning down the offer with its exceptional speakers and HOLROYD) ROBINSON of another posting in Pakistan, he left friendly congregation. He became a (Mech Eng 35-38) the company and joined management committee member of the Friends Robby Robinson was consultants, Urwick Orr. During of Buckingham University, playing many things: an engineer who the next six years, he re-organised bridge there regularly. [SVOIHSRXLI½VWXNIXIRKMRI twelve organisations including a Robby was involved with the with Frank Whittle; President food warehouse, the government of Old Centralians. He took over as of CGCA (90-91); a member >EQFMEERHFVEQEOIVW&IVPIM publisher of the Central Magazine of Links, who attended the He married Shirley Reilly in 1956 in 1984, for a year, but was still in annual dinners well into his and they had a family: two girls and charge in 1990 when he became RMRIXMIW  E ½VWX GPEWW VM¾I a boy. He returned to industry, President. During his presidency he shot in his youth and, later, a becoming MD of Leslie Hartridge, initiated an appeal which resulted fervent golfer; a businessman E WQEPP IRKMRIIVMRK ½VQ QEOMRK in the offering of Accommodation who won the Queen’s Award testing equipment for diesel pumps Bursaries to provide funds to for export three times; a and injectors. selected students, to allow them to man who charmed women; Hartridge had only 75 employees, afford accommodation closer to the a noted wit who wrote his shoot for Scotland, at Bisley. He got very old machine tools, was generally college. own funeral oration and provided the top score. rundown and had no export market. Now known as ‘Student Activity the pew cushions in the church to ,IUYEPM½IHEWETMPSXFYX[LIR Robby’s knowledge and experience Awards’, these awards are still ensure that everyone was sitting WW2 broke out, found that, as enabled the company to expand, available and, over the past 20 years comfortably to hear it. Robby had a post-graduate trainee at Rolls selling products overseas. He set a total of around 300 have been a great sense of fun and was always Royce Aero Engines, his engineering up and became President of its US made, with an aggregate value of optimistic, but he was also a serious expertise in the manufacture of aero subsidiary and was President of around £200,000. engineer and businessman. engines was seen as more important the Garage Equipment Association. June died in 2012. After a period Eaton Holroyd Robinson was for the war effort. He was also on the council of the of mourning, Robby determined born on 29 November, 1915, in In 1940 he was transferred to Motor Manufacturers and Traders. to celebrate his 98th birthday by Glasgow. Despite his names being a secret project in Rugby, which Hartridge won the Queen’s Award booking a local hostelry for lunch, long-established family names, turned out to be the development for Exports three times, and later inviting friends and family. Although Robby showed early individuality SJXLI½VWXNIXIRKMRIHIWMKRIHF]7MV the Queen’s Award for Technology. Robby died on November 19, the by deciding that ‘Robby’ or ‘Robin’ *VERO;LMXXPITVSHYGMRKXLI½VWXNIX Robby retired in 1980 and began booking was maintained for his was more suitable. Educated at engine ever, in 1941. advising other businesses on wake. Merchant Taylors’ School, Robby His war time experience was a exports. Robby said he owed his longevity I\GIPPIHMRVM¾IWLSSXMRKERHVYKF] disappointment: being unable to take Life changed in 1984 when Shirley to June’s care and their partnership, while mathematics and sciences up his Fleet Air Arm commission; was found to have cancer. She died his devoted family, and to his many were his best subjects. working long hours; having little the following year. friends. He wrote, “But I must also At 17, he went up to Kings social life; working on a top secret In 1987 Robby married June thank the Lord and my parents, for College, London to read Chemical project he couldn’t talk about that, Micklem, MBE. They went on giving me a very low blood pressure Engineering and claims he failed his in the end, did not contribute to honeymoon to South Africa. Every and a low pulse rate - and prunes for ½VWX ]IEV FIGEYWI LI JIPP QEHP] MR the war effort (Whittle’s jet engine year thereafter he returned to Cape breakfast!” love. Kings’ loss became the Guild’s was not adopted by the RAF until Town, often meeting up with other He ended, “Thank you and gain. Moving to Imperial, he studied the end). Guildsmen. farewell dear friends until we meet Mechanical Engineering. He was After the war Robby joined the Robby took up golf and joined again, and we will meet again.” * GETXEMR SJ 0SRHSR 9RMZIVWMX] 6M¾I Aviation Department of Shell and 7XS[I½RHMRK RI[ JVMIRHWOIITMRK Club and, aged 22, was chosen to was posted to India and Pakistan for ½X  ,I EPWS NSMRIH 7XS[I 'LYVGL Roderick Rhys Jones (Civil Eng 61-64)

30 Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2014 OBITUARIES Setting industrial standards Inspired three generations of students

DAVID WHARTON RUSSELL for a year to train in the designing JOHN LESLIE STOLLERY, CBE as lecturer in aerodynamics. An PRICE (Chem Eng 48-51) and running of a chemical plant. He FREng (Aero Eng 48-51, 51-52) outstanding academic with a gift for David Price was born in did both of these things, with the John Stollery, who died on June experimentation, he also worked Portsmouth, on April 18, 1924. new plant producing neoprene just 28, 2013, aged 83, was a distinguished with Donald Campbell’s team on the Aged 15, David had been sent outside Londonderry, where he engineer. He contributed to the Bluebird projects. to France to perfect his French; moved in 1958 and where Jonathan YRHIVWXERHMRK SJ LMKLWTIIH ¾MKLX Promoted to reader in returning alone in late August ’39, was born in 1961. and inspired three generations aerodynamics in 1962, he was overnight in unlit trains full of French David remained with Dupont, of students to follow careers in awarded a DSc for his collective serviceman, was a memorable QSZMRKXSMXW,IEH3J½GIMRERH aerospace. research in 1972, then moved experience. becoming involved with marketing, John attended East Barnet to the College of Aeronautics, At 18, he had a ‘Reserved specialising in rubber hoses used in Grammar School, before studying 'VER½IPH9RMZIVWMX]EWTVSJIWWSVSJ Occupation’ in Woolwich, making the automotive industry; Margaret study aeronautical engineering at aerodynamics, in 1973. He became bearings for tank wheels, and serving would often join him on annual Imperial, achieving a BSc and an head of the college in 1976 and in the Home Guard. But, having conferences near Geneva, Dupont MSc. He joined the aerodynamics was later also dean of the faculty of lost two cousins serving in Fighter Europe’s HQ. This work led on to department at the De Havilland engineering and pro-vice-chancellor. Command, he felt he had to join up. his chairing committees concerning aircraft company in 1952. He was chairman of the defence He joined the Duke of Wellington’s rubber and, later, plastics for the BSI -R XLI PEXI W EW ¾MKLX technology board at the MoD, and of Regiment, and became ‘DWR Price, and ISO – for whom he travelled speeds increased, new problems the aviation committee at the DTI, DWR’. widely for conferences. required engineering solutions. and a member of the airworthiness He was posted to Egypt where Having taken early retirement, Experimentation was the only requirements board at the CAA. his unit was responsible for installing he was consultant to Stirling reliable tool and new facilities were He was also president of the telephones in the RAF HQ. Here 0PS]HE ½VQ TVSZMHMRK HEQTTVSSJ needed. John was a pioneer of the Royal Aeronautical Society in 1987, he met Margaret who was a WAAF membrane for bridges, both in the “gun tunnel”, building a machine an honorary fellow of the Royal 3J½GIV 8LI] QEVVMIH SR .YRI  UK and US. (He had previously been that could deliver a speed of 3km/ Aeronautical Society and a fellow of 1948. involved with the Thames barrier.) sec for about 10 milliseconds. His the Royal Academy of Engineering. On leaving the army, David read In 2000, David and Margaret team made important contributions In 1994, he was made a CBE for chemical engineering at Imperial. moved to Wells and found a house to the understanding of high Mach services to the aerospace profession. ,MW ½VWX NSF [EW [MXL %PFVMKLX on the stream fed by the Bishop’s RYQFIV¾S[WERHTVSZMHIHTVEGXMGEP ,I VIXMVIH JVSQ 'VER½IPH MR and Wilson in the Midlands. He then Palace Moat; it was here at home design information for missiles and 1995, but continued working with moved to work in Glamorgan, for that David died in July 2012, aged EMVGVEJX MRXIRHIH JSV ¾MKLX EX QSVI students. Midland Silicones. Joining Dupont 88. XLER½ZIXMQIWXLIWTIIHSJWSYRH Jane died in 2009. John is survived in 1957, he was sent to Michigan In 1956 he married Jane by their four sons. * Reynolds and returned to Imperial From Ningpo to Toronto Secret of centenarian’s longevity: YUAN LU LI (Elec Eng 55-58) Research Ltd. and was a co-inventor “Not dying!” Dr Yuan-Lu Li was born in Ningpo, of 5 patents. China and had his early education in Returning to Singapore, he became GEORGE ELLIOTT WILD (Civil Eng Nancy sharing the hobby with equal Singapore. the Head of the Maths and Science 31-34) enthusiasm. In 1966, they bought a He studied at Imperial and, in Centre at Ngee Ann Polytechnic George was born near retirement cottage, conveniently 1958, obtained a First Class degree from 1987 to 1997, during which time 'LIWXIV½IPHSR(IGIQFIV near good trout rivers. Nancy died in Electrical Engineering. In 1964, he he also served on the Council of the After Hulme Grammar School, in 2002. received a PhD from the University Institute of Engineers Singapore and he read Civil Engineering and George believed in ‘moderation of Birmingham, on a Commonwealth as Chairman of a subcommittee of Surveying at Imperial and, on leaving, in everything’ and had an excellent Scholarship. the ASEAN Committee of Science immediately joined John Mowlem, sense of humour. When he was After his return to Malaysia, he and Technology. for whom he worked for the rest of asked to what he attributed his was appointed Chair of Electrical Dr Li passed away in Toronto, his life, as a civil engineer, rising to longevity, he immediately retorted, Engineering, University of Malaya, in Canada on August 7, 2013 at the age become a board director. “Not dying.” 1969. of 82. He leaves behind a wife, three In WW2, he joined the OTC He was enormously well-read and Emigrating to Canada, Dr Li GLMPHVIRERH½ZIKVERHGLMPHVIR  and then the TA and was posted to delighted in well-honed verse. He liked spent 17 years with Bell-Northern 'SVWLEQEWER%VXMPPIV]WXEJJSJ½GIV words to be used with engineering He married Nancy Tilley and the precision. He was very much loved couple had two daughters, Elizabeth by his four granddaughters, 10 great NOTICES IN BRIEF and Mary. grandchildren and 1 great-great After the war, George worked at grandchild. PETER HENRY CALDER OBE MAURICE DAVIDOV (Mech Eng Shellhaven and on various tunnelling George died on January 22, 2014, FREng 54-58) projects. In 1956 Mowlem sent him aged 100. Dr Peter Henry, Formerly Born on September 19, 1936, to Persia. He thoroughly enjoyed Concorde Project Director, died Maurice Davidov died on September his projects abroad, visiting many peacefully on August 31, 2013, aged 23 , 2013, aged 77 years. countries, usually in the tendering 87 years. Dearly loved husband of team. In 1958, he was in charge Mary Rose. of the building of Immingham Dry Docks. JOHN RYDING (Elec Eng 57-60) George was in charge of John, a loving husband, father Mowlem East Africa in Kenya, until and grandfather, died peacefully on Independence. He returned to August 29, 2013 after a long illness. ,IEH3J½GIXSFIGSQIEJYPPFSEVH George celebrating his 100th He had spent much of his working director in charge of tendering and birthday with members of his life at the University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology, ½RERGI family including daughters Maurice and his wife, Barbara thoroughly enjoying the environment Fishing was a passion that he Mary (right) and Elizabeth celebrating their golden and student company. held and practised all his life, he and (left). wedding anniversary in 2011.

Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2014 31