I m p e r i a l ENGINEER

AURORA PACIFIC BLOB THE GREAT FIRE ALASKAN EXPEDITION CIVSOC TRIP TO NAPLES FAREWELL TO TERESA SERGOT

For members of City & Guilds College Association and The Royal School of Mines Association ISSUE 25 AUTUMN 2016 ISSUE TWENTY FIVE Autumn 2016

In this issue… 12 16 28 ASSOCIATION NEWS & REVIEWS FACULTY NEWS 3 Presidents Report 8-9 We bid farewell to Teresa Sergot 4 CGCA AGM Presidential Speech 10 Imperial engineer develops imaging tool as part of 5 Old Centralians’ Trust annual roundup the Human Connectome Project 6-7 FCGI; Back to the Future – reinventing the UK’s 10 Imperial researcher wins Royal Society award manufacturing industry 10 Imperial renews Athena SWAN silver status 7 Our new RSMA President: Tim Cotton 11 Three new Imperial Fellows announced by Royal 30 Book review; Mech. Eng. alumnus brings engineering Academy of Engineering to kids; Tea party in BC; Elec. Eng. 1978-81 class 11 Imperial engineer awarded Young Engineer of the reunion; 1964 City & Guilds Epic Film Year 31 Diary OBITUARIES: FEATURES 31 Prof Bernard G Neal; Pauline Rowe; Timothy Gare 12-14 Tales of an aurora hunter – Melanie Windridge 32 Grosvenor Rex Davis 15 The northern Pacifc Blob – Wyss Yim 33 Karel Labberte; Peter Clark; Clifford Williams 16-20 Alaskan Expedition – Sara Arbós Torrent, Boris Korzh, 34 David Osborne; Peter Ashcroft Sam Thompson, Arnaud Sors 35 Norman Loch; Steve Stephens; Dudley Dennington 21-23 Hydraulic Fracturing in Hydrocarbon Reservoirs – Sharinia Kanagandran Front Cover photo: 23-24 Should a Materials Science graduate join the feld of Aurora at Reiss Beach in Caithness Nanotechnology? A critical view – Iacopo Russo (pp 12-14) 25 Hydro-electric power generation in China - Jolyon Nove 26-27 CivSoc Tour 2016 – Naples – Jayneil Master Back Cover photo: 28 From Great Confagration to Modern Regulation - Baldtop Peak, Alaska Tim Munday midnight express ascent (pp 16-20) 29 Estonia Fastpacking expedition – Catherine Spurin, © Maciej Winiarczyk, 2016 © Arnaud Sors, 2012 Tom Raven

CORRESPONDENCE and ENQUIRIES Imperial ENGINEER Nic Katona, Head of Development, Faculty of Engineering EDITORIAL BOARD Imperial College London Peter Buck (Editor) South Kensington Campus David Bishop, Tim Cotton, Paul Holmes, Faculty Building, Level 2 Nic Katona, Chris Lumb, London SW7 2AZ Bill McAuley (Emeritus Editor) Tel: +44 (0)20 7594 2038 Email: [email protected] for RSMA queries PRODUCTION AND DESIGN Email: [email protected] for CGCA queries Alison Buck Website: www.imperial.ac.uk/engineering/alumni/ CGCA website: www.cgca.org.uk PRINTING RSMA website: www.rsm-association.org Bishops Printers, Portsmouth URLs at the end of items indicate more details online. Where appropriate we use bit.ly short links. Faculty news items that ISSN 2398-1237 (Print) are derived from Imperial News under an Attribution-NonCommercial- ISSN 2398-1245 (Online) ShareAlike Creative Commons license have a short link to the original item where full attribution details can be found. STORY IDEAS FOR THE NEXT ISSUE BY FEBRUARY 17 2017 FINAL COPY DEADLINE: MARCH 17 2017

Te 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 Autumn 2016 Welcome to the Autumn 2016 edition of Imperial ENGINEER and to this frst letter from me as your CGCA President. I want to start by formally thanking Roger Venables for all of his hard work as President over the last 2 years. Roger will of course continue to be actively involved in CGCA activities as past President. Elsewhere in this issue you will fnd details of the strategic review we have carried out of CGCA where we have sought input from alumni and from current staf and students in the Engineering Faculty. We are now in the process of implementing a number of changes and adjustments to what we ofer. As the new academic year starts, we are looking to increase our level of engagement with individual departments signifcantly, as well as continuing to work with CGCU ofcers. We have established departmental contacts in all of the departments of the Faculty and will be talking to each of them about what they would like us to do with them that would be helpful and support the needs of current students in their department. Our alumni told us that what they really want is to be able to make contact with their own former classmates and to arrange their own get-togethers. We are making changes to the way our information is organised to enable this to happen with ease and are pleased to say that the new CGCA Members’ Forum is now live. Tis allows members to easily organise groups and events, but you will need to register so we can keep the forum Judith private to CGCA Members. Go to http://cgca.freeforums.net to register, and please include your frst name and surname in your username so we can confrm that you are a member. When groups do hold get-togethers we would love you to take a photo and send us a few lines to tell us about Hackitt who was there and what people are up to now, for us to include in future editions of IE or on our website (which we are going to be updating). In the meantime, we are working to make our more formal events even better: Te decade reunion lunch has now become the 5 and 10 year reunion lunch and the frst of these will take place on 26th November. Our Annual Dinner next year will be at Saddlers Hall on March 3rd 2017 and I am delighted that Isobel Pollock-Hulf has agreed to be our Guest speaker. Isobel and I were contemporaries at Imperial back in the 70s and are still friends today. She is currently the frst ever female Master of the Worshipful Company of Engineers. Please start ringing around your friends and get a group together to join us for what will be a splendid evening. We are also planning to improve the ofering for CGCA members at Imperial’s Festival in May next year, but more of that later. If there are things that you would like us to do to help you stay in contact with friends or there are things you would like to hear more about, do please get in touch. Te committee of CGCA is here to make our Association work better for its members – and we can only do that if you tell us what you want. In closing I would just like to add my personal thanks and best wishes to Teresa Sergot for all of her hard work over many years for CGCA. Happy retirement, Teresa. PRESIDENTS REPORT

John handed me the baton of the Presidency in June and it has to be said that the eforts that he and the Committee have put in over the past three years have been exceptional. I believe we have a much better relationship with the College, a stronger funding model and continued enduring relationship with RSMU. Looking forward over the period of my tenure, the key challenges will be to further build the relationship with College, maintain the focus on funding and engage with the Materials students to maintain the relevancy of the RSMA as an Alumni association. Te period between the spring and autumn issues of this publication is always a quiet one in terms of RSMA and RSMU activities. Te 2016 Annual General Meeting of the Association was held on the 23rd June, followed by the fnal year Bar-B-Q, which was again well attended by the students plus a few stalwart alumni. Once again, Eddie Gadd donated generous quantities of his Ramsgate Brewery’s fnest ale which was much appreciated by one and all. Te minutes of the AGM, including the President and Treasurer’s report will be posted on the RSMA website in due course. Te RSMA was again represented at the IC alumni reunion day in May and this is a great opportunity for alumni to meet old friends and to see the Imperial of today and to absorb all the innovations and frontier developments in research and education, that warrant Imperial’s position as one of the world’s top academic Tim institutions. RSMA had a small number of alumni visit the stand primarily due to a reunion of the 1966 Metallurgy class, although the stand was merely a meeting point before heading to the Queens Arms! Te 132nd annual dinner will be held on Friday 26th November at the Rembrandt Hotel in Knightsbridge. Cotton Last year was an excellent event with 127 guests and it is hoped that as many members as possible will attend this year. Te dinner remains the most signifcant event in the Association’s calendar. In this publication there is a fyer that contains the booking form and a group e-mail will also be sent out to all members, telling them how to book. Te student executives for this academic year are Noah Hawkins, President, and Evelyn Mason, Secretary. Te Committee and I look forward to maintaining a strong and enjoyable relationship in our continuing support of the RSMU. We play Camborne at home this February and that always bodes well for more returning Alumni. As many of you may know, Teresa Sergot retired from her role as Academic and Alumni Relations Manager in the Faculty of Engineering, at the end of September. Teresa has been an outstanding supporter of the RSMA and her assistance, leadership and advice in running the RSMA will be sorely missed. Over the last few months, there has been extensive dialogue with the College’s Development Department in the Faculty of Engineering to establish how to fll the gaping hole left by Teresa. In short, whilst we will not have a ‘new’ Teresa we will have the appropriate level of support from the College via the Development and Alumni Relations teams. It is reassuring to note that College does recognise the importance of the role of the former constituent college associations and are willing to continue the support. During his tenure, John O’Reilly and the Committee did an outstanding job in getting to grips with membership numbers, communication platforms such as LinkedIn and Facebook and fund raising. John initiated the 100 Club fund raising activity and this is continuing to grow, albeit at a slower pace than planned, so this will remain a key focus of my tenure. If you promised John to help out, then expect a call soon!!

Imperial ENGINEER Autumn 2016 3 NEWS & REVIEWS CGCA AGM Presidential Speech

In her speech at this year’s AGM in June, new CGCA President Dame Judith Hackitt DBE FREng FCGI outlined the results of the recent strategic review

It is hard for me to come to terms has been falling steadily. Attendance the new Design Engineering course, those who have a choice to make with the fact that I have been at last year’s Christmas lunch and continue to receive the award of about whether to join CGCA and associated with CGCA (or the Old lecture is one example, but we have ACGI at the end of the course. stay in touch through us. Centralians as it then was) for well also been putting signifcant effort Departments are also much bigger – We must also develop a strong over 40 years. I was the OC Rep on into arranging events for current giving them a much more convenient partnership with the College’s City and Guilds Exec in 1974-5 and students only to fnd that, on the day, and natural community which most Alumni team to ensure that we have continued as my year group rep for attendance is very poor. students gravitate towards and a presence at their overseas events several years after we graduated. On We’ve also seen a signifcant this has resulted in a signifcant and also so that we can explore the 8th June this year, I become the increase in the level of Alumni strengthening of Departmental joint badging and sponsorship of President of CGCA. activity undertaken by the College society activity. high profle lectures and events. Whilst I was an undergraduate itself. There is now a very well We conducted a membership The College already has a very full in Chem Eng I met my husband. We staffed development department survey which has shown us that our programme of events which would were in the same year group on the and regular contact is made with existing membership would also be of interest to CGCA members same course and we made many Alumni often with an aim of securing welcome some changes to how we who want to stay abreast of what is friends whom we have stayed in funding or donations for College. operate and what we offer to them. happening socially and academically, touch with over all of the intervening Alumni events are now held around Overseas members feel cut off and we don’t need to create our own years. In fact, in 2015, our decade the world and the President of would like us to fnd ways to include events, but open up those that reunion brought together over 20 of IC frequently attends these. The them, members predominantly want already exist to our members. us from Chem Eng 72-75 – almost College also encourages alumni to to use CGCA to stay in touch with We also need to modernise our 1/3 of the year group. come back and visit the campus, their own groups of friends rather communication methods. We have In the intervening years David and most notably through the Imperial than attend organised events which taken the frst steps this year with I have watched our own daughters Festival which now takes place in span several years and departments, the resolution of a data-sharing grow up and go through University. early May every year, but also to but they do also want to stay in agreement with the College and a Neither of them attended Imperial attend other noteworthy lectures touch with what is happening at regular newsletter which now goes nor did they become Engineers, and events. College and to have the opportunity out via e-mail. But this is only the but that is not the point of this This new level of Alumni activity to attend selected annual events. start. Members have told us very reference. What we learned from within College is a good thing – it The case for change seems to us clearly that they want us to facilitate their University experience was that is not about competition but it is to be clear whichever direction we their contact with old friends not neither of them built quite the same about adapting with the times and look in. Our strategic review has necessarily to be the organisers of attachment to their Universities working in partnership. By working given us some very valuable insights formal get-togethers. We need to as we did to Imperial, to City and more effectively with others in into the direction we need to take. radically update and redesign our Guilds and to Chem Eng. They have College we can and must reposition The challenge is for us to provide website and our presence in social stayed in touch with a few people CGCA as an integral and valuable that bridge between the past and media as well as continue to offer they made friends with, particularly part of the Alumni landscape – but the present for everyone – Alumni, the printed form of publications like those that they shared houses of to do this we must change our wherever they are in the world, Imperial ENGINEER. fats with, but I don’t see in either of outlook and our activities. current students, and staff. It is not This is about evolution not them the same level of attachment/ Some of our soundings within for us to dictate whether people revolution. Change is necessary but affection to their alma maters that College gave us some harsh feedback gravitate to CGCA rather than IC we also need to hold onto who we I feel to this place here in South about our relevance – or lack of it. or any other club they may have are and to our traditions. Events like Kensington. I suppose for me this There is a balance to be struck belonged to whilst they were here. the Annual Dinner will continue as was part of the process of realising between preserving the traditions We need to offer them a choice and will our decade reunions, although that students and graduates of today and the history of where we have we need to offer them fexibility to these will be moving to fve rather see the world and relate to things all come from and adapting to the allow them to engage as they wish. than 10-yearly and we are also differently from how it was “in my new environment. Graduates today CGCA has an important part to play looking at whether we would attract day”. leave the Faculty of Engineering in making this happen – provided we higher attendance if these took My contacts with the College of Imperial College which is a can embrace the changes we need place on the same weekend in May since I graduated have been many, University in its own right, no longer to make. as the Imperial Festival. various and sustained. I have been a part of the University of London. We need to engage much Maintaining our traditions and graduate recruitment contact for my The student population has always more effectively with individual our own identity is important. They employer, I’ve given talks on careers, been international but that is even departments – with staff and with link us to the history of Engineering I am a member of the Chem Eng more true today than ever before. students – and we intend to seek at Imperial College, but we must Dept Strategic Advisory Board and To get onto an Engineering course input from each department within also become an integral part of I was recently invited to become here today requires grades that the Faculty to help ensure we have the broader Alumni family across a member of the College’s newly many of us would have struggled the right reps in place. In some of the Imperial College as it is today and reformed Court. I am delighted to to attain. Whether or not that is newer departments we may invite will be into the future. CGCA’s be the President of CGCA. a function of changes in A level members of staff to become CGCA journey needs to be in sync with that I am starting my Presidency with standards, what I do know from my dept reps. The key is to ensure that of the College and the Engineering a case for change and modernisation engagement with current students is what we offer to each department Faculty . of CGCA. Membership numbers are that they are under a lot of pressure, is relevant and interesting to them We will keep you all informed falling and the age profle of those in they work extremely hard and they – not what we think they need. This as we make changes to the membership is increasingly skewed work very long hours. They still year we have already started that CGCA offering, through Imperial towards those of more senior years. socialise of course but it’s different process by sponsoring (funding) ENGINEER and via our e-mail This means that we are struggling to and it’s rationed into the time they a number of recent graduates to newsletters. But we also welcome attract into membership those who can make available. return and attend the fnal year your thoughts and ideas – especially are graduating now and who have There are new departments now dinner in two departments. This if you didn’t get the opportunity graduated from the Engineering which have no emotional affnity to has been at the suggestion of the to participate in our survey. This Faculty in the last 10-20 years. the old C&G identity although we department and has been very well is your association and your views Even among those who are active have been instrumental in ensuring received. Being responsive is what matter. members, attendance at some events that all of these courses, including will make our value proposition to

4 Imperial ENGINEER Autumn 2016 NEWS & REVIEWS Old Centralians’ Trust Annual roundup from Chris Lumb, Chair of the Trust The Old Centralians’ Trust has commencement of the Autumn London Institute Centenary Award continued to support engineering Term. (the latter two of these are provided students in undertaking activities Tw o signifcant awards were on behalf of the City & Guilds which fall outside the defnition of made to groups of students Association and the FCGI Witchell academic learning, based on the engaged in humanitarian projects Fund respectively). principle that it is the activities - one to the College’s Engineering Each year a modest proportion of that are undertaken outside of without Borders group, who the available budget has been used the lecture room and laboratories were concentrating on projects to support postgraduate students in which make the difference between in the Philippines, and one to the travelling to overseas conferences a purely academic achievement and Raincatcher group who spent much to present papers on their research, one which builds a much broader of the year planning and fund-raising whether by way of a poster display and rounded education. The Trust in order to build rainwater storage or a podium presentation. During Photo: Yuebi Yang Yuebi Photo: has also continued its readiness to facilities in Tanzania; these enable the year 2014-15, some ffteen fulfl its prime objective of relieving water from the rainy season to be students received assistance under University of Oxford and Head of any student hardship which has stored for use during the long dry this heading, with the total sum of the Mobile Robotics Group of the arisen through no direct fault of the periods. These grants totalled just £5,400 equating to an average travel Department of Engineering Science student concerned. short of £3,000. grant of £360. at Oxford. The topic of his lecture During the most recent fnancial Support in the form of a grant of In addition to the awards was Driven by Mobile Autonomy: an accounting period – equating to £1,540 was provided for a group of described above, the Trust provided Enabling Technology of the Future the academic year 2014-15, the Old 69 Civil Engineering students, drawn funding towards the annual Peter and this was delivered to a very full Centralians’ Trust distributed over from amongst all four years of the Lindsay Memorial Lecture, held each audience of students and staff. £44,000 across a wide range of undergraduate courses, to travel Spring in memory of Professor Peter The Old Centralians’ Trust is student-targeted awards, bursaries to Naples in order to observe civil Lindsay’s most generous bequest, fortunate to have an excellent and events. engineering projects in a different which greatly enhanced the assets level of support from a number of One student came to the Trust country, and to forge links with their held by the Trust in 2007 and enabled academic and administrative staff in hardship when scholarship undergraduate peers in Naples. At a signifcant increase in the scope of within the Faculty of Engineering, grants from the home country fell the University of Naples, the group its work. The object of the Lindsay without which its work would be drastically in value due to currency was given presentations on research lectures is to provide an opportunity much less easy to fulfl. Grateful exchange movements. Although in structural aluminium, an area in for engineering and other students thanks must be expressed to all the total gap in funding was much which Naples University is a world at Imperial College to see and hear of those staff members who are greater that the Trust could meet leader, and on the use of virtual a leading academic speak about their so generous with their time and on its own, the eventual solution reality simulators for research into work. The lectures are arranged by advice, and in particular to Dr Teresa was to be able to provide the fnal transport networks (see page 26). Peter’s former academic department Sergot. Teresa will have retired at £3,000 towards living costs, after the An undergraduate student of - that of Electrical and Electronic about the time this issue of Imperial student’s parents had taken extreme Electrical and Electronic Engineering Engineering. In 2015, the eighth Engineer is published, but she has measures to raise a signifcant was awarded a Jessel Rosen such lecture was given by Professor given sterling support to the Trust portion of the sum needed. This Research Scholarship amounting to Paul Newman, FREng, BP Professor throughout the past twelve years. student went on to achieve excellent £600 in connection with a research of Information Engineering at the results at graduation. project into ‘walking drones’, which Six key offcers in the City was undertaken during the summer & Guilds College Union were vacation. Generous Legacies for OC Trust supported by the provision of John In support of student sporting Elliott bursaries to assist with the groups and engineering societies, During the current academic year, how this wish can be brought to inevitable costs of a frenetic lifestyle £2,500 was awarded to the Imperial the Old Centralians’ Trust has fruition. At the same time, a major helping the Union to run smoothly College Boat Club to assist with the received two generous legacies, portion of the bequest will go to and effectively. cost of sending two crews to race and one gift in memory of a the General Fund of the Trust, so Two Student Activity Awards, at the Henley Royal Regatta in July member who died early in 2016. that the income arising on it can valued at £700 each, were provided 2015, whilst two separate awards CGCA Life Member Rogers be spent in a more fexible manner in each of the nine departments were made to the Motor Club; frstly Knight (Mechanical Engineering, and generally in line with existing running undergraduate courses. the sum of £650 towards the costs 1934-38), who died in March 2015 objectives. These awards are intended to help of taking the College’s vintage motor at the age of 99, was also a founder Michael St John Candy, whose with the cost of an active lifestyle, car mascot Boanerges to Geneva member of the OC Trust, and it is death was announced in the Spring whether this be in helping to run for a Summer Tour, and secondly an now known that Rogers has left a 2016 Issue of Imperial Engineer, student societies, participation award of £340 to fund the training legacy which is expected to total left £2,000 to the OC Trust in his in sports, playing in orchestras, of two student drivers in the skills £140,000 once the solicitors will, with no restriction as to how engaging in musical instrument and techniques necessary for towing have completed their work. As a it should be used. The practice lessons, volunteering to help others, Boanerges by trailer to participate member of the Trust Board for a of the Trust is to spend income or any other similar extra-curricular in distant functions, where driving few months short of half a century, rather than capital, so it will be the activity. In many cases the recipients a vintage car the whole distance and having served as its Chair for income from this generous legacy are involved in several of these at would not be a practical proposition. a number of years, Rogers was that will be applied in support of the same time! All eligible students Student adventure was supported intimately concerned with its work the objectives of the Trust. had been invited to apply during the by a grant of £200 to a student who for the whole of that time and it Finally, but by no means least, Spring Term of the previous year, by undertook a walking tour across the is thus not surprising that he has a most useful gift of £200 has providing a summary of the activities Pyrenees mountains on the Franco- been so generous upon his demise. been received from Mrs Caroline they had been undertaking, and Spanish Border. He was also a member of the Fletcher, in memory of her were expecting to continue with. Engraved tankards and / or Links Club, and had expressed a husband Derek whose obituary Final selection of the most worthy monetary awards were provided for wish that there might be an award was also published in the previous two in each department was made four students under the headings that combines in some way the issue. This gift came with no by the senior tutor in conjunction of: the Holbein Memorial Award; Links Club and the Department specifc conditions attached, so it with departmental colleagues and, Peter Moore Memorial Award; of Mechanical Engineering – the will make a valuable increment to after approval by the Trust Board, John and Frances Jones Award; and Trust will be working to see the General Fund. the awards were distributed at the the Fellows of the City & Guilds of

Imperial ENGINEER Autumn 2016 5 NEWS & REVIEWS Fellowship of City & Guilds of London Institute - FCGI Barry Brooks FCGI (Past-President College, now enlarged as the Faculty informal dinner afforded an excellent College and City & Guilds. For CGCA, 2004-06) is the Co- of Engineering. Since 1990, access to means of getting to know one another 2016, Dame Judith Hackitt covered ordinator of the FCGI Annual the Fellowship has been broadened better, and of hearing news regarding all of these roles as a Trustee of City Lecture-Lunch meeting held in June to recognise those who have made the activities of members…… it was & Guilds, as a member of Imperial at 170 Queen’s Gate. In introducing outstanding achievements whatever agreed that an Annual Meeting of Council and as President of CGCA. the talk given on 17 June 2016 by their professional or industrial Fellows be initiated and that the best CGCA President, Dame Judith specialism. time to convene it would be during FCGI Centenary Award Hackitt FCGI, Barry has taken this Honorary Fellowship (Hon the frst 10 days of December.” opportunity to remind Guildsmen FCGI) was introduced in 1935 to Minutes of the second meeting, From the early days of the Fellowship and Guildswomen about the mark the 50th Anniversary of the held in the Staff Common Room at Luncheon, Professor Witchell built Fellowship. foundation of City & Guilds College. the Union on 18 December 1934, a modest surplus to subsidise any Fellowship of the City & Guilds Its holders have been recognised recorded: Fellows unable to afford the price. of London Institute (FCGI) is the for outstanding achievement closely “The meeting expressed appreciation About 10 years ago, it was decided highest award that can be conferred linked to the affairs and philosophy of the offer made by Professor that a more appropriate use of by the Council of City & Guilds as of the Institute. Witchell of the City & Guilds College the funds would be to provide a authorised by its Royal Charter. It to act as Honorary Secretary to Fellows’ prize to a student who had is awarded for outstanding personal The Fellowship’s Annual the Fellows and he will accordingly made a signifcant contribution to and professional achievement. It Meeting and Luncheon convene these Annual Meetings and it City & Guilds College Union. As denotes the ability to manage is hoped the social aspect will appeal the Centenary of Imperial College people, information and operations The Fellowship’s leather-covered to all Fellows.” was in 2007, the Award was entitled in complex professional or technical minute book started in 1893. The These Annual meetings are now a the “FCGI Centenary Award” and situations and to formulate and frst meeting of sixteen Fellows key part of the Fellowship calendar comprises a cheque for £300 and an implement strategies at the highest was called on 10 January 1934 and are designed to reinforce the engraved tankard. levels of responsibility. and the record – taken from the links between Fellows (from all The funds are managed by The frst award of Fellowship Old Students’ house journal, ‘The backgrounds), Imperial College and the Old Centralians’ Trust (the was approved by Council in Central’, says: City & Guilds. The format combines charitable arm of the City & December 1892. Until 1990, the “A meeting of outstanding interest was a good meal at 170 Queen’s Gate, Guilds College Association), and award was exclusive to holders of held at the Imperial College Union on networking with other FCGIs and the winner is selected by the City the Associateship (ACGI), namely Wednesday 10 January 1934 when, their guests, updates about the & Guilds College Union President engineering graduates from the for the frst time, all the Fellows of the College and City & Guilds, and who attends the Annual Luncheon City & Guilds College, one of the Institute (FCGI) had the opportunity a stimulating short talk by one with the Award winner to read the constituent colleges of Imperial of assembling together as a body. The or more senior members of the citation. Back to the Future – reinventing the UK’s manufacturing industry FCGI Speech 17th June 2016: Dame Judith Hackitt DBE FREng FCGI to the Future’. That refects my own I am a Board member of the High decades of the 20th century and personal journey but also in part Value Manufacturing Catapult which I brought major breakthroughs in relates to what I see going on in the will say more about in a few minutes, the form of electricity distribution, world of manufacturing and how I am a council member and trustee communications, synthetic chemical people acquire the skills to work in of City and Guilds and I am involved processes and new forms of power manufacturing. with a variety of Universities in an generation. The third industrial I graduated from Imperial College advisory capacity – all associated revolution began in the 1950s with in 1975 and went to work in with Engineering courses. I have the development of digital systems, industry – chemicals manufacturing spent the last two days here at rapid advances in computing power in my case. I was the frst person in Imperial College on the strategic and communications which have my family ever to go to University. advisory board in Chem Eng. enabled new ways of generating, My father was a (mechanical) I am excited by the prospect processing and sharing information. engineer but he had followed that of inspiring a new generation The third industrial revolution route through an apprenticeship of engineers and technicians to is not yet over but the fourth has and night school to attain his HNC/ become 21st century manufacturers already started and the two run First of all I should thank Barry for HND qualifcations. I loved working here in GB. in parallel. The fourth is about inviting me to speak today. Whether in manufacturing industry and I really We are at the beginning of the the advent of cyber physical you thank him or not will depend on got the whole concept of wealth fourth industrial revolution. A new systems which create entirely new whether or not what I say over the creation and its importance to the era that builds and extends the opportunities for people and for next 15 minutes or so is interesting economy. Not only the products of impact of digitisation in new and machines. The capabilities build or in any way thought-provoking. what we were making, but the value unanticipated ways. The challenge we on the technologies of the third When Barry frst asked me to speak added we were creating, were vitally face is to ensure that this revolution industrial revolution but this next I was still Chair of the Health and important to a thriving economy. creates benefts for the many rather ‘wave’ represents entirely new Safety Executive so it would be fair Somehow I never ever bought into than the few and that the UK has ways of embedding technology to say that there was a wide range of the notion that this country could a signifcant role to play in that within societies, industry and options open to us in terms of what be sustainable and economically revolution – by reinventing what we even in our own bodies. Examples I might talk about today. viable built only on a service based have always done exceptionally well include genome editing, new I stood down as Chair of HSE at economy. in the UK, which is to manufacture forms of machine intelligence, and the end of March after eight and a To that end, as I have planned and to generate wealth. breakthrough materials, to name but half years in the role and it felt right my transition from HSE, it is not The frst industrial revolution a few. The combination of the third to me that I talked about my current surprising to see how much my occurred when we shifted from our and fourth industrial revolutions interests rather than refecting commitment to manufacturing reliance on animals, human effort is making possible products and back on that most enjoyable but and to Engineering now features and biomass as primary sources of services which increase the effciency challenging period of my career. in the roles that I have. I am now energy, to the use of fossil fuels and and enjoyability of our lives, while If you do want to ask me anything the Chair of EEF, the organisation the mechanical power this enabled. also reducing costs. Organising about that period I will be happy to which represents more than 5,000 The second industrial revolution transport, booking restaurants, do so later. companies in the UK championing occurred between the end of the buying goods, making payments, So, I decided to call this talk ‘Back manufacturers and manufacturing. 19th century and the frst two listening to music, reading books

6 Imperial ENGINEER Autumn 2016 NEWS & REVIEWS are all available to us all instantly – commit to a strategy which will be and there is much more to come, supportive of industry for the future Our new RSMA President: including for example personalised and for the long term. medicines and autonomous vehicles. The skills shortage is a particular Tim Cotton But what does all this mean for area which needs to be addressed the world of manufacturing and for and here we still have much to do. Tim is an experienced the skills we need in the engineers The UK has fallen behind many and qualifed mining and technicians of today and in the other parts of the world in inspiring engineer with 20 future? young people – especially girls - to years of experience in It is clear to me that this study science in schools and go on operations, technical represents a fantastic opportunity to become scientists and engineers. and commercial roles, for the UK to regain a prominent The problem is well known and has working on mines role in manufacturing and to grow been for some time and there is no around the world signifcantly from the current level shortage of activity to try to address exploiting a range of of ~10% of GDP. In fact much of it it. In fact there are literally hundreds metals and minerals. is already happening. It is the case of different initiatives all trying to Most of his career has that for many years our universities achieve the same thing but this been spent working here in the UK have produced world disunited effort only succeeds in for one of the leading class research, but it is often in the creating a cacophony of noise which global mining and translation of that research into confuses teachers, parents and metals companies, Rio commercial business propositions students. Despite the fact that those Tinto. where we fall short. The High Value of us who are parents know that His career in the Manufacturing Catapult works with children mature at different rates mining industry began business to bridge that gap between and that some will be better suited in 1988, when Tim research and commercialisation, to an academic path, whilst others joined Goldfelds taking risk out by offering open will be better following a vocational of South Africa as a access to world class industrial-scale route; despite the fact that those Learner Offcial on the equipment. HVMC is now well into of us who have worked in industry gold mines of the West its fourth year of operation and know that we all work together in Witwatersrand, near comprises seven centres around multidisciplinary teams to deliver Johannesburg. This the UK, each with their own area results in the real world; our own was a working gap-year of specialisation but also working professional engineering institutions before studying Mining collaboratively together to provide continue to make progression much Engineering at the solutions. The areas of specialisation more diffcult for those who have Royal School of Mines. range from process innovations – not followed a conventional path Initially Tim was on a three year become more involved with Imperial biologics and printable electronics and they continue to maintain silos Bachelors course but, after getting College, and the RSMA was the best – metal forming, composite new around each discipline. This has to caught up in the traditions and spirit way of providing that involvement. materials, battery technologies, to change and it has to change soon. of the Royal School of Mines, this During the 20 years of working in nuclear advanced manufacturing. In I am more hopeful about the became a four year Masters course! and around the mining industry, Tim four years the centres have worked number of young people I now During his time as an undergraduate had always recognised that the brand with more than 3000 businesses – see taking up apprenticeships. EEF there were frequent interactions of RSM was still strong. Where 50% of them being small and medium has its own brand new apprentice with the RSMA, and Tim remembers possible, Tim attended Annual sized enterprises in the aeronautic, training centre in Aston, Birmingham these fondly as they showed that Dinners and Final Year BBQs as a auto, medical, construction, oil and where we train people to work in there was a genuine pride in being way of staying connected to RSM gas, and food and drink sectors. manufacturing for our members a part of the RSM. Graduates and using them as reunions with They are facilitating continuous and for others. In 2013, we had 97 came back from all years and were former classmates. At every event, it improvement but also delivering new starts on our scheme. We are just as passionate as the current was generally noted that passion and step changes. The business model in the process of expanding into a undergraduates about RSM. In pride shown by the current students enables approximately 1/3 of public second building as we speak and addition, these returning graduates in being part of RSM was as strong funding to support the work and in September this year we will were able to show and describe life as ever. By joining the RSMA, Tim to date, for every £1 of core public see no fewer than 330 new starts. after university and it could be a very wanted to continue to support the funding, the centres have been able That is but one example of the enjoyable and rewarding one too. In spirit of the RSM and to encourage to demonstrate delivery of £15 net growth in interest and take up of 1993, Tim graduated with a degree the current students to continue economic beneft. apprenticeships in manufacturing. and Caren his long term girlfriend, to grow the RSM tradition. Tim HVMC is one of several Our future plans in EEF include the who a short while later became his joined the committee in 2013 and Catapults which have been set establishment of a Manufacturing wife. He joined Rio Tinto. There now has the tremendous fortune up by Government and it is the Academy and a manufacturing then followed a series of operating, to be the President. The industry is engine for delivering innovation in Leadership Institute. technical and management roles and changing, the College is changing and manufacturing enabling the UK to I have tried here to cover a lot opportunities that took Tim and his the incoming students are changing move towards digitally connected of ground in a short space of time family to Zimbabwe, Australia, USA but, regardless, the traditions that factories and supply chains. but I hope I have given you an idea and Singapore before fnally moving the RSM hold dear: comradeship, There are of course a number of of some of the exciting things going back to London in 2012. friendliness and generosity, still other fundamentals which we need on in manufacturing in the UK today Tim wanted a change in career resonate as guiding principles that to have in place if we are to deliver and of some of the challenges which and to stay based in the UK where people want to belong to. this renaissance in UK manufacturing. lie ahead. I do not know whether his family were settled. He was Tim is married to Caren and they We need to know that we are going our decision in a week’s time will intrigued by the idea of working as a have with two teenage daughters to have affordable and secure energy be to stay in the EU or to leave. But risk engineer in the mining insurance Bria and Annabel and all live near in both the medium and long term, one thing I am certain about is that industry, where his operational skills Newbury in West Berkshire. His we need signifcant investment whether we remain or choose to and experience would be invaluable. passions are rugby and hill walking in transport infrastructure, and leave the EU, this country requires It appealed to him that through with his friends. He enjoys tackling we need the recently announced a strong, thriving manufacturing his work at International Mining the tough British highland terrain, apprenticeship levy to be used industry taking a key role in Industry Underwriters (IMIU), his absorbing the beautiful and bleak well to deliver quality apprentices delivering the fourth industrial infuence could make a difference views, but ultimately is always glad to in areas where we are desperately revolution for the future beneft of at grass roots level in mining know that there is a nice B&B close short of skills – like manufacturing. us all. operations. by and a local pub with a roaring log In short, we need Government to Thank you. Tim also wanted to be able to fre where he can warm his toes.

Imperial ENGINEER Autumn 2016 7 NEWS DEVELOPMENTS AROUND THE ENGINEERING FACULTY We bid farewell to Teresa Sergot Dr Teresa Sergot has been the heart and soul of the Engineering Chapter since it was formed in 2004. After 12 years she is retiring. On Wednesday 28th September, the Faculty held a reception in 170 Queens Gate to bid Teresa farewell. After speeches from Richard Martin (Faculty Operating Offcer), Professor Peter Cheung (Faculty Vice-Dean for Education) and Peter Chase (CGCA Treasurer), to which Teresa gave a witty and warm response, Richard Martin presented Teresa with a framed print of an old engraving of Imperial College. Many of Teresa’s colleagues were present, along with representatives from both Alumni Associations, including past presidents, and some former colleagues who had come back to help Teresa celebrate. Among these was Rosie Tipples and, of course, Teresa’s husband, Professor Marek Sergot from the Department of Computing. A Teresa at her retirement reception with by her husband Marek and former colleague few days earlier, we had talked to Teresa about her Rosie Smith (née Tipples) who brought her daughter Ffon along. career, her time at Imperial, working with alumni, and her future plans. You frst came to Imperial in 1969 to do a We got married and he got a lectureship at British Gas were unable to agree to the job Chemistry degree, so you are an ARCS? Imperial in the Department of Computing, so share, I very briefy got a part-time job in the I am an ARCS I needed to be in London. And that’s when Department of Computing, but then my third Then you did a PhD, also in Chemistry I worked for the Confederation of British child came along. And actually I thought, “no fnishing in 1975 and then went to work at the Industry. Not my favourite of jobs, but… it I can’t do this”. And also at that stage, I felt I Science Research Council. was fne, it was there, I got the job, but I didn’t needed to be with the children. And then we As it was known then, so that ages me. get an awful lot of satisfaction from it. It was went on to have our fourth child. Then the CBI, and British Gas. Then you came very different from what I was used to. I imagine it’d be a lot more straightforward back to Imperial. Different environment? now, more sympathetic. Yes, eventually. Different environment, but at least they gave Oh now, it’d be totally different. But on the And you’ve been here ever since? me a job when I needed to be in London and other hand I’m glad it was harder, I have no I’ve been at Imperial since 1994. In the still vaguely related to my semi-skills. regrets. I mean, what does ‘career’ mean? You meantime I had four children. I had a career It sounds like you had, unbeknown to you, know? It doesn’t matter. And who knows if I’d gap of about seven or eight years and then chosen the right path to be what Imperial have made a career if I’d carried on working, came back to run industrial liaison in the needed. you never know what level you’re going to Department of Computing. It’s kind of… I don’t know, it seems almost reach. So you do what you need to do at the So you were perfectly qualifed for that inevitable… You do this because of that, and I time. And I loved those early years. I was in weren’t you? The Imperial background, the guess you do lots of things in life like that. I do the PTA, I’d made lots of friends with mothers industry background, perfect! Just in the right remember thinking “I can’t see this very long at the school gates, and it was a lovely seven- place at the right time, just the person they term” and that’s when I started looking around eight years of my life. But then when my needed! again and got the job at British Gas, and I really youngest was six, I thought… “I need to do Yes. My problem was that by the time I fnished liked working at British Gas. Then I had my something” and that’s when I came back to my PhD I was ready for a change from the lab. frst child. And it’s kind of hard working and Imperial, and now 22 years on I’m retiring. I just wanted something different, but I didn’t children and everything, and don’t forget this So, twelve years ago, you took over as want to move out of the scientifc background was in the 80s. the lifeline for the Alumni Associations for so the Science Research Council was just It was hard? Engineering – was that through choice? ideal… until they moved to Swindon. I think It was hard, but with Marek having an academic No, I’ll tell you how that came about. It was I may have stayed with the Science Research post, it made it slightly easier because his time the time that Richard Sykes set up Faculties, Council had they been in London. They were was a little more fexible, that is until number and it was the time the Offce of Alumni in Holborn, great location, and gave me a lot of two came along. and Development was being restructured responsibility for a relatively junior person. It was a very different environment, wasn’t it? to fulfl these plans. Faculties are essential What was it you were doing there? It was a very different environment then. But in my opinion because you can’t govern a I was running committees. The SRC funds there was another girl working with me in the university… lots of departments, lots of heads research, so… Research and Development section of British of departments… without a much more Looking at proposals and bids for funding? Gas. I’d just had my second child and she’d just formal structure. So Faculties were formed Proposals, yes, studentships, you know all had another child. There was a job that was in 2004, and up until then I had had very little sorts of aspects. So I felt I ftted in. perfect for job-sharing, so I could start it and contact with alumni. When the Faculties were Not long from being a student yourself. she could fnish it, so we thought, “Ideal!” But formed, the Faculty of Engineering was made Precisely, so I felt I could still relate! But then we couldn’t get it through British Gas because up of City and Guilds plus the Royal School they moved to Swindon. At that stage I was we were two heads, we counted as two heads of Mines – with its two alumni associations about to get married, needed a job in London, and back then HR wasn’t what it is now, your CGCA and RSMA – so what they decided commuted to Swindon for a year… It was rights weren’t what they are now. to do was to form a Chapter, which was a alright, but still day-in day-out… So were you working back in the lab? partnership of the two, plus a partnership So, was Marek at Imperial by then? Before you No, I was doing industrial liaison then. I was with the Faculty. Students of course would got married? going to universities selling British Gas as be graduating from the Faculty of Engineering, I knew Marek from the age of sixteen, but we funders. They used to give lots of studentships. although there’s always an association with went to different universities so our paths sort And also I had colleagues in the SRC, and life either Guilds or RSM. Some students don’t of split, but then we met up again in London, is always about connections and contacts, so relate to either, or are disinterested, and quite by chance, and the rest is history. that helped me with that. But then when I guess they’re true Imperial alumni with

8 Imperial ENGINEER Autumn 2016 NEWS DEVELOPMENTS AROUND THE ENGINEERING FACULTY probably best allegiance to their department. So those are the most enjoyable, but who are undergraduate frst year… That’s where a lot of people’s main allegiance the hardest to work with? That’s impressive. lies. I don’t think any of them have been particularly …and a hundred blokes! So was that a diffcult time for you? hard to work with. So did you have quite a pressured academic Well at the time I was working in Computing, Have there been any stand-out moments in atmosphere? I get the impression now that I was doing various things, but I thought those twelve years? Good or bad, highlights students are working a lot harder, they’re “I really do need a change now”. And this or lowlights? much more focused. was advertised as ‘Chapter Manager’, a very A ride in Bo with Rogers Knight. Absolutely, it is. It’s all focused on getting jobs interesting title. I read about it, and I thought, Oh I think we might even have a photo of that! at the end of it, there’s little time to sit back “This sounds quite interesting”. So I thought, and enjoy the whole experience. And now, as “Well I’ll apply”, so I did, and I was fortunate they’re paying fees, instead of enjoying summer enough to get it. I was interviewed by the holidays trekking off with a group of friends, Faculty, but also by Barry Brooks who was then they’re looking for placements. I mean at least Vice President CGCA and Bernie Pryor who leave that till second or third year. But the had just ended his term of offce as President pressure’s on them from all sides – if you don’t RSMA. So I got the job, and then started the get a placement it’ll look bad on your CV, and quite diffcult early days of trying to marry companies look at this… two very long-standing associations who were It’s much more pressured. suspicious of each other but actually had the It is. same aims and aspirations. It took a while, but We were very lucky. we got there and actually they work brilliantly And it was free for us. together. And the frst challenge was Imperial Teresa rides in Bo on the occasion of That’s right. When I was here most of the ENGINEER. Guilds had their journal, Imperial Rogers Knight’s 90th birthday in 2005 foreign students were being paid for by their College Engineer, and RSM had their newsletter governments. So they had a lot of pressure to RSMA Update. And they merged them into Yes, on his 90th, which we organised for him. get a frst, and go back and… you hardly ever what has become a really good publication. It’s And I think the greatest achievement during saw them outside lectures. absolutely hit the right levels. And now we’re my time has been the way that the associations Sadly it still is like that to a certain extent. up to issue 25. And it’s going from strength to have worked together to create and produce If you were to sum up what Imperial can mean strength, it’s tremendous. Imperial ENGINEER. to today’s students, to perhaps encourage Then in 2007, my time as Chapter Manager Okay. So, you’re about to retire – are you them to become active in the alumni life of changed when my role in the Faculty was going to miss it? Imperial, what would you say to them? expanded to include Faculty coordination of Yes, defnitely. I’ll miss the people, but I won’t Imperial means an excellent education, education, something very much needed given miss the commute. I travel at a time when exposure to world-class research, which can there are now ten departments. I was quite tubes are like packed sardines, so I won’t miss lead to exciting careers, opportunity for many keen to do this, to have a different sort of that. But I will, I’ll miss it. I guess I’m heading extra-curricula activities and access to alumni experience – not just alumni. As this was a big for another career. So it’s not as though I’ll be scattered all over the world, some in very role, it was agreed that Rosie Tipples, whom at home twiddling my thumbs. I mean the fact high-powered positions. many of the alumni will remember, helped me is that when I went part time, it was the best Now, some fnal quick-fre questions like they support the Associations so I could devote thing I could’ve done because I realised that do in trendy magazines. more time to looking after the Faculty’s I’m so busy when I’m not at work. Okay, Mac or PC? education matters via the Faculty’s Teaching There is a life out there. PC. Committee, which was then chaired by David There is a life, defnitely! Grape or grain? Nethercot who later became President of So, have you got more things that you’re Grape. CGCA. So, one way or another, I’ve worked planning on doing? Unfulflled ambitions you Favourite composer? with David for several years. want to achieve? Chopin. And that set-up worked well did it? Yes actually I do! I want to travel, because Favourite author? It worked very well until Rosie got married that’s something that I’ve always loved. And Oh, tricky one, I have several. Lee Child and moved away! But then she was never for various reasons you can’t go, because it’s currently. replaced in that role, so my job was really to term time, or the children are too little, etc, Oh, now that was unexpected. Favourite TV make the associations more and more self- etc. And our house is falling apart, and needs show? If you watch TV. suffcient. Which they’ve become! However, a lot of TLC so I need time to be around I do sometimes! Favourite… Oh, I used to even now that I’m off, there’s still a level of to see that through, and of course all the love the Pride and Prejudice series. support that they do need from the Faculty. grandchildren now! Okay, favourite radio station? They’ll defnitely get that and that’s where Nic I was going to say! Now that you’re a Only listen to the radio in the car and given Katona comes in. grandmother you’ve got a new generation to Marek usually drives, we often have Radio 5 So it’s twelve years you’ve been doing that? start worrying about! on! Yes, twelve years! Yes, exactly! I’ll miss my colleagues, I’ll miss Well that’s our questions done. Thank you Have you enjoyed those twelve years? the alumni, but I’ll still have enough interest very much. Yes, I really have. I mean there are frustrating to keep an ear and eye open as to what’s Oh, thank you! moments, but on the whole it’s been great. happening, and I hope not to lose touch Is there anything you wanted to say? Really, really, enjoyable. Possibly because I’ve completely. I’d just like to thank everybody in the met so many interesting people. And it’s nice Should be the best of both worlds hopefully, associations for all the help, all the support to be appreciated, as well. keep the social side of it… they’ve given me over the years, and for I think you’re defnitely appreciated. Yes, exactly. putting up with me for so long. Well no, no, but there are some – particularly That’ll be good! I think it’s the exact opposite! They’d the elder alumni – who are just lovely. Really good. reciprocate. So who are the most enjoyable people to work Have things changed in the time you’ve been I’ve really had a ball, I’ve really enjoyed it. And with, the students, the staff or the alumni. doing this? I will have such fond memories. Oh good question, the alumni of course! It’s Yes, in all the time – from being a student Well that’s a good way to end. Thank you. the alumni defnitely. I enjoy working with myself to seeing current students is a massive students, but they’re kind of transient and then difference. Also within the College, there Teresa is to be awarded Honorary life they become alumni. But the alumni are there are far more women than when I came to membership of both CGCA and RSMA. Her for the long haul. College. There was me, 12 girls in chemistry IE role will be largely taken on by Nic Katona.

Imperial ENGINEER Autumn 2016 9 NEWS DEVELOPMENTS AROUND THE ENGINEERING FACULTY Imperial engineer develops imaging tool as part of Imperial researcher wins Royal Society award the Human Connectome Project Photo © Imperial College, London Photo © Imperial College, Professor Neil Alford, Associate work under normal conditions, Provost (Academic Planning), has using less energy, without the need Photo © Imperial College, London Photo © Imperial College, been recognised by the Royal Society, for a vacuum or frigid space-like In a brief interview on the Imperial described before. It represents with the Armourers and Brasiers conditions. His work paved the way News website, Dr Emma Robinson a culmination of the entire HCP Company Prize. It was awarded for for an improved version of maser from Department of Computing project and would not be possible his outstanding contributions to technology to be used more widely explains how her imaging tool is without the signifcant advances in materials research with beneft to in areas as diverse as exploring the helping neuroscientists understand image processing and analysis that society, especially the development galaxy, extremely sensitive detectors the functioning of the brain. were developed along the way. Dr of a type of technology that delivers and possibly quantum computing, A connectome is a comprehensive Robinson’s tool represents one of a concentrated beam of microwaves, which could theoretically perform map of neural connections in the those advances. known as maser technology. calculations based on the behaviour brain. You could think of it as a The tool she has developed is Masers amplify weak magnetic of particles at the sub-atomic level. wiring diagram for the brain. At a called Multimodal Surface Matching signals. First developed in the Professor Alford, who was simple level, the brain can be seen as (MSM). It has been vital for the 1950s they had the potential to be previously head of the Department a relatively small number of regions HCP study because it enabled used in a range of felds, including of Materials, said: “It has been a that are interconnected together via the researchers to compare and communications. However, masers very exciting journey bringing neural connections. A connectome contrast brain activity across all the were inconvenient to use – only maser technology out of the cold is a comprehensive map of the people who took part. This allows functioning in high magnetic felds, and into the 21st Century. I am regions and their connections. Dr researchers to more confdently a vacuum and freezing conditions at absolutely delighted and honoured Robinson’s research focusses on identify regions by seeing that temperatures close to absolute zero to receive this award. It’s a refection brain imaging, looking at ways of each region has the same pattern (-273°C). They were superseded by of the importance of materials mapping brain activity and structure of activity in each person’s brain. lasers, which were more portable, science and it’s also a tribute to the in people, using magnetic resonance In more general imaging studies, cheaper and easier to use. extraordinary people that I have imaging techniques. This is incredibly her tool might allow clinicians, for In 2012, Professor Alford worked with over the years.” challenging as the human brain instance, to compare brain activity demonstrated that masers could bit.ly/IE25-Alford consists of approximately 100 between healthy people and patients billion neurons, and over 100 trillion with dementia to better understand Imperial renews Athena SWAN silver status pathways that connect them. At the the effect that these diseases have Imperial has renewed its Athena Division who worked hard on the moment, nobody knows how many on brain function. The tool will soon SWAN silver status, in recognition renewal submission. He said: “At regions there are in the brain or be available as part of the Oxford of its ongoing support for women in Imperial, we know that attracting, what form the regions take. imaging software library, FSL. science. The institution-wide award, developing, promoting and retaining The Human Connectome Project The next steps are really exciting. originally granted in April 2012, the very best female staff is key to (HCP) involves collecting the biggest She is already working on methods to recognises Imperial’s successful our remaining one of the world’s and best quality set of brain imaging improve on these results by looking development of employment great universities. This is why we are data to date. Using the data and more closely at how brain structure practices that further and support committed to removing barriers and state of the art visualisation and varies across different people. She is the careers of women in science, ensuring gender equality at all levels analysis tools, the researchers aim also collaborating with researchers technology, engineering, maths and across the College. Athena SWAN to better understand the brain at from Kings College London and medicine. plays an important part in this.” the millimetre scale. Researchers Oxford University further, on the In renewing its status, Imperial Professor Dorothy Griffths, working on the HCP are gathering developing Human Connectome Project was required to demonstrate the Provost’s Envoy for Gender information and developing a 3D (dHCP). They hope to replicate the evidence that it had delivered on Equality and former Dean of model that will enable them to success by imaging newborns and promises made in the original Imperial’s Business School, played an navigate their way through the brain. foetuses in the womb with the submission as well as developing instrumental role in both the original By doing this and comparing it with goal of generating a connectome. new plans and initiatives. submission and the latest renewal. genetic and behavioural data, such as This would give new insights into Imperial is the frst university She said: “I am delighted that the gender and IQ, they hope to unlock the brain at a very early stage in its to renew its Silver status under College has been recognised for all information about how a living development. new criteria, which now includes the work it is doing to support its human brain works. For more information about the gender equality in arts, humanities, female staff. We are among a small They have published a paper that Human Connectome Project visit social sciences, business and law group of UK Universities who have is by far the most comprehensive their website: departments (AHSSBL). achieved Silver status. and accurate mapping of brain www.humanconnectomeproject.org Imperial’s Provost, Professor “I hope this shows the world that regions that there has ever been. James Stirling, paid tribute to Imperial is a good and supportive It describes 180 regions in total College staff across all departments place for women to work.” of which 97 have never been bit.ly/IE25-Robinson and in the Human Resources bit.ly/IE25-Athena

10 Imperial ENGINEER Autumn 2016 NEWS DEVELOPMENTS AROUND THE ENGINEERING FACULTY Three new Imperial Fellows announced by the Royal Academy of Engineering Imperial is celebrating the election structural earthquake engineering Professor Hui, Department of airfow and the combustion of three more researchers to the and developing buildings that can Electrical and Electronic Engineering, process in huge industrial engines. Fellowship of the Royal Academy of handle extreme loads. Not only focuses his research on the feld of In particular, he is internationally Engineering. has his research underpinned key power electronics, which is the renowned for his innovative methods Professors Ahmed Elghazouli, Ron improvements in design practice, process of switching between in modelling the combustion process Hui, and William Jones, were formally but he has also been a leading design electronic circuits in order to in gas turbines, which are used to elected in September. Becoming a expert on notable engineering control the fow of electrical energy. power aircraft and generate energy Fellow is one of the highest honours projects worldwide. Most of Professor Hui’s research in power stations. Over many years, that an engineer can receive in the He has provided specialist focuses on new forms of sustainable he has contributed to the industry’s UK, and Fellowship is awarded in seismic design expertise for iconic lighting, technologies that transfer ability to calculate important recognition of outstanding and structures including skyscrapers, energy wirelessly and new features such as emission levels and continuing contributions to the heritage centres and key sustainable energy systems. All of the temperature of turbines when profession. The new elections take infrastructure in Europe, China, the his work shares the common theme in operation, which is important for the number of Imperial Fellows of US and the Middle East. He has also of ‘sustainability,’ with an emphasis making them run effciently. Among the Royal Academy of Engineering advised on projects by visionary on the reduction of greenhouse Professor Jones’ many achievements, to 84. architects such as Norman Foster gases and cutting down the waste his modelling work has been used by Professor Jeff Magee, Dean of and the late Zaha Hadid. generated when electronics become two large manufacturers to improve the Faculty of Engineering, said: Professor Elghazouli said: “This obsolete. their gas turbine designs. “Whether they are making iconic honour is coveted and acknowledges Dr Hui said: “I was told about my Professor Jones, said becoming a buildings structurally sound, an engineer’s outstanding and election to the Fellowship in May Fellow is the icing on the cake of a developing more sustainable sustained contributions to this year. The glow and immense long and fruitful career. electrical systems or making engineering. I am absolutely sense of satisfaction lasted many “I was a PhD student at Imperial combustion engines more effcient, delighted that I was even considered days after I heard the good news. At before I began my career here in today’s new Imperial Fellows for such an honour, let alone being present, I am focusing on developing 1977. I remember the head of the deserve our congratulations. Being made Fellow. new types of renewable energy Department wearing a bowler hat, made a Fellow is an impressive “As an engineer, I have always generation systems that could help dressing in a pinstriped suit and achievement. Well done to Ahmed, been passionate about enhancing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. driving a Rolls Royce to work each Ron and Bill for their hard work and links between academia and industry. So, for me, the best way to think day. I don’t think you’d see many dedication. This acknowledgement is Becoming a Fellow should now offer about such a great honour is to use heads of departments these days thoroughly deserved.” me new opportunities to formulate it as a tool to mentally spur me on coming to work in such a get-up! strategies for further enmeshing to do more research that could help “Working at Imperial for such academic and industrial interactions. our planet.” a long time gives me a different I also hope to work with other perspective on academic life. One Fellows on developing new policies thing I’ve noticed is how hard it is to promote engineering nationally now for early career academics to and around the world.” establish themselves. Now, there is such an emphasis on getting research funding. However, there are limited funds out there, making it harder for young academics to establish

Photos © Imperial College, London Photos © Imperial College, themselves. Being elevated to the Professor Ahmed Elghazouli Fellowship gives me an opportunity Professor Elghazouli, in to shine a light on the good work the Department of Civil and Professor William Jones of Imperial’s younger academics who Environmental Engineering, is Professor Jones, Department have it much harder than I did when internationally renowned for of Mechanical Engineering, played a I initially started.” his outstanding contributions to leading role in developing models research, education and practice in Professor Ron Hui that enabled engineers to evaluate bit.ly/IE25-RAEng-Fellows Imperial engineer awarded Young Engineer of the Year Trust Young Engineer of the Year and energy industries in the UK and environments.” in June. It was awarded by the overseas. In addition to his research, Dr Royal Academy of Engineering In 2014, he won the Silver Medal Britton directs the MSc course in with support from the Worshipful for ‘Outstanding contribution to Advanced Nuclear Engineering, as Company of Engineers at the Royal materials science from the Institute well as teaching two undergraduate Academy of Engineering Awards of Materials, Minerals and Mining, by courses and supervising and Dinner, at the Tower of London on an individual under 30’. Last year, advising graduate students. He also Thursday 23 June. Dr Britton and he was awarded a Royal Academy contributes to the College’s public the other winners each receive a of Engineering Research Fellowship engagement schemes through prize of £3,000 for their outstanding and was also appointed a lecturer at events, festivals and school visits. achievements. Imperial. Professor Peter Haynes, Head of Dr Britton completed a DPhil at Dr Britton said: “Recognition by the Department of Materials, said: “I the University of Oxford in 2010 the Royal Academy of Engineering am delighted that Ben’s outstanding researching titanium for aerospace through my fellowship has achievements have been recognised applications. In 2012, he joined opened many doors and given by this award. In addition to being the Department of Materials at me the confdence to embark on a rising star in metallurgy, Ben is a Photo © Imperial College, London Photo © Imperial College, Imperial as a Nuclear Metallurgy major research projects with an terrifc colleague with a passion Dr Ben Britton, from the Fellow. Dr Britton’s work on the international reach. With this award, for sharing the excitement and Department of Materials at Imperial, engineering and materials science I hope to reach further and deliver importance of materials with young was one of only fve researchers in of commercially important alloys new insights into the behaviour of people.” the UK to receive the Engineers is vital to the aero-engine, nuclear materials in ever more challenging bit.ly/IE25-RAEng-Young

Imperial ENGINEER Autumn 2016 11 FEATURES Mixing science with adventure At Imperial Festival this year we were lucky enough to attend a lecture about aurorae given by Imperial Alumna Dr Melanie Windridge. Her talk was fascinating, combining the science behind the aurora with her obvious love of such a beautiful phenomenon (and the travel required to observe it!). She has written an equally fascinating book, Aurora: In Search of the Northern Lights, in which she also examines the cultural aspects of aurorae. We asked her to give IE’s readers a taste of her enthusiasm. I heard the roar of engines and saw the smoke, is it sometimes calm and sometimes wild? the sun interacting with the earth’s magnetic watched the bright glow grow at the base of Why does it sometimes move further south? environment to accelerate electrons into the the rocket as it lifted of into air. I watched it It seemed I still had so many questions. earth’s atmosphere.” piercing into the clear blue sky, getting smaller Te science behind the aurora is fascinating It’s a small but vital diference. To simply and smaller. It was extraordinary to realise that and varied. It combines astronomy, geology, talk about particles being funnelled to Earth at that very minute that rocket was leaving the magnetism, atomic physics and more. is a misrepresentation of the facts. It also Earth and going into space. Te otherworldliness My frst view of the northern lights was in implies that we have a full understanding of of it all thrilled me. Kiruna, Sweden, on an Arctic Science course. the mechanisms of the aurora, many of which It was August 2000 and I was a summer At the top of a ski slope, turning my back to are still under debate. Importantly, it focuses student at the Rutherford Appleton the town and the brightly-lit mine to which attention on the particles themselves rather Laboratory. In the lecture theatre I watched the town owed its existence, I looked north, than the bigger question of where the energy the launch of the rocket that took the second where a very quiet aurora was beginning to comes from to generate these awe-inspiring pair of satellites from the Cluster II mission appear as a green, arcing haze. Over time it light displays. up into orbit. Te four identical satellites grew in colour and clarity, the arch becoming Eric Donovan, Professor at the University are still fying in formation now, collecting more defned, then breaking and twisting. of Calgary, is astonished that when people talk three-dimensional data on near-Earth space Later, my journey took me to northern about the aurora they need to know where the and the conditions that cause the aurora. Te Norway to learn about folklore, history, early electrons come from. When we fick a light experiences of that summer stayed with me, auroral science and the beginning of our switch, causing a stream of electrons to fow imprinting on my mind a latent fascination movement from myth to the possibility of through a circuit and transform their energy with our connection with the Sun. knowledge. I trekked the Laugavegur route in into light in a bulb, we don’t ask where the I went on to do a PhD in plasma physics Iceland, highlighting the geological structure electrons came from because it is irrelevant to at Imperial College, focussing on fusion of the Earth and how it furnishes us with a the mechanism of the transfer of energy. “Te energy. I was – and still am – attracted by the protective magnetic shield, without which life solar wind matters for the aurora because it’s practicality of this research, but by the end of as we know it wouldn’t exist. where the energy comes from,” says Eric. “It’s my PhD I wanted to see the aurora, the most Te fawed paradigm how the energy of the solar wind becomes the spectacular natural plasma phenomenon on It surprised me at frst that the explanation of aurora – that’s the interesting bit.” the planet. I also have a visceral attraction the aurora that we hear most typically is in fact But then how, you might be wondering, to mountains, ice and snow, and had become deeply fawed – that basic idea that particles do charged particles get around to the night interested in the Arctic and polar exploration. from the Sun are channelled to Earth by our side of the Earth and create the northern lights In the aurora my passions converged. Te magnetic feld. Tis alone cannot explain there? And how are they accelerated to the plasma physics danced above the boundless the bright night displays. Solar particles – higher energies required for those more vivid, snowy land that held me in thrall. predominantly electrons – simply do not have colourful displays? Tat is the magic and My fascination with the northern lights enough energy to cause the vibrant colourful mystery of the true aurora, which I explore in grew gradually to a point where I didn’t just lights, so they must be accelerated somehow. detail in my book. Here is a summary. want to see it; I wanted to know it. I knew Besides, if electrons are captured by the Auroral origins the basic science behind the aurora – that it magnetic feld and funnelled directly to Earth Te origins of the aurora are right back at is an event caused by charged particles that they would hit Earth on the side facing the the Sun. Te Sun is always throwing out are channelled down magnetic feld lines and Sun – in other words, during daylight. It is charged particles – a moving plasma that we interact with our atmosphere. But there had impossible to see the aurora in broad daylight. call the solar wind. On top of this, sometimes to be so much more to it than that. What Te auroral light is too weak and difuse to the Sun releases more matter into the solar caused the diferences in colour, or the various compete favourably against light pollution system as the twisted magnetic feld lines of shapes and patterns in the aurora? Why did from cities, let alone against strong sunlight. we sometimes see pillars of light stretching It would be more accurate to say that skyward, sometimes twists and ribbons? Why “the aurora is caused by charged particles from

Figure 1. As the solar wind hits the magnetic feld of Earth it is defected around the outside, fowing in a layer called the magnetosheath. The Earth’s magnetic feld is stretched out behind. The cavity of the Earth in the solar wind Photo: Catherine Bateson Photo: is the magnetosphere and its boundary is Aurora in Kiruna the magnetopause.

12 Imperial ENGINEER Autumn 2016 FEATURES – tales of an aurora hunter on the night side, which is why the best and brightest aurorae are seen on the back side of the Earth. Tese explosive events are called substorms. Tis re-confguration of the Earth’s magnetic feld during a substorm is called the Dungey Cycle, after Imperial College physicist Jim Dungey who originally proposed the idea in the early 1960s. It is the cycle of the feld lines, and of all the plasma within the magnetosphere constrained to follow them. Steve Milan from the University of Leicester once described the feld line pattern of the Dungey Cycle to me as the magnetosphere performing Tai Chi: open; over; close; around; repeat. Looking down on the Earth from above, if we could see the feld lines we would see a central hole of open feld lines stretching out into space around the poles. It is at the boundary where open feld lines reconnect into closed ones that we see the aurora, like the footprint at the end of the feld line. Seen from space, this footprint takes the shape of an oval of light around the pole – the auroral oval. Reconnection is triggered through a sequence of events that has been the subject of study for at least forty years and that no one really understands properly yet. Te Dungey Cycle ofers a good global picture, but the actual onset of reconnection has to do with the microphysics that is going on in the reconnection regions. Currents are also involved because they exist due to the movements of charged particles and at the Figure 2. The Dungey Cycle. Magnetic feld lines are opened up on the Sun side of boundaries of plasmas, such as around the Earth, dragged (with their plasma) over the poles and laid down on the tail side. Here edge of the magnetosphere or bisecting the tail. they push down until reconnection closes the feld lines once more and they migrate Te whole system is interconnected. Around sideways back to the Sun side of the Earth. This cycle can continue as long as the reconnection events the tail current becomes magnetic feld of the solar wind is pointing southwards. disrupted and some current fows along the feld lines into the ionosphere. No one knows the Sun break in a solar eruption or even a back, where the “tail” of the magnetosphere yet whether the disrupted currents trigger the giant coronal mass ejection (CME). A coronal is squashed so much that magnetic felds reconnection or whether the reconnection mass ejection is enormous! Te Sun throws break explosively again – in a process called triggers the currents. Tis is one of the biggest out billions of tonnes of matter into the solar reconnection – and catapult electrons from open questions in the feld and is known as the system travelling at millions of miles per hour. within the system to Earth. ‘substorm problem’. We and all the other planets in the solar system Tese explosive bursts of reconnection Arctic Adventures sit in this turbulent sea of plasma. in the tail fre particles down towards Earth Travelling in Canada, visiting small Tis solar wind is constantly bufeting the Earth, sometimes weakly, sometimes strongly. All these fast charged particles would be dangerous to life, but the Earth has a magnetic feld, which forms a protective magnetic shield called the magnetosphere, see Figure 1. Te Dungey Cycle Te solar wind is defected around the magnetosphere when it hits Earth, but it also transmits some of its energy to the magnetosphere – it’s like it pumps it up, or sets it ringing like a bell. Tis efect is particularly strong when the solar wind magnetic feld direction is southwards. Te magnetic feld topology of the magnetosphere is changed during the process, see Figure 2. Field lines from the front of the Chris Sinclair Photo: Earth are broken apart and dragged over to the Melanie watching the aurora in Scotland

Imperial ENGINEER Autumn 2016 13 FEATURES observatories shut down for Summer, I learned how images of the aurora can tell us about what is going on beyond our globe, about the intricate interplay of the solar wind and the Earth’s magnetic feld described above. I explored how early twentieth century technological advances in photography and spectroscopy helped understand the heights and colours of the aurora. And I learned how, with our ever-advancing communication and space technologies, we found out that there is a darker side to the northern lights. Te same solar events that cause incredible aurora displays can knock out power grids, damage satellites and scramble our communications. Svante Strand Photo: Skiing in Svalbard ‘Space weather’ is becoming an increasingly important research topic. and there they were – a faint greenish white, two years previously, to standing there in the Finally my travels took me to Svalbard stretched out east–west across the whole snow on Spitsbergen seeing one of the most in February, where I skied out from sky, reaching up in places like towers to the incredible sights on the planet. Longyearbyen towards the frozen East Coast heavens. From where we were camped we I was at the end of a journey of discovery. – just me and a guide – so I could see the had a wide view and it was beautiful to see the It had been an incredible time. Beyond the aurora in a true wilderness environment, as lights over the full horizon. science of the aurora, I had learnt about the the old polar explorers would have done. Te An incredible ending/Solar Eclipse landscapes and cultures, the histories of Sun was not yet risen from the Arctic winter; A month later the Sun was back (I had missed people who devote their lives to the pursuit of we skied through a milky-blue twilight. Te it) and I watched the total solar eclipse in an idea or a goal. I learnt about the strength trip was more intense – more brutal – than I Svalbard – one of only a few thousand people. of the human spirit, our capacity for pain, could have imagined. I realised then that out Wrapped up in down clothing and standing endurance, loss and renewal. there everything becomes about survival and in a wide, frozen valley, I stood and stared at a Te aurora is our connection with the Sun. nothing else matters. black disc in the sky and its wispy silver halo. It is how our little planet protects itself from Te frst two days were simply white. I smiled in awe and disbelief that I had been the streaming charged particles of the ‘solar Te light was fat and the sky a barely-there able to witness such a rare sight in such an wind’, absorbing the energy in its magnetic grey. No sun, no colour, no contrast. Low incredible place. feld and dissipating it as an incredibly mountains rose up on either side – white Looking up at the corona and seeing the beautiful light show. But it’s more than that with high, grey rock bands. Te land was solar wind streaming away from the Sun, I was too. It’s the people, the places the landscapes windswept ice. able to refect on how intimately connected and the stories – this is what brings the aurora In the afternoon of the second day we we are with the Sun on so many levels. I to life. Plasma physics has never been so emerged into the vast and beautiful Reindalen thought back over my journey and about all beautiful. – a wide, long expanse edged by fattened I had learned: from my frst taste of the Arctic mountains that looked like a giant line of piled white sugar subsiding into the valley. We were skiing mostly on icy crust, so pulling the sleds was relatively easy, but we were accompanied always by the loud scraping sound of skis over uneven, frosty ice. It was too loud to talk. We progressed in our own individual worlds. Every hour or so we would stop for a very quick break, putting on a down jacket immediately. I would sit on my sled and drink some water from my thermos fask, eating a few nuts or a biscuit, always swapping my hands in my mitts between each action that required the dexterity of free fngers – it was the only way to prevent the fngers becoming Photo: Ivar Marthinusen Photo: painful from cold. Despite my best eforts Eclipse in Svalbard they would hurt anyway, and it was always a relief to start skiing again and for the pain in Dr Melanie Windridge is a plasma my fngers to gradually diminish. physicist, speaker, writer… with a Day three was in colour. It was clear and taste for adventure. Her book Aurora: the sky showed a tinge of blue. When the Sun In Search of the Northern Lights was rose, although we didn’t see it, it licked the top released in February 2016. Melanie has of the mountains and painted them a pinkish a PhD in fusion energy and is Business hue. Te whole sky near the horizon turned Development Manager for fusion an orangey-mauve, like watercolour blood start-up Tokamak Energy, as well as orange. We made our way quickly down the working in education with the Ogden fat, lavender-tinted valley, travelling at what Trust, Anturus and Your Life. Melanie felt like a fast walking, or slow jogging, pace. loves the mountains and believes science and exploration go It got colder. Temperatures dropped to almost hand in hand. Find Melanie at www.melaniewindridge.co.uk and -40. on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Tat third evening we saw the northern Aurora: In Search of the Northern Lights is available on Amazon lights. We looked out at around eleven o’clock and in all good bookshops.

14 Imperial ENGINEER Autumn 2016 FEATURES Explanation for the northern Pacif c Blob

T e Blob, the name given to a large mass had reached nearly 2.3 km2 in diameter, was drawn northwards. T is may help to account of surf cial warm water about 2.5˚C estimated to rise to about 110 m above the sea for the observed contraction of Arctic Ocean higher than normal in the northern level and was still active. sea ice and the expansion of Antarctic Ocean Pacif c Ocean, was f rst detected in late Eruption continued throughout the f rst sea ice. 2013. It has continued to spread and half of 2015, and the island continued to T e timing of the volcanic eruption and the persisted until early 2016. T is abnormal expand. By August, the volcano ceased to Blob is therefore close to perfect. oceanic condition has an important role erupt smoke and ash, but continued to emit In conclusion, the warm sea-surface in the abnormal weather conditions lava. As of September 16, 2015, the total area temperature observed in the Blob was initially experienced in the Pacif c Coast. Its of the island had decreased slightly, but the caused by the submarine eruption of the cause has remained a mystery until now. fumarolic zone had expanded as “vigorous Nishino-shima volcano. T e patterns of Submarine volcanic eruptions are an volcanic activity continued without signif cant regional temperature changes observed in the important natural means for the switching on change”. northern Pacif c Ocean was merely nature’s of hot seawater in oceans. In this report, the T e Blob was created by natural submarine way of returning temperature in equilibrium timing of such an event is used to explain the volcanic activity. T ree blobs of warm water back to normal through ocean circulation. Blob appearing in the northern Pacif c Ocean seen of the North American coast, ranging Variation in atmospheric carbon dioxide from autumn 2013 persisting into 2016. from Alaska to Mexico dated September 1, cannot be a solution to such localized changes. Wikipedia has provided an account on the 2014 can be explained by pulses of eruption Furthermore, a possible role for the Blob in Blob. http://bit.ly/IE25-Blob activity transporting the warmer surf cial the development of the exceptionally strong El Nicholas Bond of the Joint Institute for waters to these locations. Niño year experienced during 2015 cannot be the Study of the Atmosphere and Ocean, Because of the existence of warmer surf cial ruled out. University of Washington f rst detected the seawater in the northern hemisphere, cooler T anks are due to Wikipedia for providing circular body of abnormally warm seawater waters from the southern hemisphere were the information needed for this study. in the northern Pacif c Ocean for which he coined the term “T e Blob”. Initially the Blob was reported as being 800 km wide and 91 m deep. It expanded and reached the size 1600 km wide, 1600 km long and 91 m deep during June 2014 when the term “T e Blob” was coined. In February 2014, the temperature of the Blob was about 2.5˚C warmer than what was usual for the time of the year. Wikipedia has provided another account on the Nishino-shima volcano located 940 km south of Tokyo with details of the 2013 to 2015 eruption. http://bit.ly/IE25-Eruption In November 2013, an eruption created a new island south-southeast of the shore of Global map of sea-surface temperature anomalies showing the Blob in the northern Nishino-shima Island. By December 2013, Pacif c Ocean on January 23, 2014 (northern hemisphere winter) the island rose 20 to 25 m above sea level, with an area of 5.6 km2. By December 20, 2013, the island had grown fast enough for experts to predict that it would probably join up with Nishino-shima before the end of 2013, and cease to be a separate island. On December 26, 2013, the Japanese Coast Guard conf rmed that the two islands had joined. During July and August 2014, lava f ow increased, causing the island to expand rapidly to the east. Between September and December, the lava f ow increased further and headed north, almost completely overrunning the pre-existing island. On December 27, 2014, Japanese authorities said the island Global map of sea-surface temperature anomalies showing the Blob sub-divided into three parts in northeastern Pacif c Ocean on September 1, 2014

Photo: Japan Coast Guard Professor Wyss Yim DSc PhD DIC FGS was at Imperial College in the Department of Geology from 1971-1974. After that he spent 35 years until retirement at the University of Hong Kong where he taught civil engineering, geosciences and environmental management students, and, helped found the Department of Earth Sciences. He was awarded the DSc by the University of London in 1997. Wyss served as the Deputy Chairman of the Climate Change Science Submarine eruption off Nishino-shima volcano with the new volcano rising above Implementation Team of UNESCO’s International Year of Planet sea level on November 21, 2013 Earth 2007-2009.

Imperial ENGINEER Autumn 2016 15 FEATURES Alaskan Expedition We often receive reports from student expeditions, especially if they’ve been supported by CGCA or RSMA (or their Trusts), that make interesting reading, so we try to include them as articles here in IE. For some reason this report didn’t make it to the editorial team until this year, but their report was too good to ignore and so many of their photographs were stunning that we are including it now, somewhat belatedly (for which we apologise).

In September 2011, a team of four Imperial both of the objectives and the glaciers. students, aged between 20 and 25 years, post- • Inspire other members of Imperial, as well graduates and undergraduates from diferent as the wider mountaineering community, to scientifc disciplines, started organising an explore Alaska. expedition. All had notable mountaineering • Extend the ski mountaineering, alpine and experience and were members of the Imperial expedition experience of all members. College Outdoor Club (ICOC). Te team Returning from the expedition, the team comprised: Sara Arbós Torrent, Team Leader; considered that all these objectives had been Photos by Arnaud Sors Photos by Boris Korzh, Equipment and Finance Ofcer; met, except for the kite aerial photography. Unloading Paul Claus’ Otter plane Sam Tompson, Logistics and Medical Ofcer; and Arnaud Sors, Photography and Planning and Preparation and one Nikon D3100 DSLR, with a versatile Communications Ofcer. Te expedition dates – June to July, 2012 18-105mm stabilised lens. In addition, the – were chosen in order to maximise the team also had three Go-pro Hero2 cameras. probability of reasonably stable weather Tese were used to record some ski descents conditions (long days, good snow quality, as well as to capture slow processes such as minimal precipitation). Extensive research was the igloo building progress, where a picture carried out in order to be able to determine, was taken every minute. Finally, these cameras as accurately as possible, the previously were also used when trying to implement Kite climbed mountains in the region of interest. Aerial Photography. Information about the logistics used for this Eager to experiment with Kite Aerial type of expedition was also sought. Te team Photography, KAP, whilst on the glacier, the organised the travel arrangements, planning team brought a moderately big (about 1m2), and gathering of the equipment required, one-line lifting kite. Such kites cannot be procuring the cooking stoves, gas and fuel, as guided; they simply infate and keep a stable well as the buying and sorting of all the food, position in the direction of the relative wind. Arnaud, Sam, Boris, Sara themselves. Underneath the kite, they attached a Go-Pro Teir aim was to combine good skiing With few roads, often in poor condition, camera. Te angle of the kite line relative to with good alpine climbing. Tus, the team the region visited can only be reached by the ground varies depending on the strength was looking for an area that was remote with fying with Ultima Tule. Ultima Tule is, of the wind. potential to attain frst ascents, relatively easy in fact, a luxury lodge – one of the very few Tey were not able to perform static pictures access in order to maximise their time on the private properties in the heart of the Alaskan because of the general absence of stable wind. glacier, with peaks that could be summited National Park – hundreds of miles away from Most of the time there was no wind at all, or not in a single day, and in a region that was ‘in any road; hence, it can only be reached by enough to sustain the camera and its loading, season’ in June due to exam constraints. Tese plane. Te lodge is run by Paul Claus and his even though the system had very good lifting conditions determined Alaska as the fnal family. Paul is an excellent pilot and, as an avid capabilities. On rare occasions they witnessed destination for the expedition, and weather climber, has claimed most of the frst ascents stronger but irregular winds which did not was the primary factor taken into account in of the climbed mountains in the area. As a side provide good fying conditions for the kite. deciding the fnal region within Alaska. business, he runs charter fights to and from So they sought an alternative method in order Te team planned to live for a month, remote areas for climbers. to generate the required apparent wind; fying unsupported, on the ice and rock of the rarely Whenever the team operated in pairs, each the kite behind them whilst skiing. Towards explored territories of the Saint Elias Range; pair carried a large range radio which allowed the end of their stay, they were just below more specifcally, the Jeferies and Fraser inter-team communication. Tis system was the summit of Whale peak. Tis provided a Glaciers. None of the members had been to implemented to ensure that help could be non-stop ski descent to the base camp with Alaska before. Te expedition provided a great provided should something happen to any of an altitude height diference of 700m. Tey opportunity for them to learn how to adapt to the party members. Communications to the managed to flm the whole descent which the conditions there. Teir general objectives outside world were made via a satellite phone. resulted in a 5 minute-long skiing aerial video. before departure were to: Coverage was sometimes low and sparse • Return home safely having enjoyed the although they always managed to establish Expedition Journal challenges and unique environment of connection. Te team made a special efort Day 1 - 1st June Alaska. to keep frequent communication with the Sara and Sam left for Alaska from Heathrow • Explore rarely visited territories of the outside world and daily satellite messages were airport. Tey arrived in Anchorage just before Wrangell – St Elias National Park and sent to a previously set up twitter account. midnight and took a taxi to the hostel. Preserve. Daily weather reports were sent to the satellite Day 2 • Attain frst ascents of previously unclimbed phone thanks to the invaluable help of After a hearty breakfast, they started to sort peaks using both ski-mountaineering and Jonathan Phillips. out all of the equipment, including the kite alpine climbing techniques. Te team brought three cameras, in order to and the GoPro cameras which had been • Identify other potential objectives in the make sure there would be at least one per team posted there. area for future expeditions. of two climbers, even if one broke down or ran Day 3 • Obtain relevant aerial photographic material out of battery. Tey used two compact cameras Today was dedicated to food shopping. It was

16 Imperial ENGINEER Autumn 2016 FEATURES relocated to the head of the Fraser Glacier, a journey of over 8 hours with the last half being completed in a full white-out. However, using GPS, this did not present too much of a problem. Day 14 It was decided to move the camp slightly further down the glacier to avoid the large crevasses and to be in a better position for returning from climbs. Te tents were loaded erect on top of the pulks (sledges) for the move, saving signifcant efort. Te weather was still poor, so nothing else was done. Day 15 possible to take Coleman fuel from the hostel, starting the frst of many books that would S&A went out for a ski tour to a col at the top since many people leave their unused fuel be read throughout the expedition. Te of the glacier, even though there was a complete there before fying home. temperature warmed up signifcantly, causing white-out and progress was only made with Day 4 the igloo to start dripping inside. a map, compass and GPS. A few hours after Having remained in the UK for a few more Day 9 their return, at 7pm, the skies miraculously days, due to exams which they had to complete, Clear skies and the absence of any wind in cleared and the team had a full view of the Arnaud and Boris left London at 9:30am and the morning, allowed a ski ascent of Whale area for the frst time. Extremely excited, S&A arrived in Anchorage at 7pm, leaving just Peak (10,730 ft). Te view at the top was decided to ski tour Baldtop peak via its west enough time to do all of their packing. outstanding: all of the surrounding peaks, face. S&B had their sights set on the north Day 5 and Mount St Elias visible in the distance. face of Mount Short (11,003 ft) which stood Te team was picked up at 5am by Paul While there, the team reccied several routes directly above the camp. However, before Claus’ parents. Te weather was perfect for on the neighbouring Ocean Peak. Ten an making an attempt on the route, they needed fying, so as soon as the team arrived at the immaculate ski descent all the way back down to reccie the descent route down the east side Chitina airstrip, they loaded up the single to base camp. of the mountain. After successfully spotting a Otter aeroplane. After a stern briefng from Day 10 possible descent route, they returned to sleep Paul Claus, they took of and few to the head Following two diferent routes, Sara and before setting of in the morning. of the Jeferies Glacier, with the base camp Arnaud (S&A) climbed together, starting Day 16 being set up directly at the landing spot. Tis at about 3am, whilst Sam and Boris (S&B) S&A summited Baldtop peak just after meant that Arnaud and Boris had transferred started at 7am, summiting Ocean Peak just midnight and were rewarded by an outstanding from London to the glacier in under 36 hours! after the frst team, to perfectly clear skies. sunset, they then proceeded to ski down the As soon as the tents were set up, the team S&B took their skis to the summit, and after same face, which was the skiing highlight up started to construct an igloo in order to have a a traverse across the summit ridge could to this point. S&B started climbing at 7am communal area. complete the same ski descent undertaken the and summited Mount Short at 2pm. Te previous day. full team united back at base camp, before Day 11 S&A set of again on another short mission Te team decided that it was time to start to reach a point at about 9,600 ft. Once back moving around to explore other areas before for the night, everyone celebrated with a quick returning to base camp one week before the whiskey. planned pick-up date but, with heavy snowfall Day 17 all day and 30cm of fresh snow settling, the To take full advantage of the good weather, the day was spent resting and packing. full team did not rest and summited another Day 12 peak, Eleanor Peak (10,153 ft). From here Te heavy snow continued, so the team they traversed to the top of Baldtop peak to remained at base camp for another day. Building an igloo complete the exquisite descent of its west face. Day 13 Day 18 Finally, the opportunity to move. Te team A few other peaks interested the team in this Day 6 Tere was hope for a ski tour today, but cloud and snow set in, so the team remained at base camp and completed the igloo. An inventory of the food was carried out to check that everything was in order. Day 7 Te weather cleared and the whole team set of on their frst ski tour/climb. A 10,213 ft peak near base camp was targeted, and the name of Alopecia Peak was suggested due to the patchy snow on the rocky slopes. At the summit a white-out had set in, but would occasionally break, allowing Arnaud to carry out a full ski descent of the same route used for the ascent. Everyone was happy to reach the frst summit so early on and celebrations with a little whiskey were in order. Day 8 Bad weather returned and the team relaxed, The view from Flying Peak

Imperial ENGINEER Autumn 2016 17 FEATURES area, although everyone was ready to move As they approached the mountain, it became wide avalanches in all of the south-facing down the glacier to the next location. In order obvious what route they would take the next gullies. Given that their supplies of water and to maximise the number of climbed peaks, day, a magnifcent wide gully striking a direct food were very limited at that point, S&A the team split up once again. S&A went for line to the summit. decided that the best option was to go down a high peak, which they subsequently named Day 22 anyway, trying to be as fast as possible. Tey Cantaloupe Island Peak and managed to A very eventful day. unroped because the slope was not very steep, complete half of the descent on skis. S&B S&B set of at 5am, their route consisting of but at some point Sara lost control and slid focussed on two smaller peaks, linked by a perfectly hard and sticky neve. Progress was along the slope. Unfortunately an ice screw ridge, which they traversed. Clear weather all exceptionally quick with the pair topping caught her leg and injured her. Tey managed day. out at 7.40am. Te view was magnifcent, to descend safely to base camp but it was Day 19 dominated by Mount Logan, which now decided that it would be better for Sara to be With a large number of peaks summited in seemed very close. It was decided that the evacuated. the vicinity of the camp, the team was happy route name would be ‘Imperial Gully’ as an Day 23 to move to the next location, further down acknowledgement of the expedition’s main Paul Claus arrived early, to pick up Sara the Fraser Glacier, which would give access supporter and the grandeur of the route. and take her to the hospital. Te remaining to the highest peaks in the area. On the way In the meantime, S&A climbed Flying Peak. members of the team decided to stay for the down, they hoped that Siri Peak would come Tey reached the summit but, unfortunately, rest of the expedition. into view, but it stayed hidden further up a the descent via the north-west ridge turned Day 24 subsidiary glacier. Instead, the north face of out to be quite substantially more serious and Te team ski-toured further down the Fraser Mount Hope provided plenty to look at. technical than expected. After digging through glacier to reach another subsidiary glacier to Day 20 a cornice from the summit, to set foot on the its east. From here, an ascent of the east face of Bad weather, right on cue, meant the team underlying slopes, they progressed along the Mount Crystal was made. On the way to the had time to rest up. top of the ridge and came upon another wind- mountain, the team came across a glacier lake Day 21 sculptured snow accumulation that included a and undertook some water skiing. It was time to get to know the area better. cornice-like overhanging ledge. After digging Days 25 S&A enjoyed a quick ski part way up an east through it again, they down-climbed 10 Te team wanted to make an ascent of a face, opposite camp, followed by a skin up metres of ice and reached easier terrain which previously unclimbed M85, in the vicinity of halfway up the two main subsidiary glaciers led to the south col. At that point it was the camp. However, the weather conditions to get a better view of the available routes. almost 2pm and the snow on all surrounding started to become very unstable, so a day at S&B had their sights set on Siri Peak. It wasn’t slopes had fallen down in camp was forced. practical to attempt the climb starting from superficial Day 26 this camp, so they packed equipment into b u t It was time to start heading back towards the the pulks and skied up to the base of main base camp. Te team moved the camp the mountain, to enable an early to Baldwin Glacier to spend another few days start directly on the route. climbing in a new area, only a single day’s travel from the main base camp.

18 Imperial ENGINEER Autumn 2016 FEATURES Days 27 to 29 a gap of probably just 50m! Needless to Navigation All plans of climbing or skiing were thwarted say all the equipment was quickly stacked Navigation was not a problem most of the by shocking weather conditions. inside the single Otter aircraft and the team time. We took two GPS devices and accurate Days 30 and 31 few back to the Ultima Tule Lodge. Tere maps. We also used snow wands to mark out With the dehydrated meals almost fnished, they experienced a wonderful Alaska sauna, each camp in case of a white-out. We rarely the team gave up hopes of climbing near the followed by a somewhat uplifting debrief with ventured out when the weather was in white- Baldwin Glacier and moved back to base camp. Paul. After another short fight to Chitina, out conditions, however, we were sometimes Te change of diet was much appreciated by they were back in Anchorage the same day. caught in one. Te GPS devices were very everyone, the most popular ingredients being Days 36 to Day 40 good and made accurate waypoints. the smoked salmon and maple syrup. Te Contingency days were spent in Anchorage, Weather weather remained bad. with multiple visits to gear shops, bars and the Te weather was extremely mixed over the Days 32 and 33 supermarket. course of the 31 days we spent on the glacier. Finally, at 9pm, the skies miraculously Flights back to London and San Francisco Tis was mainly due to the maritime weather cleared. Not willing to waste the opportunity, (two of the members headed straight to system that operates in the area. Half of the preparations were made to set of for a night Yosemite after the expedition) were caught on days we spent on glacier had high pressure and climb. Even during the darkest time of the the 10th and 11th July. clear skies, the other half were poor, with snow night, there was enough light to climb without and high winds. We had updates on fronts a head-torch. Te summit of Forgotten Peak Summary approaching via satellite communications was reached at 2am, followed by an excellent We encountered some granite but generally and could generally plan accordingly. We had ski descent of the main glacier back to base the rock was of poor quality and loose. We occasional 20 cm dumps of snow overnight. camp at dawn. Climbing in the early hours therefore picked our routes based on the When followed by a warm spell this made of the morning in the Alaskan twilight was a quality of ice and snow on a particular line and certain slopes highly avalanche-prone and we surreal and magical experience. avoided any long sections of rock (apart from heard several naturally triggered avalanches. Day 33 ridges). Tere were a number of north faces Te maximum wind speed we experienced With acceptable visibility and the kite aerial that were in good condition. Tese ofered was around 50 mph. In general, aside from on photography kit in hand, the group ski toured the most technical climbing in the safest way. the ridges, the wind did not pose a problem. once more to the head of the Jeferies Glacier. Te grade of climbing ranged from facile to Communications A successful video shoot was pulled of with difcile, D. Te majority of routes climbed As mentioned earlier, we had two-way radios a GoPro camera attached to a trailing kite were around assez-difcile, AD. for communication between the climbing during the ski descent. We identifed a number of unclimbed faces pairs, and a satellite phone to communicate Day 34 and peaks that could form part of a future with the outside world. Te satellite phone Time to prepare for departure. Te pilot expedition to the area. also had its own solar panel, but to provide was contacted to inform him of the current Climbing in such a remote and wild fexible charging options a Power Monkey weather conditions. To kill time, two of the location was an amazing experience. Te battery was used as a back up charging source, team did some ice climbing in a crevasse, by routes were not especially long but often had during night time or overcast periods, which lowering in and climbing back out on top technical sections and could be descended could be charged using a dedicated solar rope. by alternative routes. Half of the time spent panel. Te Power Monkey was also used to Day 35 on the glacier (ffteen out of thirty days) was charge personal mp3 devices. In the morning, the slightly changeable, but spent climbing or ski-mountaineering. For emergency purposes, an EPIRB hopeful, conditions were sent to the pilot We climbed a total of thirteen peaks, the (emergency position-indicating radio beacon) once again. Instructions were received to majority of which were previously unclimbed: was taken to assist evacuation in extreme start packing up and we waited patiently, Alopecia Peak; Ocean Peak; Mount Short; Sam situations. Te EPIRB, satellite phone and occupying the time with some video making. Peak; Boris Peak; Eleanor Peak; Cantaloupe solar panel were borrowed from the Imperial To the team’s disbelief, just as they heard the Island Peak; Flying Peak; Mount Crystal; College Exploration Board. plane approaching, cloud suddenly came Forgotten Peak. We also established new Environmental Considerations in and they heard the plane departing. As routes on some of the peaks that had already We tried to be as environmentally conscious despair began to set in, and not for the frst been climbed, via interesting unclimbed lines as possible, taking all our litter and waste out time during the expedition, a miracle which ofered great technical climbing. One with us, burning it at Paul Claus’ lodge. happened; Paul Claus came fying such line we named Imperial Couloir. Whilst at base camp we also created a in, under the cloud, lavatory that could be removed on leaving the glacier. All our

Imperial ENGINEER Autumn 2016 19 FEATURES human waste at base camp was taken out with us and disposed of at Paul Claus’ lodge. Medicine All team members had Expedition First Aid Qualifcations, covering all the basics as well as some more complex scenarios of lifesaving in remote and mountainous environments. A comprehensive frst aid kit was taken, which included a main base camp kit and two smaller climbing packs. In the accident that occurred on the evening of the 22nd of June, Sara took a fall and sufered lacerations on her leg, caused by an ice-screw cut. No bleeding was present at the time of injury and she was able to safely return to base camp on her own account. First Terrain and Snow conditions else, especially if it is technical, has never been aid treatment was performed upon arrival at Te area of the Wrangell mountains that we done before. Even around the four base camps base camp. Although the injuries were not explored is mainly composed of large glaciers we operated from, there are a number of steep life-threatening, evacuation was considered which are not very steep. Mid-sized mountains couloirs that have not been skied yet, especially necessary in order to avoid infection and emerge alongside the glaciers, most of which on west sides that also ofer the advantage of provide better stitching. Emergency protocol are generally steeper than those one is used to not heating up too much in the morning. was followed and evacuation took place in the European Alps. Snow conditions were on the following morning, with hospital often similar to those encountered in the Alps treatment being received in Anchorage. Te at the beginning of spring except that, most emergency and contingency plans showed of the time, the snow layer was much thicker. good performance when implemented and no Bad weather was quite frequent, and over the

Acknowledgements Te Team would like to thank the Imperial College Exploration Board for their invaluable help, support and advice, especially Dr. Lorraine Craig. We would also like to thank the fnancial support given to us by the Gino Watkins Memorial Fund, the Old Centralians Trust, the Mount Everest Foundation, the Alpine Club, the Andrew Croft Memorial Fund, the British Mountaineering Council, Te Eagle Ski Club, the Photonics Academy other medical problems occurred. duration of our stay it snowed between eight of Wales and the Augustine Courtland trust. Te team would like to thank the Exploration to ten times. However, most of the time, the A big thank you to all our equipment Board, with a very special mention for Dr. quantities of fresh snow were quite small. sponsors: Black Diamond, Go-Pro, PhD, Lorraine Craig, for their help and support Future potential Mountain House, Plum, Zag Skis, Lyon during the evacuation process. We would also Te potential for skiing in the Wrangells for Outdoor, Ptzl, La Sportiva, JetBoil, Julbo, like to specially thank Martin Boniek, the good skiers is infnite. Some of the summits, high trail, Exped and Light my Fire. pilot from Wrangall Air who, in his own spare such as Baldtop peak or Flightpath peak are We would like to thank the IC Obra Vally, time, took Sara to Providence Hospital, waited a ‘frequent’ destination suggested by Paul IC Reru Vally and IC Svalbard expeditions while the treatment was taking place and then Claus for his clients, but virtually everything for their help and advice while planning this kindly helped Sara fnd a suitable place to adventure. Tanks to David Swinburne and sleep. Tere are no words that can describe Stuart Howard for their advice on Anchorage the kindness and generosity he showed. hostels and general information on how to plan Skiing an expedition to Alaska. We are also indebted As pioneers in the Alps have stated, ski touring to Steve Gruhn for the invaluable information is the best way to travel the mountain in about the climbed and unclimbed mountains winter. We encountered almost exclusively in the area visited. snow terrain, and skis proved to be a huge asset Also we would like to send a very warm during travel on the glaciers: to move camp, thank you to Paul Claus, the Kenicott Rangers access routes, and to make rapid descents from and specially Martin Boniek for their help in mountains. On soft or crusty snow that would Sara’s evacuation. break under the pressure of a bare shoe, skis Finally, and most importantly, a very allowed much faster access to all summits especial thank you to Jonathan Phillips, and generally saved a lot of time on the way without whose invaluable help, advice and down. Tanks to the skis, the fact that glaciers expertise as well as his daily weather reports, were enormous did not cause any problems. Pulling a heavy pulk this expedition would never have happened.

20 Imperial ENGINEER Autumn 2016 FEATURES Hydraulic Fracturing in Hydrocarbon Reservoirs and Induced Seismicity in Cogdell Oil Field, West Texas Third year Geology student Sharinia Kanagandran entered this for the RSMA Essay competition. Being a report rather than an essay rendered it ineligible. However the judges felt that such a topical subject would be of great interest to the readers of IE. Introduction fracturing – fuid is pumped into the well to extremely important and factors which afect increase pressure and creates fractures (Davies their size need to be well understood. What is hydraulic fracturing? et. al 2013). Tere are numerous factors which afect the Hydraulic fracturing is a controversial subject, Fracture stimulation is necessary as it size of earthquakes, and it depends on both with its negative portrayal in the media increases production rate, making extraction the process of creating fractures and the area stemming from a movie called ‘Gasland’. Te economic. fractures are generated in. Te temperature pseudo-documentary claimed that the process How does it induce seismicity? and volume of injection fuid, its type, phase, contaminates underground aquifers and causes While hydraulic fracturing allows for injection rate, pressure and depth below earthquakes. Hydraulic fracturing has been proftable extraction of hydrocarbons, there surface signifcantly afect the size of induced employed for hydrocarbon extraction since is a risk of adverse efects – one of which is seismicity (Davies et. al 2013). Furthermore, 1949, with over 2.5 million fracture treatments induced seismicity. A nearby fault in a near- if hydraulic fracturing is carried out in an performed world wide (Montgomery & Smith failure state of stress can experience seismicity, area with pre-existing stress, such as a fault, 2010). Initially most reservoirs did not require as increasing fuid pressure can reactivate it would increase the size of the earthquake any fracturing, however, as hydrocarbons the fault plane and generate an earthquake (Ellsworth 2013). were extracted from most ‘cheap and easy’ (Clark et. al 2012). Tis could occur both Cogdell oil feld, West Texas – induced reservoirs, the industry moved towards more during the process of hydraulic fracturing and seismicity challenging and unconventional resources. soon after (Davies et. al 2013). Davies et. al Te Cogdell oil feld (Fig. 2) is part of Unconventional hydrocarbon resources, proposes that it could occur via three methods; Horsehoe atoll, a Paleozoic chain of reef such as shale gas, are often stored in fracturing fuid could enter the fault, a fuid limestone mounds in which there are 2.7 sedimentary rocks with low permeability. As pressure pulse could be transmitted to the fault billion barrels of recoverable oil stored in 70 pore spaces lack the connectivity required through a direct connection with fractures, reservoirs (Dutton et. al 2004). In December to fow from reservoir rock to the well, the and deformation of the rock due to hydraulic 1949 the Cogdell feld was discovered, and reservoir needs to be stimulated to generate fracturing could increase fuid pressure in the secondary recovery was initiated in April 1956 fracture connectivity which allows for fault or in proximal fractures (Fig. 1). due to few vertical open joints as most were hydrocarbons to reach the well. Te technique Tis report will examine the triggers of calcite-flled (Burnside et. al 1954). Te feld which creates this stimulation is hydraulic induced seismicity by studying an earthquake is located in the Midland Basin of West Texas, at Cogdell Oil Field in West Texas. Tis will United States and is 20km away from Snyder be used as a case study to provide approaches (Fig. 2), the largest town in the vicinity. to reduce risk, subsequently, an assessment Between the period of 1974 and 1982, of hydraulic fracturing will be produced to there was a sequence of induced seismic evaluate its benefts relative to the risk. events related to the Cogdell oil feld (Davis & Pennington 1989). Te most signifcant Discussion of these seismic events occurred on 16 June Mechanics of induced seismicity and size of 1978 and had a magnitude of 5.3, ML = 5.3 earthquakes (Davis & Pennington 1989). According to Seismicity is induced when the mechanical Davis et. al, the total felt area was estimated at state of seismogenic crust is distressed enough 130,000km2 (1989), with residents close to the to cause a fault to fail (McGarr et. al 2002). epicenter reporting cracked windows (Davis When there is an increase in pore pressure, & Pennington 1989). Te fault was a normal normal stress along pre-existing fractures is fault with an estimated seismic moment of reduced, triggering shear slip – a dominant 6.5 x 1022 dyne-cm and a focal depth of 3km source for inducing seismicity (Fig. 1) (Voss & Hermann 1980). As the epicentral (Rutledge & Phillips 2003). Furthermore, region of the earthquake was determined to seismicity can be induced at the ends of be approximately 33° N, 100.8° W, it was generated fractures as large shear stresses from established to be within the boundaries of the fracture opening can cause slip (Sneddon Cogdell oil feld and likely to be related to it 1946). However, it is not restricted to fractures (Davies et. al 1989). as microseismic events could travel further After the earthquake, a two-year study Figure 1: a) A well with hydraulic into the rock (Evans et. al 1999). conducted by the USGS uncovered 20 fracturing. Fluid can be transmitted to An important factor of induced seismicity epicenters in the vicinity of Cogdell oil feld a nearby, critically stressed fault (white is size of the earthquakes generated. In (Harding et. al, 1978). Te mean depth for arrows). b) Mohr stress diagram of the most cases, hydraulic fracturing can induce microseismicity in the area was 1.9km, shallow fault plane; Mohr circle 1 depicts the microearthquakes which cannot be felt, and relatively close to the injection depth of fault plane prior to hydraulic fracturing, however there have been cases where hydraulic 2.1km (Davis & Pennington 1989). Due to Mohr circle 2 depicts the fault plane post fracturing has led to felt earthquakes. Te hydraulic fracturing. The fuid pressure in there having been no previous seismicity in the largest were magnitude 7.0 earthquakes at the fault zone could increase and cause vicinity of Cogdell oil feld, it was suggested by a decrease in compressive stress (σ and Gazli, Uzbekistan in 1976 and 1984 (Davies Harding et. al (1978) that the earthquake was 1 2013). Te area had been aseismic until induced by injection of hydraulic fuids. σ3 ). So the Mohr circle moves to the left, crosses the failure envelope and shear fracturing began (Davies 2013). Due to cases Causes of seismicity at the Cogdell oil feld failure occurs (after Davies et. al 2013). like these, managing induced earthquakes is Te likely mechanism for induced seismicity at

Imperial ENGINEER Autumn 2016 21 FEATURES not completely risk free and can be further by the fracturing of hydrocarbon reservoirs improved. Due to an increase in fuid pressure (Davies et. al 2013; Montgomery & Smith being one of the main causes of induced 2010). In contrast to the 2.5 million fracture seismicity, lowering fuid pressure can treatments performed worldwide, this is strengthen faults and increase their resistance insignifcant, just a 0.0018% chance of to deformation. However, this has to be done inducing seismicity (Gallegos & Varela 2015). from the very beginning of the fracturing Hydraulic fracturing most commonly induces process rather than during production, as micro seismicity and sometimes even though this could generate asperities (Pennington the pore pressure increases sufciently to cause et. al 1986). Moreover, as seen in Cogdell, a fault to fail, aseismic deformation occurs. injection geometry can strongly infuence In spite of an extremely low chance of induced seismicity – therefore, the perimeter inducing a felt earthquake, regulations injection pattern should be avoided in large should be implemented to limit the risk of felds. Companies planning future injection induced seismicity. Primarily, an adequate projects should account for injection geometry site characterisation to identify and avoid Figure 2: Location of the Cogdell Oil to avoid induced seismicity. Moreover, as faults by using 3D seismic studies should Field in West Texas. Microearthquake injection geometry is not a well understood be carried out in all hydrocarbon reservoirs. epicentres (+) determined by Harding factor, further research should be carried out Ten the fuid pressure should not be too (1981) between 1979 and 1981 are regarding its efects on seismicity. high because if signifcant pressurisation of superimposed. Te risk of generating fault slip on nearby faults are avoided, fault reactivations can be faults should also be reduced during hydraulic avoided altogether (Rutqvist et. al 2013). Cogdell oil feld is an increase in fuid pressure. fracturing and this can be accomplished Furthermore, hydrocarbon companies should An increase in pore pressure would lead to a by running 3D seismic studies or similar conduct in-depth research into injection decrease in efective strength of faults, leading mapping methods which can locate faults geometry to understand geometries which to the fault crossing the Mohr-Coulomb with a throw of 50 to 100+ feet (King 2012). increase the likelihood of induced seismicity. failure envelope (Fig. 1) and initiating slip Tis data would allow for the selection of well Te introduction of new regulations and (Hubbert & Ruby 1959). locations a sufcient distance away from major restrictions would reduce the risk of induced Even though injection fuid pressures at faults, so as not to risk triggering them. If a seismicity, leading to an improved trust from Cogdell oil feld are high and at shallow fracture enters a fault, injection might need the public in hydraulic fracturing. depths, even the most conservative stress to be stopped as continued injection could estimates indicate that at least 16 other felds activate the fault if it is of a signifcant size References: in District 8A (Fig. 2) should be in failure (King 2012). However, continued fracturing Adams, J. & Rowe, C., 2013. Diferentiating (Davis et. al 1989). Contrary to this, Cogdell of a small fault may not induce seismicity and Applications of Hydraulic Fracturing. Efective is the only seismically active feld. Tis might might hold signifcant hydrocarbon reserves and Sustainable Hydraulic Fracturing. Atkinson, G.M. & Wald, D.J. 2007. “Did You Feel be due to shear failure occurring at the other (King 2012). Due to factors like these, a It?” Intensity Data: A Surprisingly Good Measure felds as aseismic creep or microseismicity detailed study of local geology should always of Earthquake Ground Motion. Seismological (Davis & Pennington 1989). be performed prior to hydraulic fracturing. Research Letters, 78, 362–368. Another factor which could have infuenced In Cogdell oil feld, a number of faults might Burnside, R.J. 1959. Geology Of Part of the Horseshoe induced seismicity in Cogdell rather than not have been identifed as early studies on Atoll in Borden and Howard Counties, Texas. felds in the same district is the net volume regional geology lacked the technology to Washington, DC, United States Department of of injected fuid. Te Cogdell oil feld had a accurately identify subsurface faults (Burnside the Interior. net volume of 37 million m3 injected into the 1959). Burnside, R.J., Staford, P.T. & Myers, D.A. 1954. Geological Survey Investigations of the Scurry reservoir, which is abnormally high for the Tere is little federal regulation on the Reef and “Horseshoe Atoll” in Western Texas. region, with only 2 projects surpassing Cogdell practice of hydraulic fracturing in the Science. 119 (3096), 617–618. in net volume injected (Davis & Pennington United States (Rahm 2011). Due to recent Byerlee, J.D. & Brace, W.F. 1972. Fault stability and 1989). However, this does not explain the lack controversy with hydraulic fracturing and the pore pressure. Bulletin of Seismological Society of of induced seismicity in felds with a greater contamination of drinking water resources, it America. 62 (2), 657–660. net volume injected and similar reservoir fuid has been investigated by the EPA and some Clark, C.E., Burnham, A.J., Harto, C.B. & pressures. states have been regulating the chemicals used Horner, R.M. 2012. INTRODUCTION: Te A possible explanation for this is injection in the process (Coglianese & Nash 2001). Technology and Policy of Hydraulic Fracturing and Potential Environmental Impacts of Shale geometry; Cogdell is operated as a single However, regarding induced seismicity, there Gas Development. Env Prac Environmental injection project with a perimeter injection have been no regulations implemented. Practice. 14 (04), 249–261. pattern (Davis & Pennington 1989). Stress Is hydraulic fracturing worth the risk? Coglianese, C. & Nash, J. 2001. Regulating From the loading decreases with the cube of the distance Although hydraulic fracturing can lead to inside: Can Environmental Management Systems and due to this, it is difcult to generate high induced seismicity, the likelihood of a felt Achieve Policy Goals? Washington, DC, Resources shear stress increases in large areas (Davis & earthquake being triggered is incredibly low. for the Future. Pennington 1989). However, the perimeter Since 1956, there have been 45 induced felt Davies, R., Foulger, G., Bindley, A. & Styles, P. injection pattern leads to the development earthquakes (greater than magnitude 2.0), 2013. Induced seismicity and hydraulic fracturing for the recovery of hydrocarbons. Marine and of large, isolated barriers surrounded by with a low average magnitude of 3.9, caused Petroleum Geology. 45171–185. regions of aseismic deformation, creating optimum conditions for seismic failure (Davis & Pennington 1989). Tis is a plausible Sharinia Kanagandran is a 3rd year BSc Geology student in the explanation for lack of induced seismicity Department of Earth Science and Engineering. She was born in in other felds as most other large injection Malaysia and has lived both there and in Qatar, where she garnered projects use spot injection or line drive an interest for the oil and gas industry. Recently, she returned from injection pattern (Davis & Pennington 1989). mapping in St. Geniez at the base of the Alps and is currently working Improving hydraulic fracturing – reducing on a UROP simulating impact cratering. She hopes to work as an risk of seismicity and regulation Exploration Geoscientist in the future. Te Cogdell oil feld is a perfect case study to demonstrate that hydraulic fracturing is

22 Imperial ENGINEER Autumn 2016 FEATURES Davis, S.D. & Pennington, W.D., 1989. Induced seismic deformation in the Cogdell Oilfeld of West Texas. Bulletin of the Seismological Society of Should a Materials Science America. 79 (5). Davis, S.D., Pennington, W.D. and Carlson, S.M., 1989. A compendium of earthquake activity in graduate interested in Texas: Te University of Texas at Austin. Bureau of Economic Geology Geological Circular, pp.89-3. Dutton, S.P., Kim, E.M., Broadhead, R.F., Breton, Environmental Sustainability join C.L., et al. 2004. Play Analysis and Digital Portfolio of Major Oil Reservoirs in the Permian Basin: Application and Transfer of Advanced the feld of Nanotechnology? Geological and Engineering Technologies for Incremental Production Opportunities, Bureau of Economic Geology, Te University of Texas at A critical view Austin. Ellsworth, W.L. 2013. Injection-Induced This essay by Iacopo Russo won the RSMA Essay competition. Earthquakes. Science, 341, 1225942–1225942. Gallegos, T.J. & Varela, B. 2015. Trends in hydraulic When one thinks or reads about the the end of my undergraduate degree in fracturing distributions and treatment fuids, environmental sustainability of human materials science and engineering, an additives, proppants, and water volumes applied activities, there are two major concerns apparently simple question takes shape in my to wells drilled in the United States from 1947 one is very likely to encounter: on the one mind: how can I make the best use of what through 2010: data analysis and comparison to the literature. Scientifc Investigations Report. hand, human activities cause the release of I learnt in the past four years to improve the Harding, S.T. n.d. Induced Seismic Cogdell Canyon harmful substances to the environment, and sustainability of energy generation and use Reef Oil Field. United States Geological Survey. on the other hand they are responsible for so as to avoid dangerous global warming? Harding, S.T., Carver, D., Henries, R.F. & Langer, the depletion of the Earth’s fnite resources. Looking back at the history of innovation, C.J. 1978. Te Scurry County, Texas, earthquake Within the former concern fall issues related it is difcult to underestimate the role that series of 1977-1978, induced seismicity? Fiftieth to smog in urban areas, acid rain, toxic releases advances in materials science have had on annual meeting of the Eastern Section of the in air, water and soil, and, more broadly, the the improvement of the energy system. Te Seismological Society of America. 49 (3), 14–15. greenhouse gas emissions that lead to global design of new materials and improvements Hubbert, M.K. & Rubey, W.W. 1961. Role Of Fluid Pressure In Mechanics Of Overthrust Faulting, I. warming. Within the latter concern, one in the way they are made have led to great Mechanics Of Fluid-Filled Porous Solids And Its could include issues to do with the availability technological change in this feld. For Application To Overthrust Faulting: Reply To of fresh water and fertile land, the reduction example, advances in the understanding of Discussion By Francis Birch. Geol Soc America of biodiversity and the fnite supply of mineral quantum mechanics, solid state physics and Bull Geological Society of America Bulletin. 72 (9), stocks. semiconductor materials have led to the design 1445. If one looks more closely at this diverse of photovoltaic cells for the direct conversion King, G.E. 2012. Hydraulic Fracturing 101: range of issues, one will fnd that many are of solar energy into electricity. Te same What Every Representative, Environmentalist, fundamentally related to one precious resource advances have led to the development of light- Regulator, Reporter, Investor, University Researcher, Neighbor, and Engineer Should our society makes extensive use of: energy. As emitting diodes (LEDs), which have proved Know About Hydraulic Fracturing Risk. Journal an example, if we had enough energy, we could to be way more energy efcient lighting of Petroleum Technology, 64, 34–42. desalinate water and reduce the stress on fresh and display devices than the ones previously McGarr, A., Simpson, D. & Seeber, L. 2002. 40 water supplies; we could extract minerals from available. In other areas of materials science, Case histories of induced and triggered seismicity. less concentrated sources; we could neutralise metal alloys and composite materials have International Geophysics International Handbook or reduce the emissions of toxic releases to been developed that are much lighter than of Earthquake and Engineering Seismology. 647– air, water and soil. Terefore, it could be steel but have the same strength and stifness, 661. argued that many of the concerns about allowing the development of lightweight and Montgomery, C.T. & Smith, M.B. 2010. Hydraulic Fracturing: History Of An Enduring Technology. the environmental sustainability of human less fuel-thirsty vehicles in the transportation Journal of Petroleum Technology, 62, 26–40. activities can be reduced to concerns about the industry. It is easy to see how materials play Pennington, W.D., Davis, S.D., Carlson, S.M., sustainability of harnessing, storing, delivering a role at all levels of the energy life cycle; they Durpee, J., et al. 1986. Te evolution of seismic and using energy. As of today, most of the have potential for the sustainable production barriers and asperities caused by the depressuring energy in the world is generated by burning of energy, for its efcient storage and for of fault planes in oil and gas felds of South Texas. of the (in)famous trio of fossil fuels, i.e. coal, its efective use. Te available knowledge Bulletin of Seismological Society of America. 76 (4), oil and natural gas. Reserves of these fuels, on materials is increasingly recognised by 939–948. which have accumulated through millions academia and industry worldwide as a (if not Rahm, D. 2011. Regulating hydraulic fracturing in the shale gas plays: Te case of Texas. Energy Policy, of years in the Earth’s crust, have literally ) key limiting factor for the development of 39, 2974–2981. fuelled the growth of the world population new technologies. Rutledge, J.T. & Phillips, W.S. 2003. Hydraulic and economy for the past 150 years. Although In particular, there is one sub-discipline stimulation of natural fractures as revealed by some people may disagree, it now appears that, above all others, has recently attracted induced microearthquakes, Carthage Cotton that we are not really short of fossil fuels and attention, funding and talent in the materials Valley gas feld, east Texas. Geophysics. 68 (2), that we would not have too much difculty science community: nanoscience and 441–452. in expanding our future supply of energy. nanotechnology. Nowadays, it is hard to fnd Rutqvist, J., Rinaldi, A.P., Cappa, F. & Moridis, G.J. However, their burning causes the release of an academic institution in the world whose 2013. Modeling of fault reactivation and induced seismicity during hydraulic fracturing of shale- greenhouse gases leading to global warming physics, chemistry and materials science gas reservoirs. Journal of Petroleum Science and and climate change, which are now considered departments do not advertise extensive and Engineering, 107, 31–44. to be the number one threat for the world ambitious research programs on nanomaterials Sneddon, I.N. 1946. Te Distribution of Stress in economy by experts interviewed, for example, and nanodevices. Many research institutes the Neighbourhood of a Crack in an Elastic Solid. by the World Economic Forum. Terefore, it and collaborative initiatives dedicated to Proceedings of the Royal Society A: Mathematical, seems like concern about the environmental nanotechnology have also started making Physical and Engineering Sciences. 187 (1009), sustainability of human activities during the their appearance, interfacing with industry 229–260. next years should be focused primarily on in order to develop scalable manufacturing Voss, J.A. & Herrmann, R.B. 1980. A Surface Wave Study of the June 16, 1978 Texas Earthquake. global warming. techniques. Te scientifc journals focussed Seismological Research Letters. 51 (1), 1–14. Given the outlined scenario, as I approach on nanotechnology, such as Nature

Imperial ENGINEER Autumn 2016 23 FEATURES Nanotechnology, ACS Nano and Nano Today research had some downsides too. To begin batteries, fexible displays, transistors, sensors. have some of the highest impact factors among with, fundamental limits to innovation But the truth is that no one in the world can the physical sciences journals, indicating that are underestimated by scientists for fear of yet produce even a metre square of graphene more and more scientists are entering the disappointing and curtailing the opportunity reliably and at a reasonable cost. feld. So, could the study of nanomaterials be of additional funding. No researcher, if Perhaps, rather than focusing insistently on the key enabler of the major discoveries for put on the spot, could deny that there are fnding new, revolutionary solutions with an making energy harnessing, storage and use fundamental problems afecting our control optimism that appears unreasonable given the more sustainable? Is our increasing control on of nanomaterials and the improvement of trade-ofs intrinsic to some technologies, it the design of materials at really small scales nanomaterials-based energy devices, but few could be benefcial to take another approach. going to allow us to profoundly innovate in the feld like to talk about it. One such Human society’s high environmental impact the way we generate and use energy? I found problem is related to the already discussed high is not only due to inadequate energy supply that these were key questions, whose answers surface-to-volume ratio. Because of their huge technologies, but it is also due to the ever would immensely help me decide whether surfaces, nanomaterials are extremely reactive increasing demand for resources. Could we entering the feld of nanotechnology would be and, in some cases, they have been shown possibly fnd ways to guarantee the same the best way to put my skills and knowledge to be toxic to living creatures. Controlling human wellbeing while reducing the amount to work. their reactivity is extremely difcult and this of energy and resources we require? Could Nanotechnology could be defned as the is due to fundamental physical principles. materials scientists – could I – help fnd these study and manipulation of matter at the If looked at from the perspective of energy ways? One possibility that appears reasonable nanometre (a billionth of a metre) scale. minimisation, nanomaterials are, put simply, is to go back to the traditional, bulk materials Trust in the potential of nanotechnology is not meant to exist. All materials have in we use in great quantity and explore ways fundamentally fuelled by the assumption fact a natural tendency to minimise their to reduce the environmental impact of their that even if incremental improvements in surface-to-volume ratio. Tis is also part of production. Perhaps the great innovations in existing technologies will continue to play the reason why fabricating nanomaterials materials science for sustainable development important roles in addressing some of the on a large scale has proved to be so difcult. will come from very banal materials like steel, challenges of environmental sustainability, Another fundamental problem is that the cement or paper. Tese are not the materials they will not be sufcient; instead, it will be sudden burst of interest and expectations that currently attract the young and talented necessary to develop revolutionary, disruptive from nanotechnology has caused researchers materials engineers and yet they are the new technologies. Nanotechnology is thought to elaborate devices from nanomaterials before most used worldwide, whose production is to qualify for the job because the transition more fundamental aspects have been properly responsible for a big proportion of industry’s between the macroscopic properties of investigated. Te increasing pressure put on carbon emissions. materials which we are all used to and the researchers to deliver results, due to these What I have tried to argue is that a more surprising, weird properties of the molecular big expectations, has led them to attempt to careful and rational assessment of the potential and quantum world happens in that size apply nanomaterials where there is not such of nanotechnology for the improvement of the range. Terefore, control over materials at that a strong case for their use. Overexcited by energy system should be carried out by the scale opens up a whole world of possibilities, the feel of novelty and aware that the prefx materials science community, even if this is with materials that have new functionalities, ‘nano’ currently attracts more attention than set to challenge strong existing interests. New, unexpected properties and potential for any other buzzword in the physical sciences, talented individuals who aspire to have an a revolution. A few examples may make some researchers have sacrifced more impact on important societal issues should not this point clearer. Many nanomaterials are reasonable scientifc interests for the pursuit be led astray by the disproportionate popularity characterised by an extremely high surface-to- of misguided nanomaterials investigations. A of nanotechnology and should realise that volume ratio. In many applications, such as specifc example of this is the use of quantum there are many uncaptured opportunities for in catalysis and in battery electrodes, it is the dots in solar cells. Although quantum dots innovation in felds such as materials recycling surface of materials that plays the key role in have high photoluminescence properties, and primary material demand reduction. determining the device performance. Te use they are not such amazing absorbers of light. Tis is obviously not to underestimate the of nanomaterials could dramatically reduce And this is why, notwithstanding years and importance that nanotechnology will play the weight of these devices and improve years of research, the efciency of solar cells in the transition to a cleaner energy future. their functionality. Quantum dots, which employing quantum dots can hardly achieve Clearly, pursuing a PhD in nanomaterials is are nanocrystals of semiconductor materials, 10%. On the other hand, if only materials better than working to improve the corrosion have tunable optical properties and a very scientists could fnd a way to successfully resistance of oil steel pipes. After all, what is high photoluminescence, which make them deposit more traditional semiconductor important is to continue to be fascinated by ideal for displays with high brightness and low thin flms over common substrates, we the extraordinary properties and the immense energy consumption. More recently, a material could achieve efciencies higher than the socio-cultural relevance materials have for us that has attracted huge amounts of attention is current commercial silicon cells. In the case and our society, and to retain a strong passion graphene. Tis is a one-atom thick, single layer of graphene, the material has been proposed for improving the relationship between us and of carbon atoms arranged in a honeycomb for all the applications imaginable: solar cells, the fragile Earth that supports our civilisation. structure and, due to these characteristics, has often been termed a ‘2D material’. Another Iacopo Russo, 23, has recently completed his MEng in of its nicknames is ‘wonder material’, which Materials Science & Engineering at Imperial College, it earned after early experiments showed that graduating with First Class Honours. In Autumn 2015 it is one hundred times stronger than the he seized a fantastic opportunity to spend a semester in strongest steel and much more conductive exchange at MIT, where he started the laboratory work for than the purest copper, in addition to a whole his fnal year research project. On returning to Imperial, he host of other extraordinary properties. Tese completed his thesis on the investigation of quantum dots are just three examples of a whole range of for applications in solar cells, and realised that joining the new exciting material systems, which have feld of nanotechnology was not his ideal path. made nanoscience by far the hottest topic in After months of refection and applications, he accepted the materials research community. an offer to start his PhD in October 2016 in “The Use Less As with anything that suddenly captures Group” led by Prof Julian Allwood at the University of Cambridge, where he will investigate so much attention and popularity, however, resource-effcient low-carbon metals processing techniques. I found that the rise of nanotechnology

24 Imperial ENGINEER Autumn 2016 FEATURES Te opportunity for Hydro-electric power generation in China Jolyon Nove recently wrote to say that he had just returned from China and had no doubt that there is an obvious opportunity to develop clean energy hydro-electric power generation upstream of the Three Gorges Dam. An opportunity he sees for Imperial and its alumni. We asked him to expand…

Te Paris Agreement is an agreement within the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change dealing with greenhouse gas emissions mitigation, adaptation and fnance starting in the year 2020. An agreement on the language of the treaty was negotiated by representatives of 195 countries in Paris and adopted by consensus on 12 December 2015. Tis is an opportunity for British, Australian and Chinese Engineers to be of service to China. As a society, we have to balance many issues in considering Climate Change. Te Paris Agreement is a world frst and can be taken as global recognition of man’s impact on our environment. The Three Gorges Dam discussed elsewhere. In truth we could always designed the Snowy Mountains Scheme. have done better. In fact we can still do better. Recently China has developed this knowledge Initial investigations may be needed to the into the massive and innovative Tree Gorges left and right river fows of the main river Dam for food mitigation and hydro-electric just upstream of Te Tree Gorges Dam. An power generation. apparent advantage of such investigations is British, Australian and Chinese civil the ease of construction access and electrical engineers have a long tradition of building distribution to the existing electrical massive projects in China from the Great grid. Sustainable mass produced medium Wall of China to the Tree Gorges Dam, and head hydro-electrical energy generation modern highways and railways. and transformer units can be produced Now we must all look to co-operating in the economically. Te energy produced could be future in dealing with climate change for the connected to the nearby national electrical sake of our children.

Photos: Jolyon Nove Jolyon Photos: What we do is for the sake of our children. grid at the Tree Georges Dam. City and Guilds, British, Australian Tis is an opportunity for British, Australian and Chinese Engineering and Financial China is part of the Climate Change and Chinese Engineers to form a consortium Institutions could provide multi-service agreement. Te upstream tributaries of the and be of beneft to humanity. Britain started assistance to modern China and the world many rivers, including the Yangzi River, hydro-electric power generation. Australia beyond. provide the opportunity for run-of-the river hydro-electric power stations to be located. After the consideration of all the factors, sites could be selected at the best locations in China. China’s system of Government is supportive of long range implementation of plans. Te Tree Gorges Dam is the largest dam in the world and was built to meet China’s need for food control and sustainable electricity supply. Nothing is perfect. Te issues for and against dams including Te Tree Gorges Dam are Massive engineering projects from The Great Wall of China to modern highways.

Jolyon Nove was born in London in 1936. He went to Scaitcliffe School and Oundle. He served in the Royal Engineers as a commissioned Offcer on active service in anti-terrorist activities in Cyprus. He landed with the First Battalion Paratroops’ Regiment on the Suez landings. He served in Libya. Jolyon gained an honours degree in civil engineering from City and Guilds College in 1960 and was President of the C&G Students Union. He permanently came to reside in Australia in 1962. Jolyon served the Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Authority designing power stations and dams. With the permission of the Commissioner, Jolyon lead a team of 40 that had their International Competition design purchased by The Danish Public Works Department. He joined the Electric Commission of NSW to be of service in working on the design of a major dam built on fy-ash. He also designed thermal power stations and their environmental and security systems. After retiring from the Electricity Commission, Jolyon studied and made presentations on sustainability issues and has been granted Patents relating to sustainable designs. The latest Australian Patent granted to Jolyon is Australian Patent No. 2013202511 “Method of growing an organic product”.

Imperial ENGINEER Autumn 2016 25 FEATURES CivSoc Tour 2016 – Naples

Day 1 grains were found buried within the ash At 8.30am on the 29th March 2016, almost providing an insight into the crops that were 70 Civil Engineers, across four years, from grown around the city. In many of these places, the Department of Civil and Environmental conservationists have replanted their modern Engineering at Imperial College assembled equivalents. Te result of this has been the for the annual CivSoc International Tour. restoration of the courtyards facing Vesuvius Tis year’s tour to Naples, which was one of that existed throughout the city. the most anticipated events with most places Pompeii, for a city pre-dating the frst available flled in a matter of seconds, began day in the Tour timetable which the students century, was incredibly sophisticated. A with the students being issued their tour were successfully able to use explore Naples water network within the city had supplied LIVIC and hoodie. and the surrounding region. Collectively, homes and businesses, public baths as well Following the journey from Imperial the students were able to visit the island of as the public fountains, through lead pipes. College Union to Naples, the students Capri, explore the nearby town of Sorrento, Not only this, a number of the buildings had were welcomed at the airport by a team climb up to a 14th century monastery for a arches at low level formed within their walls from University of Naples Federico II who cofee overlooking the city, as well as partake to increase their strength and provide a degree accompanied the group to the La Controra in a walking tour of Naples that had been of resistance to earthquakes. Although the Hostel on prearranged coaches. Te team were recommended by the hostel. upper foors of the buildings were destroyed available for the remainder of the evening Day 3 by the weight of the ash that fell on them, the answering any queries the students had about Day three of the tour began with a wake-up height of the buildings that had existed was Naples and providing recommendations for call at 8.30am. Coaches were arranged to clear from the columns that remained. At the activities that could be undertaken on the free take the group from the hostel to Pompeii, an time, many of these would have had multiple days. ancient Roman city that was destroyed and storeys with many of structures being more Te hostel was modern, afordable and buried by a volcanic eruption in AD 79. Upon than 10m high. cosy as well as being located within walking entry to Pompeii, the students had almost Overall, the visit to Pompeii provided an distance of the city centre. Te friendly staf fve hours to explore the ruins that had been incredibly fascinating insight into the life and were always available for advice. Tere was a carefully excavated over the last 40 years. A culture of a city from 2000 years ago. Te large courtyard which allowed the students to number of the students opted to hire a guide students were amazed at the lifestyle that some socialise in the mornings and in the evenings to provide themselves with a deeper insight had lived as well as the technologies that had after the day’s activities. Te group was and understanding into Pompeii. supported the city. divided across rooms of varying sizes such Day 4 that most contained students from multiple After an even earlier wake-up call of 7.30am, year groups in order to provide opportunities the group departed the hostel at 8.30am for intermixing and socialising together. A to walk to University of Naples Federico II breakfast bufet of toast, cereal, tea and cofee located a 30-minute walk away near the city was provided by the hostel for the group every centre. Day four of the tour encompassed morning. a visit to the university in the morning and After the group had settled into their rooms, visits to multiple completed metro station sites the evening was spent getting accustomed to as well as another still under construction in the area and beginning to explore some of the afternoon. culinary delights unique to Naples. For most, Much of the city was constructed in stone On arrival, the group were welcomed by this was their frst taste of Napoli pizza. which meant that, unlike organic materials Prof. Rafaele Landolfo and Dr Lucrezia Day 2 such as wood, a signifcant proportion of the Cascini from the Department of Structures Te original plan was for the tour to arrive in city remained preserved due to the lack of air for Engineering and Architecture. Te talks Naples on the 30th March. However, due to and moisture in the ash that buried the city. commenced with a welcome on behalf of the the airline cancelling the group’s outbound Tis therefore provided an incredible insight rector and an introduction to the university, fight, a decision was made by CivSoc to arrive into life over two millennia ago, including the courses on ofer for the 110,000 students a day earlier. As this year’s tour was after the being able to easily identify the purpose of who attend, as well as the opportunities Easter weekend, a number of the students had many of the buildings that had existed. Within available to those from abroad. Te group was already made arrangements to travel from their many of larger houses where the wealthy would introduced to some of the key research going family to home to Naples on the Wednesday, have lived, the murals, artwork and mosaics on within the Department of Structures for which would have originally been the frst that depicted the beliefs of the Romans who Engineering and Architecture by the head, day of the tour. Tese students were able to occupied the city remained intact. Prof. Landolfo, and within the Department successfully make their way to the Hostel to Walking down the streets, it was easy to of Civil, Building and Environmental by its join the tour. identify the Roman equivalent of the ‘High head, Prof. Maurizio Guigni. Overall, this resulted in an additional free Street’. Shops were easily identifable by their Te topics of the talks then progressed to large front openings and tracks within the stone where shutters would have sat. Te most intriguing of these were the restaurant or fast food shop where hot food would have been readily available as well as the laundrette that used a sequence of baths ranging from dirty water at low level to clean water at higher levels. Although the organic material had decayed, Photos courtesy of CivSoc

26 Imperial ENGINEER Autumn 2016 FEATURES thank them for their overwhelming welcome were shown the station box, retained by props, and incredible support in organising the visit that been formed to support the excavation to make the tour possible. down to platform level. Once the works at Te students were provided with a delicious platform level are completed, the excavation two-course bufet lunch that gave them the will be flled and developed into an open opportunity to meet the lecturers as well as public space. some of Italian students from the university. Day 5 Tis allowed them to discuss the diferences in Day fve was the second of the two free days their courses as well as to receive suggestions timetabled into the tour schedule. Te group the technical aspect of the ongoing Metro on places to visit whilst in Naples. After the used this opportunity to further explore Line 1 project. Te frst lecturer, who was site visits concluded later in the afternoon, the Naples and the surrounding area. Many used the director of the Metro system, gave a brief Italian students led a number of the group to the advice of the Italian students and hostel history of the Metro and the future plans for what was one of the best gelato places in the staf to plan their activities. Some used the day the system. Over three billion euros are being city. to successfully reach the summit of Mount invested to extend the system and a key aspect After a photo with all the students and Vesuvius, others visited the nearby island of of the development has been to reinvigorate lecturers involved, the group was led by the Ischia, whilst a third group hired a boat to sail the areas surrounding the stations through Metro Director and Arts Director on a tour along the Amalf coast. the introduction of art. As this is an ongoing of three completed Metro stations, Università, Te students regrouped in the evening for project, the Metro is currently signifcantly Municipio and Toledo. Over 200 works of the end of tour dinner organised by CivSoc. underused. It is expected that this will be the art were commissioned for the stations across Tis was held at a family run Italian restaurant case until the loop in the system, similar to the network with each signifying a range of who were highly accommodating to the group. that of the Circle Line in London, has been diferent themes. For example, Università’s Te students thoroughly enjoyed the pizza completed. was that of connectivity. Both the foors and and pasta available and used the opportunity Te second lecturer, the Design Director for ceilings had a series of lines connected by nodes to refect on the week’s experiences whilst the project, explained the utilisation of fnite to represent the fow of information between enjoying some of Naples’ culinary delights for modelling techniques. Tis was a signifcant places. In addition to this, the columns within one last time. aspect of the project given that a number the stations were shaped in a way that makes Day 6 of the deep stations and tunnels were to be it possible to see the profle of two connected Sadly, the fnal day of the Tour was an built under a dense urban environment. Te faces symbolising the communication between incredibly short one. At 5.00am, prearranged modelling allowed the designers to ensure the people. coaches collected the students from the Hostel efects on the surface were minimised to prevent Toledo was themed around water and light and transported the group to the airport any damage occurring. Tese challenges since it was one of the few stations below for the bittersweet moment of returning to linked in with the third lecturer’s topics. Due the water table. When travelling down the London. Te CivSoc International Tour 2016 to the geography of Naples, the network has escalators towards the platforms, there is a was incredibly successful and achieved well a gradient of 5.5% which is signifcantly distinct change in colour from yellow to blue beyond the goals set out by the committee. No higher than metro systems of other regions. to signify ground water level. At platform level issues occurred during the tour and everything Despite this, the stations toward the top of the there is a shaft that rises to surface level with went according to the plan and budget that system are more than 50m below the surface. LEDs providing a light show along its length. had been set. A number of the stations under construction Te tour provided the students with an are below the water table thereby making the experience that had the perfect balance of tunnelling works more challenging. In order being an educational and relaxing experience. to resolve this, a combination of injecting Not only did the tour achieve it’s main goal grout and using liquid nitrogen to freeze the of experiencing Civil Engineering in a foreign ground is used to increase the workability of country, the students were also given the the soil. educational experience of history, culture Te Operations and Maintenance Manager and technical knowledge. Teir thirst for then took the stage to explain the use of the adventure also ensured the students made the network and the works that are undergone most of their time in Naples to explore the daily to ensure the system remains clean. Te region and enjoy the local culinary delights. In technical lectures were then concluded by a addition, the social aspect of the tour allowed talk from the Artworks Manager, Dr Maria the students of all four years to intermix and Corbi, who is responsible for the art that forge new friendships. Te feedback received has been introduced into the Art Stations from the participants was extremely positive of the Naples Metro. She introduced some and the great success has already begun to of the artworks that were commissioned for build the excitement and enthusiasm for these stations which are aimed at making CivSoc International Tour 2017, wherever the stations beautiful to look at and more that may be. interesting to travel through. Te talks were Tank You closed by CivSoc’s Chair, Fiona Walport, who CivSoc’s 2016 Tour to Naples would not have spoke on behalf of CivSoc and Imperial to been possible without the generous support of our partners. At this point I would like to thank IC Union, the OC Trust (CGCA), CCC, Vinci Construction, Robert Bird Group, Teach First and the Civil Engineering Te fnal station, Municipio, was designed Department of Imperial College London. in a more contemporary manner with neutral Tank you so much on behalf of all the colours. Tis station is currently being students and I hope we can continue this extended to serve a second Metro line and collaboration in the future! the group was taken onto the site to see the Jayneil Master International Tour ongoing construction works. Te students Offcer CivSoc Committee 2015-2016

Imperial ENGINEER Autumn 2016 27 FEATURES From Great Confagration to Modern Regulation We caught up with Tim Munday, CGCU President 2014-15, to see what he’s been doing since graduating last year. It proved to be very timely as the approaching anniversary of the Great Fire of London – an event that not only reshaped the City but also building regulations – was very much on his mind and relevant to his current work. Photo: Antoine Buchet/shutterstock.com Antoine Photo: On Sunday September 4th 2016, to commemorate the 350th anniversary of the Great Fire, a 120 metre long replica of the 1666 City skyline was set alight on the Thames.

350 years ago on the morning of 2nd the Great Fire. had already banned thatched roofs and insisted September, a Sunday, a fre broke out at a Te new regulations intended to create a less on building in brick and stone. Te risk of Bakery on Pudding Lane, the rest as they say is fammable city. It defned only four types of fre was well known before 1666 and steps history. Te Great Fire raged until the following buildings that could be built which depended had already been taken to reduce its impact. Wednesday having ripped through the dense on the type of street the site fronted. Building What can be said is that the Great Fire was a wooden buildings. It destroyed 80% of the materials were restricted to brick and stone wakeup call and the frst large scale adoption City, some 13000 homes. Te confagration, and wood was almost entirely banned from the of regulated building work. Tat the fre of the only word considered suitably descriptive exterior of buildings. Compared with those of 1666 remains the Great Fire is testament to by contemporary sources, burnt so hot that it today the regulations were draconian, insisting the fact that the Building Regulations work exploded the stones of old St Pauls and melted on a prescriptive uniformity that clashed with have adapted to the changing use of the City not just the lead from church roofs but also what had existed before and has come since. and advances in construction. the locks of the city gates. It is surprising then the speed at which the Subsequent London and National Building Tis singular event is often considered city was rebuilt, particularly considering that it Acts have developed the regulations with the to be the genesis of the modern Building had recently experienced both war and plague aim to ensure the complete safety of people Regulations. After all within days Charles II and the amount of work it entailed. Despite in and about buildings. Te changes have had issued a proclamation concerning the this the majority of work was completed by often come progressively, but some have rebuilding; in weeks grandiose plans for the the early 1670s with only really the work been introduced retroactively after other classical rebuilding had emerged (including to restore public buildings remaining. It is unfortunate events. In this way the aftermath one from Christopher Wren). And by apparent that such restrictive regulation did of the fre continues today. Te City still February 1667 a comprehensive Act was little to hinder the progress of construction. appoints a District Surveyor to control passed by parliament, which issued restrictive However I believe it would be wrong work within its boundary and they lead an rules governing what could be built and where. to claim the 1667 Act at the frst building experienced, multi-disciplinary team in doing It also empowered the City Corporation regulations. Legalisation pre-dating the fre this. to appoint surveyors to control all the work within their boundary, a forerunner to the Tim Munday graduated from the department of Civil Engineering in present day District Surveyor. Te Act also 2015 and has since that time worked in the District Surveyor’s Offce created a mechanism for paying for the at the City of London Corporation. In his job as a Building Control reconstruction of public buildings, the Coal Offcer he implements the Building Regulations in the South of the Tax, which, with little irony, ensured that a tax Square Mile, including Pudding Lane, where the Great Fire started. on fres within the City paid for the damage of

28 Imperial ENGINEER Autumn 2016 FEATURES Estonia Fastpacking expedition Catherine Spurin is a 4th year Geophysicist, currently doing a MSci project in hydrogeology. Tom Raven is a 4th year Geologist, currently doing a MSci project in dinosaur palaeontology. They started running together 2 years ago having done little running before, and completed their frst marathon in September 2015. They decided as they both loved running and the outdoors to do something different, so this September they ran the length of Estonia, with a little help from the RSMA Trust and the Imperial College Exploration Board.

the food drop was meant to be delivered to the local store, but when we called, the store owner could not speak any English so we got a friend who could speak Estonian to ask if we could send a food parcel there. However, she decided that our food parcel was defnitely a bomb and refused to take the parcel meaning we had to send it to the post ofce, which in a town of 300 people, was open for 2 hours a day. When we arrived in Lelle on day 7 of the expedition, we were too late to collect the parcel and had to camp on a football feld in the town (this probably scared the store owner half to death). Anyway, with only snickers bars to power us, day 8 began. Te day was long as it was mostly boardwalks which were too narrow to run on. Ten that evening when we were sleeping, someone decided to open our tent

Photos: Catherine Spurin Photos: and shine a light in. Tankfully, me screaming Tis September, Tom and I fastpacked a from shops or from wells, we didn’t hesitate, the house down scared the intruder away but 380km North to South traverse of Estonia self- and came back to the UK with a lot of the left us both visibly shaken and suddenly hating supported. In order to carry out the expedition chlorine tablets we took out. the evenings. We were initially meant to be self-supported, we arrived in Tallinn 2 days Day 4 was the only wet day of the doing the route over 18 days but after the late prior to the start date of our challenge in order expedition. Unfortunately, the rain was night scare, we reduced the number of days by to organise 6 food drops along the route which torrential and we were crossing a large bog increasing mileage every day and starting the we could pick up at later dates, keeping the that day. Te boardwalks for the bog were days at sunrise. weight of our bags to under 7.5kg with water. completely fooded meaning we practically Te amount we ran varied drastically day to A day’s food consisted of 6 protein bars and had to wade through a river. We ended the day day. Some days we ran a lot but other times a freeze dried curry. Te expedition lasted 16 with purple, shrivelled feet and wet socks. Day we struggled with the weight of our bags. Te days, including 4 rest days. 5 was our 1st rest day of the expedition, and route was really well marked out so minimal Our expedition was to fastpack the length wet and slightly defeated, we checked into a navigation was required. We mostly camped of Estonia using the RMK route that extends B&B and used the heaters to dry our clothes. along the route in our 500g tent that looked from Oandu in the North to Ikla in the South. Day 8 – the worst day of the trip by a like a plastic bag, but also stayed in 1 forest hut Te RMK hiking route is approximately long way. Te food drop in Lelle was not along the way which was much warmer than 375km. delivered by the courier company (for reasons our tent but had mice. Overall, it was one of Day 0, we got the bus to Altja and ran to the still unknown to us) and the plan had to be the toughest things we’ve ever had to do but sea, approximately 1.6km away, before going changed so that we would arrive at the next it was a crazy experience and it was a lot of to Oandu so that the expedition ran coast to food drop location in the next 2 days instead fun (at times). We’re glad we completed the coast. Tis was a short day and we had lots of of the planned 3. We had to buy supplies for expedition but next time we will favour daily energy so ran the majority of the route. Te the next 2 days from a local store. Side note, showers and clean clothes! frst night in the tent was very noisy because of the crickets and although we were the only ones at the campsite, we both still managed to worry about the axe for frewood near the campsite… Te next day marked the start of the RMK hiking route and the start of our 375km journey across the bog lands and through the forests of Estonia. We were super excited to start the day, and were very happy to be able to get the day’s water from a nearby well instead of the river which was pretty fast fowing. On day 2, however, we did have to get our water from a river near the campsite. We were both pretty upset about how brown the river water was and ended up putting a lot of chlorine tablets in our reservoirs just to be safe. For the rest of the trip, whenever we could buy water

Imperial ENGINEER Autumn 2016 29 ALUMNI NEWS & VIEWS BOOK REVIEW Mech. Eng. alumnus raises £3.2M investment to bring engineering to kids After graduating, Joachim Horn of having been technically trained as (Mech. Eng. 2009-13) set up SAM engineers.” The campaign was hugely Labs with a team of designers from successful, reaching their funding the Royal College of Art and other goal in less than three days. Since engineers from Imperial. then they have been developing the SAM makes construction kits product and the company and in that turn playtime into educational April this year announced that they fun. Their kits are focused on STEM had raised £3.2M in venture capital, learning in education and encourage led by Imperial Innovations, which kids (of all ages) to learn the basics will allow them to build the business. An epic accomplishment. Clive (Chem. of programming and engineering. blocks are wirelessly connected “I’m humbled and very appreciative Eng. 1960-66) spent the last 15 years together in the SAM Space app to of his professional and academic life on Highly interactive, with “cute that Imperial Innovations plc has this masterwork (gaining a second Ph.D. wireless electronic blocks, an app so program and customise projects. played such a supportive and in the process). So far I have only been friendly you could hug it, and quirky For an initial Kickstarter exciting role along this journey” said able to skim the frst parts of this book wondrous projects to complete”, campaign to turn the original vision Joachim. but have already been well rewarded. into a product, Joachim wrote “I’m All IE readers need to be aware of there’s nothing to stop open- At the end of September, SAM its availability so we can begin to ended play and creativity. Last year’s a mechanical engineer, and was Labs launched a new kit: Curious, an share in Clive’s voyage of exploration. Christmas partnership with the always scared of the dark magic of immersive out-of-the-box inventing This review is just an introduction. London Science Museum resulted in electrical engineering. Stuff never experience, allowing users to build He traces the beginnings of works, there’s always a bug, and you the process through the ancients’ the best selling ‘SAM Inventor Kit’. and program their own cars and gradual mastery of the elements of Dubbed the ‘LEGO® of the Internet can’t duct tape it into correctness. games. Equipped with fve paper-fold astronomy and mathematics, pointing generation’, SAM is a collection of I wanted to fnd a way to make it car bodies, a car base, and remote out that until these were achieved clever little blocks and an app to fun for people to learn circuitry control, kids can build and program (together with written language) it and coding. A human-centered was not possible to record and codify build awesome inventions. Each SAM their own vehicles with SAM, whilst observations and to begin to build a Block has its own unique skill: a light, model that would be easy to use gaining 21st century skills. A step- codex of accumulated knowledge. The a motor, a button and more. SAM and which taught you while you by-step tutorial booklet, and the early developments were expanded worked with it. This gave birth to informative SAM app, both flled by the Babylonians and Egyptians to SAM, the idea of giving designers facilitate agriculture and commerce. with detailed instructions, will guide Meanwhile, basic technologies (for and creative people the powers of them through an array of other building, metallurgy, water systems engineers. We hope to be the start smart projects and hacks. etc.) evolved on an empirical basis. of a democratic revolution for the You can fnd out more about Things changed radically with the Internet of Things so that children invention (initially by the Greeks) SAM Labs on their website of phonetic alphabets to replace can learn, and impactful, highly http://samlabs.com/ You can hieroglyphs and symbols. This allowed a technologically innovative projects view Joachim giving a TED permanent record of precise thoughts can be undertaken by designers who talk in London in June 2015 at and observations. This transition did do not necessarily have the luxury not occur in China, that other great bit.ly/IE25-SAM-Ted cradle of science and technology. Together with a lack of permanent records, this renders a reconstruction of developments there more diffcult. Tea party in BC Elec. Eng. 1978-81 class reunion These inventions paved the way for The RSM ‘brand’ remains strong out On Saturday 10th September Henry Szyszko, Yogesh Joshi, Ian the Greeks to embark on geometry here. 2016, the Electrical Engineering Tyes, Trevor Hall, Shahid Raja, Alan and philosophy; hence most famously Aristotle’s ‘natural philosophy’. At a June 11th IC alumni ‘tea’ 1978 to 1981 class held their Higginson, Arthur Jordan. Not only Further developments occurred in British Columbia, 20% of the annual reunion with a drink in Beit was this a milestone event, being 35 following the expansion of Greek attendees had RSM connections and Quadrangle followed by a dinner at years since the class graduated, but knowledge throughout the Roman of those that sent regrets (including the Moti Mahal restaurant in South times were telling since 2 of those world. Technology, however, evolved independently and science & Harry Burgess in Toronto) it was Kensington. 13 former classmates attending had now retired. technology only came together much 25% RSM. Attendees 15 alumni and attended, from left to right in the Anyone wanting to contact the later, arguably as late as the 18th century. partners etc plus 12 ‘regrets’, makes photo below are: Krishna Thakrar, group should email: Then followed a millennium of 27 from BC – then with Harry Ajit Amin, Roger Edwards, Freddie innovational decline in the West. The division of the Roman Empire into from Toronto it was 28 – without Barros, Mike Casey, Simon Milner, [email protected] East (Greek) and West (Latin) and his inclusion the BC RSM regret its subsequent collapse in the West percentage was still a strong 16.67%. isolated scholars there from Greek The RSM attendees besides me learning for almost a thousand years, a process fomented by the emergent were Sam Henry (Metallurgy 69- Christian church and its practice of 72), full colours and half colours and control through belief. The Islamic Mary Farhang (RCS 81 and RSM 82). world in its vigorous frst fowering Also, I wish to send my personal became the means of preserving classical learning to be passed back as thanks to Teresa Sergot for keeping the West awoke to the Renaissance. in touch these past years. And my Modern science began with the very best wishes for the future. Renaissance and the Protestant Nigel Fitzpatrick. reformation. Galileo and Copernicus in astronomy and then the giants of mathematics with Newton and Leibnitz at their head paved the way for a fusion of human knowledge and innovation that started and continues at extraordinary speed. IE readers will 1964 City & Guilds Epic Film be more familiar with this part of the story, so this review concludes with While trying to engage with classes the world! Many of the cast are (or a renewed recommendation to buy of 1964/5 recently, Imperial’s have been) members of CGCA, the book and enjoy Clive in his own development team unearthed a and David Bishop (Elec Eng 1961-4, words! W.J. McAuley (Chem. Eng. 60-65) short flm. It was originally shot in Mech Eng 1964-5) is the CGCA’s Clive’s book is available on Amazon Super 8mm in 1964 by David (Yogi) rep in Melbourne. Kindle or in 3 paperback volumes. Both Sam and Nigel made one Bishop but was digitised in 2003 and bit.ly/IE25-StoryOfScience of these in the RSM foundry uploaded to YouTube to share with bit.ly/IE25-CGCA-1964Film

30 Imperial ENGINEER Autumn 2016 OBITUARIES DIARY Intelligent, Tues, 1 Nov, 19:00 feisty & caring Friends of Imperial Lecture – The Future of AI PAULINE ROWE (nee GARMIRIAN) bit.ly/IE25-Friends-AI (Civil Eng 1946-49) Pauline was born on 5 August Thurs, 3 Nov 17:00-20:00 1929 in London, the only daughter Imperial Fringe of a Turkish Armenian trader, Criminal Investigations Gregory Garmirian. She grew up bit.ly/IE25-Fringe-Crime in Hendon and excelled at school Wed, 9 Nov 17:30 with 14 passes of Oxford school Nuclear Security & Non- certifcates, 9 of them at Grade A. Proliferations – ISST 2016 Vincent She completed her A levels in 1946 Briscoe Lecture with Grade A success in both pure bit.ly/IE25-ISST-Briscoe maths and applied maths and a B grade in physics. Tues, 15 Nov 10:00-19:00 She then moved on to Imperial Centre for Blast Injury Studies 2016 where she graduated as a civil Networking Event engineer in 1952, aged 23. bit.ly/IE25-CBIS-Networking In 1952, she married Peter Rowe, Thurs, 17 Nov 17:30-19:00 a fellow CGCA Member, later DSI Lecture – On Human-Agent Professor of Chemical Engineering Collectives and Head of Department at UCL. bit.ly/IE25-DSI-HACs Pauline’s own career started in 1947 as a trainee at Sandford Tues, 22 Nov 19:00-21:00 Fawcett Wilton and Bell. She also Friends of Imperial worked over the years for Watchams Lecture – Synthetic Biology: in Caversham, and Hawker Siddeley Addressing Global Challenges in London and Loughborough. bit.ly/IE25-Friends-Synthetic Engineer, academic & Apart from her life as a civil Fri, 25th Nov 19:00 sportsman engineer, her passion was the St RSMA Johns Ambulance service where she 132nd RSMA Annual Dinner Prof BERNARD G NEAL (Staff ‘Structural Theorems and their served with distinction and achieved Rembrandt Hotel 1961-82) Applications’ in 1964. the rank of offcer sister with 8 bars The Department of Civil Bernard has a special place in the on her service medal. Sat, 26th Nov 12:30 Engineering would like to offer history of the Old Centralians’ Trust; She was a loyal and supportive CGCA its condolences to the family and he was a signatory to the original wife to Peter; they were married for 5&10 Year Reunion Lunch friends of Professor Bernard Neal, Trust Deed, and served as a Trustee 63 years, until Peter passed away in bit.ly/IE25-CGCA-Decade Head of this Department from 1976 throughout the remainder of his 2014, aged 94. Thurs, 1 Dec 18:00-19:00 until 1982. term as Dean of City & Guilds. Pauline’s life can be characterised Dyson School of Design Engineering Bernard took his degree In 1973, he became Chair and as that of a sharp, intelligent woman. Talk – The Cradle to Cradle Design in Cambridge and, after the Head of Structural Engineering She was frugal and feisty, but hers bit.ly/IE25-Dyson-Cradle2Cradle interruption of the war, took his and then, in 1976, when Sir Alec was also a lifetime given to caring for PhD in 1948. At Cambridge, he Skempton retired as Head of others during wartime, through her Thurs, 8 Dec 17:00-20:00 became one of the originators of Department, Bernard was selected service for St Johns, and caring for Imperial Fringe the static and kinematic methods to replace him. He continued in disabled people in the community. All Around the World of performing Plastic Limit Analysis this role until 1982, whilst also Pauline died on 4 March, 2016, bit.ly/IE25-Fringe-World or collapse load analysis of framed remaining Head of the Engineering and is sadly missed by her two sons, Wed, 15th Feb 2017 structures, and he made many Structures Section until 1981. Tim & Andy, 7 grandchildren and 5 CGCA subsequent contributions to this Bernard was a frm leader, respected great grandchildren. Peter Lindsay Memorial Lecture feld of research. by his colleagues in all Sections bit.ly/IE25-CGCA-Lindsay He remained in Cambridge on of the Department. He kept the the teaching staff until 1954 and undergraduate course in Civil Greatly Sat, 18th Feb 2017 was elected a Fellow of Trinity Hall, Engineering in very high esteem. missed RSMA leaving to take up a Chair of Civil and the Department in good order, TIMOTHY STACEY GARE (Civil 115th Bottle Match Engineering at University College through his ability to fnd funding Eng 1960-63) Harlington Sports Ground Swansea. In 1956, he published from unexpected sources and Timothy was born on 10 January, Fri, 3rd Mar 2017 18:45 ‘The Plastic Methods of Structural very careful housekeeping, until his 1941. He obtained a Bachelor’s CGCA Analysis’, a book which has become retirement in 1982. Degree in Civil Engineering from Annual Dinner at Saddlers’ Hall a classic and been translated into His was elected a Fellow of The Imperial College and continued his bit.ly/IE25-CGCA-Dinner several languages, including Russian. Royal Academy of Engineering in studies thereafter, receiving an MSc In 1961, Bernard took up the 1980. from the London Business School. Sat-Sun, 6-7 May 2017 Chair of Applied Science with Bernard was also an accomplished He was working for SG Warburg Imperial Festival Special Application to Engineering, sportsman captaining Cambridge in 1973, and later for Savix Limited, Wed, 14th Jun 2017 at Imperial College, based in at tennis and excelling at croquet, before moving to Switzerland, CGCA the Department of Mechanical playing for Great Britain and winning where he practised as an investment AGM and President’s Evening BBQ Engineering. Here, he was the All England Club’s men’s singles consultant in Geneva, latterly (Details available soon) responsible for the Common title 38 times. Later, as a valued through his own company TSG Course, the undergraduate member of the Links Club, his Investment Management SA. Thurs, 29th Jun 2017 preliminary programme which, until sporting prowess earned him the Timothy was intelligent, kind and, RSMA 1971, had to be taken by frst year nom-de-plume of “Ball Boy” for years, a very successful man. Final Year BBQ undergraduates of all engineering A Life member of CGCA, He sadly passed away from departments at the College. He Professor Neal passed away on 26 leukaemia, on 18 December 2015, For details follow links, or was also Dean of the City & Guilds March, 2016, just short of his 94th at the age of 74. He will be greatly see page 2 for contact details College from 1964-67, and published birthday. missed by his wife Noëlle.

Imperial ENGINEER Autumn 2016 31 OBITUARIES A gentleman and a very good leader

GROSVENOR REX DAVIS (Staff take a new course in sedimentary Within the frst term of his 1966-82) environments. This did not go down Headship, a 10% cut on expenditure Some tributes to Rex from former Rex, as he was generally known, at all well with the macho students was imposed across the College. colleagues: was born on 16 September, 1922, of the Royal School of Mines. Rex Rex’s spell as Head of Department I was sad to hear about Rex. He in Walmer, Cape Province, South required a newly appointed young was not a happy time for him. His was my frst boss after I graduated Africa. lecturer to deliver the course. experience in the hierarchical as a wet-behind-the-ears mining He studied geology at Rhodes The member of staff responsible mining industry made it hard for geologist in 1958. University, graduating with a BSc in for drawing up the timetable had him to adjust to the new consensual In those days it wasn’t diffcult Geology in 1942, Honours in 1948 a wicked sense of humour and form of university government getting a job with zero postgrad and a PhD in 1951. scheduled the lectures for 2.00pm wherein heads of departments were experience, if you were prepared to Between 1942 and 1966, Rex on Friday afternoons, a time when restrained by committees. travel. I wrote only one letter - to was involved in mineral Rex crossed swords with Frobisher Ltd in Bulawayo - on the exploration and production the Rector again when the advice of John Webb at RSM, and in Northern and Southern Professor of Petroleum by return air mail I received an air Rhodesia (Now Zambia and Geology retired in 1977. ticket. Zimbabwe) and Uganda. By then, the North Sea After a couple of days of fying, Like most geologists was established as a major starting from Heathrow to Salisbury who survive beyond 30, he petroleum producing thence to Bulawayo, I arrived at had many adventures while province. Frobisher’s offce and met the Chief engaged in feld work. On The Rector, who had Geologist: Rex. He packed me off one occasion, he climbed a low opinion of geology by train northwards across the out of a dry river bed and anyway, saw no need for a Zambezi to Livingstone, and from peering over the bank found replacement in petroleum there I spent the next year in the himself looking into the geology and therefore no bush, doing geochemical drainage face of an astonished lion. need to fll the post. Rex sampling for copper. Fortunately the lion, more tendered his resignation. Rex’s visits to our feld camps astonished than Rex, did a Fortunately the Rector were always a delight to look quick back fip and headed blinked frst. A new forward to for his guidance and off fast into the bush. professor was appointed humour. After twelve months in When Rex was a student, and the department has Northern Rhodesia, I received the the prevailing view on the since developed as a major order to drive south to join the origin of mineral deposits, global leader in petroleum company’s small gold exploration apart from alluvial placers, was that mining students were in training for geoscience. team in Southern Rhodesia. We they were principally sourced by the weekend in the union bar. Rex left Imperial in 1982 at the pegged eight abandoned mining hydrothermal fuids of deep crustal Rex’s second big idea was to use age of 60, somewhat bruised by his properties in the Turk Mine district origin. Thus mining geologists were the expertise of the Royal School 16 years in academe. north of Bulawayo, dewatered experts in ‘hard’ rocks of igneous of Mines to win research contracts He rapidly established himself and surveyed three of them, and and metamorphic origin, rather than with outside bodies to train post- as an international consultant fnally brought one of them back the ‘soft’ sedimentary rocks. graduate students, maintain industry in mineral exploration, based in into production after refurbishing Rex’s own observations of the links and generate income for the Dorking in the summers, and South the old cyanide extraction mill. Zambian Copper Belt confrmed department. In this he was fulflling Africa in the UK’s winter months. Rex’s sense of humour remained the then heretical views of Bernard, the words of the Imperial College Rex received various honours intact, even after one underground Garlick, Fleischer and Wolf, that Charter but, unfortunately, the and awards. He was President, an inspection when he emerged back some mineral deposits result from Rector of the day thought that Rex’s Honorary Member and a Gold on surface exhibiting a distinct sedimentary processes of mineral idea of setting up a sort of ‘RSM Ltd.’ Medallist of the Institute of Mining greenish complexion. We suspect concentration and precipitation. was ‘like taking in dirty washing’. and Metallurgy. He was elected carbon dioxide might have had In the Copper Belt, there was a One morning, while commuting FREng in 1983. something to do with it. clear correlation between the to college, Rex chanced upon an IC Rex was also a Freeman of After Frobisher Ltd., I remember ore minerals and the depositional alumnus who was then working in the City of London and of the an underground tour of Mufulira environment of the host sediments. North Sea petroleum exploration. Worshipful Company of Engineers. in the early 1960’s where I was In 1966, Rex was appointed They discussed the common Like many geologists, the word working, by then, as a mine geologist Professor of Mining Geology at association of mineral deposits ‘retire’ was not in Rex’s vocabulary. and I had the pleasure of showing the Royal School of Mines, Imperial and petroleum. The next year He was an enthusiastic member of Rex around as one of the visitors. College, after 24 years of practical the alumnus happened to join the the Mole Valley Geological Society, Geoffrey Hammond experience as a mining geologist. staff of the IC petroleum group. A the local group of the Geologists’ His Inaugural Lecture ‘Mining successful conference ‘Forum on Oil Association close to his home in I knew Rex at RSM 1966-71 Geology in Prospect’ was delivered & Ore in Sediments’ was organised Dorking. and attended his exploration in June 1967 and makes interesting and the proceedings published in Rex was still writing peer- management course in Adelaide. reading half a century later. It 1977. This was the catalyst that reviewed articles at the age of 73, He was a gentleman. is a masterly global overview of resulted in Rex applying to Saudi continuing to give ad hoc lectures His views on the ‘soft rocks’ mineral economics, exploration and Arabia for a research contract to here and there, and playing bowls having something to do with ore extraction technology (including the survey its mineral resources. regularly until his death. accumulations led me to have use of nuclear explosives), education The application was successful In 2000, Rex and his wife Elizabeth numerous heated discussions and research. and the ‘Cover Rock Project’, as it moved from Dorking to Ditchling. with many mature age Australian Rex came to Imperial College was called, ran for several years in Elizabeth died in 2014, and Rex geologists in Mt Isa, Broken Hill and with two big ideas. One, based the late 1970s and early 1980s. died on the 60th anniversary of their even on the Goldfelds. on his experience in Africa, was In 1974, Rex took over from wedding, shortly before his 94th John Noakes his appreciation that sedimentary Professor John Sutton as Head of birthday, on 9 July, 2016. Prof Rex Davis was a gentleman and processes had as much to the Geology Department. He had He leaves a son and a daughter, a very good leader. He worked very contribute to mineral exploration the great misfortune to succeed fve grandchildren and admirers closely with my father for years at as did hydrothermal ones. He Sutton just as the money supply around the world. the RSM. required mining geology students to declined. Prof. Dick Selley Bernie Pryor

32 Imperial ENGINEER Autumn 2016 OBITUARIES A life of dignity, clarity Consultant engineer PETER CLARK (Met 1945-48) Kong International Airport. and authority Peter attended the Royal School Peter passed away quietly in of Mines at Imperial College from Wyong Hospital, New South Wales, KAREL PETER LABBERTE (RSM Some of the tributes received from 1945-48 and was an ARSM. Australia, in the afternoon of 8 July 1991) Chaps commemorating those days: He worked for many years in 2016. From an obituary compiled by the oil industry and as a corrosion He was 88 years old and had Marcel Damen: Very sad news indeed. That Bottle engineer and as a consultant. outlived two wives. Karel Labberte was born on 16 Match was the 1991 ‘4-3 thriller’ He continued to consult after He is survived by his brother, July, 1967, in Wageningen. at Harlington from memory... retirement, working, even as three sons, one granddaughter and I have had the privilege to have far too young to be leaving us… recently as the last few years, in three grandsons. known Karel since our time at the Glück Auf...... You will be missed. relation to a pipeline at the Hong Technical University of Delft, some Lloydy 30 years ago, and he has been one of my very dearest friends ever since. Karel…lived and breathed the Karel was part of the frst spirit of what a Mines Man should ‘A very privileged life’ generation of students from Delft be. He was a key part in creating CLIFFORD DOUGLAS WILLIAMS General Manager of research in MIM to complete their fnal stage of a great partnership with Delft and (Met 1948-51) Holdings where he remained for the the Delft Curriculum at the Royal RSM that has generated some Cliff was born on 3 December next ten years. School of Mines. truly memorable friendships. 1928 in Port Pirie, South Australia, He had a long association with Apart from being a superb Tim Cotton where his metallurgist father, Dr the Mining School at Queensland academic, Karel also excelled on G. K. Williams, was, at the time, the University and its research centre, the social level and was invited to Karel was truly larger than life and works manager at the BHAS lead serving on its board. join the Chaps Club, played in the will be missed by all. I had the smelter. In 1991, after 38 years with RSM rugby team and won the Bottle pleasure of playing in the same In 1946, Cliff began his the Mount Isa group, Cliff retired, Match against Camborne that year. Bottle Match with Karel. He metallurgical engineering degree at established Williams Business After his graduation, Karel left was a naturally gifted sportsman, the University of Adelaide and had Enterprises and began consulting. for South Africa and built up a who took to rugby with his usual two years to complete the course He remained happily in consulting successful career in the mining and passion, skill and determination when his father accepted a post as a until he retired, in 2000. steel industry, settling in Cape Town. during his year at RSM. He also consultant to the National Smelting Cliff had always been involved in Just in June 2015, after he had led the way for the RSM-Delft Corporation, Avonmouth in Bristol, charities. In Mount Isa, he ran school initially recovered from his illness, exchanges, which enriched both and the whole family travelled to fetes and, when he was Chairman Karel joined the Chaps Derby Day universities. England. of the Kindergarten Association, celebrations, which he was still Henry Longden On arrival, Cliff enrolled at he and his Committee were asked speaking of a week before he passed the Royal School of Mines. He by MIM to build a Kindergarten away. We shall always remember Karel thoroughly enjoyed his time there in Mount Isa in memory of Eileen That same week we also spoke as the trailblazer for us Delft and made lifelong friends. His Fisher, the Chairman’s wife who had of his life and the times ahead and ‘lot’ who had the invaluable English friends called him “Digger” died in a plane crash. Karel told me he was at peace and opportunity to become part of to acknowledge his being an When he came to Brisbane, Cliff was pleased that he had been able the RSM and Chaps community. Australian. ran the Red Cross Door Knock for to live a life of dignity, authority and Rob Peters In 1952, after graduating, Cliff his area and was President of the clarity; this was his life’s legacy. found work in New York, at National Association for training the Karel died, in Cape Town, on 26 Karel had a massive and warm Swigmaster and Brier, as a graduate Disabled in Offce Work (NADOW) April, 2016, leaving his wife, Janet, grin, and very loud stirring voice. metallurgist. During this time, he Cliff was also president of the St and sons, Ryan and Mitchell. RIP Karel and love to your family. applied to mining companies in Lucia Community Association and, In his memory, the Chaps Club You will be truly missed. Australia for work and was offered when he retired, he supported Meals will inaugurate a memorial pot, Kurt Budge a job in the copper smelter of the on Wheels, delivering meals until he which will be called the ‘Karel Mount Isa Mines,Queensland, which was 85 and could no longer manage Labberte Overseas Ambassadors I have very fond memories of he happily accepted, arriving back in some of the stairs to people’s fats. Pot’. Karel…He truly was a larger than Australia in February 1953. Golf had always been Cliff’s Glück Auf, Karel! life character. A force of nature in By 1955, Cliff had become main recreation. He played twice everything he did. I will miss him. Assistant Superintendent, and the a week. His main claim to fame was Rob Rowe Head Smelter Superintendent in that his golf never got any better 1957. He married an Adelaide girl, but he carried on playing with his Dorothy Proudman, in March 1959 old friends – they were all in their and they had two daughters. 80’s. He didn’t give up until seven He became Metallurgical weeks before he died, at the age of Development Manager in 1962 87, giving up driving and golf on the and Chief Metallurgist of the same day. development group in 1966. Cliff lived a very full life. He was In 1973, he transferred to MIM’s never one for sitting about. One Brisbane head offce as Research daughter and her family lived in Manager and he and his family Toowoomba and one in Maleny, settled in St Lucia in Brisbane. He about an hour and a half away. Every was made the MIM representative month, Cliff would drive up to lunch on both the Australian Mineral and with each one in their lunch hour, Industrial Research Association to have his own time with them (AMIRA) Board and the Australian because he said he never got a Mineral Development (AMD) Board. word in when all the women were In 1979, he became a member of together. the International Lead Zinc Research He had a close and loving Organisation (ILZRO), attending his relationship with his wife of 57 years, frst meeting in Paris, in 1979, and who survives him. He always felt remaining a member until 1981. that he had had a very privileged life. In 1981, Cliff was appointed Cliff died on 14 April, 2016.

Imperial ENGINEER Autumn 2016 33 OBITUARIES Open, honest, pragmatic... Engineering entrepreneur Inspirational PETER LESLIE ASHCROFT (Mineral DAVID CLARENCE OSBORNE, Technology 1966-69) (Mech Eng 1971-74) Peter was born in Liverpool in From an obituary compiled 1946. by David’s older brother, Noel He arrived at the Royal School Osborne, (Mech Eng 70-73) of Mines in September 1966, to be David Osborne , better known as one of nine undergraduates on the ‘Dave’, was born on 18 March, 1953, Mineral Technology course. son of an RAF Off cer who had left With a distinct Liverpudlian his native Trinidad to f ght in the 2nd accent he was well known. He World War. David was the youngest participated in college life; principally of 3 boys. the RSM Motor Club and Imperial Their early years were spent Entertainments Committee; as well moving frequently with their father; as propping up the Union Bar as places like Stafford, Bracknell, much as any other Minesman of his Rheindalen in Germany, Bicester, day. Andover and f nally Uxbridge. Dave in Boanerges, before setting off for the London Graduating in 1969, Peter married At 13, David and his older brother, to Brighton run, Pauline, his school sweetheart, and Noel, were sent to a boarding school ca 1973. they went to the Zambian Copper in Brockenhurst, in the New Forest. Photo from David Willey (also Mech Eng 1971-74) Belt, Peter working at the Mufulira It was here that Dave developed his concentrator of Roan Selection passion for mischievousness, hard during his last year, David was attributes to the discussion. His was Trust. work, sport (playing rugby at the President of the City & Guilds a no-nonsense approach, but very In the mid-70s, Peter got a local New Milton Rugby Club), and College Union. soon the answer always became position with Fraser & Chalmers, eventually beer. During the university holidays, obvious. based in South Africa, and spent By the time Dave reached the Dave worked for ALCAN, working Away from work, Dave’s passion some years selling and installing lower 6th, he was already the school with Information Technology. It was was rugby. He played at a high level mineral processing equipment into f rst team basketball Captain and here that he got his f rst job after for Newport and then Northampton the SA mines. He also worked Noel remembered being humbled gaining his degree, later moving to Saints, before settling down at his for Greenings screens in a similar by his younger brother’s superior ISTEL. local club at Stratford-on-Avon, capacity. prowess. The Sports Day results of His career spanned several where he played for several years, But Peter was always an 1970, will remain indelibly etched in decades, reaching senior positions in becoming the Club Captain. entrepreneur, and he saw a good Noel’s mind; for the 100m, 200m and large businesses such as NTL (now He spent several years coaching opportunity to get into the f breglass the Triple Jump: Virgin Media) and SITA where he the younger players, one of them manufacturing industry. was a Senior Director. wrote of him: Working for others at f rst, he Second place - Osborne,N In his CV, Dave summed himself ‘A true Legend and Gentleman. eventually set up his own company First Place - Osborne,D up as: A professional Director/General Fearsome on the Pitch. An honour and widened the scope of his Manager; a strategist who clarif es and to have played alongside Dave. interests. In 1971, Dave went to Imperial infl uences both the pace and direction Inspirational to so many of us younger Go to Sun City and see the large College where he studied of change as well as delivering what players.’ animals and other fabulous decor Mechanical Engineering, played lots was agreed. In 2006, Dave was diagnosed with adorning the hotel and complex, of rugby and drank the odd pint of This may sound a bit like bowel cancer, and he fought hard, which were made by Peter’s f rm. beer. corporate ‘speak’, but to his brother, to make it through the f rst round. In Johannesburg, the mobile phone Dave was in the IC First Team, Noel, it describes Dave as a person It was far from easy with several masts are hidden in palm trees and also played for the combined who was open and honest, a complications, and it seemed to – f breglass ones also made by London University’s team. He was pragmatist, a good leader, someone go on for ever. Gail and the family, Peter’s f rm. He used his technical also engaged with the Imperial who would get the job done. were not only helping him through a expertise to create f breglass domes College City & Guilds Union, Noel recalled that, whenever they tough time, but they too were on a that looked like genuine copper. spending one year as the mascot discussed problems or uncertainties, diff cult journey. Peter enjoyed his work and lived bearer (of Spanner and Bolt) and, Dave would always bring these Dave never complained, just life to the full. understood the problem and did He suffered medical problems in what had to be done. Soon, he was the mid-2000s and had to give up his back at work, getting f t, and it was work, his son Christian took over business as usual. running the f rm. Sadly, towards the end of 2014, Peter’s lifestyle changed things took a turn for the worse. dramatically and although his Before he went back to the brain was still active and needed doctors, Dave continued with a stimulation, he became physically planned family holiday to Canada dependent on others. Pauline also and the journey of a lifetime across suffered with bouts of cancer at the the Rockies. same time. For the last 18 months or so, it When Pauline died unexpectedly was a hard a f ght, but f ght he did, in April, 2015, Peter’s daughter with his wife, Gail, by his side. Corrin and husband, Stash, took Unfortunately, there was not over his care. going to be a last minute score to Peter was around to see Christian win this f nal match. Dave died married to Jan and a grandchild on peacefully at home on 29 May, 2016, the way for Corrin and Stash. with his family by his side. Peter was still very much himself He leaves behind his wife, Gail, and recognised his friends and family children Ben and Kate, and brothers to the end. He passed away calmly Lawrence and Noel. in hospital on the 17 April, 2016.

34 Imperial ENGINEER Autumn 2016 OBITUARIES Highly innovative teacher ‘I like to think I glimpsed the NORMAN LOCH (Mech Eng 1959- for Royal Navy nuclear submarines, obvious occasionally’ 60) using analogue and digital computing DUDLEY DENNINGTON (Civil the Council’s bus lane programme, Norman was born on 13 July, techniques, and specifcally Eng 1944-47) and spearheaded the banning of 1936 and educated at Boroughmuir investigating the elasto-plastic Dudley, who has died aged 89, was cars in Oxford Street, increasing the School, Edinburgh. At the age of material and mechanical vibration one of a number of highly regarded average speed of traffc fow, and 16, he joined Ferranti as a student behaviour of these structures. civil engineers who could turn their improving road safety across the apprentice mechanical engineer, He returned to Heriot-Watt hand to any problem. capital. London’s radical approaches completing his Ordinary National University in September 1969, as a Born on 21 April, 1927, he of this time were studied and copied Certifcate at evening classes. His Lecturer in Engineering Design. graduated in 1947, and after National around the world. He did not high grades led to his being invited to He was very popular with staff Service in the Royal Engineers, minimise the diffculties in such large undertake a full-time Associateship and students, his major academic joined Sandford Fawcett & Partners, scale infrastructural planning, but in Mechanical Engineering at Heriot- strength lying in his ability to transfer working on water-related projects. said: “I like to think I glimpsed the Watt College, which he completed his extensive knowledge and Following experience with obvious occasionally”. in 1958. experience of design and dynamics contractors Demolition & Leaving the GLC in 1972 he He then returned to Ferranti as a in a clear and comprehensible way. Construction, and Wm Press, became a partner in consulting design engineer, working on airborne He was highly innovative in his supervising oil refnery construction, engineers Bullen and Partners, with radar systems for the English teaching methods and projects, and he joined George Wimpey & responsibilities including major Electric Lightning and Blackburn was much sought after for advice Company in 1952. In 1965, in highway projects in the UK, and Buccaneer aircraft. In 1959, he was and guidance from students and staff. charge of Wimpey’s structural work in the Middle East and Hong sponsored by Ferranti to study for After retiring from full-time design department, he was offered Kong. A senior partner, by 1989, he a post-graduate Diploma at Imperial work in December 2000, he was the post of assistant chief highway stayed on as a consultant following College in London, from which he re-engaged on a part-time basis engineer for highway construction retirement in 1992. graduated with fying colours, his and continued to contribute to at the fedgling Greater London He was a fellow of the Institution diploma project being the study of mechanical engineering teaching Council (GLC), working under the of Civil Engineers, served twice on viscoelastic materials. He was a until November 2003. On leaving, energetic Peter Stott, director of the its council and, in 1990, was its Vice- member of CGCA. he was subsequently invited to new department of highways and President for engineering. He was a In September 1965, he became assist part time with Engineering transportation. County Hall was a member of the Marshall Committee, a Senior Stress Engineer at Rolls Design teaching at the University of challenge from day one, and required a visiting professor of civil Royce in Derby, undertaking design Edinburgh for a few years. the linking of engineers from the engineering at King’s College London work on nuclear submarine systems. Norman’s life revolved round his defunct London County Council and 1979-1982, and an active member of His main role was to design and family, his students, his friends and Middlesex County Council into one several professional bodies including analyse pressurised water reactors golf. He died in January, 2015. highways team, while felding tough the Engineering Council. He was queries from, and negotiating with, also a long-standing member of the politicians in committees. Blythe Sappers, the club of ex-Royal A life lived to the full By 1970, Dudley was traffc Engineers, and of the City & Guilds commissioner and director of College Association. In his spare CLAYTON RAYNER WILFRED Schal until retirement in 1992, and development, in charge of all the time, he was a keen watercolourist, (STEVE) STEPHENS (Civil Eng worked on a number of their major GLC’s planning, traffc and highway and a contributor to the Enigma 1951-54) projects, which meant spending a projects, and co-chairman of the brain tester feature in the New Steve was born in South London great deal of time away from home. Greater London Traffc Executive. Scientist. on 16 November, 1932. Sadly his Many of the jobs were technically He was also founder chairman of Dudley Dennington, BSc (Eng), mother died when he was born, challenging, and Steve enjoyed the Greater London Road Safety FREng, FCGI, FICE, FIStrucE, FIHT, so he was initially cared for by his overcoming construction problems Unit. Under his guidance, the died on12 May, 2016. maternal grandparents, of whom he by devising innovative solutions. computerisation of London’s traffc He leaves a wife and two was very fond but, after his father He believed that his greatest signals was completed. He delivered daughters. re-married, Steve lived with his achievement was in demonstrating father and new family. that the new offces over Charing In 1951 at the age of 18, he won a Cross Station could be built without County Major Scholarship to study disruption to train services or Civil Engineering at City & Guilds. to the general public; a treasured On graduation, Steve joined possession was a letter from the Tarmac and worked on Shoreham architect, Terry Farrell, thanking him Power Station, Brighton, followed for making the project possible! by spells around the UK, before In retirement, Steve became becoming based in Tarmac’s offce in heavily involved in local educational Park Lane, where he met his wife- and sporting affairs, and became a to-be, Gillian. governor of Ringwood School. After their marriage in 1962, and In addition, he was an active the births of their daughters Hilary member of the Fordingbridge Bowls and Holly, Steve became agent for Club, becoming treasurer and then the construction of Fawley Power working on plans to construct the Station. In 1972, the family moved new clubhouse, which now stands to Forestside Gardens in Ringwood, proudly in his memory. More their home from thereafter. recently, he joined the Greyfriars From 1982, Steve worked in Men’s Club, meeting regularly, London, for the 1981 ‘Schal/Tarmac’ enjoying the company and taking a joint venture between Tarmac full part in the discussions. and the American construction Being diagnosed with prostate management specialists Schal. The cancer in 2001 did not deter Steve business grew through the ’80s from living life to the full, enjoying his with the majority of work being family, friends and grandchildren. commercial offce buildings, many of He died on 27 August, 2014, at which included complex engineering the age of 81 and is sadly missed by and logistics. Steve remained with his family and by many friends.

Imperial ENGINEER Autumn 2016 35 I m p e r i a l ENGINEER

AURORA PACIFIC BLOB THE GREAT FIRE ALASKAN EXPEDITION CIVSOC TRIP TO NAPLES FAREWELL TO TERESA SERGOT

For members of City & Guilds College Association and The Royal School of Mines Association ISSUE 25 AUTUMN 2016