Royal Academy Autumn 2020 of Engineering Newsletter
Pandemic service awards
In August, the Royal Academy of Engineering awarded 19 individuals and teams of engineers with the President’s Special Awards for Pandemic Service, reflecting exceptional engineering achievements in tackling COVID-19 throughout the UK.
The winners included four groups of engineers who had worked on ventilators: The VentilatorChallengeUK Consortium, an initiative combining the skills of 33 UK technology and engineering businesses to produce more than 13,000 Smiths and Penlon ventilators; University College London-Ventura continuous positive airway pressure breathing aids; University of Professor Zhanfeng Cui FREng and his team from the University Cambridge Open Ventilator System, a high- of Oxford performance ventilator for manufacture in low- and middle-income countries; and Babcock test for COVID-19 - their test can detect whether a International Group’s new medical ventilator person is infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus and product, Zephyr Plus. is still infectious, and does not require the use of specialist equipment. Manufacturers of personal protective equipment (PPE) were also awarded: the University of Professor Catherine Noakes, University of Leeds, Southampton for PeRSo, a respirator for received an award for her role in advising the healthcare workers providing a much higher level NHS and the government during the pandemic, of protection than surgical masks; and Dr Antony shaping life-saving guidance based on her Robotham for his design of an environmentally expertise in environmental and engineering friendly face shield. controls.
Other winners included Tharsus for Bump, a Professor Sir Jim McDonald FREng FRSE, social-distancing system providing real-time alerts President of the Academy, said: “Engineering when wearers get too close, and Sewers4COVID expertise and innovation has been central to the from the University of Exeter, which applied global fight to save lives and protect livelihoods. I machine learning to sewer epidemiology to am also incredibly proud of engineers everywhere estimate the number of infected people in an area who have worked round the clock to maintain to track the spread of infection. essential services, critical supply chains and infrastructure in unprecedented circumstances, Two testing systems received awards: Professor using their training and skills to find innovative Chris Toumazou FREng FRS FMedSci for solutions to a host of problems and to help developing a rapid, affordable COVID-19 test based mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on our daily lives.” on a lab-in-a-cartridge technology that provides test results in just over an hour; and Professor To read more about the awards and for a full list of Zhanfeng Cui FREng and his team from the winners, please visit University of Oxford for the Oxford rapid viral RNA www.raeng.org.uk/pandemic-awards
Contents Thought leadership 9 News of Fellows 15 Public engagement 11 Obituaries 16 President’s column 2 Education and skills 12 QuonsiResearch sil tatus and suliae innovation dis, tessultodiu 4 esAcademy conti, nenam roundup quem 14 www.raeng.org.uk/newsletters
1 President’s column These are just a few of the While we have further to go in Academy AGM goes online exceptional engineers and increasing the diversity of our engineering we’ve recognised Fellowship, this year we welcome On 22 September, the Academy’s 44th Annual and celebrated this year, and experts from an extraordinary General Meeting (AGM) took place at the such brief mentions cannot do variety of disciplines. University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, with only justice to them. More information the President and Professor Trish Connolly about the awardees can be In the meantime, I wish you all FREng FRSE in attendance due to the COVID-19 found later in this newsletter, on well, and thank you for the role pandemic and the social distancing restrictions the Academy’s website, and in you have played in nominating, in place at the time. Fellows were able to join the the September issue of Ingenia. reviewing, interviewing, and proceedings online and a recording of the event introducing new talent to our can be found on the Fellows’ area of the website We have also welcomed a new network. I hope that, in spite at www.raeng.org.uk/fellows-area/engage-with- cohort of Research Fellows, of restrictions, you find ways academy/agm-2020 The Academy has always Senior Research Fellows to connect to the exceptional been an organisation centred and Research Chairs, who people we support and bring After the official business of the AGM, Professor on exceptional people, and are pushing the frontiers of together, whether attending an Sir Jim McDonald FREng FRSE presented his Dame Julia Higgins DBE FREng FRS this autumn the Academy is engineering innovation at Academy event, as a mentor, or review of the Academy’s year. This AGM marked recognising, rewarding and universities across the UK, from simply by using the Fellows’ area the first year of his tenure as Academy President. developments in medical research, including adding to its community a Cardiff and Exeter, to Belfast, of the website to get in touch. Despite the unprecedented global challenge, the many from areas of emerging technology. The great number of exceptional Newcastle, and Glasgow. Academy has achieved much over the past 12 full list can be found at www.raeng.org.uk/new- people from all disciplines of Best wishes, months, not only in its response to the pandemic, fellows-2020 engineering, all corners of the One of our newest programmes Professor Sir Jim McDonald but also with the launch of a new five-year UK and, indeed, the world. is building a community in a FREng FRSE strategy, as well as the announcement of the The President went on to announce two Academy different sector entirely. The Fellowship Fit for the Future campaign. award winners. Dervilla Mitchell CBE FREng, Without our annual Awards Policy Fellowships programme, Executive Chair of Arup’s (UKIMEA) region, was Dinner in its traditional format, which has received excellent The Annual Report and Accounts for the year awarded the President’s Medal, given to an the announcement of an feedback from participants, ending 31 March 2020 were received, and Academy Fellow who has greatly contributed to outstanding group of Academy connects policymakers with Professor Stephen Young FREng, chair of the the Academy’s work and aims. She has made a awardees has been made Academy Fellows. It enables Finance Committee, gave the financial report. significant contribution to the Academy over a straight to media and online them to make rapid progress on Meetings and visitors prolonged period as member then Chair of the channels, although we will a chosen challenge, expand their The meeting also confirmed the newly elected Awards Committee; Academy Vice-President; be looking to celebrate their networks, and learn first-hand In his capacity as President, Trustees: Professor Peter Guthrie OBE FREng Chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee; achievements with a special how engineers solve problems. Sir Jim has met with: (who has been selected as the Vice-President and member of the Queen Elizabeth Prize for event once it is appropriate and The programme is an important ■ Sir Adrian Smith, incoming for Committee Coordination), Professor Eileen Engineering Search Group. She currently chairs feasible to do so. new effort to deepen our President of the Royal Society Harkin-Jones OBE FREng and Chris Earnshaw the National Engineering Policy Centre’s working relationships with government, ■ Peter Guthrie FREng OBE FREng (who was also elected as Chair of the group on decarbonisation. Two awardees, both Fellows, were and I encourage anyone with ■ Lord Browne FREng Audit and Risk Committee). celebrated at our recent AGM: connections in policymaking ■ Lynn Gladden FREng, EPSRC The second presentation on the evening was Dervilla Mitchell was awarded the bodies to raise awareness of the He attended the following events The election of 50 new Fellows and three new the Sir Frank Whittle Medal, which is presented President’s Medal and Professor scheme. It is also part of a much and meetings: International Fellows for 2020 was also ratified. to an engineer whose sustained achievements Dame Julia Higgins was awarded wider effort, and I am pleased to ■ National Academy President The new Fellows are from a variety of disciplines, have had a profound impact on their engineering the Sir Frank Whittle Medal. My report that the last few months and CEOs meetings from leaders in areas such as transport and our discipline. The 2020 recipient was Professor congratulations go to both, and have been an exceptionally ■ Council for Science and essential data infrastructure to lifesaving Dame Julia Higgins DBE FREng FRS. Dame Julia my thanks to all of you who joined productive period for policy Technology meetings, is internationally recognised as one of the pre- us – the meeting was hosted outputs and engagement with including a post-COVID-19 eminent polymer engineers of her generation. online for the first time and I was government. It has left me in subgroup She was recognised for her sustained excellence pleased to see that many of you no doubt that our expertise is ■ Net Zero meeting with the in polymer engineering over more than five who wouldn’t normally have been relevant and sought after, and Cabinet Office decades and the major impact she has had on able to join us in Prince Philip that the growth of the National ■ UKRI meeting with Academy engineering in general. House connected virtually. Engineering Policy Centre will Presidents In another recent virtual enable significant progress ■ Filming for the 2020 The evening concluded with a few words from celebration, we recognised against our strategic objectives. International Forum on Academy Chief Executive Dr Hayaatun Sillem CBE. exceptional international Innovation and Emerging engineering talent. The Africa Of course, this time of year also Industries The call for nominations for 2021 awards are now Prize for Engineering Innovation sees us welcome a new cohort ■ Roundtables on R&D Roadmap open. The closing date is 9 November. Visit www. was won by Charlette N’Guessan, of Fellows. I am regularly in awe and Horizon Europe with raeng.org.uk/prizes for more information, or a Cote D’Ivorian technology of the talent brought together in Amanda Solloway MP email [email protected] entrepreneur, and the first our Fellowship and our newest ■ IEID 2020 in Beijing (via Zoom) Dervilla Mitchell CBE FREng woman to win the prize. members are no exception.
2 3 Research and innovation Charlette N’Guessan from Ghana wins 2020 Africa Prize
On 3 September, Charlette N’Guessan, a Cote D’Ivorian technology entrepreneur Academy CAFÉ engagement) is a webinar feature an ‘in conversation with’ based in Ghana, won the 2020 Africa Prize for series to provide engagement style discussion, with Q&As. Engineering Innovation, taking the first prize of On 15 September, Professor for research awardees and £25,000. Allan Jones FREng chaired an alumni and ensure they can still The next event will be on 27 Academy CAFÉ event with benefit from the expertise and October at 10.30am, hosted Charlette, Co-Founder Samuel Mensah and their (L-R) Finalists Aisha Raheem, Charlette N’Guessan, David Tusubira, Professor Eileen Harkin-Jones experience within the Academy’s by Professor Karen Holford team developed BACE API, software that uses and Dr William Wasswa OBE FREng on the topic of network while physical events are CBE FREng FLSW, Chair of the facial recognition and artificial intelligence (AI) industry engagement. not possible. It allows participants Research Committee. For more to verify identities remotely. The software can because we want to make sure BACE API is used to share ideas, challenges and details or to see footage from be integrated into existing apps and systems by our people, and works for them. We are so The Academy CAFÉ best practice in the current the first two events, visitwww. and is aimed at financial institutions and other grateful to the Academy, and cannot wait to take (connecting awardees, fostering period and beyond. The webinars raeng.org.uk/academy-cafe industries that rely on identity verification when our innovation to new heights.” providing services. At the virtual event on 3 September, the four The BACE API software uses a phone or finalists delivered pitches, before taking Positive Response the Academy, with support from partners in the computer’s built-in camera and does not questions from the Africa Prize judges and National Engineering Policy Centre, has produced need special hardware. In contrast to global audience. While the judges deliberated over The Academy’s Positive Response programme insights on supply chain challenges, lessons AI systems, it has been developed specifically the most promising engineering innovation, continues to evolve based on the changing learned and opportunities, stimulating R&D for to identify Africans. It uses live images or short the audience watched a fireside chat. Hosted demands of the pandemic. a better and faster recovery, and rapid reviews videos taken on phone cameras to detect by Emma Wade-Smith, Her Majesty’s Trade on measures to limit COVID-19 transmission on whether the image is of a real person, or a photo Commissioner for Africa, with panelists Ammin The Academy has encouraged engineers in the public transport and in hospitals. The UK work of an existing image. Youssouf, CEO and Co-Founder of Afrobytes, and UK and globally to further important research has informed international conversations with Phoebe Ouma, lifestyle and fashion illustrator, and innovations that reduce the impact of representatives from National Academies globally. The Africa Prize mentorship and training they discussed resilience, courage, and the COVID-19. The brokerage component of the helped the team focus more on their business importance of diversity and inclusion. programme has successfully supported many The Academy’s Innovation in a crisis event series development, and since being shortlisted, the ideas and innovations, which can be read about has continued to share the heroic efforts of team has defined strategies to improve BACE Dr Hayaatun Sillem CBE opened the event, with in the recent Engineering our way out of a crisis engineers across the UK, culminating in an event API’s market position. They have signed key Dr Shakir Mohammed, a Senior Staff Research publication. that celebrated the winners of the President’s partnerships with local financial institutions, Scientist at DeepMind, as event MC and Julius Special Awards for Pandemic Service. The series improved the accuracy of the model, and Court, Deputy High Commissioner to Kenya, Engineering X Pandemic Preparedness grants can be found on the Academy website. reduced the verification time. In partnership as guest judge. James Duddridge MP, Minister have been awarded to 25 engineers in Colombia, with a data controller that deals with certified for Africa, closed the event, congratulating this Ghana, India, Kenya, Malawi, Mexico, Nigeria, To find out more about the Positive Response government-issued identity documents, BACE year’s Africa Prize shortlist. Peru, Tanzania, and the UK. These projects programme, visit www.raeng.org.uk/policy/ API has access to Ghanaian passports and other range from software tools for managing hospital engineering-response-covid-19-coronavirus identity documents to use during its verification The event platform included an interactive appointment scheduling to innovations for last- processes. exhibition, allowing the audience to learn more mile vaccine transportation. The Academy also Donations can help us to achieve more; thank you about all the of the Africa Prize innovations, and continues to support the African response to to those of you who have supported us already. To “Being part of the Africa Prize has given us such connect with the entrepreneurs. COVID-19 by building capacity in its networks of find out more about how donations are helping confidence,” said Charlette. “We focus on Africa entrepreneurs. our response or to make a donation, please visit The three runners up, who each received www.raeng.org.uk/support-us/academy-s- £10,000, are: Responding to the needs across government, covid-19-response ■ Farmz2U, Aisha Raheem from Nigeria - a digital platform that provides farmers with tailored agricultural data to improve their ARMA online event to encourage research award This year, the event took the experience and efficiency. applications from universities form of a virtual study tour with ■ PapsAI, Dr William Wasswa from Uganda - On 1 July, the Academy held its that typically do not apply. It breakout sessions covering a low-cost digital microscope that speeds ARMA (Association of Research provides an invitation-only research, education, the up cervical cancer screening diagnosis, Managers and Administrators) opportunity for selected Enterprise Hub, international and systems to improve patient record event virtually. universities to visit the programmes, and Ingenious management. Academy to find out about the public engagement. The event ■ Remot, David Tusubira from Uganda - a The one-day event takes different schemes and funding is available to watch at www. system that manages off-grid power grids place twice a year and aims opportunities. raeng.org.uk/study-tour Charlette’s technology uses live images to verify identities by monitoring the condition of solar arrays.
4 5 Research Culture Research Fellowships ■ Dr Yang Cao, University of Awards for top engineers initiatives Edinburgh On 14 August, the Academy ■ Dr James Ewen, Imperial The Academy has announced the 15 medal and Over the last year, the announced 16 new Research College London award winners for 2020. These honours celebrate Academy has been working on Fellowships. ■ Dr Elizabeth Follett, Cardiff engineering excellence and seek to recognise and several research initiatives to University reward the very best of engineering talent. put policy into practice. Their projects include enhanced ■ Dr Rand Ismaeel, University radar detection of drones of Southampton Bob Stuart, Founder of MQA, has been awarded These initiatives focus on and other small objects using ■ Dr Himanshu Kaul, the Prince Philip Medal for his exceptional research assessment, open electromagnetic metamaterials, University of Leicester contribution to audio engineering, changing the access, research integrity, and modelling the role of ■ Dr Aurora Maccarone, way we listen to music and experience films. His and career development. The wood jams in natural flood Heriot-Watt University innovations in the digital coding of music have pandemic has also drawn management. ■ Dr Peter Martin, University made it shareable without quality loss. The Queensferrry Crossing team won the Major Project Award © particular aspects of the UK’s of Bristol Transport Scotland research landscape into sharp Research Fellowships are ■ Dr Timothy Moorsom, Sorin Popa, CEO of Pathfinder Medical, received relief and highlighted where designed to advance excellence University of Glasgow the Sir George Macfarlane Medal for inventing and A team from Reaction Engines, led by Dr Helen improvements could be made. in engineering by enabling ■ Dr Greg Mutch, Newcastle developing minimally invasive catheter guidance Webber, won the Colin Campbell Mitchell The Academy is continuing early-career researchers to University technology for patients receiving haemodialysis Award for the successful completion of high- to monitor the impacts of concentrate on engineering ■ Dr Auro Perego, Aston treatment. The ePATH innovation reduces the temperature tests of a unique precooler system COVID-19 on UK research. research in any field. Each University need for surgery and improves clinical outcomes. for the SABRE jet engines project. This technology awardee receives five years’ ■ Dr Alexander Powell, hybrid jet/rocket engine is designed to power a The UK’s engineering research worth of funding and mentoring University of Exeter The Major Project Award was given to the single-stage fully reusable launch vehicle able to base is a national strength. from experienced Academy ■ Dr Timothy Runcorn, Queensferry Crossing team: Iain Murray, Executive take off and land horizontally on an airfield However, research is a Fellows, providing valuable Imperial College London Director of Operations at Jacobs; Mike Glover OBE process and not a product, advice and industry links that ■ Dr Nidhi Simmons, Queen’s FREng, Director at Arup; Peter Curran, Project Dr Susan Scurlock MBE received the Rooke Award fundamentally comprised will enable the researchers to University Belfast Director at Ramboll; Richard Hornby, Director and for her inspirational promotion of engineering of individuals and teams of establish themselves as future ■ Dr Yuriko Suzuki, University Fellow at Arup; and Lawrence Shackman, Head of through her not-for-profit organisation, Primary people working to further leaders in their fields. of Oxford Rail Projects at Transport Scotland. The Queensferry Engineer. She started Primary Engineer in 2005 in understanding. Therefore the Crossing is the world’s longest three-towered cable- response to the government’s call to encourage Academy has been focusing on The full list of awardees is: For more information on stayed bridge, Britain’s tallest bridge, and Scotland’s more young people into the profession. making changes to its research the awardees and their largest construction project in the 21st century. programmes to help support a ■ Dr Humberto Almeida Jr, projects, visit www.raeng.org. The five RAEng Engineers Trust Young Engineers more positive research culture, Queen’s University Belfast uk/2020researchfellows The Silver Medals for outstanding personal of the Year, supported by the Worshipful Company and exploring avenues for ■ Dr Giorgia Bosi, University contribution to engineering went to Dr Jamie of Engineers, were: Sorin Popa, Pathfinder Medical; further improvement. College London Shotton, Microsoft Research; Professor Esther Dr Andrea De Luca, Flusso Ltd, University of Rodriguez-Villegas FREng, Imperial College London; Cambridge; Dr Richard Colchester, University Dr Marko Bacic, Rolls-Royce; and Professor Michael College London; Dr Boyang Shen, University of Bronstein, Imperial College London. Cambridge; Amy Wright, Design ID. Chairs in Emerging Technologies College London – Massless energy: structural power and multifunctional structural The Academy recently announced eight new materials Chairs in Emerging Technologies. ■ Professor Jonathan Hirst, University of New research awards enable ultra-reliable and near zero-latency Nottingham – Machines learning chemistry communications These highly prestigious awards are given to ■ Professor Martin Kuball, University of Bristol The Academy has announced four new Research ■ Professor Paul Hoskisson, University of global research visionaries who will lead major – Ultra-wide bandgap emerging power Chairs and two new Senior Research Fellows, Strathclyde, GSK / RAEng Research Chair in research, translation and innovation programmes electronics for a low-carbon economy awarded to excellent engineering researchers Engineering biology of antibiotic production around key emerging technologies, to enable ■ Professor Bruno Merk, University of Liverpool working on some of the biggest challenges faced ■ Professor Ahmed Kovacevic, City, University technology commercialisation and create – iMAGINE – a nuclear system operating on by the engineering industry. These five-year of London, Howden / RAEng Research Chair significant UK economic and social benefit. The spent fuel without reprocessing positions cover a broad spectrum of engineering in compressor technology awards are £2,780,000 each over 10 years. ■ Professor Douglas Paul, University of research. The full list of awardees is below: ■ Dr Michael Strain, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow – Single-chip cold-atom systems: a Fraunhofer UK / RAEng Senior Research The newly appointed Chairs in Emerging quantum navigator in your mobile phone ■ Dr Giuliano Allegri, University of Bristol, Rolls- Fellow in chipscale photonics Technologies and their research projects are: ■ Professor William Sloan FRSE, University of Royce PLC / RAEng Senior Research Fellow ■ Professor Francesca Toni, Imperial College ■ Professor Stephen Beeby, University Glasgow – Off-grid water biotechnologies in Physically based modelling of fatigue in London, J.P. Morgan / RAEng Research Chair in of Southampton – Electronic textiles ■ Professor Molly Stevens FREng FRS, Imperial composites Argumentation for interactive explainable AI engineering: towards invisible and ubiquitous College London – Multidimensional target- ■ Professor Trung Duong, Queens University wearable technologies agnostic sensing (MTAS): the next generation Belfast, Nokia Bell Labs / RAEng Research For more information, visit www.raeng.org.uk/ ■ Professor Emile Smith Greenhalgh, Imperial of biosensors. Chair in Towards massive connectivity to researchchairs
6 7 LIF community grant programme Thought leadership
In June, the Leaders in Innovation Fellowships (LIF) programme launched its pilot Community Grant programme to support LIF participants build and deliver high-impact, community- Building back better – Black discussion where leading engineers will discuss building projects. History Month the contribution of and challenges faced by BAME engineers and what companies can do to Aimed at the global LIF alumni network of over The Academy is marking Black History Month recognise and support their BAME colleagues. 1,000 participants from 17 emerging economies, in October by celebrating the contributions Book your place at www.raeng.org.uk/bhm-event the pilot grant programme empowers of engineers from Black, Asian and minority participants to build local communities of Participants at a previous LIF event ethnic (BAME) backgrounds. It will also highlight The Academy is encouraging its partners and engineering entrepreneurs in their country, to the barriers and challenges they face, and engineering organisations to: create their own networks of peer support, new These projects are supporting activities such share what the Academy is doing to increase collaborations and partnerships. The participants as: delivering commercialisation training for the representation and experience of Black ■ take evidence-based action using the D&I were invited to imagine how they could develop researchers and engineering students in Jordan; people and other minority ethnic groups in UK measurement framework the LIF community in their own country or region, mapping the local innovation ecosystem and engineering. ■ use Academy resources about inclusive with a grant budget of up to £5,000 for projects creating a podcast series for hard-tech innovators recruitment and pay and progression to of up to six months. in Brazil; and connecting LIF alumni working on The COVID-19 pandemic and responses to it have tackle the underrepresentation of BAME agritech innovations with small-scale farmers disproportionately impacted BAME communities engineers and progression to senior and The programme was open for LIF participants across South Africa to build farmers’ capacity to and the Black Lives Matter movement has higher paid roles from 12 emerging economies and 33 applications adopt innovative technologies to improve their highlighted issues of racism and structural ■ cultivate inclusive cultures using the inclusive were received from the following Newton Fund operations. inequality. Data shows that this is an issue for cultures toolkit, majority allies resource and partner countries: Brazil, Colombia, Indonesia, engineering as much as any other profession. Only teams workshop series. Jordan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Peru, South Selected awardees will start their community 9% of engineers are from BAME backgrounds and Africa, Turkey, and Vietnam. The selection panel, projects in October 2020 and will deliver all the Academy’s research demonstrates that Black There will also be a host of internal activities which included a mix of business and engineering planned activities by the end of March 2021. For engineering graduates are less likely to progress supporting efforts to develop and maintain an leaders in the UK and was chaired by Professor more information, visit the Community Grant into engineering roles. In the workplace, BAME inclusive culture at the Academy and embed D&I Norman Apsley OBE FREng, chose 17 community- Programme at engineers are less likely to feel included than their best practice throughout its programmes and building projects for the award. www.raeng.org.uk/lif-community-grants white colleagues. Our post-pandemic society must operations. This will include a panel event, a series be more inclusive and in the words of Academy of internal blogs responding to Black Lives Matter, President Sir Jim McDonald, “we must seize the as well as a themed ‘unbook’ club, and TED Talk opportunity to build back better”. discussions. Frontiers of Engineering Following the event, the for Development Academy awarded six seed On 22 October, the Academy is partnering Find out more about the campaign and how we funding grants. Ellie Cosgrave, with the Association For Black and Minority can take effective action at Between 26 May and 10 June, University College London, Ethnic Engineers (AFBE-UK) to host a panel www.raeng.org.uk/BHM2020 the Academy held its ninth is leading two projects, one Frontiers of Engineering for on gender inclusive mobility Development symposium on and another on the built the over-arching theme of environment’s impact on mental Engineering inclusive to identify how and why they from a D&I action group, Engineering Inclusive Cities. The health in Kathmandu. Alejandro cultures through team should work together more chaired by David Jenkins, with event was held on a bespoke Gallego Schmid, University of workshops inclusively. representatives including online platform. Manchester, is conducting a Airbus, Atkins, EDF, KBR, project on the informal waste During National Inclusion The workshops can be run by Ministry of Defence, Mott The event was co-chaired by Dr The event took place online for the first time sector contribution to Nepal’s Week (28 September to any team leader or manager. MacDonald, Network Rail, Jaideep Gupte, GCRF Challenge circularity transition. Emmanuel 2 October), the Academy They include comprehensive QinetiQ, and Rolls-Royce. Leader, Sustainable Cities and thematic content on the Matsika, University of Newcastle, launched four interactive team guidance notes, can be Infrastructure, and Professor platform, before live sessions is leading a project on inclusive workshops on diversity and tailored to suit an audience of These workshops are the Nausheen Anwar, Director, on 9 and 10 June. Live sessions and accessible public transport inclusion (D&I) for engineers. 10 to 20 people, and should last final resource developed in Karachi Urban Lab in Pakistan. were held in breakout rooms systems. Kourosh Behzadian, around an hour. Professional response to recommendations It also explored sub themes of of up to 20 delegates before University of West London, is The workshops are highly training or D&I qualifications from the Academy’s Creating mobilities, on-grid/off-grid energy session chairs fed back to looking at urban water reuse interactive and are intended are not required to run the cultures where all engineers access, and design and density. the whole symposium of interventions for community to provoke discussion and sessions. thrive report. 60 participants. Delegates resilience. Abid Mehmood, debate. They are designed The first two weeks were discussed pre-recorded Cardiff University, is researching to assist any project or The workshops were They can be downloaded from dedicated to networking, presentations from a diverse density, design and wellbeing for functional team working in developed by practising www.raeng.org.uk/team- collaboration and exploring range of speakers. developing resilient cities. an engineering environment engineers and D&I specialists workshops
8 9 Transforming needs careful design choices to the economics that drive Public engagement construction minimise the need for retrofit decisions about sustainability in and maximise the efficiency of construction. On 23 June, the National heating and cooling. Engineering Policy Centre Dervilla Mitchell CBE (NEPC) held a workshop to At the workshop, delegates FREng, chair of the NEPC Create the future gather evidence and insight into heard presentations and set decarbonisation working group, podcast anniversary what needs to be done to bring out policies to accelerate set out her thoughts on the construction onto a net zero decarbonisation across four subject and what it means for The Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering’s pathway, as part of the project areas for change: specification the government’s plans to ‘build Create the future podcast celebrated its first on the net zero transformation. and design, construction back better’ in an opinion piece anniversary in August. and re-use, the business of for CityAM, which you can read The construction industry is a construction, and product at bit.ly/3bA8qJ3 Since its launch, Create the future has developed vital part of the UK economy outcome. an audience spanning over 50 countries, and a and will play a crucial role in Presentations, an early report of guestlist comprising some of the most prominent getting the UK to net zero. The workshop identified the themes from this workshop, and pioneering figures in STEAM. However, like all sectors it has urgent changes needed across and more information about into space with astronauts and Apollo engineers. issues with carbon emissions procurement policy, design and the NEPC’s net zero policy work With host Sue Nelson, an award-winning radio Engineering reaches every corner of the world and sustainability. Cement performance standards, best can be found on the Academy producer, journalist, and former BBC TV science and there are many interesting stories yet to be and steel are carbon-intensive use of existing infrastructure, website at www.raeng.org.uk/ and environment correspondent, the podcast told. To suggest future guests or topics, email materials to begin with, and and a new approach to risk – net-zero has unpacked some of the most iconic scenes in [email protected] every new build that will be all underpinned by a focus on A wider report on the subject cinema, learned the origins of global innovations part of the 2050 landscape whole-life carbon and reshaping will be published later this year. like the internet and GPS, pondered the future for To listen to the podcast, visit http://bit.ly/ smart cities and AI, and explored human journeys CreatetheFuturePodcast
Graduate Engineering This is Engineering Day made by young people. Engagement Programme On the day, the Academy will unveil a new, publicly available In August and September, online exhibition celebrating over 100 engineering students engineering that makes a from diverse backgrounds difference. This is Engineering and universities across the has teamed up with Ingenia, country took part in two online the MacRobert Award, Google events as part of the Graduate Arts and Culture and the Engineering Engagement Participants at a GEEP event in Manchester in 2019 engineering community to Programme (GEEP). make the engineering behind aware of opportunities in place in late October and music, art, theatre and other Engineers including Fellows, engineering. November. If you work with popular interests visible. awardees and Enterprise diverse students (and recent Hub members gave talks at Damilola Fari-Arole, a GEEP graduates) interested in A range of supporters including the events, and there were alumna who now works at engineering, they can register Network Rail, Amazon, interview and skills-based Network Rail, said “Through their interest on the Academy Facebook and the campaign’s workshops. Participants also GEEP, I eventually secured website. GEEP is particularly funding partners will also be had the opportunity to network a graduate engineering keen to see more students from A selection of engineers featured in the This is Engineering campaign. L-R: Jahangir, Felicia, showcasing engineers and with leading engineering job in Network Rail. I would civil, electrical, electronic, and Joshua, David, Tanda, Olivia, Halvard engineering in public-facing companies. Jordon McRae, highly recommend GEEP to mechanical backgrounds. Visit Day reached over 12 million channels and supporting the CEO of Mobilus Labs and an engineering students and www.raeng.org.uk/GEEP On 4 November, the Academy people on social media and day on social media. Academy Enterprise Fellow, recent graduates who are will mark the second This more than 14 million through spoke about the engineering looking to gain engineering This year, GEEP is working with is Engineering Day, a day broadcast media. This year, the The Academy welcomes pathway for SMEs. opportunities, but also would AMEY, Buro Happold, GSK, dedicated to celebrating the Academy will continue to raise support from Fellows and their encourage engineering firms National Grid, Network Rail, engineers shaping the world awareness of what engineers networks, and has produced GEEP is part of the Academy’s alike to get involved to access Rolls-Royce, Siemens, Teledyne around us and to challenging and engineering really look a toolkit that supporters can efforts to boost the numbers and attract top emerging talent e2v, and WSP. If your company narrow public stereotypes of like among the wider public, use. Please contact Poppy- and diversity of those entering into the industry.” would like to participate, please engineering. particularly among the parents Jayne Morgan at poppy-jayne. engineering careers – attendees contact Rachel Earnshaw at and teachers who influence [email protected] for a said that they are now more The final two events will take [email protected] Last year, This is Engineering the subject and career choices copy.
10 11 New This is different backgrounds, UCAS events and providing Enhancing engineering education Engineering films showcase pathways into case studies and educational in South Wales engineering and celebrate the resources to schools. In September, This is variety in engineering. Now in its third year, the Welsh Valleys Engineering launched a new The films can be shared on Engineering project is having a measurable season of films telling stories of To date, the campaign’s films social media to widen their impact on students in schools and colleges the engineering and engineers have been viewed over 45 reach to broader audiences, located in Merthyr Tydfil and Blaenau Gwent. behind innovation in farming, million times by students and and they are also free to music technology, flood defence, parents through social media use at any virtual events. Developed by the Academy with support and fashion retail. and on TV. The engineers The films can be viewed at from The Panasonic Trust, the project applies WVEP student ambassadors teach the next generation of engineers continue their work as www.thisisengineering.org. a partnership approach between schools, The films feature real, young, ambassadors for the Academy, uk or www.youtube.com/ colleges, government, and industry to promote have been more than 10,000 STEM experiences inspirational engineers from speaking to students at virtual ThisisEngineering engineering excellence in education and the for students since the project was launched. workplace. It provides funding to enhance engineering in STEM and engage young learners Despite COVID-19 and the closure of schools, with hands-on engineering-related learning 30 students enrolled on STEM focused A level Create the trophy competition opportunities in eight secondary schools, two and vocational qualifications at college and are colleges and five primary schools. receiving bursaries to support their education and On 21 September, the Queen Elizabeth Prize career aspirations. So far 70 bursaries have been for Engineering will open its Create the trophy Schools have enriched their curriculum, awarded to students. competition to young people around the world stimulated the interest in the next generation aged between 14 and 24. of future engineers and enthused learners To learn more about the project, please visit irrespective of gender or social status. So far, there stemresources.raeng.org.uk/programmes/wvep/ The refreshed QEPrize3D app will help budding designers create a range of imaginative trophies that reflect the wonder and creativity of engineering. The app provides a catalogue of Tackling the widening summer to tackle potential 2020 Visiting different shapes and materials for designers to participation gap inequalities in STEM education. Professors awards choose from. A previous winning design The Academy’s Connecting This is part of the Connecting The Academy has appointed This year, to help accommodate different learning STEM Teachers programme STEM Teachers programme’s 31 new Visiting Professors styles, users also have the option to upload photo The competition closes at noon on Monday 21 has collaborated with Teach actions to close the skills (VP) awards across a variety and text explanations alongside their designs. December and the winner will be announced on First to deliver a bespoke social gap and create an inclusive of specialties and universities, Entrants can choose to make a sketch or model 2 February, along with the winners of the 2021 mobility training package for workforce that attracts and with a recordbreaking 38% of their trophy and photograph it or take a QEPrize. For more information, visit teacher coordinators to close retains professionals from women. This year’s round photograph of something that inspired their design. www.qeprize.org/trophy the widening attainment gap diverse backgrounds reflective received 95 applications. exacerbated by COVID-19. of the society it seeks to serve. The VP scheme is an industry- The training includes best Connecting STEM Teachers is into-academia initiative that practice strategies to enable the Academy’s flagship schools aims to use the VPs’ industry teacher coordinators to recruit programme. It has created experience to enhance Education and skills hard-to-reach schools into a national network of STEM teaching and learning at their existing networks and teachers, ensuring they have universities. It also aims to maintain the relationship the knowledge and confidence improve the employability in the long term. It will also to engage a greater number and skills of UK engineering provide them with specific and wider spectrum of school students, while strengthening Sainsbury Management Fellowships a business education by completing an MBA teaching pedagogies to inspire students to apply engineering in industry partnerships. at a world-class business school. Awardees can disengaged students with STEM the context of their subject. In July, the 2020 Sainsbury Management complete their MBA at one of 14 business schools subjects and provide guidance Experienced industrial Fellowships (SMF) were awarded. in the UK, Europe or the US with the intention of on reaching out to underserved Teach First trains and places engineers and entrepreneurs leading UK engineering and business in the future. and underrepresented students. graduate teachers in areas participate in activities such This year 11 SMFs were awarded rather than of low social mobility where as curriculum development, the usual 10 because of the large number of SMFs also support several other Academy While teachers have adapted the economic status is face-to-face teaching, and exceptional candidates who applied and were programmes including Engineering Leaders to remote lessons and online disproportionate to more affluent developing innovative interviewed. Scholarships by acting as interviewers, trainers learning for the majority of parts of the UK. Its teachers take approaches to teaching and and mentors. The programme draws on a children since March, the posts in schools where more learning at the host university SMFs are aimed at early-career engineers who network of over 350 SMFs who have taken part in Academy has also remodelled than half of pupils come from the for at least 12 days a year for want to complement their engineering skills with the programme over the last 30 years. the programme during the poorest 30% of families. three years.
12 13 Lord Bhattacharyya Engineering available to support students who are from Impact of legacy gifts Education Programme underrepresented backgrounds. Legacy gifts from Fellows and friends have In September, the Academy awarded five higher The Academy is also in the process of awarding provided vital investment for education and public education bursaries worth £15,000 each to up to £2,500 to each of the programme schools engagement programmes as well as projects to promising students who wish to continue their and colleges to enable them to build a library of redevelop space across the Academy. engineering studies at university level through experiences and equipment for their students. the Lord Bhattacharyya Engineering Education The Lord Bhattacharyya Engineering Education Legacy bequests play an important part in helping Programme. Programme is a £2.5 million, five-year programme a new generation of engineers build a better and funded by the Department for Business, Energy, more sustainable future for the UK. The Academy The Academy will shortly launch post-16 technical and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and led by the is incredibly grateful to all Fellows and friends who education bursaries to students from network Academy, in close partnership with WMG (formerly have chosen to give their support in this way. schools. These are open to those continuing the Warwick Manufacturing Group). their full-time Level 3 (BTEC or OCR) studies in A recent legacy from Herbert Clements CBE Herbert Clements CBE FREng engineering at one of the programme’s further It has recruited 20 secondary schools and four FREng, who died in June 2016, provides an education colleges or WMG academies. Up to further education colleges into the West Midlands example of the impact legacy gifts can have on students to study and progress in STEM subjects. 80 of these bursaries, each worth £2,000, are programme. the Academy’s work. Herbert Clements, a highly successful engineering entrepreneur, founded SSS Herbert Clements’ children, Caroline Egleston and (Synchro Self Shifting) Gears Limited in the 1950s. Nicholas Clements, said: “Our father very much He is particularly distinguished for developing appreciated his association with the Academy and HEP SSA meeting members. The online nature of HEP SSA aims to strengthen the SSS Clutch, widely used in marine propulsion felt honoured to be a Fellow. He was particularly the meeting meant that project relationships between academia and power generation. In 2019, the Academy keen that young people should be encouraged to On 23 July, the Academy held colleagues and partners, both and industry to ensure that the received a legacy gift from Mr Clements’ estate, study what he described as ’The Art of Engineering’, an online meeting via Zoom for in country and in the UK, were higher education system in which has provided much needed additional a creative career that can lead towards the awardees from the most recent able to join. The format enabled sub-Saharan Africa produces support for the Academy’s Connecting STEM improvement of so many people’s lives.” two cohorts of the Higher awardees to introduce their engineers with the skills and Teachers programme. The legacy has enabled Education Partnerships in sub- respective projects and have knowledge required to meet the programme to expand into areas of low For a confidential discussion about legacy giving, Saharan Africa programme in-depth discussions on relevant the needs of industry, tackle social mobility, supporting delivery of the STEM please contact Shalini Kunhamboo, on 020 7766 (HEP SSA). topical themes, for example local challenges, address the curriculum and encouraging greater numbers of 0689 or [email protected] how to adapt projects in light engineering skills shortage, and The meeting was chaired by of COVID-19 and how to make showcase engineering’s role in Dr Keith Carter, one of the projects sustainable beyond the driving economic development programme’s steering group two-year Academy grant. in the region. News of Fellows Anne Glover CBE has been Professor Karen Scrivener has appointed to the government’s been appointed to the Advisory Sir Peter Bonfield CBE has Fintech Strategic Review Board of Purebase Corp been appointed to the Board of Imagination Technologies Professor Sir Jim McDonald has Professor Dimitra Simeonidou been nominated as Honorary has been appointed to the Academy roundup Ursula Burns has been Professor at Peking University Government’s Telecoms appointed a Director at Waystar and elected as a Foreign Fellow Diversification Task Force of the Chinese Society for Sir Frank Chapman has been Electrical Engineering Dr Scott Steedman CBE appointed director of Zap has been appointed to the New Academy branding and colour palette are more excellence and prestige Energy Inc Professor Hamid Mughal OBE government’s Telecoms dynamic, modern and reflective ■ works flexibly across a DL has been appointed as Diversification Task Force On 1 September, following of the increasingly digital world range of channels and Dr Mike Cook has been awarded Special Advisor to the University a rebrand, the Academy that we live in, while remaining materials, both online and the Institution of Structural of Strathclyde Patrick Thomas has been launched a refreshed logo and true to the core principles of offline Engineers Gold Medal 2020 appointed a member of the visual identity. engineering by suggesting ■ meets high standards of Professor Hans Muller- Supervisory Board of Covestro AG design, creativity and precision. accessibility. Professor Constantin Coussios Steinhagen has been appointed The Academy commissioned has been appointed a Non- as both the Chairman of the David Thomlinson has been the rebrand to bring the visual The new identity brings to life our If you would like to know more executive Director at ConvaTec TU Dresden Stock Company appointed Chair of the Board of identity in line with its 2020-2025 new strategy and values, and: about the new brand, you can plc and President of Dresden Trustees for UK Youth strategy and messaging. The ■ positions the Academy watch a short message from International University aim was to retain the concept as forward looking Director of Communications Professor Anthony Finkelstein Professor Chai K Toh was cited of the flint or prehistoric hand and relevant to its key and Engagement, Jo Trigg, in CBE has been appointed Dr Andrew Palmer CMG has in Spanish newspaper Las axe, humanity’s first tool; the audiences, without diluting the Fellows’ area of the website President of City, University of been appointed Chairman of Provincias as the “Father of new three-dimensional logo our strong association with at www.bit.ly/32PzEZ7 London Optare plc Mobile Ad Hoc Networks”
14 15 Published by the Royal Academy of Engineering @RAEngNews Prince Philip House 3 Carlton House Terrace Royal Academy of Engineering London, SW1Y 5DG Registered charity number 293074 Royal Academy of Engineering
Media roundup Forthcoming events
From 1 July to 17 September, 734 items of news coverage This is a selection of online mentioned the Academy, its Fellows and awardees. Academy events. For a complete list, visit In the Sunday Times in July, Lewis Hamilton HonFREng announced www.raeng.org.uk/events his intention to work with the Academy on a commission to promote diversity in motorsport and engineering, which was widely reported 29 October 2020 in national and sports media. New Fellows’ briefing 2.00pm to 5.00pm JCB’s electric digger winning the MacRobert Award was reported in the Telegraph, the Daily Mail, the Daily Star, the i, the Evening 17 November 2020 Standard, and on BBC online and regional BBC TV news as well as Research Forum widely covered in trade publications. 11.00am to 12.30pm
The President spoke about the Special Awards for Pandemic 18 November Service on LBC News in August and Professor Raffaella Ocone LGBT STEM Day panel OBE FREng FRSE, Chair of the Awards Committee, described the discussion winners’ achievements on BBC Radio 4’s Inside Science. Two award 6.30pm to 8.00pm (TBC) winners were interviewed on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme about the contribution of engineers to fighting the pandemic. 1 December 2020 Engineering review of the year Professor Roger Kemp MBE FREng was quoted in the Guardian on 5.00pm to 6.30pm the resilience of infrastructure to support housing. 2 December 2020 Research fellow Dr Lidia Galdino’s work at UCL on ultrafast internet D&I Progression Framework speeds was widely reported, including the Daily Express, and the webinar Evening Standard. 1.30pm to 2.45 pm
The CEO took part in a New Scientist debate with former President Lord Broers FREng FRS about the future of engineering in a post- pandemic world, which was later reported in the magazine. Edited by Portia Sale, Publications Officer. Charlette N’Guessan became the first woman to win the Africa Contact: Prize, with extensive media coverage including CNN and BBC [email protected] News. To submit News of Fellows or The Academy’s medals and awards announcement was covered in obituaries, please contact The Engineer and many other trade publications. [email protected]
Obituaries Professor Samuel Eilon FREng died on 31 July 2020, aged 95. died on 17 June 2020, aged He was formerly Chairman, Acer Professor Kenneth Rawson 97. He was formerly Emeritus Group Ltd. FREng died on 29 February Professor, Department of 2020, aged 94. He was Mechanical Engineering at Mr Peter Houldcroft FREng formerly Dean of Education Imperial College London. died on 3 August 2020, aged and Design at Brunel 97. He was formerly Director of University. Mr Gwilym Roberts CBE FREng Research, The Welding Institute.
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