In This Issue... 8

ISSUE SEVEN AUTUMN 2007 In this issue... 8

ASSOCIATION NEWS & REVIEWS COLLEGE & FACULTY NEWS 3 Presidents report 4 Royal visit 4 RSMA sign up 4 New principal 4 Centenary pull 6 Faculty developments 5 Two new men at the top 8–9 Reunion in pictures 5 Engineers honoured by their peers 11 Multi-million projects 5 Subscriptions increase 7 Money raised for rebuilding STUDENT NEWS 7 Diary dates 7 Mongolian challenge 7 OC Trust receives legacy 10 Update on CGCU and RSMCU 22–23 Readers’ forum 24–27 Alumni news and views FEATURES 26 Obituaries 12–13 Spoonful of sugar 14–15 Artisanal mining 16–17 Climate sceptic 18 Keep hold of the dream 19 California water crisis 20 Fuel cells in South Africa 21 Climate change challenge

COVER PICTURE: One of the pictures used on departmental banners on display during the Centenary reunion weekend. This shows the application of laser diagnostics to a lean burn combustion device in work sponsored by Rolls- 4 24 14 Royce. See pages 8 and 9 for reunion pictures. Imperial ENGINEER

EDITORIAL BOARD CORRESPONDENCE and ENQUIRIES Bill McAuley (Managing Editor) Teresa Sergot Leah Glass Faculty of Engineering Paul Holmes Level 2, Faculty Building Chris Lumb Imperial College, London SW7 2AZ Colleen Shilstone Richardson Tel: +44 (0) 20 7594 1184 Teresa Sergot Fax: +44 (0) 20 7594 1185 Rosie Tipples Email: [email protected] Chapter website: PRODUCTION EDITOR www.imperial.ac.uk/engineering/ Lynn Penfold about/alumni/ PRINTING Alpine Press, Kings Langley

COPY DEADLINE FOR THE NEXT ISSUE IS MONDAY FEBRUARY 11 The editorial board of Imperial Engineer reserves the right to edit copy for style and length. Views expressed in this magazine are not necessarily those of the editorial board.

2 ww Autumn 2007 AS I write this, a quarter of my term as president of the CGCA has already sped past. Given the transient nature of the presidency (relative to the tenure of those dedicated officers who run the show on a day-to-day basis) it is helpful if there is continuity of opinion between successive presidents on the key issues that face us. I am in complete agreement with my predecessor, John Banyard, on the overriding challenge of ensuring that the organisation is seen to be relevant and useful by its younger members. With this in mind, the speaker at the president’s evening was an engineer who has successfully made the transition to head a leading business consultancy. He spoke of the great opportunities presented by today’s global economy for those engineers with the breadth of knowledge and experience to rise to the top of the corporate tree. Imperial is striving to produce these polymaths and CGCA must strive to satisfy their needs as alumni via a Peter dynamic and responsive association, treading carefully between its history and traditions and the imperative of constant change to meet current and future needs. We are fortunate in having a new, strong and dynamic CGCU team. Tristan Sherliker, the Garratt Union president, has already come up with some excellent ideas as to how we can define and navigate this path. A further enormous asset is the unique insight brought by Dame Julia Higgins, our senior vice president, based on her experience as Engineering Faculty principal. One of the issues the Association faces is the dearth of younger members actively involved as officers. As with many similar organisations, day-to-day management is shouldered by a very committed few so it is essential not only to spread the load but groom successors for key executive roles. (See plea on page five). To meet these requirements, we need to order our affairs in such a way that the role of a CGCA officer is fulfilling and enjoyable. In my experience, the burden of bureaucracy can be eased greatly by humour, camaraderie and intellectual challenge. CGCA can and should have something to say on the key issues of the day, especially those global challenges that can be met only with the help of technical insight and innovation. In this context, the renewable energy theme of this issue of Imperial Engineer could not be more relevant, and I am pleased to have had the opportunity to complement the traditional president’s report with a feature article which I hope you will find interesting. Presidents report RSM HAS changed significantly over recent years, but it remains very much alive, thanks principally to the evergreen vibrant student body, whose energy and commitment uphold the values and traditions that have made RSM a fundamental part of Imperial College’s history and today’s fabric. RSM may no longer be the bricks and mortar institution it once was, yet it now stands as a key partner in the Faculty of Engineering. No doubt there are some RSM alumni who sit and wonder what the RSM constitutes and what the RSMA actually does. Let me reassure you that it still produces graduate associates of the RSM, in Geology, Geophysics, Geoscienc- es, Petroleum Engineering, Petroleum Geosciences, Material Sciences and Engineering, as well as providing PhD opportunities. In addition, the RSMA is firmly recognised by Imperial College, and the committee is supporting many of the Centenary events that are taking place Kurt this year, including attendance during Her Majesty the Queen’s recent visit to College, the Rector’s Guildhall lecture and participating in the forum ‘Global sustainability: the future for Budge engineering education’. As I take over stewardship of the RSMA from Roger Clegg, I follow a succession of presidents who have cemented the RSM and RSMA in Imperial College’s future. The challenge rests with me and the RSMA Committee to grow the RSM’s influence and relevance for all its stakeholders – industry, students, faculty, alumni and Imperial College. Given the smaller numbers of graduates from the RSM, the question of the Association’s sustainability needs to be tackled. The RSMA committee will, over the coming months, be contacting alumni to seek their views on what the RSMA needs to do to meet their needs. We will also be engaging with recent graduates and students in their final year to encourage them to become members, if not already, and to contribute in whatever way they can to the RSMA’s work. In this new academic year, the RSMA committee will be working very hard to build for a stronger and more effective RSMA. In our endeavours, we need RSM alumni to support and engage with us, starting with keeping your subscriptions up-to-date, and actively communicating with us on your thoughts and ideas. Finally, wherever you are in the world, please remember, in the immortal words of The Mines Song, we are all ‘Mighty works of God’ as Royal Mining students, past and present, so from where I stand the future for the RSM and RSMA is bright!

READ ABOUT THE NEW PRESIDENTS ON PAGE FIVE

IMPERIAL ENGINEER Autumn 2007 3 NEWS

DURING The Queen and IN BRIEF Duke of Edinburgh’s visit Queen at celebrations to celebrate the Cente- Lottery winner nary of Imperial College, AS PART of the Big Lottery Her Majesty opened the Fund’s latest payout to its College’s new Institute of Changing Places programme, Biomedical Engineering. Imperial has been awarded They then took part in £11.7 million to implement an honorary graduation the Open Air Laboratories ceremony that celebrated network. This was designed both its Centenary and to inspire and support Imperial’s new independ- countrywide communities ence from the University to study, enjoy and protect of London. their environments. LEFT: Computing’s Professor Guang-Zhong RSMA recruits Yang demonstrates the lat- RSMA’S AGM and dinner for est in computer-controlled final year students in June was micro surgery. once again an enjoyable affair. Thanks to alumni generosity, the students were enter- New principal – new opportunities tained for free, reports RSMA president Kurt Budge. They ‘I’VE BEEN an acquaintance of the Research Councils and is ‘I hope that several mem- are pleased to report that Dame Julia Higgins for some chair of the European Strategy bers of staff at Imperial will be- every undergraduate joined time and I am aware of the ex- Forum on Research Infrastruc- come involved in the develop- the RSMA. cellent initiatives put in place tures (ESFRI). ment of the laser as part of the during her time here. I hope I can Professor Wood is also UK contribution and use of this build on her legacy’, said Profes- chair of the international ground-breaking machine.’ sor John Wood, as he took up steering group building a free Professor Wood has been his role as the new principal of electron laser. Its 3.4 km-long involved in initiatives includ- the Engineering Faculty. particle accelerator will enable ing the Foresight Programme He was previously chief scientists to produce super-bril- which provided a vision for UK executive of the Council for liant, ultra-short flashes of X- industry and government. He the Central Laboratories of ray light. hopes his extensive experience, embracing the Far East, will help to foster more strategic part- nerships for the College. Declining numbers of UK DAVID Hattersley, above, students studying engineering past president of CGCA are a cause for concern, con- (2000-1) was made an MBE firms Professor Wood. ‘We this summer for services to need future engineers to take the construction industry a sustainable approach and it and charity. He is involved would be great to encourage with many organisations, more women into the profes- from international engi- sion. I praise the work already neering to the arts, and is undertaken by the College’. constantly busy, despite intending to ‘slow down’. Dame Julia Higgins with her successor John Wood. Top rank IMPERIAL College is the third Charles looks for Silver Lining best university in Britain, after Online reading Oxford and Cambridge, in CHARLES HUTSON (Geology way. Beneficiary of his walk is the UK University Guide 2007. 82) is not able to return to The Silver Lining charity which Once again, high levels the work he loved – running is raising money to send a Imperial ranks in the top 10 of contributions mean for all of its subjects, is also in a financial investment boutique group of brain injured people the top five for 12 out of 14 of – and is devoting much of his and carers to Uganda to build that some articles have the subject groups and second time to raising money for oth- a school for an orphanage. had to be abbreviated. for two subject – chemical ers who are disadvantaged. Recently, Charles has been For more info go to and civil engineering. Charles was seriously injured selling some of his mining paint- in 2003 when he was thrown ings and is making jewellery. www.imperial.ac.uk/en- off the bonnet of a speeding car More funds are needed for Marathon man gineering/about/alumni/ RSMA president Kurt Budge when trying to stop a robbery. the Uganda project and dona- completed this year’s London In early October, he set tions to The Silver Lining can imperial engineer to Marathon in 4hr29mins out to walk Hadrian’s Wall sup- be sent to Teresa Sergot (see read them in full. – with no training. ported by carers from Head- address page two).

4 IMPERIAL ENGINEER Autumn 2007 NEWS & REVIEWS Two new men heading associations CGCA president for the current of the British practice of Knight of the Caribbean Council. with Schroder Ventures before year is Peter Garratt (Civils 68) Piesold. He was chairman of He has worked on renew- joining RJB. There, he first man- who has over 35 years’ experi- what is now British Expertise able energy projects from hy- aged three coal mines. ence in international infrastruc- and was awarded an OBE for dropower to biomass. Directorships followed ture project development. In re- services to exports. Actively Peter’s opposite number at which involved building part- cent years the implementation involved in promoting trade RSMA, Kurt Budge (Mining 92), nerships with local communi- of such projects has been under and cultural links between the is in his role for two years. ties, politicians and action groups private sector financing. UK and Latin America for many Son of the man who set up and developing corporate social Peter is a director of the years, Peter is chairman of Can- RJB Mining, Kurt works for Rio responsibility and sustainable international consultancy Scott ning House, ‘the home of Latin Tinto in business analysis and development strategies. Wilson, having been chairman America in London’ and director corporate strategy. He was Kurt gained an MBA in 2004.

CGCA needs help in key roles THE CGCA committee has a few vacancies because a certain amount of dedicated input is Top engineers needed to make the prestige events it runs go smoothly. for innovation in engineering, Key activities where help is honoured by peers is awarded annually for the urgently needed are: THE FIRST presentation of three mazou (Biomedical Engineer- demonstration of engineering ● maintaining membership Teaching Excellence in Engineering ing) received prestigious Silver excellence and innovation with records; Education awards was made this Medals. The medal was estab- proven commercial outcomes ● summer by the Engineering Facul- lished in 1994 ‘to recognise an and benefits to the community. helping with recruitment ty’s EnVision 2010 scheme. outstanding and demonstrated Worth £50,000, it was received policy (and putting this into John Cosgrove of Earth Sci- personal contribution to Brit- by Costas Pantelides and team effect), ences, Tony Field of Comput- ish engineering, which has led of Sandro Macchietto, Mark ● fully or partially organising ing and Civil Engineering’s Con- to market exploitation, by an Matzopoulis, Stratos Pistikop- prestige receptions or the structionarium team of Alison engineer working in the UK’. oulas and Nilay Shah. annual dinner. Ahearne, Sunday Popo-Ola gPROMS is used by the The rewards will be those and Rebecca Naessens each chemical process industry and of working with fellow alumni received £10,000. The awards PSE success was developed in the Centre for and of seeing the long-standing were given in recognition of Process Systems Enterprise (PSE), Process Systems Engineering. It traditions of CGCA and the individuals or teams who are one of Imperial’s first successful maximises product quality, mini- City & Guilds College main- renowned for their teaching ex- spin-out companies, received the mises production cost and con- tained, says hon sec Chris Lumb. cellence and who have enhanced coveted MacRobert Award. It was trols environmental impact. Volunteers will become ex-of- the quality of engineering stu- presented by the RAEng’s senior The software can accu- ficio committee members. dents’ learning. fellow Prince Philip for gPROMS, rately predict temperatures and If you feel you could de- At the Royal Academy of PSE’s cutting-edge mathematical product compositions inside rive satisfaction from being Engineering’s awards’ dinner, modelling system a complex chemical reactor, involved and at the same time professors Nigel Brandon The MacRobert Award, the helping to improve produc- give something back to fellow (Earth Sciences) and Chris Tou- UK’s most prestigious prize tion and product quality and alumni and today’s student body, providing advance warning of please contact the office (details dangerous ‘hot spots’. on page two).

...is the new annual cost of CGCA and RSMA membership. After many years unchanged, the annual fee for membership to CGCA and Crick RSMA has risen from £10 to £15. Un- Mike less you are a life member, please ask your bank to increase your standing

Picture: order TODAY! TOP: from left, Tony Field, John Cosgrove and Rebecca £15 Money is not collected by direct debit so for us to receive the correct Naessens, Sunday Popo-Ola and Alison Ahearne. amount, YOU need to take action. Thank you. ABOVE: The Duke of Edinburgh with the PSE team.

IMPERIAL ENGINEER Autumn 2007 5 NEWS & REVIEWS

Developments around the Engineering Faculty Engineering’s A NEW fingerprinting technique with potential to Team finds foolproof leading role detect diet, race and sex of a LEADERS of industry, suspected criminal has been way to keep fingerprints devised by a team led by academia and goverment no easy way of lifting residues could allow forensic scien- professor of Chemical Engi- gathered in September for chemical imaging. tists to observe how finger- neering, Sergei Kazarian. at Imperial for the ‘Global Now Professor Ka- prints change. Conventional fingerprint- Sustainability: the future for zarian’s team has found that ‘By focusing on what is ing techniques often distort engineering education’ forum. commercial gelatine-based left in a fingerprint, scientists or destroy vital chemical in- It outlined Imperial’s tape provides a simple could potentially gauge how formation in all fingerprints. visions for future engineer- method for keeping fin- old a crime scene is. Study- Until now there has been ing undergraduates including gerprints intact along with ing what happens to prints equipping them to take a their chemical residue. Once when they are exposed to leading role in identifying is- lifted they are analysed in a high temperatures could also sues and designing solutions Sustainable MSc spectroscopic microscope. be particularly significant, to local, national and global A NEW MSc programme in The sample is irradiated with especially in arson cases challenges affecting society Sustainable Energy Futures infrared to identify individual where lifting prints has been and the world around us, began with the new academic molecules and give a detailed notoriously hard’, he said. without compromising their year. It is combining academic chemical composition. technical education. and industrial experience Professor Kazarian The source of some across Imperial’s faculties. believes that this technique of these articles and Who’s for some of the words Chateau Nessie? Hot and cold cycles found come from Reporter, newspaper of Imperial BY 2080, the south of England ANALYSES of glacial become fully-frozen for a College. might be too hot for win- sedimentary rocks in long time, climatic cycles emaking, according to Earth Oman have produced clear could not exist. Science & Engineering’s (ESE) evidence of hot-cold cycles In fact, once the world Professor Dick Selley. in the Cryogenian period, was fully frozen, it would be Water call Scotland could be an roughly 850-544 million difficult to create the right BETTER co-ordination be- ideal country for wine-making years ago, dealing a blow to conditions to cause a thaw, tween the bodies responsible but riesling could grow quite the idea of ‘Snowball Earth’. since much of the incom- for surface water drainage in comfortably on Snowdonia’s Philip Allen (ESE) coming solar radiation would be the UK has been called for by slopes. The likes of Loch Ness ments: ‘If the Earth had reflected back. David Balmforth, visiting lec- would be ideal for vines – the turer in Civil Engineering north-west slopes of the loch It followed the leak of an have the same geology as LIFE ON MARS? Environment Agency docu- South Africa’s Cape Province. ment which says that flood MICRO-MACHINE technology supplied by Imperial is defence spending was cut this being used in NASA’s current Mars Phoenix mission to year and that there will be no Fast green search for potential biologically habitable zones. increases for four more years, Dr Tom Pike and his team from Electrical and Electron - David, who advises lo- clean machine ic Engineering have provided substrates-surfaces to hold cal authorities and central THE 10th Formula Student dust and soil samples for imaging by an optical microscope government on flooding, says: competition held at Silver- and an atomic force microscope. They will provide the ‘We must learn to live with stone, home of the British highest resolution of imaging ever taken on another planet. the weather and look for Grand Prix, featured three The team at Imperial conducted trials on a replica of Phoe- low-impact surface water racing cars powered by alter- nix’s microscope station to work out the best way of studying solutions’. This means bet- native fuels, including one from the Martian soil. They also visited Mission Control and spent ter planning to use existing Imperial, alongside around 100 a week going through a simulation of the mission. infrastructure before building petrol-powered vehicles. During the analysis phase Dr Pike and his team will be bigger and more expensive Imperial’s Racing Green based at Mission Control. sewers and pipes. team has built a car which runs on a combination of hydrogen fuel cell and a battery and which can go Flooding’s nothing new to Britain from 0-60 mph in 4 seconds. CATASTROPHIC flooding ence and Engineering’s reader The torrent probably That’s ‘ferociously quick’, which separated the British in sedimentology says: ‘It has came from a giant lake in what team member Ralph Clague Isles from Europe some time revealed deep scars on the is now the North Sea after comments. before 200,000 years agow, Channel bed that must have something, perhaps an earth- ‘Electric motors have has been identified by a sonar been cut by a sudden, massive quake, caused the lake’s rim to much better torque charac- study of the English Channel discharge of water’. breach at the Dover Straits. teristics: you can get off the by Imperial researchers. line much quicker.’ Sanjeev Gupta, Earth Sci- For details of two multi-million projects, see page11

6 IMPERIAL ENGINEER Autumn 2007 NEWS & REVIEWS Eco-friendly duo reaches Mongolia DIARY ROBIN NORTH has returned recently from a 10,000 mile DATES adventure driving to Mongo- lia across 17 countries. His Friday November 23 companion was Bojan Slavu- RSMA Annual Dinner, jevic, founder and director Polish Club Ognisko, 55 of a mobile location start-up. Exhibition Road, 7 for 7.30 Their transport was an old Booking form on reverse Suzuki SJ410 with a tiny 970cc of address carrier. engine. With an SU carburettor and Tuesday November 27 electric fuel pump conversion CGCA Dinner with the and adapted bodywork to im- President and General prove aerodynamics, the trip was Committee. Speaker Chris as eco-friendly as possible. Head on ‘Hydropower in For every 1,000 litres of petrol a Changing World’,170 used, the vehicle generated 1,000 Queen’s Gate, 7pm litres of water, some of which was During the day a tasty way they delivered supplies to Saturday December 1 collected and purified and some stew could be cooked in a Romania for the charity Hope Walks with a Past used in a solar cooker. Water was highly-insultated box while and Homes. At the end, the car President, Camden Town & heated by the sun and the engine, waste heat from the engine with its easy-to-maintain tech- St Pancras. Meet Camden reports Robin (right), who is a re- also fueled a hot-plate. nology, was donated to Mercy Town tube station, 10.30 search engineer focusing on trans- Apart from the research Corps Mongolia which helps New members and guests port and air quality in Imperial’s aspect, the team took part in rural communities remain inde- are welcome. If you are Centre for Transport Studies. the Mongol Rally 2007. On the pendent and self-sufficient. interested, look at cgca.org. uk to register interest or email David Hattersley at OC Trust [email protected] , grateful for tel: 020 8504 8263 Wednesday latest December 12 CGCA Christmas bequest Lunchtime Seminar, 170 THE OLD Centralians’ Trust Queen’s Gate, 12 for has received a legacy of £5,000 12.30pm (plus interest) from the estate 2008 of Donald Cameron Miller Tuesday March 11 (Mech Eng 1943-45 & 47-48), CGCA Annual Dinner, who died in 2006. Ironmongers’ Hall, 6.45 A key part of Donald’s to 10.45pm Booking form career was with Bristol Sid- inserted in magazine deley Engines (later a division of Rolls-Royce Aero Engines), Wednesday May 28 when he joined the team work- CGCA AGM & Break in John’s challenge ing on the aerodynamic design President’s Evening AFTER a considerable hiccup ‘I love a challenge and of compressors for engines in Read LT and 170 Queen’s in his plans, last year’s Imperial have always wanted to do a Concorde and the Harrier. Gate Union president (and CGCU long distance cycle ride’, com- He became very involved in Thursday June 26 2004-5) John Collins, comments John. ‘I wasn’t aiming to the development of high-pres- RSMA AGM /Final Year pleted a 1,000 mile cycle ride try and beat any records but sure compressors for over 20 Dinner. Venue: tbc from John O’Groats to Land’s I reached Land’s End in just years. This work was the basis over12 days. of technology incorporated in End. For more Earlier it looked as though He chose to face Scotland modern aero engines, particu- the event was off when he first as girlfriend Nichola was larly the V2500 and BR700 se- information and broke his right wrist just six able to provide a backup ve- ries. He was widely respected booking for any of these miles into his first attempt. hicle in the first week. After for his knowledge of a complex events, But by early September, with that he was on his own facing subject. a permanent plate in place, up and downs in Devon and ‘Donald’s generous gift will contact he was battling downpours Cornwall’s. be applied to the Trust’s Gen- Teresa Sergot in Scotland to raise around John had excellent support eral Fund and will be used to [email protected] £3,000 for major building work from the CGCA and the union. support a wide range of stu- or phone in the Student Union building To add to his sponsorship go to dent awards’, says Trust chair- and facilities www.john.collins.org.uk man Chris Lumb.

IMPERIAL ENGINEER Autumn 2007 7 EACH department within the present-day Faculty of Engineering chose a slightly dif- ferent combination of events for the open day on Friday September 14. It launched the alumni reunion weekend. At some point each featured a drinks’ reception! 3 4 Aeronautics started its reunion with a series of talks followed by a champagne re- 1 ception. On hand was their friendly chef in his whites making sure the food was up to scratch. During the tour of the department which followed, alumni watched the work- ings of the Honda wind tunnel and envied Dr Varnavas Serghides as he demonstrated the flight simulator. At what appeared to be the largest gathering, over 300 alumni and their spous- 2 5 es joined Chemical Engineering’s celebrations. There was a buffet lunch and dinner and departmental tour programme. The department’s Centenary Symposium was attended by 150 delegates in which some of the eminent staff and alumni spoke Engineering’s reunion of a lifetime of past experiences and future trends in chemical engineering. a picture roundup of events which kicked-off Imperial’s Centenary alumni weekend Civil Engineering’s open house in the labs and its Constructionarium allowed past students to see how things have changed over the years. It was followed by a reception where those who had not met since graduation got to know each other again. Many of them went on to dinner at the Polish Club. Professor Peter Cheung completed Electrical and Electronic Engineering’s 14 open day with a tour of the department. Prior to that there was a drinks and cana- pes party. A number then repaired to a Moroccan restaurant. 15 High point of Mechanical Engineering’s reunion was a nostalgic look at the department called ‘From Boanerges to Oblivion’, delivered by 94-year old emeritus professor 16 Sir Hugh Ford. It was proceeded by tea and tours of the lab and followed by drinks and a buffet in the department’s foyer. The two departments of the Royal 17 School of Mines combined for their reunion. After drinks and a buffet, alumni en- joyed a round-up of over 150 years of RSM’s history by professors Martin Blunt and Alan Atkinson. Many then transferred to the Union bar to watch the rugby and continue the reunion into the early hours.

Between talks and tours, Mechanical Engineering (above) and Chemical Engineering lined up for another shot for the album 20

8 IMPERIAL ENGINEER Autumn 2007 8

7 10

9 6 Engineering’s reunion of a lifetime a picture roundup of events which kicked-off Imperial’s Centenary alumni weekend

11 12 13 In the pictures... COMPUTING: 1 Senior research fellow Jim Cunningham with Naseer Ahmad (MSc 75). 2 Prof Guang-Zhong Yang speaks about Computing’s latest use of robotics in micro-surgery. 3 Andreas Fid- jeland introduced John Chittock (Computing 80) to robot Ludwig. 4 Head of Computing Jeff Magee (left) gets re-acquainted. ROYAL SCHOOL OF MINES: 5 Head of Earth Sciences and Engineering Professor Martin Blunt starts a talk about RSM, its past and future. He was joined by new dean Professor Alan Atkinson. 6 From left, Prof Jim Williamson (Materials), Oscar Dam from Venezuela (MSc, Extractive Metallurgy, 21 circa 1980), David Bishop from Rio Tinto, emeritus professor John Monhemius and Tomas Vargas from Chile (PhD Metallurgy 84). 7 Rachel Argent (née Evans, 95) catches up. CIVIL ENGINEERING: 8 Left, RF Gopel (57) with David Baxter (56) catch up with some memorabilia. 9 Juan Sagaseta shows Andrew Coats (73 & 77) how the results of testing a high-strength concrete beam to destruction are logged. 10 Tony Waterfield (left, 52), former British High Commissioner to Guyana Philip Allsop (54), and Mike Knill (53). MECHANICAL ENGINEERING: 11 Sir Hugh Ford reminisced in his speech ‘From Boanerges to Oblivi- on’. 12 September 14 gave an opportunity to catch up and introduce wives to old friends. 13 Dr Paul Isherwood (centre) and colleagues. AERONAUTICS: A keen audience watches Dr Serghides operate the flight simulator. 15 Reunited 22 after 50 years, from left, David Hyde, Geoff Edwards and Raymond Morgan. 16 From left, Dr Lucio Raimondo (research associate), Khadijeh Mohri (PhD student), Dr Abdel Fiala (alumnus) and Katie Blackmar (PhD student). 17 Air Vice Marshall Sir Colin Terry (right) enjoys a joke with Robin Johnson and Graham Perry. CHEMICAL ENGINEERING: 18 John Dyson (class of 1938) receives an award from Professor Stephen Richardson, head of Chemical Engineering, for being the oldest alumnus at its reunion. 19 Two alumni tour the undergraduate pilot plant area. 20 Sisters Maria-Elena Urso and Teresa Oliveira (both PHd 01) and colleagues. ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONIC ENGINEERING: 21 CGCA hon sec Chris Lumb (61) with class-mate Mike Hughes and Dera and David Cheeseman. 22 The reunion was a happy event – David Bishop, 23 centre,who had travelled from Australia, and Chris Heaton Armstrong. 23 From left, Bob Weeks, Brian Dean and Peter Davies, who all graduated in 1957. Bob and Brian went on to do the first postgradu- ate DIC in Nuclear Power under Professor John Kay in 1957/58. In the background picture, the audience at Mechanical Engineering applauds Sir Hugh Ford.

Pictures by Emma Bowkett, Neville Miles and Lynn Penfold.

CGCU & RSMU NEWS RSM looks set to improve on last year’s THE RSM starts in high run by the DLB and Pub spirits this year with fresh- Golf run by RSM Golf. achievements ers’ events looking set to Last year was a highly break the record turnouts successful one for the RSM. The night saw boat in the early hours. of last year. With the aid of Large amounts of sponsor- races (boys v girls, freshers The RSM continues ‘Facebook’, events can be ship lead to profits being v oldies), presidential yards, to go from strength to advertised way in advance made at events and an handover of the pink pants strength. With a young and with minimal effort and can increase in attendance. and the presentation of enthusiastic committee this reach every student within Last term saw the of- the RSM colours and some year, the new generation of the Imperial network. RSMU hopes to attract many The Freshers’ Introduc- by RSMU president Daniel Hill more freshers and drive into tion Talks & Drinks, Pub them the RSM spirit and Crawl and Bar Night were ficial handover of the RSM rather entertaining ‘special traditions. set up for RSM freshers’ committee at the end of year awards’. I very much look forward week, followed closely by event, the ‘Final Finale’, held The first ‘Back to School’ to leading the RSM this year the Freshers’ Dinner on Oc- in the Union Dining Hall. RSM Sports Day was held and hope to see the return tober 19. Alongside these, This was a fantastic night a couple of weeks after in of some traditions that have the RSM sports clubs and which was attended by near- Hyde Park. All sports were been lost over the years, the DLB Club have events ly 120 people. Of course, obviously drink-related and regain the RSM’s former glory, planned for the first couple huge amounts of beer, food everyone had to be in fancy and, most importantly, bring of weeks including the tra- and wine were available. dress. It ended at the Union home the Bottle! ditional Queen’s Tower Trip

CGCU – new team keeping up old college traditions

I HAVE been Union president Lawn is booked as a venue. Finders keepers? Tristram Sherliker (second left) now for two months, work- However, we’re still search- with fellow conspirators Matt Taylor, Christian Carter ing as a summer sabbatical ing for sponsorship as I and Mark Mearing-Smith. (thanks to help from CGCA) write! (Any leads gratefully rubber wristbands given out Thermometer (RCS). The and really trying to kickstart accepted…) for free on their first day. ransom demands, if they the revival of City and Guilds My other main project After office hours, I’ve manage to pay up, will raise at Imperial College. has been exposure for fresh- been keeping busy getting between £400 and £600 for The Lord Mayor’s Show ers to what City and Guilds my hands on some hefty RAG charities and ought to participation and the remind everyone that a bit Centenary Dinner – bigger of interfaculty sportsman- and better than the usual by CGCU president Tristram Sherliker ship can be fun! Freshers’ Ball – have been With plans already in my major activities, and the is for and revive some mascots to rile the other place to appoint a new dinner especially is stack- flagging traditions. All sorts unions. As well as our own union officer to represent ing up to be an exciting of media are being used Spanner and Bolt, C&G CGCA, and for a large mem- and well-attended event. to brand us, from a really is in possession of Davey bership recruiting event at Prof Michael Kelly has excellent Handbook and the Davy Lamp (RSM) and the end of the year, I look agreed to speak, and the Guildsheet (designed by Ni- two of the four compo- forward to working with huge marquee on Queen’s cholas Simpson) to branded nent parts of Theta the CGCA during this year.

10 IMPERIAL ENGINEER Autumn 2007 FEATURES

This issue of Imperial Engineer turns its spotlight on renewable fuels’ technology within 11 pages of articles by alumni and others Project is cooking with sound IT’S A cooker, a fridge and a genera- cal goods manufacturer GP Acoustics, a single device powered by a biomass tor in one – and it could have a huge charity Practical Action and numerous stove. This has not been tried before. impact on the lives of people in the universities in Africa and Asia ■ Designing a rugged and inexpen- world’s poorest communities. Key to the collaboration is ensur- sive linear alternator that could be The £2m SCORE (Stove for Cook- ing that the device is acceptable in easily mass-produced, ing, Refrigeration and Electricity) poorer communities at a technologi- ■ The overall system design consid- project brings together experts from cal, economic and social level and that ering low cost, indigenous materials, across the world to develop a biomass- there is sufficient scope for them to local manufacturing skills and simplic- powered generator capable of both develop numerous businesses from ity of assembly. cooking and cooling food. By develop- the manufacture, repair and innovative Field trials and wide distribution of ing an affordable, versatile domestic applications of SCORE. SCORE stoves among target communi- appliance SCORE aims to address the The operation of the electricity ties will complete the project. energy needs of rural communities in generation and refrigerator parts of Africa and Asia, where access to power the proposed device will be based on is extremely limited. a novel application of thermoacoustic Representing Imperial as one processes. Fundamentally, these rely on of four UK universities involved is the interaction between an acoustic Mechanical Engineering’s Developing field and solid boundaries, leading to Technologies group. It uses student a range of fluid- and thermo-dynamic project work to provide technical sup- processes. They do not require harmful port to organisations working in devel- working fluids or moving parts in the oping countries. Head of the project is traditional sense and the electrical Dr Keith Pullen with Roy Dennis. power extraction is accomplished by a Nottingham is the lead university linear alternator. with Manchester and Queen Mary Programme challenges are: London, plus US research centre Los ■ Combining a thermoacoustic en- Alamos National Laboratory, electri- gine, linear alternator and cool box in

AN INTER-DISCIPLINARY team from Imperial is working to harvest solar energy to produce renewable, carbon- Plants lead the way free and cost-effective hydrogen as Current solar energy research is lar hydrogen and oxygen, providing a a sustainable energy source. It will focused on the use of photovoltaic or renewable route to hydrogen genera- develop both biological and chemical solar thermal devices which are costly, tion using only solar energy and water solar driven processes. points out Professor Brandon. ‘An inno- as reactant. This offers encouragement The five-year project, within the vative approach to overcoming this is to that efficient bio-inspired chemical Energy Futures Lab, has been made exploit low temperature natural biologi- catalysts for solar hydrogen generation possible by £4.2m funding from the cal and photocatalytic processes.’ can be developed. Engineering and Physical Sciences The project will culminate in the Research Council (EPSRC). Breakthrough design, build and operation of a work- Head of the Lab, Professor Nigel A major impetus for this concept has ing prototype system, aiming to demon- Brandon, who is also the project’s come from the recent breakthrough by strate that solar energy can be directly principal investigator, says: Jim Barber and colleagues at Imperial. harvested to produce hydrogen and, in ‘Successful production of solar en- They identified the molecular details of turn, cost-effective electricity and heat. ergy-driven renewable hydrogen could the catalytic centre of nature’s solar- The team comprises Jim Barber transform the supply of carbon-free powered water splitting enzyme: that (Molecular Biosciences), James Durrant fuel and make an enormous impact on of the photosystem two (PSII) com- (photochemistry), Klaus Hellgardt the viability of hydrogen as an energy plex found in plants and cyanobacteria (catalytic reactor engineering), Geoff carrier. It will be an essential step to and used in photosynthesis. Kelsall (electrochemical reactor fully exploiting fuel cell technology. It This major advance now provides a engineering), David Klug (molecular will position the UK as a world leader blueprint for the design of a man-made energy transduction), Geoff Maitland in one of the very few solutions to a catalyst that would allow the light- (energy engineering), Peter Nixon truly sustainable energy future.’ driven photolysis of water in molecu- (Biology) and student researchers.

IMPERIAL ENGINEER Autumn 2007 11 FEATURES

MUCH HAS been written about the production of biodiesel and ethanol road vehicle fuels from food crops and concerns have been expressed about the effects of their large-scale cultivation on food production and costs. A spoonful of A dramatic illustration is provided by the spectacular rise in the world price of wheat. It has doubled over the past year. While this is in part attribut- sugar helps able to poor weather in certain major wheat growing areas, the rapidly- increasing demand for bioethanol has been a major factor in changing carbon the supply/demand balance. Similar comments apply to maize. Another food crop that is used extensively for biofuel is sugar, for example in Brazil, emissions down where ethanol is produced from sugar on a very large scale. Cuba also has a major sugar CGCA president Peter Garratt industry and is equally focused on the learns lessons from the Cuban sugar industry development of renewable energy sources. However, its government is opposed to the production of biofuels at the expense of food security and it of 1.7 million hectares. Each sugar tially as a waste product, so generation has adopted an interesting alternative factory incorporated a cogeneration plant efficiency was not important. approach. unit to supply electricity and process Since 1992, following the dis- steam to the factory. integration of the Soviet Union, the Hard currency These were fuelled by bagasse, the principal commercial partner of Cuba, The sugar industry has for many sugar cane residues not consumed in there has been a sustained decline in years been the mainstay of the Cuban the process of manufacturing sugar. sugar output. This year’s harvest is un- economy. Production levels peaked in The capacity of each unit was related likely to produce more than about 1.2 1992, when some 70 million tonnes of to the processing capacity of the million tonnes. The fortunes of Cuba, cane were milled during each produc- factory. The total installed generating in common with other major sugar tion season to produce 7.6 million capacity was 800MW or about 5MW producing countries, have also been tonnes of sugar. It amounted to 7.3% of per factory on average. This is on the severely impacted by the decline in world production. The export of sugar basis of low-level technology (low and the world market price of sugar over provided 80% of Cuba’s hard currency medium pressure boilers). The genera- recent years. income. tion of electricity and steam for the These production levels were factory was seen as a means of dispos- Painful choice achieved from 155 sugar factories sup- ing of bagasse that was available at the This situation forced the Cuban gov- plied with cane from a cultivated area factory in very large quantities, essen- ernment to initiate a programme of sectoral adjustment which sought to lower costs and diversify productive capacity to achieve improved economic efficiency. A crucial but painful element of this programme was the closure of around 70 sugar factories, leaving about 85 in operation. Conse- quently, about 350MW of bagasse-fired generating capacity is currently lying idle. Cuba has demonstrated its deter- mination to sustain the cultivation of sugar cane, albeit at lower levels than previously and hence preserve rural employment. The crop is now seen as the raw material for a variety of uses, ranging ABOVE: The interior of Cuba’s Hector Molina sugar factory. from food products for human and ani- TOP RIGHT: The exterior of the factory. mal consumption, alcohol (mainly for

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rum production) and pharmaceutical tion of sugar biomass in new state of the demand for high temperature and products. The biomass residues can be the art power stations associated pressure steam turbines. However, burned in modern and efficient plant with existing sugar mills. there is strong competition from Brazil, to produce process steam and elec- ■ Increased generation of electricity India and China, each offering low-cost tricity for export to the grid. Another and steam through improved ef- alternatives. interesting area of Cuban research is ficiency of existing installations. In conclusion, as concerns grow the development of ‘energy cane’, a ■ Increased capacity for export to the internationally about the impact on fibrous form of sugar cane specifically grid based on improved efficiency food security of an agricultural revolu- for combustion to produce energy in of sugar processing plant, leading to tion that is leading to many farmers the form of heat and electricity rather reduced internal demand for steam growing crops exclusively for biofuel than for sugar production. and electrical energy. production, there are lessons to be learned from the middle way strategy adopted by the Cubans. Rather than food OR biofuel, the approach is to maximise the socio-economic benefit of the crop for food AND sustainable energy production.

Versatile This approach can be applied to a wide range of crops. Considering those cultivated in the UK, oil seed rape is an interesting example. This can be cold crushed to produce high value food oil, then hot crushed with solvent extraction to produce biodiesel. Finally, the Residue residual rapeseed meal ‘cake’ (typically with 1% oil content) can be efficiently used as a fuel for cogeneration. OILSEED RAPE CULTIVATION AND PRODUCTS The process is shown diagram- matically (left) with approximate quantities for a processing plant fed by 200,000 ha of rapeseed cultiva- The global environmental benefits The challenge of unlocking these tion. Recent studies have shown that of biomass cogeneration in Cuba are opportunities lies not in the technology, the generation of electricity using significant because every kilowatt-hour which is well proven and understood, rapeseed meal can be economically exported to the grid displaces genera- but in the financial structuring of the competitive with gas-fired generation tion using heavy fuel oil. It is estimated projects to enable them to move ahead at current price levels. that a single bagasse-fired power station under the peculiar economic and finan- could avoid carbon dioxide emissions of cial constraints which apply in Cuba. more than 200,000 tonnes per annum. UK manufacturers have historically PETER GARRATT supplied plant to many of the Cuban (Civils 68) Ambitious sugar factories and they are well has 35 years’ experience in international On active sugar mill sites, the Cuban respected. Much of the existing equip- infrastructure projects. government has embarked upon an ment is of British manufacture and With considerable ambitious, renewable energy pro- remains operational after more than 50 exerience of promoting trade and gramme, comprising three elements: years in service. In principle, the UK is cultural links in Latin America, he ■ Continuous generation of electricity well-placed to supply the new market is chairman of Canning House and for export to the grid via the combus- for high efficiency plant, especially director of the Caribbean Council.

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DESPITE first impressions, the global mining many millions of children, forced to work sector is far from homogenous. The industry in unacceptably dangerous conditions. could actually be described as a continuum Regrettably, in sub-Saharan Africa, the with the more familiar, large-scale, industr- ASM sector is also often associated with ialised sector with multinationals such as conflict minerals, fatal diseases, smuggling, BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto and De Beers at one criminal activity and even perpetuating civil end and the often overlooked artisanal and wars in fragile states like Angola, the DR small–scale mining sector at the other. So Congo, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Indeed, the what exactly is this forgotten poor relation? impact of artisanal diamond mining in the Artisanal miners are often defined latter country was the subject of the recent as those who use rudimentary tools and Hollywood blockbuster Blood Diamond. archaic and crude methods leading to inef- The sector is seen in a negative and ficient mining and processing thereby per- distorted manner with little appreciation petuating haphazard and dangerous mining or understanding for the realities and hard- with very low overall mineral recoveries. ship of artisanal miners, their impoverished Most often it involves individuals, families families and communities. Miners often or communities who are usually consid- earn less than US$1 a day and rely on ASM ered informal or, by many, an illegal social as basic coping strategy in an increasingly nuisance that needs to be suppressed demanding socio-economic environment. The reality is that the sector is plagued Artisanal mining – . Poorest areas with challenges ranging from abject pov- Small-scale miners, on the other hand, can erty, endemic child labour, gender inequal- have some degree of mechanisation, hold ity, the spread of HIV/AIDS, environmental a legal licence and be organised in some devastation, appalling health and safety, an international challenge form of mining workers’ group. For conven- mercury poisoning, uncontrolled migrants, ience, however, most people discuss the indiscriminate extortion, indentured sector collectively using the acronym ASM. labour, exploitative trading and growing Many challenges of artisanal small-scale mining (ASM), from governmental policy and institutional This sector is ‘typically practised in the conflict with the commercialised large- strengthening to child labour elimination, environmental protection and poverty alleviation, have been poorest and most remote rural areas by a scale mining sector. largely itinerant, poorly educated popu- However, from a livelihood perspec- pioneered by RSM alumni Kevin D’Souza. Although a staunch mining engineer, his work in some of lace, men and women with few employ- tive, ASM often provides the only means of Africa’s most fragile areas inspired him to work in community-focused projects within the mining sector. ment alternatives’. obtaining an income and often constitutes He outlines the sector and the challenges it gives the mining world, governments and society. Notwithstanding the low visibility of the principal source of economic activity this poor relation, the ASM sector produces in many remote rural areas, where there substantial percentages of the world’s are few income-generating alternatives. Fortunately, some international aid valuable minerals, generates some export What must be remembered is that ASM is agencies and donors, including the UK’s earnings, and provides employment for really about vulnerable people who strug- own Department for International Devel- many millions of impoverished people. gle on a daily basis to eke out a meagre opment (DfID) and the World Bank, have Globally it produces up to 31% of indus- subsistence under unbelievably gruelling now realised that the ASM sector is worthy trial minerals, 10–15% of gold, 20% of coal, and arduous conditions in some of the of attention. Many of the social and envi- 12% of metallic minerals, 10% of diamonds most fragile areas of the world. ronmental challenges are actually aligned and 75% of other gemstones. Conservative with internationally agreed Millennium estimates claim that well over 100 million Opportunities Development Goals aimed at alleviat- people depend upon the ASM for their Having worked as a consultant in the ing global poverty. Moreover ASM was livelihood. That workforce includes a high ASM sector for over a decade in over 30 acknowledged as an ‘extractives industry’ proportion of disadvantaged women and countries, the complexity is evident, as are sub-sector that warrants urgent attention the multitude of challenges, constraints and aid assistance at the last G8 summit. and opportunities that characterise this The recent buoyancy in mineral com- neglected sector. modity prices has been a blessing for Until recently, this complexity has the commercial mining sector and their deterred many from intervening and it has shareholders. However, this buoyant mar- simply been ignored. Key issues, such as in- ket, combined with state mining company stitutional capacity, governance, assistance retrenchments, high levels of unemploy- schemes, enabling legalisation, miners’ ment and numerous fragile economies re- organisation, gender mainstreaming, oc- covering from conflict, have driven huge cupational health and safety, environmental numbers of desperate people away from protection, mineral marketing, adding traditional rural livelihoods into the ASM ABOVE: Children using mercury in value, microcredit and the co-existence sector; including areas close to large-scale Tanzania. with large-scale mining, are all themes mining operations. TOP CENTRE: Women mining barytes frequently espoused by policy-makers or Such ASM activity on, or at the periph- in Nigeria. benevolently proposed for assistance and ery of, commercial mining concessions has RIGHT: Gold processing in Ghana. intervention schemes. moved beyond being just an uncomfortable

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sessing them of their traditional land and rightful livelihoods. Given the fact that the economic, social and environmental costs and potential liabili- ties of uncontrolled ASM activity are starting to get out of hand on many minesites, there is hopefully a strong case for a paradigm shift towards a more innovative, non-con- frontational, non-competitive, consensual and pragmatic strategy for dealing with ASM and their communities. However, given the rise in the number of incidents of conflict between the two sub-sectors - regardless of how they started – the irrefutable challenge remains of how the mining companies can constructively engage and attempt to coex- ist with the increasingly vulnerable, and in many cases volatile ASM sector and thereby maintain the social license to operate. Artisanal mining – Ultimate challenge Thereby lies the ultimate challenge facing the international development agencies, an international challenge civil society, large-scale mining companies, and national governments – how to harness the clandestine ASM sector as an Many challenges of artisanal small-scale mining (ASM), from governmental policy and institutional activity that could contribute responsibly strengthening to child labour elimination, environmental protection and poverty alleviation, have been towards the achievement of international development objectives, integrate pioneered by RSM alumni Kevin D’Souza. Although a staunch mining engineer, his work in some of into community development plans and Africa’s most fragile areas inspired him to work in community-focused projects within the mining sector. enhance corporate social responsibil- He outlines the sector and the challenges it gives the mining world, governments and society. ity schemes. It has been discussed and procrastinated upon for decades. Obvious issues such as better governance, social antagonism, resentment, intimidation, and environmental management and pro- threats and increasing violence. tection of communities’ and miners’ rights Both sides of the resource conflict have long been recognised as crucial if have their own misguided preconceptions ASM is to be galvanised successfully as an and strong feelings regarding the other economic force. It is hoped that, finally, and their alleged rights. For example, a concerted effort will be made to help many companies have viewed the ASM overcome the multitude of constraints and sector as blatant malefactors and trespass- challenges that plague the sector whilst ers on their legally endorsed concessions; capitalising on the inherent opportunities while the artisanal miners may see the to raise the sector from mere subsistence granting of such concessions as dispos- levels and integrate it into the formal rural and recalcitrant neighbour. Although ASM is an important social and economic livelihood in many African countries, the current KEVIN D’SOUZA (Mining 93), a principal mining consultant and activities in the vicinity of many commer- associate director with consultancy Wardell Armstrong LLP, has cial mining operations compromise site worked extensively in Africa pioneering social investment projects safety and security. They are exceedingly and with many of the biggest mining companies is helping empow- dangerous, exploitative, socially disruptive er and develop sustainable communities in the vicinity of mining and essentially sustain an illegal trade. operations. He has gained a reputation as a leading authority on For many, the standards and practices mining-related social impact, minesite community affairs and ASM. of ASM are entirely at odds with those Kevin regularly advises the World Bank and the UK’s Department for International of the modern, commercial, responsible Development on