ISSUE TWENTY EIGHT Spring 2018

In this issue… 18 22 32 ASSOCIATION NEWS & REVIEWS FEATURES 3 Presidents Report 14-17 What, exactly, is an Autonomous Vehicle? – John 4-5 RSMU Regalia; RSMA Annual Dinner, Nov 2017 Routledge 6-7 CGCA Data Protection; CGCA AGM; Grenfell 18-21 ES&E Geophysics Society trip to Indonesia 2017 Tower; CGCA Annual Dinner, Feb 2018 22-25 RED Project Summer Expedition 2017 8-9 116th Bottle Match Report 26 Geothermal heat and Arctic Sea Ice Variability – Wyss Yim FACULTY NEWS 10 AI will transform higher education; “brilliant” OBITUARIES Imperial robotics 33 Roy Barleggs; Albert Kitchenside 11 New Year’s Honours; Joint seminar for Aero 34 John Fairfeld; Michael Fulwell and Mech Eng; Smart devices hackable; Year of 35 Michael Knill; Eric Arnot; Tom Wyatt; Chris Halls; Engineering Peter Spiro; Jim Charles; Michael Rhodes 12 Engaging with Alumni at the Annual Alumni Weekend 13 Imperial Festival / Alumni Weekend

ALUMNI NEWS & VIEWS 27 CGCA / Mech Soc Careers Events in the C&G Building 28-29 48th Triode meeting, 5th January 2018 – Martyn Hart Front Cover photo: Driverless PODs in Greenwich used 30 Let’s remember, 2050 needs acceleration and young for a trial public shuttle service. read people – Nigel Fitzpatrick more about autonomous vehicles in 31 Diary John Routledge’s feature article on 32-33 Book Reviews: pages 14-17. BUILT by Roma Agrawal; Cover image courtesy of the GATEway Project. never ending buzz.... by Stephen Revess

CORRESPONDENCE and ENQUIRIES Imperial ENGINEER Claire Kidd, Faculty of Engineering EDITORIAL BOARD Imperial College Peter Buck (Editor) South Campus David Bishop, Tim Cotton, 1st Floor, Faculty Building, Paul Holmes, Claire Kidd, London SW7 2AZ Bill McAuley (Emeritus Editor) Tel: +44 (0)20 7594 9585 Email: [email protected] for RSMA queries PRODUCTION AND DESIGN Email: [email protected] for CGCA queries Alison Buck Website: www.imperial.ac.uk/engineering/alumni/ CGCA website: www.cgca.org.uk PRINTING RSMA website: www.rsm-association.org Bishops Printers, Portsmouth URLs at the end of items indicate more details online. Where appropriate we use bit.ly short links. Faculty news items that ISSN 2398-1237 (Print) are derived from Imperial News under an Attribution-NonCommercial- ISSN 2398-1245 (Online) ShareAlike Creative Commons license have a short link to the original item where full attribution details can be found. STORY IDEAS FOR THE NEXT ISSUE BY AUGUST 20 2018 FINAL COPY DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 17 2018

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

2 Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2018 Well, you may have been expecting a message from my predecessor Dame Judith Hackitt. was due to take over the Presidency of the CGCA this spring. However, the fre intervened. Dame Judith, because of her extensive experience and knowledge as Chair of the UK Health and Safety Executive, was appointed by Government to lead an Independent Review of Building Regulations and following the fre. Consequently, I took over the Presidency in October, rather than around now. First, let me say that Judith did an absolutely splendid job as President, so it has been easy for me to take up the reins. For those who don’t know me, I am an alumnus of Imperial College and an engineer. I was Head of the Department of Bioengineering (frst as a Centre, and, subsequently, as a Department) for a period of 10 years. Over the last 12 years I have worked with my colleague Prof Paul Freemont (a structural biologist) to develop what is now one of the leading international centres in the relatively new feld of synthetic biology (or as it is now being called, particularly in the United States, Engineering Biology) – but it is internationally recognised as a new feld of engineering. Basically, the feld is about modifying DNA (the instruction set of the cell) to instruct the cell to produce substances according to human design – for example, new vaccines and new materials. It is now generally recognised that this new feld will have major economic impact. What is important to understand, from an engineering point of view, is that this really is a new feld of engineering. Richard It applies engineering science and practice directly, including many aspects of industrial translation that are familiar in a wide range of other areas of engineering. I will be talking about this at the AGM in June and I very much hope that you will join us on that occasion. Kitney An important item on my agenda, as President of the CGCA, is to get more young people, including undergraduates, heavily involved in the Association. Tis is a theme that my predecessor started and I very much intend to continue. In this context, I have already contacted a number of departments in the Faculty of Engineering and I am in discussions with their student and academic representatives. Te plan is for this to lead to a much more integrated approach to the membership and operation of the CGCA – with much greater student participation at all levels and support for students and young graduates in terms of their careers and other advice. One recent event that was highly successful was the CGCA annual dinner. Tis year’s dinner was held at the Ironmongers’ Hall on Friday, 23rd February, with over 150 people in attendance (see page 7). Tere was very good student involvement and attendance and I would hope that we can signifcantly improve on this next year. I would like to ofer my thanks to all those members who participated in the organisation and execution of the event for their hard work in making the dinner not only successful, but highly enjoyable. Prof Richard Kitney OBE, FREng

PRESIDENTS REPORT

Te winter months have been busy for RSMA and RSMU and there have been a number of memorable events since I last wrote, in September last year. Te 133rd annual dinner was held on Friday 24th November at the Rembrandt Hotel in and saw 119 guests join the Committee and me, of which 32 were current RSMU students. Te mood was festive and although all the diners were in good voice throughout the dinner, Rob Tomkies, current RSMU President, was unable to harness that power when leading the group in the Mines Song at the end of the evening! At the dinner we were able to award in person the Peter Harding Memorial to Lorraine Craig and the Professor Rees Rawlings Award to Danny Hill. In addition we drew the frst winner of the 100 Club Draw and this went to Bryan Bowden in Western Australia; Bryan has very graciously re-donated the prize back to the Association. Our speaker for the evening was Steve Potter, Head of Strategy for Vale SA, who entertained us with a view on how his experience at the RSM has been put to use over his career. I am sure that students and members alike found some of his anecdotes both amusing and useful. Once again the members of the RSMA were extremely generous and sponsored all students attending. Tis level of support is very much appreciated by the students and I would like to personally thank all those members who supported the students. See page 5 for a more detailed report of the evening’s festivities Tim including pictures. Late afternoon on Saturday February 24th 2018 in land far away, a tragedy. Te CSM triumphed 35-5 to win the 116th Bottle Match. Te RSM visiting side put up a brave fght but succumbed to a defeat with the Cotton score line not entirely refecting the closeness of the whole game. Te weekend was host to a number of other sporting events and in these RSM fortunes were somewhat improved. Te lacrosse team fought through a heavy pitch and tough challenges to heavily beat CSM 13-3! Hockey carried mixed fortunes for our teams; our women’s battled well but fell to a loss, but our men battled back from 1-3 down to draw 3-3, saving a penalty fick at the very end to retain the Sharply trophy! Friday was all Cambourne with ending 31-14 to CSM, in football it was the same story with CSM coming through to win 3-1 and in badminton Cambourne again triumphed. Great efort from everyone who played and supported. Next year we go again and have the home advantage! See pages 8-9 for a more detailed account of each and every game. Following the success of the last three years’ events, in March the committee will again give a presentation to the students on the history, aims and membership of the RSMA in order to get students to join the RSMA whilst studying. Te committee continues to maintain a very active relationship with the RSMU, the challenge going forward is to better embrace the Materials Department students and seek a staf representative on the Committee. Te involvement with ESE remains strong and the Committee is looking to further the links in ESE and Materials by engaging with the key societies within them such as De La Beche, MatSoc and GeoPhysicsSoc. Tere are a number of upcoming events for your calendars. Planning is already under way for the 2018 Summer BBQ for Final Year Students and this will be occurring on Tursday June 28th at a venue to be announced soon. Also a date has been confrmed for the 134th Annual Dinner as Friday November 23rd 2018 – the Friday before Mines and Money London starts. (continued overleaf)

Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2018 3 NEWS & REVIEWS Tim Cotton’s President’s report (continued)

2018 is set to be a challenging year for the RSMA as the UK Privacy laws are changing and are becoming very prescriptive on how associations may, or may not, contact their members. Tis impacts the College as a whole and we will be working with College’s Development Department in the Faculty of Engineering and College Alumni Relations team in managing the transition to these new privacy laws. Te Committee has a good working relationship with these two departments and it hoped that the membership will see minimal interruption. To add insult to injury the Association’s bank, HSBC, has changed all of RSMA’s Sort Codes and Account Numbers with immediate efect for no apparent reason. Even with lobbying HSBC tell us that they will only redirect funds for the next few months before closing the accounts and rejecting the standing orders, so please don’t delay. We are in danger of losing income through the bank’s unexplained (aka crass) action so please also check with any RSMA members you keep in touch, to make sure they have changed theirs. Please fnd details for annual subscriptions and RSMA Trust Donation:

RSMA annual subscriptions : Payable to: Association Account Number: 60461296 Sort Code: 40-11-60 Tis account is just for the annual subscriptions and just in case your Standing Order was a bit out of date, don’t forget that this should be £15 per year for all members.

RSMA Trust, 100 club and additional donations : Payable to: RSMA Trust Account Number: 80204544 Sort Code: 40-11-60

Both these new accounts are already in operation, so do change your Standing Orders as soon as you can. Many thanks for your support it is truly appreciated. In the coming months we are looking to showcase how the Association has used your support in helping the students and staf at the RSM. Remember you can all still use the email address [email protected] to contact the RSMA at any time. Please send us your news and we will look to share it with the wider RSM Community.

RSMU Regalia now available Need more RSM branded clothing and trinkets? Well, lucky you, the RSM Students Union has updated its regalia and these can be purchased at any time from the RSMU. Please contact RSMU Regalia [email protected] to fnd out more and order, they can work out the best postage option for your items.

Formal Wear – Ties and Cuffinks Navy tie with silver RSM embroidery, an essential staple for formal events or, for the James Bond types, a bow tie. Both priced at £25 each. To fnish, cuffinks also £25.

To keep the cold out – Bobble Hats and Scarves RSMU Photos: The beacon of a Royal Miner, you’ll need one of these to survive London’s harsh For your favourite tipple a medium sized weather on general goings about. Embroidered black and yellow scarf, adding a (6oz) steel engraved hipfask for £30. comfortable and welcome splash of colour through the British gloom. Each of these Lastly a fun bottle opener and key ring. a snip at £15. Very useful for only £3

4 Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2018 NEWS & REVIEWS RSMA Annual Dinner, November 2017 – and the award goes to ……. The 133rd annual dinner was held on Learner Offcial with Goldfelds in Friday 24th November 2017 at the South Africa to his current senior Rembrandt Hotel in Knightsbridge. corporate role with one of the This year saw 119 members and world’s largest mining companies. guests join the Committee, of His journey covered the friends which 32 were current RSMU and places that have infuenced students. As is always the case him and anecdotes of college life the members of the RSMA were that seemed all too familiar to the extremely generous and sponsored current students. I am sure that all students attending. After pre- students and members alike found dinner drinks, members and guests some of his anecdotes amusing and were treated with an excellent useful. dinner of a fsh starter, roast lamb At the dinner the Association was and chocolate dessert. One student able to hand out in person the two was overhead to say “we love the RSMA awards announced at the June Professor Dick Kitney CGCA President with Lorraine Craig RSMA Dinner as there is never any AGM. The Peter Harding Memorial chicken as the main course!”. Once Award was given to Dr Lorraine again testament to theory that good Craig for her tremendous efforts food and good company are key to in supporting students as Academic a successful event. The mood was Tutor to the Earth Sciences and festive, in part due to the Christmas Engineering Department and decorations around the hotel, and support to the wider RSM. Her although all the diners were in good role has been recently expanded voice throughout the dinner, Rob to enhance the student experience, Tomkies, current RSMU President, with an emphasis on learning and was unable to harness that power teaching across the whole Faculty of when leading the group in the Mines Engineering. Whilst this has meant Song at the end of the evening! that Lorraine has moved away from Entertainment for the evening ESE in her new role of Associate Danny Hill receiving his award from Tim Cotton RSMA President was from our speaker Steve Potter Dean for Learning and Teaching Head of Strategy for Vale SA who she is still heavily involved in the entertained us with a view on how student experience with the RSM. RSM as a younger RSMA member. the Association to form a plan to his experience at the RSM has Rees Rawlings was in attendance Danny’s efforts as the RSMA award three £1000 bursaries to been put to use over his career. to personally give Danny Hill the Honorary Treasurer for the past penultimate year students to assist Steve battled the PA system but Professor Rees Rawlings Award four years and ongoing commitment them in completing their fnal years managed to chart his time from a for his tremendous support to the to the RSMA Committee have been at RSM. The goal is to award these at very welcome. the AGM in June 2018 for the 2019 In addition the Association academic year. All in all an excellent drew the frst winner of the 100 event and good times were had by Club Draw and this went to Bryan all, and after the speeches and songs Bowden in Western Australia; Bryan the members and guests stayed a has very graciously re-donated the while before heading to the Union prize back to the Association. The Bar to run the gauntlet of getting in support of the 100 Club members and being able to buy a drink! is tremendous as they have allowed All photos courtesy of Matthew Hayward RSMU All photos courtesy Hayward of Matthew

Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2018 5 NEWS & REVIEWS Data Protection, Privacy, and your CGCA AGM 2018 and President’s Evening CGCA Membership – Update The 2017 Autumn issue of Imperial as such material is considered The CGCA Annual General Meeting, After the AGM, your President, ENGINEER was sent by post to electronic marketing under the new AGM, will be held on Monday, 11th Professor Richard Kitney, OBE, every member* of CGCA because GDPR and PECR regulations. June in the Queen’s Tower rooms at FREng, FRSE, PhD, DIC, DSc (Eng), it carried a request for you to tell If you want to express your Imperial College, FCGI, will deliver a talk entitled us about your preferences for preferences, or change the Campus. As is traditional, the AGM “Synthetic Biology/Engineering Biology processing your personal data for preferences already on record, will be followed by the President’s – A rapidly growing area of the the purposes of managing your please use the form on the back of Evening which will include a hot bioeconomy”. membership and for receiving the address sheet in the packaging buffet supper, served with wines electronic communications from us of Imperial ENGINEER or to do and soft drinks. Refreshments will that may contain details of events, so electronically, please go to our be available in the room before the products and services that are website, http://cgca.org.uk and AGM from 17:00 onwards. associated with CGCA. follow the link under the ‘Journal’ The AGM will start at 17:30 and Just shy of one thousand members tab. the agenda will be available from have contacted us to express their Please note that you are only our website in the near future. It preference at the time of writing. consenting to receive details of will include the President’s review However, that still leaves a large events, products (such as regalia) of the past year, presentation of the number of members that have not and services from CGCA or in 2017 accounts and the election of From vaccines to waste water yet expressed their preferences. which CGCA is heavily involved. Offcers for 2018 – 19. Nominations treatment and new sources of In the case of electronic We will not be promoting any third for offcers will open shortly. If you energy, techniques to re-engineer communications, if you do not tell party events, products or services. wish to stand for a post, please visit DNA could revolutionise vast areas us your preference, then we must Thank you for your support, the website for details: of global industry. Already America’s assume you do not want to have Nigel Cresswell http://cgca.org.uk fastest growing sector, Biomedical details of CGCA or CGCA-related CGCA Hon Sec engineer Professor Richard Kitney events, such as the Annual Dinner, The President’s evening will start will explain why the UK government sent to you electronically so you * Every Life, annual and honorary shortly after the talk has fnished. describes synthetic biology as one will not receive our regular email member. Student members will be able This is an entirely social event and of its Eight Great Technologies for to declare their preferences when they newsletters from May 2018 onwards, will include a wine and soft drinks future economic prosperity. upgrade to Annual Membership. reception, followed by a hot buffet Attendance at the AGM and the supper, served with wines and soft talk are free. drinks, fnishing with tea or coffee. A fyer covering the AGM and Members and their guests are very President’s Evening is included in Visit the new look CGCA website at welcome. If you wish to attend the packaging of Imperial ENGINEER or supper, then please visit our website can be downloaded from the CGCA http://cgca.org.uk events page to make a reservation webpage that the electronic version using the EventBrite service. is hosted on.

Grenfell Tower

In the early hours of 14th June 2017, order to concentrate on the review, a fre spread through Grenfell Tower handing over the presidential reins in . Seventy-one to Professor Richard Kitney. Her people died, many homes were review delivered an interim report destroyed and countless lives in December 2017, which concluded affected. Initial reports suggested that the current regulatory system that the building’s exterior cladding for ensuring fre safety in high- accelerated the fre, leading to a call rise and complex buildings is not for widespread testing of cladding ft for purpose. In it she wrote, “I on other high-rise buildings. have been shocked by some of the As a result of the tragedy, a Public practices I have heard about and Inquiry was immediately established I am convinced of the need for a by the Prime Minister under Sir new intelligent system of regulation Martin Moore-Bick, to investigate and enforcement for high-rise the construction and subsequent and complex buildings which will maintenance of Grenfell Tower, the its refurbishment. David said, “Like accelerated the fre, and subsequent encourage everyone to do the right fre and safety measures within the others, I was deeply shocked and concerns about cladding on other thing and will hold to account those building, the cause and progress of saddened by the loss of life at the high-rise building led the Secretary who try to cut corners.” The fnal the fre, the emergency services’ Grenfell Tower. I hope that my of State for the Department for report is due in May. response and the aftermath. In scientifc background and technical Communities and Local Government The Grenfell Tower disaster November, Sir Martin announced objectivity will assist the Inquiry (DCLG) and the Home Secretary to and the ensuing investigations are that three assessors, with specifc team in its current task and play ask Dame Judith Hackitt to conduct together one of the most signifcant expertise and experience of value a part in reducing the possibility an Independent Review of Building recent Engineering-related news to the inquiry, had been appointed of such a tragedy ever occurring Regulations and Fire Safety with a stories in the UK, likely to have far- to assist him. One of those assessors again in the future. This is no small particular focus on their application reaching repercussions world-wide. was Professor David Nethercot, undertaking but the importance to high-rise residential buildings. That two recent presidents of CGCA a recent President of CGCA. He of the Inquiry’s work cannot be Dame Judith, who was Chair of are involved in such signifcant roles has been appointed to assist the overstated; it is a privilege to be able the Health and Safety Executive for in these investigations is certainly chairman in considering technical to contribute to this process.” almost a decade, was the President noteworthy, and they surely know issues relating to the design and The concern that the cladding of CGCA at the time the review was that they can count on our support. construction of the building and material used on the tower may have established – she stepped down in

6 Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2018 NEWS & REVIEWS CGCA Annual Dinner, February 2018

The Association’s annual dinner took achievement. place at Ironmongers’ Hall on Friday To close the evening, the President 23rd February, our frst visit there invited all the diners to return to since 2008. The Ironmongers’ is one the Drawing room for a traditional of the 16 Livery Companies which, ‘Stirrup Cup’ and a chance to in 1881, along with the City and mingle, mix and chat with friends Guilds of London Institute, founded old and new, over a ‘wee dram’ or the Central Technical College in a cold beer. All in all, a splendid and Exhibition Rd, the forerunner of successful evening. Imperial College, so our return was particularly ftting. Although Ironmongers’ Hall is a relatively new building, having been constructed in 1924, it was built in the gothic style, using many of the materials and features of the earlier hall, including fagstones, ironwork and oak panelling. In this way, it importance of ongoing links between presentation. As ever, wines were makes a feature of its history and the Faculty and the Association, provided from our own cellar. The of the craftsmanship which was making particular reference to the claret, Pagodes de Cos, St Estephe the hallmark of many of the Guilds Old Centralians Trust and its work 2005 and the port, Dow vintage during the middle ages. When set of supporting students fnancially, to 1991, were both excellent, and were out in its fnery, with chandeliers attend conferences, to undertake supplemented by a clean, tangy and stained glass windows in the extracurricular activities and during English white wine, Midsummer Hill banqueting hall and William Morris times of fnancial hardship. This year, 2016, from Gloucestershire. tapestries in the Drawing room, it we were particularly pleased to presents a wonderful setting. have an overseas guest, Dr Paulina The attendance of 122 included Chan (EEE), a prominent member of the President, members and CGCA Hong Kong Branch. their guests, offcers of CGCU and students. The principal guest, Professor Nigel Brandon, the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at Imperial, addressed the diners, taking the opportunity to inform us about the Faculty’s current educational and research activity. He stressed the

After the speeches, a number of presentations and awards were Dr Paulina Chan with her made: mentee, Jack Lee Max Naylor Marlow (Dyson School of Engineering Design) Catering was provided by the received the John & Frances Jones in-house team at Ironmongers’ Prize, commemorating the frst and was widely considered to be a Registrar of Imperial College. great success. We had sole, Angus Gareth Brinn (Mech Eng), beef and a delightful bread-and- received the Holbein Memorial We are already thinking of the butter pudding, served in a way Award, as ‘Sportsperson of the arrangements for next year and it which combined traditional quality Year’ for his work with the Hockey has been suggested that we might Professor Nigel Brandon, Dean ingredients with a real fair for Club, in addition to his all-round return to the Ironmongers’ in view of the Faculty of Engineering modern culinary techniques and contribution. of how well everything had gone. Eleonora Sailer and Giulia In the recent past, we have tended Ghiadistri (Civil) jointly received to mix things up a bit and go to the Centenary Enterprise Award, different halls each year, but perhaps for their work in promoting and we may break with this practice for organising alumni events. 2019. If any members, whether or Matthew Homburg (Mech Eng), not they attended on 23rd February, received the Peter Moore Memorial have thoughts on this, or any other Award, made each year to the Bo matters concerning the dinner, Driver, though we all noted with please let me know. regret that Bo was not able to Colin J Kerr attend this year, due to a massive [email protected] engine failure. The good news is that repairs and replacement are well in hand. Sergiu Iliev (Aero), a recent winner of the Jessel Rosen Graduate Photos: Ziyuan Mao Photos: Giulia Ghiadistri, Eleonora Sailer, Sergiu Iliev, Chris Lumb, Overseas Experience Award was Matthew Homburg, Gareth Brinn, Max Naylor Marlow also present and recognised for his

Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2018 7 NEWS & REVIEWS 116th Bottle Match Report The bottle match weekend, held down in the depths of Cornwall over the weekend 23rd-25th February 2018, went ahead successfully despite uncertainty over its future earlier in the academic year. Below are the match reports from a great weekend!

Football completely against the run of play but Badminton impressions of an easy victory were In sunny, but cold, conditions on RSM heads didn’t drop, determined Following a glorious victory of shattered, they were replaced with the infamously boggy Dracaena to fght back. RSM stuck to the game 8-1 over CSM at last year’s bottle the good spirits and sportsmanship Centre pitch CSM kicked the game plan and setup camp in the CSM half. match RSM were looking for a of the RSM side, who persevered off a little cautiously. With the pitch Possession was rewarded with a free repeat performance. However it against the unstoppable force of the immediately proving the biggest kick which whipped into the second became apparent that the ‘true’ CSM CSM team, clutching points where problem for both teams, it was clear post, missing everyone in the box badminton team did not venture to possible. Although the trophy was that the surface was too uneven to nestle just inside the side netting. London the previous year, and hence lost, with the fnal score 9-0 to to play any building football. RSM RSM were right back in it and went the 1-8 loss of CSM was effectively CSM, all of the players thoroughly decided to pack the middle with a into halftime hungry to get the win. a forfeit, with the CSM lacrosse enjoyed the experience and a high diamond playing two up front. This The match being very much a game team press-ganged into action. This level of badminton was displayed for worked to their advantage as they of two halves, CSM came out for the year, the players put forth by the both the RSM team to improve and started strongly setting up camp second half on the better side of the CSM side were highly skilled and spectators to enjoy; leaving all the in the opposition half. Corner pitch and the better team. The pitch possessed fawless abilities heavily more motivation to win it back next after corner, free kick after free really told in the second half as RSM punishing the weaker abilities of year (if CSM bothers to send their kick, RSM wasted a couple of clear started to come out second best on the RSM side. As quickly as the actual team). opportunities to take the leads – the duels and this translated on pitch missed chances they would come to to CSM dominating the second half. rue. On the 35 min mark CSM went A miscommunication at the back long from a free kick within their and fuky header later CSM were own half. A lapse in concentration 3-1 up and kept the trophy. RSM from RSM left the CSM striker football whilst scoring the second straight through on goal to calmly goal in seven years remain on the poke past the keeper. 1-0 CSM hunt to end the 13 year drought.

Netball enough cheer to encourage our An indoor court was more than shooters. Before CSM knew it, RSM welcome against the cold Cornish stepped up the game and fought weather but it meant contending back their advances with incredible with some very loud supporters. fnesse. The score in the second RSM won the coin toss, however the quarter was a thrilling 7 all, bringing

CSM support proved to be just as the score at half time to 17-7. In RSMU All photos courtesy Hayward of Matthew intimidating as their shooters and the third and fourth quarters, RSM Women’s hockey their toes. Not much (ish) could get RSM fnished the frst quarter with a recognised that they had lost the The match began with the roar past the RSM defenders and they disheartening 10-0 score line. element of surprise. Although the of the RSM crowd rightly drowning put pressure on the CSM attackers, The late of Charlotte, the RSM team fought valiantly, CSM out the half-hearted CSM attempts channelling them into the corners RSM goal keeper, straight from her remained the victors and the Netball at making a noise. The girls fought where the glorious RSM spectators fnal exams, along with some extra win eluded RSM for one more year. hard for the frst 7 or so minutes voiced their approval. In the second supporters (and our trusty RSM However, with a score of 31-14, it is with the defence putting up an half we played our best hockey yet Netball fag) did wonders to boost exciting to mention that this is the amazing fght. Unfortunately CSM and went a full 15 minutes with good our morale. This new-found energy closest RSM Netball has come to managed to get through and RSM possession and a strong attack. Our produced a wild swing in the scores winning the Netball so far. Year on conceded our frst goal. Not to let defence made us extremely proud that proceeded to throw off the year RSM continues to narrow down anyone’s spirits get low the older fghting hard right to the very end. CSM support and the CSM team that goal difference. Maybe next year girls yelled out encouragements and Sadly we lost the game, but we themselves. The RSM supporters is the year that RSM Netball will be kept everyone’s heads up. CSM were worked hard and (most importantly) more than made up for their lack crowned champions of the Netball quick and strong on the ball, making had more fun. of numbers by providing more than Bottle Match! fast runs which kept our wingers on

8 Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2018 NEWS & REVIEWS

Men’s hockey ditch interception salvaged any hope Rugby disallowed tries. A late penalty from RSM won the toss and chose to RSM had. RSM then drilled home RSM felt confdent going into CSM meant the half-time score was play with the sun behind them. It did a short corner to bring the game the game following last year’s 15-5. little good. Four minutes into the to 3-2 with 15 minutes remaining. comfortable win over CSM. Unlike RSM came out in the second half game and all the meticulous game Sensing the game was getting away the mud bath two years ago, the still confdent of turning around the day preparations seemed to be in from them, CSM held the ball in pitch was dry and well suited to defcit. However another poor start vain, as CSM scored the opener. an attempt to run the clock down. the free-fowing game of the RSM. led to an early second half try from This only proved to spur on RSM, This only served to motivate RSM The start of the match saw RSM CSM taking their lead out to 22-5. who created a well worked goal to more and RSM managed to level the receive the kick-off and, following RSM knew they had to score next to raise RSM spirits both on and off match at 3-3 with just fve minutes a poor exit, CSM went over the get back in the game. The next part the pitch. Celebrations were short left to play with a shot that almost line within the frst few minutes. of the match saw RSM play some lived though, as a quick counter- broke the back board. The worst possible start. The RSM quality rugby. Strong carrying from attack from CSM cancelled out Knowing a draw would be enough did however fght back with strong the RSM forwards sucked in CSM the comeback effort and brought to retain the Sharpley Cup, RSM dug phase play leading to a number of defence and created space out wide the game to 2-1 with ten minutes in and defended with their lives to penalties. This drove RSM deep into however a forward pass stopped remaining in the frst half. A frantic see the game out. As the seconds CSM territory, where the forwards the momentum. This didn’t, however, end to the half saw a stray cross ticked past 70 minutes, the ball found bundled over for a try from a driving dampen the RSM spirits and more diverted in off RSM defender to gift its way back into the RSM circle maul to take the score to 5-5. RSM quality hands led to more chances, Camborne a 3-1 lead at the half time and a late tackle awarded CSM’s continued mounting pressure but but as has been seen throughout whistle. Callum Fraser a penalty stroke with couldn’t convert this to points and the season, the chances couldn’t Rousing words from the older the fnal hit of the game. It seemed eventually CSM turned over the ball be converted into points. As time lads rallied the side, and RSM went the comeback was wasted, but the and momentum shifted to them. began to run out, CSM regained into the second half with nothing RSM frst year goal keeper had been Numerous line breaks took CSM the ball and took their chances. Two left to lose. A goal-line scramble given a different script. A diving save into the RSM twenty-two; although tries and a penalty in the last twenty ended in disappointment as the to the right denied the CSM striker the defence was strong, CSM minutes put the game to bed with RSM comeback was denied once his moment of glory, and ensured managed to score again to take the a fnal score of 35-5, making it two more. This led to yet another swift the Sharpley Cup would return to score to 12-5. Again CSM piled on unsuccessful away trips to Cornwall counter attack with four Cornish London for a ffth consecutive year. the pressure but the RSM defence in a row. players breaking free before a last held on and CSM had a couple of

Final results

Badminton 9–0 CSM win Netball 31-14 CSM win Football 3–1 CSM win Women’s Hockey 13–0 CSM win Men’s Hockey 3–3 Draw – RSM retain Sharpley Cup Lacrosse 3–13 RSM win Rugby 35–5 CSM win

Lacrosse CSM stepped up their play (and Alumni. The lacrosse team were spurred fouls) and scored at the start of the on by the efforts of the hockey third quarter. The CSM spectators We want your news! squads and soon found themselves went crazy as the idea of a come- at the end of the frst quarter 4-1 back swept through their minds. up, with the crowd going wild. Going After all, no Lacrosse match is (Contact details on page 2) into the second quarter the game decided until the fnal whistle, right? became much scrappier, and the In response to the CSM cheers, RSM conditions of the pitch did not help scored once again bringing the score with the ground balls – in fact the to 2-7, silencing the CSM chants, and game saw more grounded players igniting once again the spirits of the Students. than picked up ground balls. None RSM! Entering the fnal quarter, with the less RSM stuck it out and were a 2-7 lead, the RSM went all out with We want your news too! rewarded with another goal. goals left, right and centre bringing With two quarters remaining, the fnal score to 3-13.

Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2018 9 NEWS DEVELOPMENTS AROUND THE ENGINEERING FACULTY AI will transform higher education and science Science Minister praises ‘brilliant’ Imperial robotics Delivering the keynote address at “both exciting and a bit frightening,” The recently appointed Science and of the Department of Computing, the Times Higher Education Asia Professor Gast said. Universities Minister Sam Gyimah then explained his research into Universities Summit, ‘Pursuing “This ability for machines to learn chose Imperial for his frst offcial using AI to help radiologists the Endless Frontier in the Era of from their mistakes is especially visit to a university and announced interpret and analyse data from AlphaGo,’ in February, Professor interesting. Rather than simply a £70 million funding boost for UK brain scans. Professor Rueckert said Gast said: “Artifcial intelligence is performing routine, non-dynamic medicines. that tools they were developing will already demonstrating its promise tasks, machines have demonstrated The extra funding, through the ‘give clinicians richer, quantitative to advance research. their capability to deal with non- Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, information’ and will measure “At the same time, it presents routine, complex matters. will support projects including new biomarkers – making diagnosis challenges because of the pace of its “This opens a broad, new range manufacturing centres to speed up of conditions such as Alzheimer’s advance and the disruptions that it of potential future applications... The the production of medicine and easier. will create.” ability to start with basic rules and new virtual reality projects to help The Minister moved on to visit Professor Gast noted the many not learn from human examples patient recovery. the Department of Surgery and ways AI is being deployed in Asia: “In poses an interesting question about Cancer where he met Professor China, hospitals use virtual doctors how humans should collaborate Zoltan Takats who demonstrated to read CT scans. In Thailand, AI is with such machines.” the innovative iKnife which can tell being used to improve the care of Imperial is collaborating with surgeons immediately whether the cancer patients. In Singapore, room DeepMind to improve clinical data tissue they are cutting is cancerous service robots powered by AI assist sharing, task management and or not. The iKnife is based on in customer service. In Vietnam, quality care in the NHS, as well as electrosurgery and the frst study the potential of AI to help farming to diagnose diseases by analysing to test it revealed a 100 per cent is being explored. And in Indonesia, medical images. accuracy for the technology. AI is used to improve customer Other researchers, including The Science Minister, and Sir Mark telecommunications services.” Professor Maja Pantic’s team at Walport, the Government’s Chief “We are already beginning to see Imperial, are using AI to “help Scientifc Adviser, met with Imperial the revolution in action”, she said. address societal issues and enhance academics to witness frsthand “AI is beginning to demonstrate its lives on a personal level,” Professor cutting-edge research projects into promise to be a transformative tool Gast said. [See item in next column] artifcial intelligence, robotics and for researchers, students, businesses The group are using AI with medical innovations. and society.” “audio, visual and facial recognition Professor Maja Pantic, from One of the most exciting technologies to help children with the Department of Computing, developments came in 2016 autism improve their learning and demonstrated her team’s work from the UK AI company, Google emotional understanding”. using a robot, called Zeno, which DeepMind, Professor Gast said. The team’s technological platform can improve learning and emotional “DeepMind’s AlphaGo defeated Lee “can decipher sounds and visual understanding in children with Sedol, a professional Go player of 9 clues. It is connected to an off- autism. dan rank, in 2016. the-shelf robot called Zeno that “The play drew the attention interacts with the children. Those The Minister then visited the and admiration of the global with autism spectrum disorder fnd Hamlyn Centre to see the progress Go community. And it captured the robot easier to interact with being made with surgical robotics. the imaginations of academics than another human. And because of Dr Robert Merrifeld, the throughout the world.” that the robot can conduct simple Director of Operations, explained AlphaGo’s 4-1 defeat of the great lessons that a human cannot.” how the Hamlyn Centre plays a Korean Go player was so surprising In addition to these leaps forward, key role in UK robotics. They are because Go is an especially complex Professor Gast drew attention to developing small, handheld tools game that “requires intuition and the challenges caused by the “pace of After testing the technology to ‘augment surgeons’ skills’. Dr subtle thinking.” change and the disruptions” created himself, the Minister described the Merrifeld said they are ‘focusing “Players spend years studying by AI and the fourth industrial robot as ‘brilliant’ and asked what on the next generation of surgical strategy, playing and learning from revolution: “What will its impacts sort of impact it could have on robots’, some of which are the a master. It is impossible for a be on the future of the workplace? helping people with autism. ‘width of a human hair’. computer to play by brute force due How will it affect teaching? Will to the 10170 possible moves” – more universities be able to respond than the estimated number of atoms effectively to the technological in the observable universe. revolution?” Professor Gast explained that Professor Gast argued that “AlphaGo studied thousands of “university leaders have important amateur games to learn the rules roles to play in helping to manage and then played itself millions the changes that defne these of times, learning from each times. These changes will affect our mistake and refning its moves. students. They will affect our staff. Professor Pantic explained Imperial’s Provost, Professor This reinforcement learning with They will affect our neighbours. And that children with the condition James Stirling, said: “Imperial were neural network algorithms is a very they will affect society as a whole. sometimes struggle to show facial proud to welcome the new Science effective way to optimise machine What is the role of universities in expressions but became really Minister on his frst offcial trip to a learning. the age of AlphaGo?” engaged with the robot. Professor university and share with him some “The creative moves that “We need to be leaders, not just Pantic also told the Minister that examples of our exciting and world- AlphaGo made came from being participants, in these times of change. the work depended on working leading research. The Minister saw free from biases passed down from Our students and our research must collaboratively with a ‘big network’ how our scientists and engineers generation to generation by Go be more than simply relevant to the of European partners, including are developing new technologies to masters. It is an astonishing thought times. We should steer the way four other European universities improve outcomes for patients and that computers can be ‘creative’.” forward,” she concluded. plus autism charities and industrial help save more lives.” DeepMind’s work “to remove the bit.ly/IE28-AI partners. bit.ly/IE28-Robotics constraints of human knowledge” is Professor Daniel Rueckert, Head

10 Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2018 NEWS DEVELOPMENTS AROUND THE ENGINEERING FACULTY New Year’s Honours Seminar for Aeronautics and Mechanical Engineering Smart devices hackable Helen Sharman, Operations The Departments of Aeronautics expert who oversaw the Vehicle Two new reports, published by the Manager for the Department of and Mechanical Engineering at Emissions Testing Programme Royal Academy of Engineering, warn Chemistry and the frst Briton in Imperial held a seminar together initiated by the British government that well-connected smart devices space, has been made a Companion on 7 March to encourage increased in the aftermath of the scandal. at home and in healthcare are of the Order of St Michael and St collaboration. In the second presentation, Dr vulnerable to hacking. The reports George for her outreach work, while The event began with a joint lunch Mirko Kovac explained his vision had signifcant input from Professor Professor Michele Dougherty and was followed by presentations for the role drones could play in the Nick Jennings, Vice Provost, and and Professor Christl Donnelly held by Professor Ricardo Martinez- cities of the future, more specifcally Professor Emil Lupu, Associate have both been awarded CBEs. Botas (Mechanical Engineering) and focusing on “Bio-inspired Drones Director of Imperial’s Institute for Michael Levin, of the Department Dr Mirko Kovac (Aeronautics). for Smart Cities”. Security Science and Technology. of Medicine, has been awarded an Professor Martinez-Botas talked Dr Kovac described how drones Although taking personal MBE. Professor Derek Bell, chair about “Low carbon vehicles and could be used for tasks such as responsibility for safety is important, in acute medicine within the Faculty emissions”, providing a brief building diagnostics, and how the many smart device users don’t of Medicine, has been given an OBE. introduction to the different factors mechanics of movement in animals necessarily know the best way Fourteen Imperial alumni involved in reducing car emissions such as spiders, bees or the fying to do so. Manufacturers and the were recognised in the New Year and improving air quality, as well as squid can serve as inspiration in government therefore have a Honours list. an overview of his own research creating robots. greater duty to protect device users Professor Robert Sparks area in the feld of turbocharging The two departments are now from hacking, and the burden of (Geology 1971, PhD 1974) was technology. sharing the City and Guilds building cyber security should not lie solely awarded a Knighthood for services The talk also mentioned the of the South Kensington campus at with device users. to Volcanology and Geology with Dieselgate scandal, as Professor Imperial. The authors highlighted several Professor Terence Stephenson Martinez-Botas was bit.ly/IE28-Joint ways hackers could harm people (Electrical Engineering 1980) and their homes. Pacemakers, which receiving the same honour for regulate heartbeat, use wireless services to Healthcare and signals to give doctors medical data Children’s Health Services. 2018 – Year of Engineering without surgery. Other vulnerable Stephen Speed (MBA 1998) devices include MRI machines and was awarded a Companion of the medical pumps like those used to Order of the Bath for services to treat diabetes. the Oil and Gas Industry and Robin In the home, devices such as smart Sham (PhD Civil Engineering 1989) In a new campaign launched in future talent. What’s more, young thermostats learn home occupiers’ received a CBE for services to the January by the UK government, 2018 people are missing out on the chance schedules to know when to turn Civil Engineering Profession. is offcially the Year of Engineering to make a positive difference to both on and off, which could tell burglars Five alumni received an OBE: and will see a national drive in all their futures, that of the planet and when the home will be empty. Voice Francesca Hegyi (MSc Humanities corners of the UK to inspire the everything that calls it home. activated light bulbs could be used Programme 1997) for services young people who will shape our Over the course of 2018 the to eavesdrop on conversations, and to Culture in Hull, Professor future. It forms an important part of campaign intends to to shake-up smart plug sockets could be turned Christopher Liu (MBBS Charing the government’s Industrial Strategy people’s ideas about engineering, on remotely, potentially causing fres. Cross Hospital Medical School 1985) which is committed to boosting inspiring the next generation of Professor Jennings warned: “If for services to Ophthalmology, engineering across the UK, ensuring innovators, inventors and problem the government and manufacturers Clive Meux (Westminster Hospital everyone has the skills needed to solvers by showing them what don’t keep on top of smart Medical School 1983) for services thrive in a modern economy. engineers actually do. technology, wrongdoers could cause to People with Mental Ill Health, Engineering is one of the most As a leading Engineering Faculty, people genuine harm, and even Professor Andrew Shennan (St productive sectors in the UK, but Imperial is committed to joining the death in extreme circumstances.” Mary’s Hospital Medical School a shortfall of 20,000 engineering celebration. From students to staff The reports recommend that 1985) for services to Maternity Care graduates every year is damaging and alumni, we’re all responsibile for governments impose regulations and Joanne Wade (Chemistry 1987, growth. There is also widespread helping to celebrate engineering and on manufacturers to ensure legal MSc Environmental Technology misunderstanding of engineering inspire future generations. compliance with modern cyber 1988, PhD 1994) for services to among young people and their The UK has the lowest percentage security standards. “Internet Energy Effciency. parents and a lack of diversity in the of female engineering professionals enabled devices are and can be Three Imperial alumni were sector – the workforce is 91% male in Europe, at less than 10%, while hugely benefcial, particularly to awarded an MBE: Michael Barrett and 94% white. Latvia, Bulgaria and Cyprus lead the elderly or disabled. However, (MSc Geology 1990) for services to From spaceships to ice skates, with nearly 30%. Meanwhile, 15.1% we are now in a transitional period Transport, William Dunning (MBBS the bubbles in chocolate bars to life of engineering undergraduates in where manufacturers must take Medicine 2001, PhD National Heart saving cancer treatment, engineering the UK in 2017 are women. Imperial responsibility, or be made to by the and Lung Institute 2013) for services touches every part of our lives. bucks this trend though, as women government.” to Clinical Research, and Jacqueline However, not enough young people make up 26% of our engineering The authors also say good cyber Gerrard (Mathematics 1976) for – especially young girls – think it’s undergraduates and over 36% of our hygiene should be taught from services to Education. a world for them. As a result, the MSc students. primary school. This includes turning Two Imperial alumni were industry is struggling to recruit bit.ly/IE28-YOE off smart assistants when they’re not awarded a BEM: Ann Browning in use, separate ‘Home’ and ‘Guest’ (MBBS Charing Cross Hospital WiFi connections, and installing Medical School 1957) for charitable updates. services and Michael Speight “: realising the (Chemical Engineering & Chemical potential of a trusted smart world”, Technology 1981) for services to by PETRAS & the Royal Academy of the community in Rotherham. Engineering. bit.ly/IE28-Honours “Cyber safety and resilience: strengthening the digital systems that support the modern economy”, by the Royal Academy of Engineering. bit.ly/IE28-Hack

Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2018 11 NEWS DEVELOPMENTS AROUND THE ENGINEERING FACULTY Engaging with Alumni at the Annual Alumni Weekend In the last issue of Imperial ENGINEER we featured the frst part of our conversation with Nic Katona, Head of Development for the Faculty of Engineering, which ranged across development, advancement and alumni engagement. Here we present more of that conversation with Nic and Andy Cox, a Development Manager in Nic’s team, which especially focussed on the Alumni Weekend. Meanwhile, Nic has left Imperial to take up a position at the University of Leicester (and we wish him well).

IE – One of the things that was interesting they usually come out of it chuckling a little IE – I saw a lot of older alumni who were at this year’s Alumni Weekend was fnally bit, because the alumnus or alumna will say bringing their grandchildren to show them persuading the departments to have an open something kind of cheeky at some point in the around and saying “This is the university you afternoon. That made a massive difference, conversation of “Oh, do you remember when want to come to!” “Want to do music? No no, certainly to me personally. you did this to me?” and stuff like that, and it’s a come here! Music, maths, same thing!” NK – And I think that that’s another example of moment for both of them and then they kind of NK – No that’s exactly it, we want to offer them the work that having an embedded team allows connect and start talking about various things. that opportunity to be able to do that. One us to do. The best part, I think, of working within But that’s a new element for our academics of the biggest things I always joke about is that the Faculty of Engineering, is that all the heads here, so imagine someone who’s been here for our team, and the alumni relations team and the of department, the senior academics, the dean, decades, and all of a sudden these new people college in general has started to give permission et cetera – view us as part of the Engineering come in and start saying “We want you to do for Imperial alumni to kind of fy or wave the family. That we’re not outsiders coming in. They research and we want you to teach, but there’s Imperial fag. And you see it at other institutions view us as them. So imagine, the ask is a lot this new thing we want you to do” and they’re here in the UK, you see it in institutions in easier when my team come to the heads of looking at us thinking “What?” So there was a London – they sometimes fy the fag for no department and say “Alumni relations would lot of building those relationships internally also, reason, whereas we have tons of reasons and like to do this opening of the departments to so that they knew we were never going to put our alumni are kind of just like ‘Uuh...’. But it’s provide an hour, and …”, and we validate the them in a position that was uncomfortable for interesting because we have alumni who will idea to them. We let them know we will be them – you know, we are there to shepherd the come back, we’ll kind of be the facilitator of there. We saw six of our ten departments alumnus or alumna, but we’re also there to kind bringing them back in or what have you, and open – it would’ve been more, but because of of guide and advise the academics as well. And if they’ll see one another or they’ll see a colleague various construction going on we couldn’t get things start getting hinky we quickly know how of theirs from work and be “Oh, I didn’t know all of them involved this time – but they said to move in and go “Ooh let’s take you over here that you went to Imperial” “Oh, okay”. and look at this” type of thing, which they’ve AC – We have an evening event and they’ve IE – It’s quite impressive getting academics to learned. They appreciate that, of how we gently been on the same train or on the same tube come in on the weekend. move people through the process. But it’s good, on the way. NK – It’s little things like that that people I’m glad that you were able to experience it, you NK – It’s this really interesting thing about sometimes forget, that our alumni sometimes were able to come back and see that, because Imperial alumni. First, they’re spread everywhere. forget – that is a big ask, you know, of our we can promote it all day long, and say how Some of the highest echelons, across industry, academics who are here working long hours to great it is and how we think it’s wonderful and even from the Faculty of Engineering alone, come in on a weekend, to give up their time to how Imperial thinks its great – it’s your voices I across the highest echelons – but, so humble. talk about things. But what it has shown to us, is think that are most important. You know, you’re And I think that maybe that’s another difference that no longer do our heads of department or validating this to other alumni, you are the from my American experience. In America you our academics view their role as just teaching alumni voice saying “Yeah, we had a nice time”, wear your CV on your chest and you’re just like and research – that’s their core role and they so next year, instead of having thirty-fve people “This is where I came from” immediately. And will never step off of it, don’t get me wrong – at that, maybe we get up to sixty people. And you could go to the most small low-level school, but there’s this kind of third prong which is the it’s just that word of mouth that I think is so and you’d be “This is where I went”. But here, alumni engagement or the ambassadors of the important. this is an amazing institution, but our alumni are department. And that’s where we’ve helped to IE – One of my friends from CGCA came like “Yeah... I went to Imperial”, and I’m thinking augment the internal culture, which we hope along at the last minute – he hadn’t realised it “Jeez, yell it”. So we’re trying to softly allow has then started to fan out to the external was happening. them to wave the fag, and things like that, and if culture, of welcoming alumni back in. And it’s NK – Well, its the frst time we’ve done it, and that is all that our alumni want to do that’s fne. very uncomfortable for some of our academics, it was a later add-on, because we had to do And I think that that’s the other piece that I’d they aren’t sure what that means, what do I have our work of liaising with the departments and love to get out the message is, we’re not saying to do, what kind of questions am I going to get, saying “yes or no” and all these things, and it was that all our of ninety-two thousand alumni or… the frst year. We felt we communicated quite have to come to alumni weekend or come to IE – Well it’s a different relationship with effectively. But we also heard from some alumni a lecture, or mentor a student, or even give at an alumnus or alumna than it is with an ‘Oh we didn’t see that’ or ‘Wasn’t aware of it’ all. What we are saying is, at minimum, we just undergraduate or post graduate. or whatever, and that’s where we do have the want them to know that the college is here NK – It is, very much. When we do some of these, alumni feedback. Next year it’ll be right there and the college is open to them if they want to and we start providing some of the academics at the outset, we’ve already started having the come back and experience it. If it’s as simple with lists of who’s coming, you sometimes can conversations about it, we now know which ones as walking through Beit Quad to the union to see in their eyes “Oh my god, I haven’t heard this are willing to do it, et cetera. So the second that get a beer. name in years”, but sometimes, which we slightly Alumni Weekend goes live, it’s usually in January, IE – They don’t stop being part of the college. love, is when they look and go “Oh, this student we’ll have that right up front and say “You know, NK – Right, and that’s the overarching message. didn’t like me” or something like that, and it hey, seven of ten departments are doing it” or And then for those who want to do more, we’re immediately fashes them back twenty or thirty eight of ten. Design Engineering probably won’t here to help. The alumni relations team are years. And it’s so great to watch the interaction, do it because their building won’t be ready, but here to help, we now have teams in place to be because the alumnus or alumna will usually be at least we’ll be having the majority of them able to facilitate that – sometimes on a more kind of cheeky about it. being represented this year and allowing alumni bespoke level, sometimes more as a ‘here’s a big IE – At the computing department session, to quickly just kind of catch up. event you can come to’ – maybe its just reading there was a guy who had only been gone from IE – Alumni have a great pride in Imperial. the alumni e-newsletter – fne! Do what is the college a few years, and one of the lecturers But at the same time the university has grown area of interest for you! We just want to make was talking about his research. And this guy so much, so there’s concern about how they sure those opportunities are afforded to them, said “You were my favourite lecturer, but…” relate to the college now. The open days give and I think we’re doing a better job than what and then he questioned what he was saying. them a reason to come back. we had before. He wasn’t quite sure how to react. NK – It does give them a reason to be there. It’s IE – That’s a good note to end on. NK – It’s a new experience for them, but an event that’s not intimidating.

12 Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2018 28–29 APRIL 2018

Make a date with discovery at the Imperial Festival, a FREE event for all ages.

Whether you are an alumnus, staf, student or member of the public, join us to enjoy a packed programme of talks, hands-on research demos, workshops, and performances. “A brilliant day out” Alumni Weekend at the Imperial Festival Register for Alumni Weekend for exclusive activities:

• Preview Festival zones before the crowds and access an alumni-only lounge • Attend a talk, tour or reception from our extensive events programme • Catch up with old friends, reconnect with your department and the College and rediscover old haunts • Reunite with your classmates and celebrate a milestone anniversary (for those who graduated in years ending in 3 or 8)

For more information: www.imperial.ac.uk/alumni-weekend

#impfest and #OurImperial For the latest updates and more information imperialcollegelondon @imperialcollege www.imperial.ac.uk/festival FEATURES What, exactly, is an Te feld of autonomous vehicles (AVs) is a rapidly evolving area. Even a decade ago the idea of a car that could drive itself belonged within the realms of science fction; now, today, they are science fact. Over the next few decades AVs have the potential to change the world in a way not seen since automobiles themselves displaced horses as the primary mode of transport, over a century ago. In this article, John Routledge (IDE 2016) provides a brief introduction to a complex and fast-changing feld of endeavour, one with many exciting engineering challenges, but also challenges that will require collaboration with a great number of other disciplines.

Put simply, an autonomous vehicle is a car, keeping assist, parking assistant and automated the driver there’s an issue and the point when or other similar machine, that is capable of emergency braking. Tesla’s Autopilot system the driver has to retake control. Te current driving itself without human intervention. In also frmly fts into this category, despite minimum handover period is 5 seconds; if the practice however the terms ‘self driving’ and the connotations the name afords. A Level driver has been paying attention to the road ‘fully autonomous’ have been used to describe 2 car can essentially drive itself in limited ahead this time does not pose a signifcant many diferent vehicle features and capabilities. circumstances, but it can’t be relied upon to concern. However, if the driver has been To provide a meaningful structure, the SAE deal with everything. Tis means the human distracted it’s barely enough time to retake institute has defned 5 levels of autonomy (see driver needs to remain alert, with potentially the wheel, let alone comprehend the situation chart below). deadly consequences if they don’t1. playing out on the road ahead. During their A Level 3 vehicle can control itself under own testing Ford found their test engineers Levels of autonomy certain conditions; enabling the driver to falling asleep at the wheel of their Level Level 1 is a very basic form of control. An take their eyes of the road. However, the 3 prototype vehicles, which led to Ford’s example of this would be , driver must remain relatively alert as they may decision to skip Level 3 vehicles entirely2. where the vehicle can partially regulate be required to retake control if the vehicle Tis view is not shared by the whole industry, one parameter (e.g. speed) but a human is encounters an unusual situation. In terms most notably Tesla, who have made no secret responsible for everything else, and must give of capability, a Level 3 AV has a similar level that every vehicle they’ve made since October their full attention to the road at all times. of competence to that of a learner driver. It 20163 has the hardware to facilitate Level 3 Level 2 is where most new cars are now. A can handle most normal driving events with autonomy. All that’s required is a software typical Level 2 vehicle can control steering no problem. However in new, unusual or update. and speed in some limited situations but still difcult situations it doesn’t know what to do Assuming Tesla deliver on their promise, requires human oversight; this encompasses and a qualifed driver has to step in. the concerns around Level 3 autonomy will ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance System) A big concern with Level 3 is the ‘handover very soon move from theoretical to practical features such as , lane period’: the time between a vehicle telling considerations. Used properly, Tesla argue,

14 Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2018 FEATURES Autonomous Vehicle? increased autonomy will improve vehicle safety, not put people at greater risk. Tesla vehicles on the road today have a 40% lower crash rate than they did before the deployment of Autopilot4; a clear demonstration, they say, that autonomy will improve safety. However, while it is probable that Level 3 AVs will be involved in fewer accidents, it is possible that vehicles operating in the manner described previously (car driving, human watching) could lead to the driver paying less attention and subsequently being less prepared in the event of an unexpected event. In other words, Level 3 AVs could crash less frequently, but the crashes they do have could be more severe as drivers are less prepared to deal with the situation. Te ‘individualist’ argument is

that this will lead to people being killed by Autodrive UK Image: these vehicles who would not have died in a A self-driving ‘pod’ vehicle built by UK Autodrive partners RDM Group. Up to normal car; the ‘utilitarian’ argument is that 40 of the pods are being trialled in central Milton Keynes in 2017-2018 as part this may be the case but the overall number of of the UK Autodrive programme. More details at http://www.ukautodrive.com deaths caused by cars will be reduced. Safety expert Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger moving ‘pods’ such as those being trialled in suggests that “when we assign technology as Milton Keynes and Greenwich (see pictures, the doer and the human component as the above and below); these will have no direct monitor, we’re doing it backwards. Humans are “when we assign technology user controls (pedals or steering wheel) and inherently poor monitors.”5 Sully’s argument as the doer and the human will only be able to operate in a small area. is that the driver should retain control and the Specialised full-sized passenger vehicles capable system should only intervene at the points component as the monitor, of driving around a specifc city will come when their concentration wanes; an idea we’re doing it backwards. next. Ford has already committed to produce similar to the ‘Guardian mode’ proposed by a Level 4 vehicle for use in a ‘ridesharing feet’ Toyota6. Tis highlights that the development Humans are inherently poor by 20217; other manufacturers have made of autonomous vehicles is not homogenous monitors.” similar commitments. Ridesharing vehicles or across the industry; diferent companies ‘Robo-Taxis’ are likely to be introduced ahead have and will take diferent approaches. Chesley Sullenberger of privately owned AVs as the cost of Level Te Level 3 autonomous experience could 4 AVs will initially be quite high (less of a vary signifcantly between diferent makes problem for feet operators with high levels of of vehicle, and the way an AV behaves may become as much of a unique selling point in the coming years as infotainment systems and heated seats are now. It’s not until we reach Level 4 that cars will really be capable of operating in a way that most people would actually consider autonomous. Level 4 vehicles are capable of driving completely unaided within a fxed geographical area. Tis area could be something as small as a building site, or as large as a continent. However, mass implementation of Level 4 vehicles will probably start with a geographic area based around specifc cities. If a Level 3 AV is like a learner driver, then a Level 4 AV is like a driver who has recently passed their test: confdent driving on familiar roads, but still a bit nervous on roads further

afeld. While Level 4 AVs won’t come supplied Project Image courtesy of the GATEway with P plates, there’s still the potential for a GATEway, a ground-breaking government funded research programme, was the frst human to need to take control if the vehicle project of its kind to explore the public’s hopes, fears and attitudes towards autonomous goes outside the known or ‘fenced’ geographic vehicles, through inviting them to be part of trials with prototype technologies and area. If it stays in the control area, these services. Research streams included: simulation trials; observations of pedestrian behavioural interactions with driverless vehicles; automated grocery delivery trials and a vehicles should be able to drive around with public shuttle service at the Greenwich Peninsula (shown in image). Early results indicates no human involvement. broad support (78%) for the idea of driverless vehicles on urban streets, provided they are Te frst Level 4 vehicles will be slow safe and resistant to cyber attack. For more details visit https://gateway-project.org.uk

Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2018 15 FEATURES utilisation) and their city-sized ‘fence’ makes them more suited to shuttling people around a city than commuting into it. While 2021 seems very soon, it is entirely possible that this could be achieved. Google’s AV subsidiary have clocked up over 4 million miles of driving in Level 4 AVs8 and will very soon be launching a trial ridesharing service of Level 4 AVs in Phoenix, Arizona9. Cruise (a startup acquired by General Motors), are already running a ridesharing service for their staf in San Francisco10, and nuTonomy have been running a trial service in Singapore for over a year11. In a recent debate Cruise Automation’s CEO stated that “there’s a path to a solution for all the technical challenges”12 Image: Waymo Image: currently facing AV development. Such Waymo’s fully self-driving Chrysler Pacifca Hybrid minivan on public roads sentiments are echoed by many within the feld, with most stating the ability to scale to ability to control the vehicle, but the ability Such ambiguity will likely be addressed by mass production, cost and public acceptance to operate in new and unusual situations. It subdividing or refning the Levels of Autonomy as the main limitations on the speed at which is important to stress here that it is unlikely as the technology matures. Regardless of Level 4 AVs can be deployed. Time will tell that any autonomous vehicle will ever be able where the lines are drawn, there will be a how much of this is hyperbole and attempts to handle absolutely every situation, just as point (probably within the next decade in the to grab media attention, but the truth of the it is highly unlikely that any person will ever developed world) where we will be able to get matter is that Level 4 AVs are already among be able to handle every extreme situation. I into a car and the only input we will need to us, albeit in limited numbers. Te important for one am pretty sure I would not be able make is to specify the destination. Tis is what question now is how fast these vehicles will roll to navigate the death road in Bolivia by car I refer to as ‘functional autonomy’, the point at out, not whether they are physically possible. (see below left) on my frst attempt, and which a vehicle can act entirely autonomously Level 4 though is still just a stepping stone similarly Level 5 AVs will still occasionally for a normal human journey. Tis doesn’t on the way to the holy grail: Level 5, a vehicle get confused by a few new, unique and highly mean that every car on the road in 10 years which is able to drive itself with no human unusual situations, or ‘edge cases’ as they are will be functionally autonomous, it could take interaction in almost any situation. While commonly referred to. decades for AVs to become the dominant road this may sound clear, the point at which Level Tat said Level 5 AVs will most likely have vehicle, but it will happen. 4 ends and Level 5 begins is up for debate. If the ability to communicate, so an awkward a vehicle can drive across an entire continent, situation for one vehicle could become a The drive for autonomy but no other continents, it is still technically learning experience for the rest of the feet. In So far we’ve covered the ‘what’ of AVs, and Level 4; and yet to the average American (who reality Level 5 AVs will probably be less likely to ‘when’, but we haven’t explored ‘why’. Te is unlikely to ever take their car to a foreign get caught out than their human counterparts, primary reason most people cite for this country) a car that could do this would never but people will be far less forgiving of these endeavour is safety: according to the World need their intervention. Personally, for now, machines than they would of human beings. Health Organisation road accidents are the I defne Level 5 as a vehicle that is capable of One issue that has yet to be resolved with 10th largest cause of deaths worldwide15. In driving as well, or better, than a good human regards to AV driving performance is how some countries, like America, the number driver. Tis shouldn’t just encompass the good is good enough? What unit of measure of road accidents and associated deaths are should be used to defne how capable and actually on the rise again, after many years how safe an autonomous vehicle is? How do of decline16. It is widely reported that more you compare this measure to the performance than 90% of road accidents are caused by of human beings? How much better than a human error17. Te main reason experts think human being does an AV need to be before accidents are on the rise is because people are people will feel confdent enough to use it? getting more distracted with devices like smart Te ambiguity surrounding Level 5 AVs phones. So it would seem we are generally not make it difcult to evaluate claims relating as good at driving as we’d like to think, and to their development. At the optimistic end some would prefer to check their phones more of the spectrum, BMW suggested that they than concentrate on the road ahead. would be producing Level 5 AVs by 202113. Tese issues are alarming, and a clear Meanwhile Gill Pratt of Toyota’s Research mandate for change, but many articles greatly Institute thinks it may be decades before it oversimplify the situation. Autonomous cars will be possible to make Level 5 vehicles a are often touted as a panacea that will solve reality14. Tis dramatic disparity is partly due this problem overnight. However to realise to diferent interpretations of what Level 5 a 90% reduction in vehicle accidents would

Image: Ilosuna (via Wikimedia) Ilosuna (via Image: means; if we use a strict defnition of Level 5 mean removing all human error from driving, The North Yungas Road (also known as then Gill Pratt is almost certainly correct, it which would mean replacing all driven Death Road) in the Yungas region of will take decades to develop an autonomous vehicles with functionally autonomous ones. Bolivia connects La Paz to Coroico, 56 vehicle that is capable of driving in all Frankly this isn’t going to happen soon (if at kilometres away, winding through very conditions across the entire world. However, all), with even optimistic projections seeing steep hillsides and clifftops. Most of as stated previously, it is entirely plausible only about 85% of road trafc replaced by the road is the width of a single vehicle, 18 alongside a sheer drop of up to 600 metres that within the next decade a vehicle could AVs by 2040 . AVs will most likely reduce with no guard rails. In 1995 the Inter- be developed that could traverse a continent the number of accidents and road deaths, but American Development Bank named it as unaided, which is probably what BMW are it will be a gradual downward trend, not a the “world’s most dangerous road”. using as a defnition. massive sudden drop.

16 Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2018 FEATURES While safety is a clear reason to implement AVs, it is not the primary force that will drive adoption. As outspoken automotive expert Alex Roy recently wrote, “Does anyone really care about safety? Nope.”19 Te harsh truth is that Alex is right, as a society we are more than happy to accept the deadly cost of cars in return for the freedom they aford, and a large number of people will very vehemently defend their right to operate driven vehicles if anything threatened that. More people are killed by cars in America each year than

20 Uber Image: by guns , and we all know how strong the Uber have been testing autonomous driving using XC90 SUVs in Arizona opposition to gun control is in the United States. Imagine the backlash if someone Fallout from the Uber accident attempted to introduce legislation that sought Not long after this article was written we to curtail human operated automobiles from heard the news of the tragic death of Elaine more than 90% of road the roads. Herzberg after she was hit by an autonomous accidents are caused by While some countries will be more receptive Uber test vehicle driving on the streets of to the safety argument, the simple fact is that Arizona. While unfortunate, for many in the human error extolling the safety benefts of AVs is not the industry this day was seen as inevitable; and way to ‘sell’ them to the world. People need while that is probably true (there will always be to trust these vehicles (which they currently Want to know more? unpreventable accidents), the circumstances If you want to fnd out more about AVs, John don’t21), and see that they will provide an around this particular accident are particularly has provided the following background reading actual beneft to their lives. In some ways troubling as both the vehicle, and the ‘safety (linked to footnote numbers in the text). the industry is not helping itself here, with driver’ meant to monitor that vehicle, failed 1. As a well publicised Tesla crash last year showed: the rush to beat the competition to market to spot Mrs. Herzberg. While I would argue http://bit.ly/IE28-AV-TeslaCrash perhaps overtaking safety concerns for some; against some of the more extreme reactions 2. As discussed in this article: a criticism that has been levelled at a number that have been aired since the accident, calling http://bit.ly/IE28-AV-Ford of companies like Tesla and Uber. Reporting 3. See Tesla’s announcement here: for AVs to be banned, I think this event has http://bit.ly/1E28-AV-Tesla-HW on AVs has already become surprisingly brought to a head many issues that have not 4. http://bit.ly/IE28-AV-Tesla-Autopilot polarised, with a wealth of articles over- been adequately resolved. Now should be the 5. http://bit.ly/IE28-AV-Sully hyping the technology and its capabilities, time to pause and consider them. 6. A video demonstrating Toyota’s Guardian mode is and an equal number extolling catastrophic Te words of Sully Sullenberger ring available on YouTube: future predictions. If all the articles are to http://bit.ly/IE28-AV-Guardian truer now than ever, and highlight that the 7. http://bit.ly/IE28-AV-Ford-2021 be believed AVs are going to solve all trafc companies developing these vehicles could 8. http://bit.ly/IE28-AV-Waymo-4M – this does problems, give everyone more leisure time and be doing more to safeguard them. Some not include the many miles Waymo vehicles have save our cities from congestion and pollution, organisations have been too quick to put travelled on private roads at their ‘Castle’ research whilst simultaneously destroying the fabric of these vehicles on public roads without enough centre, or the billions of simulated miles driven in society as we know it, killing innocent people their ‘Carcraft’ simulation software: evidence to show that they can operate safely. http://bit.ly/IE28-Waymo-Testing and putting millions of people out of work. Beyond this though we also need to think 9. http://bit.ly/IE28-AV-Waymo-Taxi Tere are lots of articles that attempt to more critically about the rules governing 10. http://bit.ly/IE28-AV-Cruise-SF address all the ethical questions raised by autonomous vehicles; it’s time we defned 11. http://bit.ly/IE28-AV-nuTonomy-SG autonomous vehicles and their potential what ‘safe’ is for a self driving car, and how 12. http://bit.ly/IE28-AV-Vogt – Kyle Vogt talking on a panel discussion hosted by Alan Ohnsman, Senior impacts on the future of society, but many of we measure it. We need more rules in place these articles are far more opinion than fact. Editor, Future Mobility, Forbes Magazine to be sure that a vehicle is not a risk to the 13. http://bit.ly/IE28-AV-BMW-2021 Te truth is that no-one really knows how it’s public before it is deployed on a public street. 14. http://bit.ly/IE28-AV-Pratt all going to play out; autonomous vehicles are We also need to make sure that companies 15. http://bit.ly/IE28-AV-WHO a new tool and it depends how that tool is used are really considering how they design these 16. http://bit.ly/IE28-AV-US-roads 17. http://bit.ly/IE28-AV-Human-Error as to how our future will be shaped by them. systems, and are implementing autonomy in a Te key going forward is to focus debate on 18. http://bit.ly/IE28-AV-Trends – see exhibit 2 in this way that genuinely improves safety. report for AV adoption projections how these tools can genuinely help improve What we must remember though, is that 19. http://bit.ly/IE28-AV-Roy our lives (not a company’s bottom line), and the same day Elaine Herzberg was killed, over 20. The annual average is 33,000 firearm related deaths design efective systems to ensure that this sort 3,400 people across the globe were killed by per year: http://bit.ly/IE28-AV-US-Guns of usage is encouraged and supported. regular human-driven cars. Te potential For me, the potential wins for AVs are the compared to around 40,000 car related deaths: to save that many lives is a worthy goal, but http://bit.ly/IE28-AV-US-Traffic fact that they can give elderly and disabled it has been made clear now that we cannot 21. http://bit.ly/IE28-AV-Distrust – Public opinion is members of our society (approximately 30% assume that the safety element of AVs is a shifting, but even the most recent surveys still see of our population) a level of independence given, we need to do more to make sure Elaine more than half of respondents stating they would not use an AV they have never experienced before; they Herzberg’s death was not in vain. could improve trafc fows making it much quicker and easier to travel; they could trigger John Routledge is an alumnus of the Innovation Design Engineering infrastructure changes with efcient trafc Double Masters degree run jointly by Imperial College and the fows allowing more space to be given to Royal College of Art. Prior to his studies John spent several years pedestrians and cyclists; and they could create working for Ford Motor Company in their Product Development more sustainable transport systems. Most department. Since graduating John has developed expertise in importantly though, they’d allow me to take the areas of Autonomous Driving and and a nap on my regular commutes up and down has been working as a Design Innovation Consultant, working the M1, and I really can’t wait for that. primarily with a UK based OEM.

Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2018 17 FEATURES ES&E Geophysics Society

Both RSMA and CGCA contributed towards the costs of the Department of Earth Science and Engineering Geophysics Society trip to Indonesia in the summer of 2017. Tis ‘diary’ is based on the students’ report of their experience.

1st to 2nd July 2017 – Days 1 & 2 before the light show however, there was how Singapore has such a diverse range of Today we few from London Heathrow to another display to behold, the bats in the cultures and lifestyles. Singapore via . Te fight with Emirates garden came out from their hiding places and After this the rain had stopped so we walked was very nice, and a lot of flms were watched. were swooping down scarily close to where back to the Gardens by the Bay and went inside We landed in the morning at Singapore so we were sitting. (Robbie was least pleased one of the large conservatories that they have. there was no time to sleep or let jet lag hit us, with this, having his fip fops on his hands Tey have two but we were mostly interested we went straight into tourist mode (consisting in case any few too close to him, so he could in the cloud observatory as it highlighted mainly of complaining about the humidity!) bat them away!). After the light show we had how the meteorology afects animals, fora and made our way to the hostel which was in to walk back to the hostel, and go a long way and fauna as the altitude increases. We made Little India. After leaving our bags we went to round as the normal route was blocked of due sure to pay attention so that we could try to a local street food market where we could get a to Singapore celebrating their independence recognise things when we were climbing Mt huge platter of Indian cuisine for only 3 dollars with a concert on the bay front. Our feet all Sibayak. After this we went to Little China for (about £1.50)! After this we all walked down ached, our eyes were heavy, so when we made lunch and wandered around the area. to the harbour front where the Marina Bay it back to the hostel we fell asleep instantly! Today was Ed’s birthday, so in the evening Sands hotel is located, a huge 3 tower hotel A remarkably successful frst day considering we went to Clarkes Quay which is a pretty with a ‘boat’ supported on the top. Around how sleepy everybody was! area with restaurants on the water. We went the base of this is an area called the Gardens by for Vietnamese food in a place called Little the Bay, which is a conservation efort by the 3rd July 2017 – Day 3 Saigon. It had great food and an even better Singapore government to integrate wildlife Today it was raining very heavily in the live band, (they also learnt Country Roads for into a city environment. We wandered around morning, and we all breathed a sigh of relief us so we were happy!). Te day was a great the gardens and sat on the grass and within in the hope that it meant the humidity would success. Tomorrow we leave for Indonesia! less than 5 minutes almost everybody had drop. Unfortunately, however, it didn’t. It fallen asleep. Steve somehow managed to fall was somehow still as humid after the rain as 4th July 2017 – Day 4 asleep in a crunch position?! At some point, it was before. We had planned to go to the We started the day early to catch our fight we found some motivation to go look at a national museum as we knew it had a section from Singapore to Indonesia; everyone was statue of a giant baby and get some dinner on the geological history of Singapore. When very excited to move onto somewhere new! in a nearby restaurant as we were waiting for we got there it had great air conditioning and We arrived in Beristagi after a couple of hours a light show that uses the artifcial trees in was also a very well laid out and descriptive drive and a pit stop for lunch where we frst the garden. Te light show was good, it was museum. We learnt a lot about Singapore’s encountered some traditional Indonesian done in time to songs from history, which most of us had never had the cuisine. We ordered some lovely Nasi Goreng musicals. Just opportunity to learn about before. and Mie Goreng, little did we know this was all It highlighted we’d be eating for the next two weeks… Once we got to Beristagi we decided to walk around the town to visit the local market and go in search of a local hot spring. Unfortunately Google lied and ‘Hot spring Nicole’ did not exist, so we headed back to the hotel for a dip in the pool and some more Nasi Goreng.

5th July 2017 – Day 5 After a lovely night’s sleep in our fancy hotel room we had another early start in preparation for an action-packed day. Following breakfast of Nasi Goreng at 7:00am we were Photo of Lake Toba by Emma Pearce by Toba Photo of Lake

18 Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2018 FEATURES trip to Indonesia 2017 picked up by our tour guides at the hotel and island. We were taken around by a lovely adventurous group beelined past local vendors transported to the base of Mt Sibayak. Te tour guide who took us to a traditional Batak to Starbucks for a cafeine hit before proceeding walk to the top of the 2,200m mountain took village and to interesting geological sites on through security with our full beverages in about 3 hours with quite a steep initial ascent the island, such as a volcanic rock formation, hand to the plane. A short island hop from through a forest. Once we were an hour from the hot springs and the new active volcano Sumatra to Batam and then back to Sumatra the top, the forest thinned out and the views that is forming at the edge of the island. Te gave great aerial views of the landscape and were amazing, we could catch a glimpse of Mt day was topped of by a quick dip in Lake displayed the blatant human impact on the Sinabung, currently Indonesia’s most active Toba itself, which was an incredible chance to environment below. After landing we boarded volcano. As we walked up to the summit we take in the sheer scale of the lake and how big a coach that would become our temporary were met with active fumaroles and sulphur the volcano would have been. home for the rest of the day, driving down to crusted rock fragments. Te scramble to the the southern tip of Sumatra before catching a summit was worth it, the views of the crater 7th July 2017 – Day 7 ferry to Java then driving on to Bandung. on Sibayak, Mt Sinabung and the forest-flled Today we went on a jungle trek into an area I use the word coach lightly, perhaps it valley were breathtaking. After we were back of protected rainforest near Lake Toba. Te should have been called a roving hotbed due at the hotel, we were bundled into taxis and hike enabled us to learn about the fora and to the infestation of militant mosquitoes headed on our way to Sipisopiso waterfall. Tis fauna of the region, visit ‘Tarzan’s house’, forming a resistance against their unwelcome was a quick journey, just enough rest after our see a gibbon and swim in a waterfall. In the new co-inhabitants. Te frst hours spent active morning. Sipisopiso waterfall is located afternoon, we jumped into our transport just on the peripatetic breeding ground were an on the tip of Lake Toba and the view we were before the tropical heavens opened and drove almighty struggle between human and pest, initially greeted with was again amazing. Te to Medan. successive waves of mosquitoes originating view of the lake didn’t look real, a beautiful from every recess fought of valiantly by setting for lunch! After refuelling we began 8th July 2017 – Day 8 the explorers the walk down to the bottom of the waterfall, Having awoken at an ungodly hour, a feet this took about 45 minutes and by the end we of taxis dropped us of at Medan airport to were cooled of by the spray of the water into commence our 18-hour journey the plunge pool. After only staying there for to Bandung. Te about fve minutes we were drenched, at least audacious and it kept us cool on the journey back to the top! Once we’d all arrived at the top we continued our journey onto our accommodation at Lake Toba.

6th July 2017 – Day 6 Lake Toba is Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake, and the largest caldera lake in the world. It was formed about 80,000 years ago by a volcanic eruption: the caldera that was created eventually collapsed in on itself and the high-sided basin that remained flled with water to form the lake. Tis eruption is believed to be the largest in history. A second, smaller volcanic eruption, 50,000 years after the frst, created an island the size of Singapore in the middle of the lake. Tis island is Pulau Samosir. Today we got the ferry across to Samosir to learn about Batak culture and visit the volcanically active region of the

Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2018 19 FEATURES as we approached the sea port. in parts to Bali where he will assemble it 11th &12th July 2017 – Days 11 & 12 Little respite was to be had on the packed- next year (hopefully!). Our tour guide at the It was the day we had all been waiting for – out boat either as the only place with enough museum then took us to one of his favourite the boat trip to Krakatoa! Krakatoa is a set of spare oxygen to breathe was the front deck. restaurants in the city where we had a lovely volcanic islands around 50km of the West However the views were spectacular and selection of Indonesian and western food to coast of Java which were formed due to the found their way on to many an Instagram choose from. eruption of a much larger island in 1883. feed. After a frantic disembarkation, we settled Bronwen and Sophie were throwing up before in for a long ride to Bandung. Having sufered 10th July 2017 – Day 10 we even got on the boat (something they had major losses in the initial clashes on the bus, An early start today to check out of our hotel eaten the night before) and were swiftly joined the federation of assorted winged insects and head to the Centre for Volcanology and by other members of the team who weren’t resorted to guerrilla warfare, however small- Geological Hazard Mitigation (CVGHM) huge fans of the 1.5 hr boat ride! Te journey scale skirmishes were resolved quickly with for presentations and a tour around their was a more beautiful experience than we could the use of repellent and improvised swatters. geological museum. Tis was a very interesting have ever imagined. Te boat chugged its way Te humans, triumphant, regrouped and formal experience. Te presentation topics through the deep blue waters of the Indian and we decided to toast our success with a included volcanic hazard mitigation, landslide Ocean, past steep-sided islands smothered in succulent KFC just past . In the queue monitoring and earthquake monitoring. All of rainforest and volcanoes blackened by recent for the moist and zingy chicken we discussed which our group has studied so we had lots of eruptions. Te island we were visiting, Anak a great deal of things: does Singapore really questions at the end leading to long discussion Krakatau, was only 90 years old and was have the tallest indoor waterfall? Has Charlie with those from the centre. We were able to uninhabited – except for a few giant monitor instagrammed the Colonel’s iconic logo yet? gain valuable insight into some of the things lizards which we spotted later on (thinking at Would we have won the battle with the bugs we had seen on Mt. Sinabung like previous frst they were deadly komodo dragons!). We earlier had we not been asphyxiated by the eruptions and landslides. Te tour around set up camp on the beach in the shade of the DEET? the geological museum was lovely, they had a jungle. Tat afternoon was spent snorkelling, As we chomped down on the crispy fllets range of exhibits from fossils to an earthquake hiking and eating freshly cooked food (plus we refected on our favourite memories simulator. Although I think Charlie’s favourite Oreos and funky Indonesian biscuits – these from Sumatra and pondered on what Java bit was the gift shop where he picked up a were always on the menu). In the evening we had in store for us. Te trip so far had been plethora of souvenirs. Afterwards we were hiked up to the volcano to watch the sunset, astounding and sufce to say we couldn’t wait promptly picked up by a tour guide and which was out of this world! To top of an for a comfortable bed to rejuvenate us for the taken out of the city to visit the Tangkuban incredible day, the guides even brought out next part of the trip. Perahu volcanic crater. Tangkuban Perahu is a Bintangs at dinner (along with some stratovolcano about 30km north of Bandung tasty freshly-caught seafood)! Te 9th July 2017 – Day 9 so we thought the journey was going to be one following morning we were promised Today we explored Bandung, walking into of the quicker of the trip, however the vast that a 5.30am wake up was worth the the centre of town from our accommodation. extent of the trafc anywhere in Indonesia beautiful sunrise we would apparently be Unfortunately as it was a Sunday there wasn’t never failed to surprise us. So we arrived at the able to see with a short hike up out of the a lot open so we decided to try to visit a nearby crater about 2 hours after departing. We were rainforest. Tis was a lie – it was probably waterfall and volcanic hot springs. Although dropped of near the top, so the walk to the the worst sunrise I have EVER seen – the sun on arriving back at the hotel we were told that crater rim was not too strenuous. Once at the didn’t actually become visible and this was not possible either. However, all hope top the views were brilliant and we wandered was hidden the whole time was not lost when we discovered a nearby around to all the viewing platforms. After a by a curtain of cloud. sculpture museum. Te museum itself was long day we once again hopped on our coach, To apologise for really fun and there was a lot to see. As we this time not mosquito-infested, and headed the early were walking around we actually bumped into to Jakarta. the artist who had made the majority of the outside sculptures and he gave us a guided a tour around them. We were then taken down into his workshop where he is in the process of completing a currently 20-year-old project for a sculpture that will be bigger than the statue of Liberty! Tis statue is being transported Photo of Krakatoa by Charles Braham Photo of Krakatoa by

20 Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2018 FEATURES wake up, the guides decided they would take difcult. Over an hour later we were all safe in 14th July 2017 – Day 14 us to climb the volcano – insisting that the Ubers on the way to the University, now racing Sadly, today was our last full day. After a very top really would be worth it! And how right against the clock with only 30 minutes exactly early start and an early morning fight from they were! It felt like being on another planet, left to get there. Unfortunately, some of the Jakarta, we arrived back in Singapore. We with sulphur plumes and yellow stained rocks Uber drivers didn’t know the streets of Jakarta dumped our stuf at the footprints hostel before rising up against a stunning backdrop of the as well as they initially thought and took heading of to lunch. A group of us headed other volcanic islands. After a climb back many a wrong turning causing two groups to to the Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle stall, down, breakfast and a pack up of tents, we arrive 40 minutes late. Luckily the people at a Michelin star street food stall. After almost left to explore another island. Tis was just the university were very understanding and an hour, we got served and sat down to really as jaw-dropping as the frst! After a morning insisted that we wait for everyone to begin. tasty noodles. Whilst the others got dinner, we exploring and snorkelling we really saw the We were given a presentation on Geothermal made a stop of at the Harbour front, for lots impact of climate on the coral reefs with energy production in Indonesia and the of touristy photos, and iconic Fort Canning widespread bleaching opening up before us. research going into how to extract energy from Park before joining everyone. Once we had all After tucking into some more funny food, it their plethora of volcanoes on the Islands. regrouped we decided to go to little Saigon, was time to head back to mainland Java. Next Afterwards there was a lengthy Q&A session as we had had such a great time last time. We stop Jakarta! with the speaker, not only due to the Imperial did the eagerly awaited group awards and had students but also students from Pertamina a few cocktails then moved to Cafe Iguana for 13th July 2017 – Day 13 university who attended the talk. Once the a late night Mexican snack and margaritas. After only just arriving in Jakarta we were up ofcial talk was over, the organiser of the event Once again we went back to Little Saigon for early for a full day of activities. Deciding that asked us if we could share our experience as a the live music, where we stayed for the rest of we were sick of sitting in taxis and cars and society that we have had on our trip and also the evening before heading back to the hostel coaches and any other form of motorised vehicle the day to day workings of the society. Tis was for a few hours sleep before the long trek back. we decided to walk to our frst destination, to aid the geophysics students of Pertamina to Te Meteorological, Climatological and set up their own equivalent society soon, as 15th July 2017 – Day 15 Geophysical Agency (BKMG). Tis was a the university is only one year old so no such After all the excitement, it was an emotional mere 50 minute walk, not much further societies exist. It was really good to interact goodbye to South East Asia. We’d all had an than most commutes into university every with the students and academic staf, we were unforgettable trip with plenty of once in a day. However, what we didn’t account for able to share our experiences to help them lifetime experiences! We were able to see four was the lack of infrastructure available for to become a successful society. Te people at volcanoes. Two of those infamous for causing the mere pedestrian. Needless to say we had Pertamina were absolutely lovely and I think the largest eruption, and the largest tsunami, many strange looks whilst 20 seemingly lost we have made a good grounding for future ever. Tese experiences couldn’t have been students trundled their way along the streets relations with them, whether it be an exchange had in Europe, let alone the UK, and were of Jakarta. We did eventually make it to our of some kind or research collaborations. inspiring for all. We all learnt a great deal destination bang on 9am and were greeted After this a PhD student actually studying at about the Pacifc ring of fre, and what the by a lovely group of people who were very Imperial, originally from Indonesia, took us Indonesian government are doing to mitigate keen to show us their earthquake simulator; out for dinner to a local mall. It was again great against the risks of living on it. obviously we all had to have a go. After the to chat with him and talk about his research initial fun we got down to business and the links between Imperial and Pertamina. Since people at the institute gave presentations on this was our last night in Indonesia and we diferent techniques they use to assess and had barely a chance to buy any souvenirs we monitor Tsunami and earthquake hazard in headed to the night market in the centre of Indonesia and the wider reaches of the Indian town. Tis really didn’t disappoint, it was full Ocean. We were also given a whistle-stop of everything and anything you could think tour of their Tsunami early warning centre of, from food to tattoo artists. It was nice to systems. Again we had lots of questions to wander around and see the city at night. ask about the techniques and technology they Photo: Robbie Churchill Photo: were using. To top the day of they showed On Anak Krakatau us around their seismometer museum where they held some of the oldest seismometers in South East Asia. We had a great morning and everyone there was so welcoming. Again, we set of on foot in search of some lunch, and we ended up at a nearby shopping centre on the recommendation of the people at BKMG. Initially we were quite sceptical of the legitimacy of the claim that there was a food court at this place, however after searching 5 foors of the deserted self-storage section of the building we eventually stumbled upon the hustle and bustle of the lunch-time trafc in the food court. Tere was a big selection of food so we all managed to fnd something we liked, even in the form of deep fried ice cream…? I’m still confused. Te day had gone all to plan, and we had plenty of time to get to our next destination, Pertamina University, on time. However, we did not factor in the fact that this shopping centre was not a regular stop of for taxis, so sourcing transport for Photo: Geophysics Society Geophysics Photo: our half an hour journey began to prove very On Mt Sibayak

Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2018 21 FEATURES RED Project

In the Spring 2017 issue of Imperial ENGINEER we featured an article by Jana Tian, one of the volunteers on the pilot expedition for the Rural Education Development (RED) Project, a student-led project established at Imperial in 2015, that centres on sustainable educational development in rural and marginalised Bornean communities. Founded in the department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, the primary focus is on the development of educational infrastructure in communities to which they reach out. With a strong aspiration to integrate engineering and education in the project, they collaborate closely with a local project partner, Life Empowerment Berhad (LEB), to realise educational development in Borneo. Below is an article based on the summer 2017 expedition report from the RED project team. Find out more at https://www.redprojectborneo.com

We encourage the application of skills and electrical demand. with LEB enabled RED to complete a single knowledge learnt by providing Imperial Tis project was developed under the storey 6 m by 9 m kindergarten in 6 weeks. students avenues to develop transferable skills invaluable advisory of Dr. Ekins Daukes from Tis project was the culmination of and gain practical experience. the Imperial College Department of Physics. dedication from RED members and generous During the academic term, students With kind support from Dr. Julie Varley and support from the Institution of Civil Engineers, participate in college-wide fundraising and Mr. Vim Patel, a prototype was built in the City and Guilds College Association, Imperial devise strategies for project development. mechatronics laboratory at Imperial. College Union, IC Trust and the Department Over the summer, students volunteer in With the functional prototype assembled, it of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Borneo to build an education centre for the provides a solid groundwork for future project Imperial. underprivileged. expansion and adaptation. We envision Once again, our 2017 project received potential collaborations with other societies returning support from all those institutions. Fundraising in the Community Action Group (CAG) to Together with immense fnancial sponsorship In addition to grant applications, we organised take place. from the Happold Foundation and the fundraising and publicity events such as Victoria League for Commonwealth college-wide sales and a charity dinner. Our History Friendship, we successfully touched the lives members dedicated themselves to the design Summer 2015 feasibility studies of rural communities in Kampung Palipikan of Christmas cards, which were sold to college Founded in 2015, RED’s frst overseas outreach through a 5-week expedition in summer 2017. members and staf. dates from the summer of the same year when Our major fundraising event was the founders Edrea Pan, Chole Detanger and Jack Summer 2017 second project joint charity dinner with student societies Wilkinson embarked on a 3-week Bornean Background at Imperial: namely Enactus Imperial, expedition to Kampung Indarasan in Sabah. A group of eighteen volunteers from Imperial Raincatcher Imperial, Engineers Without Te expedition aimed at gauging the travelled to Sabah in Malaysian Borneo for fve Borders and TedEx Imperial. It was an end-of- feasibility of volunteering in rural Sabah weeks, to construct a kindergarten for a native term event in December 2016 which allowed by assessing the region’s climate, geological Dusun community in Kampung Palipikan. A members across diferent societies to share conditions and availability of local sustainably- tranquil village in the Kota Marudu district, their volunteering experience whilst indulging sourced construction material. Kampung Palipikan is in the northern region themselves with exquisite Malaysian cuisine at Furthermore, needs assessment was also of the Sabah state and houses about 500 Melur London. carried out to channel essential input into people. We managed to garner support from the the 2016 summer expedition. Te needs Two rivers, namely Sungai Palipikan and Imperial College Malaysian Society (ICMS) assessment was crucial in planning social Sungai Kanarom, isolate Kampung Palipikan for college outreach programmes and publicity. services that address educational demands from the nearest town, Kota Marudu, making We foresee that this will in future enable RED from the underprivileged in Borneo. the village geographically less strategic for trade to gain greater exposure among freshers for and infrastructural development. Te village is recruitment, which would help expand RED’s Summer 2016 pilot project accessible by vehicles through gravel roads that membership and increase participation from Building on the 2015 feasibility studies, RED cut through a commercial palm oil plantation. Malaysian students. launched its pilot project in Ranau, Sabah with Alternatively, a shorter path passing through fourteen Imperial students. Strong partnership hanging foot bridges that span over the two Student engineering From the successful 2016 pilot project, we drew on invaluable engineering experience in Borneo to improve on the current expedition whilst upholding RED’s core values. To enhance the environmental sustainability of this project, RED innovated on green technologies such as of-grid solar panel system and rainwater harvesting technique. Solar panel system A 7-member project development team explored an of-grid solar panel system. Te solar panel system has the fexibility of tapping into an existing 230 V power grid, allowing maintenance on the solar panel system to take place without interrupting power supply. In addition, occupants can also resort to the power grid for electricity when the power output from the solar panels is unable to meet

22 Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2018 FEATURES Summer Expedition 2017

From project initiation to completion, we made sure that the following core aspects were upheld: 1. Educational Infrastructure With the nearest public schools located an hour away on foot, remoteness of the Kampung Palipikan fuelled the need for an education centre. To attend classes, the Palipikan children trekked treacherous terrains and crossed wobbly hanging bridges. By bringing an education centre into Kampung Palipikan, travel time for the local children reduces. According to Mr Metto bin Mositoh, there is a signifcant number of neighbouring villages that are deprived of basic educational infrastructure. Tus, the education centre also ofers children from more remote villages opportunities to pursue elementary education. The completed kindergarten 2. Safety Locals that we worked alongside on the rivers can be taken. Tis was when RED stepped in, with the project are seasoned builders, adept at According to the head of the village, Mr objective of constructing a multi-purpose building traditional wooden houses. Reliant Metto bin Mositoh, most of the villagers infrastructure serving not only as an education heavily on past construction experience in Kampung Palipikan are rubber tappers centre for children, but also as a learning area with timber structure, most of the existing and farmers. To shorten travel distance, the for teenagers and adults. In collaboration with traditional houses were built with no fxed hanging bridges are used for transporting LEB, RED worked together with the villagers guidelines. To introduce safe building agricultural produce to Kota Marudu. With to bring the project to fruition. practices to the Palipikan villagers, together monthly income per household of the village We believe that working together with with LEB, we implemented building designs averaging at RM 450 (about £80), which is locals in championing educational equity is that were in compliance with the Eurocode well below the regional mean of RM 4879 integral to sustainable development. Involving regulations. Tis is also to ensure that the (Department of Statistics , 2014), the the Palipikan villagers in the construction gave education centre functions throughout its villagers lead a frugal lifestyle to ensure that them ownership of the project, thus ensuring design life in a serviceable state. Moreover, the their children have access to education. that the kindergarten will be put to good use structural designs were also given considerable A stalwart supporter of good education, and maintained after handover. adaptations so that they were well suited for Mr Metto bin Mositoh had been relentless in In continuation of our efort in educational the tropical climate in Kampung Palipikan. lobbying for support to equip the village with empowerment, LEB sponsored teachers 3. Sustainability an education centre. In the past, a community to teach in Kampung Palipikan after the To achieve efective project implementation, centre was used to conduct elementary classes. kindergarten was constructed, allowing we put great emphasis on functional, safe and However, the community centre needed students in the rural community to receive sustainable design solutions. Construction expansion to meet the growing number educational support essential in fulflling their material and equipment were sourced locally of students in the village and from the scholarly pursuits. to ensure that the project contributes to the neighbouring Paliu Sumbu village. local economy. As the supply chain shortens, delivery times reduce, thus saving logistical cost and avoiding delay in material supply. To boost the project’s environmental sustainability credentials, solar panels and a rainwater harvesting tank were installed. Te green technologies give the locals exposure to harnessing the solar and water resources that are in abundance in tropical Borneo. 4. Learning experience for volunteers During the expedition, volunteers gained frst-hand project planning and construction experience, thus allowing them to not only consolidate engineering knowledge acquired at Imperial, but more importantly hone their transferable skills and problem-solving techniques. As the volunteers stayed in Kampung Palipikan throughout the expedition, exploring local culture and interacting with the local communities also enriched their

Photos courtesy of RED Project volunteering experience. We were always in the company of the Palipikan children, whose boundless enthusiasm, admirable conduct and great optimism coloured our expedition.

Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2018 23 FEATURES 5. Exchange of knowledge monsoon season in Borneo posed signifcant Progressing into the second week, we Te usage of pre-fabricated materials aligned challenges to our project as torrential rain decided to push for roof construction to with our pursuit of sustainable building disrupted our work. Recognising the evening reduce time working under scorching heat, solutions and eliminated the need for intensive rain pattern, we woke up before dawn to have with slab pour carried out simultaneously. Te labour. Pre-fabricated components such as an early start to our daily tasks. With more main supporting elements for the roof were cement wall panels and gypsum boards were productive working hours, uninterrupted by steel tie beams that ran along the longer sides incorporated into the construction of interior the intermittent evening rain, we ploughed of the kindergarten. and exterior walls, while pre-manufactured and moved soil to make the ground ready for Roof trusses were assembled on fat ground steel frames were used for roof truss assembly. concreting. before being lifted onto the tie beams. Te With simplifed building processes, inherent Once ground levelling was completed, roof construction met with a major hindrance, construction hazard was minimised, thus boundaries of the site were marked with which impeded our progress. For the tie beams creating a safer environment for volunteers wooden planks: to be attached to the vertical columns, welding to apply their engineering skills. Working was required. However, as the welding process alongside skilled Palipikan villagers promoted demanded large electric current, the welding technical skills exchange, allowing volunteers set strained the electrical outlets in the village to learn practical construction techniques. In beyond their capacity, which in the end fused return, the locals gained greater appreciation several of the power points available. for sustainable construction and development. Recognising the need for an alternative solution, electrical drills with bolts and nuts English Curriculum Design were purchased to screw the tie beams to the To ensure a sustained impact to the rural columns. With the tie beams in position, they community that we work with, we continued formed vertical supports for the roof trusses to the English teaching initiative in the Palipikan rest upon. village, which was frst started in the 2016 Subsequently, steel battens parallel to the summer expedition. Apart from participating tie beams were installed to hold the metal in construction, student volunteers also Remarkable help from the villagers enabled trusses together, forming a rigid roof system. assumed teaching roles in evening English wooden planks to be sourced locally from the Te trusses were later covered with corrugated classes. Tese classes took place bi-weekly forest that bordered our construction site. sheets equipped with wool insulation and heat during the 5-week expedition. In our efort to Tis eliminated the need to purchase wooden refectors. Slab pour was carried out at the better structure the English classes, we had a formwork and promoted a sustainable use of same time. Layers of water-proof polyethylene team of 11 members who dedicated themselves readily available resources. Te wooden planks sheets were placed underneath the spacers to to designing an English curriculum suitable for were also used to stabilise steel columns before ensure that the slab was water-tight. the Bornean children in the Palipikan village. they were concreted into the ground: In the third week, we proceeded to cast the Te curriculum revolved around expanding outer slab surrounding the perimeter of the English vocabulary through interactive games inner reinforced concrete slab: and nursery rhymes. English booklets delicately designed by our members were presented to the Bornean children to accompany them in learning. Furthermore, fash cards and teaching kits, adjunct to the English booklets, were also introduced to enhance the children’s learning process.

Engineering and construction Over the course of the 5-week expedition, we constructed a single-storey education centre of However, due to a lack of cement, the outer dimensions 6 m by 9 m. It is a steel-framed With the columns propped and set into slab at the side and back of the building was structure clad with cement fbre board on the soil, we proceeded with slab pour to raise reduced from an initial design width of 1 m exterior and gypsum board on the interior. the ground level of the education centre. to 0.5 m. Resting on a reinforced concrete pad, the Again, with the innovative use of available Once the outer slab had hardened, wall education centre has a large central hall construction materials, we made spacers, studs, which acted as frames supporting the (approximately 6 m by 6 m) as a classroom. which steel meshes rest on, from a mixture of wall panels, were assembled and installed along Furthermore, the education centre houses a cement, sand and water. Te addition of gravel the side of the building. Te side door frame pantry for teachers to prepare snacks, and a into the mixture burdened our work to obtain was erected frst to act as a reference height for storage room. Te latter facilities are roughly spacers with desired geometries. Fortunately, subsequent placement of window frames. Te 3 m by 3 m in dimension. Steel trusses covered the fnal products were satisfactory and wall studs, made of thin aluminium channel by metal sheets with wool insulation provide sufcient spacers were produced for the section, were joined together using rivets to sufcient shade for the structure under torrid concrete slab: create a grid of interlocking studs: noonday sun.

Construction Challenges Collaborative work between RED and three skilled Palipikan villagers allowed challenges that emerged to be overcome as the project progressed. Tis collaboration allowed transfer of knowledge between the locals and volunteers. Before our arrival, the site was cleared and excavated with help from the Palipikan villagers. In the frst two weeks of the expedition,

24 Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2018 FEATURES At the same time, gutter and fascia were Te solar panels were then lifted and Once the ceilings were in place, wiring and installed along the edges of the roof: screwed onto the battens beneath the roofng lighting were installed and connected to the sheets: solar panel system. At the same time, a rain water harvesting system, that collects rain water from the roof, was installed. Te base, which the water tank sits on, was constructed using cement blocks flled with soil and covered with cement. A pipe was then connected from the gutter to the water tank:

Moving on to the fourth week, wall panels In the fnal week, plaster was applied on the interior and exterior were attached with onto the surface of wall panels to cover any screws onto the wall studs: imperfections such as cracks, gaps and screw holes:

While working concurrently, the back, front and internal wall studs were assembled A layer of white primer was then applied Lastly, to fnish of the building, doors and and installed: onto the panels followed by a layer of paint. windows were installed and vinyl sheets were Te same process was carried out on both the laid to cover the bare concrete foor. interior and exterior panels. Once the rooms were painted, ceilings were then installed. Metal frames, which the ceiling panels sit on, were suspended from battens using tie wires:

Both cement fbre and gypsum boards posed some problems during installation. Te soft nature of gypsum boards allowed them to be easily cut and sized. However, this also meant that the boards were easily cracked on installation. While the hard cement boards, which were less susceptible to cracking, provided little spatial tolerance, thereby making them difcult to ft in between adjacent boards. Silicone sealant was then used to fll up gaps in sections to prevent leakage. Following our commitment to promote sustainability, a solar panel system was introduced into the project this year. In order to implement this system, two solar panels were attached onto the roof. Given that the brackets to hold the panels in place had to be custom-made, a 6 m steel channel section was cut and sized to create a housing for the two solar panels:

The opening ceremony of the kindergarten marked the conclusion of our expedition. In the presence of the head of village and villagers, we were given a heart-warming farewell.

Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2018 25 FEATURES Geothermal Heat and Arctic Sea Ice Variability

Continuing his series of intriguing articles on the efects of volcanic eruptions on regional weather, Wyss Yim (Geology, 1971-74) has been examining the efect on the extent of Arctic sea ice.

In previous issues of Imperial ENGINEER (Autumn 2013, Spring 2016, Autumn 2016, and Spring 2017), selected volcanic eruptions studied were found to have an important role in regional weather. Out of these, two eruptions releasing geothermal heat into oceans were particularly notable. Te frst eruption was entirely submarine, and the second eruption was initially submarine followed by both submarine and sub-aerial activities. Both these eruptions were also responsible for causing the Arctic sea ice to undergo major retreat. In this article, satellite observation records in support of the two retreats are presented, provided by the National Snow and Ice Data Centre, Boulder. Satellite observation records of Arctic sea ice extent were frst available in 1979. Te Arctic Ocean is capped by layers of frozen seawater. Under normal conditions, Arctic

sea ice grows dramatically each winter usually Boulder of Colorado, University Images courtesy and Ice Data Center, of the National Snow reaching its maximum in March. It melts just Opaque white areas indicate the greatest concentration, and dark blue areas are open as dramatically each summer, reaching its water. The yellow outline on each image shows the median sea ice extent for September minimum in September. and March as observed by satellites from 1979 through 2000. In the northern Atlantic Ocean from October 2011 to March 2012, an entirely submarine eruption occurred of El Hierro Island in the Canary archipelago. Te eruption timing was between mid-autumn to early spring in the northern hemisphere generating warmer sea water than normal and causing the lowest Arctic sea ice on record in September 2012. In the northern Pacifc Ocean from March 2013, an initially submarine eruption occurred of Nishino-shima Island 940 km south of Tokyo. In November 2013, a new volcanic island was formed and both submarine and sub-aerial activities continued until August 2015. Tis ‘long’ lasting eruption provided an explanation for the northern Pacifc Blob which puzzled many scientists who were unaware of the connection with submarine volcanism. Te appearance of warmer seawater than normal on the surface of the north Pacifc Ocean led to the development of strong El Niño conditions during 2014 to 2015 providing an explanation for the continuous NH – Northern Hemisphere and gradual Arctic sea ice retreat observed MASIE – Multisensor Analyzed Sea Ice Extent during September 2014, September 2015 and SII – Sea Ice Index September 2016. Te natural release of geothermal heat into the northern hemisphere portions of the Atlantic Ocean and Pacifc Ocean was therefore responsible for the two episodes Professor Wyss Yim DSc PhD DIC FGS was at Imperial College in of major Arctic sea ice retreat during the the Department of Geology from 1971-1974. After that he spent last decade. An improvement in the future 35 years until retirement at the University of Hong Kong where he monitoring of submarine volcanic activity is taught civil engineering, geosciences and environmental management needed to provide a better understanding of students, and, helped found the Department of Earth Sciences. He polar sea ice variability. was awarded the DSc by the University of London in 1997. Wyss served as the Deputy Chairman of the Climate Change Science Implementation Team of UNESCO’s International Year of Planet Earth 2007-2009.

26 Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2018 ALUMNI NEWS & VIEWS CGCA / Mech Soc Careers Events in the C & G Building

Since the last issue of Imperial about your career? What’s the best Engineer, the CGCA and Mech advice you can give to a current Soc (the students’ society for student? the Department of Mechanical The alumni in the frst event had Engineering) have jointly held two a spread of graduation dates: from careers events at the College’s City Richard Rumble, who graduated & Guilds Building. In both events, in 1970 and has since had a long and several alumni of the department varied career working and consulting kindly gave up their evenings to in the oil, gas refning and chemical engage with current students about industries, to Scott Fraser of their careers. Exxon Mobil’s Field Engineering Rather than having the alumni Services, who is in the frst phase of stand up and lecture, the events his career having graduated in 2014. adopted a ‘speed-networking’ Waiman Cheuk, who graduated approach: the students arranged in 1997 and now works for BP, also Charles Parry Photo: CGCA / Mech. Soc. event in March 2018 themselves around fve tables and an answered questions on his career, alumnus / alumna then visited each which started in management table in turn for ten minutes during consulting. David Law (ME ’73), arctic weather on the day. This students to attend, identifed and which time the students were able mindful of the low take-up by time, in recognition of International booked the rooms, and arranged to talk to each of them about their Mechanical Engineering students Women’s Week and of 2018 being the catering, and to Kellianne time in College and their career to of OC Trust awards, gave a short the ‘Year of Engineering’ in the Bartley, the College’s Alumni date. explanation of the Trust’s work and UK, all fve alumnae were women; Volunteer Offcer for identifying the At each event, in November and how to apply to it for a grant, as Vassia Paloumbi who graduated alumni, organising their attendance March, nearly ffty students came to well as providing the students with with a PhD in 2006, since when and arranging handouts and badges hear fve alumni of the department an insight into his long career with she has had a number of roles in for the events, without either of chat about their careers. The Lucas CAV Ltd. sustainability and carbon reduction whom the events would not have questions asked included: What The similar event held on 1st for several organisations culminating happened. Special thanks are due to would you do differently? What March was equally well attended, in her current role as Sustainability all the alumni who gave of their time were the best and worst things perhaps surprisingly given the Manager for the Bank of ; so generously and, in the second Tamar Roth who graduated event, braved the weather and the in 2016 and now leads product transport system to attend. development (from concept to The CGCA always welcomes market) at an early-stage start- the opportunity to support joint up called School of the Digital activities between alumni and Age, which promotes ‘lifestyle current students. We will also technology’ to women; Tanya provide experienced alumni to Chong, who graduated with an MSc mentor students and those alumni in Innovation Design Engineering in in the early stages of their careers. If 2013, and is now a project engineer you would like to help in that regard in railway signalling with Siemens please contact the CGCA at in the south-east of England; Sara [email protected] Dethier who graduated last year with an MSc in Sustainable Energy Futures and is now an energy and climate change consultant with Arup; and Caroline Hosier who graduated with an MEng in 1992 and is now at Ford Motor Co., where Photo: Omer Rathore Photo: she leads a team of experts in Waiman Cheuk at the November Careers Event with Mech. Soc. areas such as vehicle emissions and climate change. Careers events such as these can give to students a personalised view of life in industry that is a valuable alternative to that given by the staff We would love to of companies during their annual hear from you if you recruitment rounds. The events have arranged or were much appreciated by the attended a similar students – judged not just by their positive comments and their desire event in one of the for other such events but also by the Faculty of Engineering numbers who remained even after departments. the food had been fnished! Pizza, sandwiches and drinks were provided by Mech Soc and funded by the CGCA, which was represented at both events by departmental alumnus Charles Parry, who, at the close of each, gave a short pitch on the merits of joining CGCA. Thanks are due to Mech Soc’s

Photo: Omer Rathore Photo: Alumni Relations Offcer, Omer David Law at the November Careers Event with Mech. Soc. Rathore, who organised the

Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2018 27 ALUMNI NEWS & VIEWS 48th Triode meeting, 5th January 2018 This time 13 Triodes (i.e. Electrical old house into fve self-contained Engineering graduates of 1973) fats but the project is now running appeared at the George for our 48th months late as his builder kept reunion (we always meet on the disappearing off site. Penalty charges frst Friday after 1st January). Many on the builder didn’t work and it Triodes had arrived early, some even would be more expensive to employ at 16:30, and had tried to take over another one! the Fleet Street end of the pub but During the year Dave and his it was still diffcult to circulate in the wife few to India to visit the crowded bar. Set out below is what golden triangle (Delhi, Jaipur and the Triodes have been up to over the Agra) and came back via Dubai, last year. Suez and Jordan on the QM2 to Much discussion was had on Southampton. Fabulous experience! the “5&10 Reunion Lunch” on 24th Both of Dave’s sons are working November 2018, which would be in London; the elder back from his our 49th Reunion! Many Triodes (and overseas assignment at the FCO Triode Spouses) say they are coming, and the other working in investment so it should be a good event! From left to right: Sid Seth, Tony Godber, Paul Cheung, banking. But what about the meeting in Joan Clemow, Phil Harris, Peter Cheung, Martin Clemow, Peter Marlow 2019? – it will be our 50th! Should Rut Patel, David Mansfeld, Pete Marlow, Peter Wright, Peter and wife Sally continued to we be doing something special? Steve Glen and Martyn Hart. enjoy the freedom of retirement in After catching up we moved on 2017 travelling to the Caribbean, to have dinner at the nearby Thai National Trust at Montacute House for a while. His family have built up Crete (walking holiday), Romania Square restaurant. As tradition for fve years now and they have an interesting set of international and Transylvania (choir tour), and dictates we stopped at the now given her a badge to prove it! connections as a result of their fnally Washington and Boston. In dimly lit Triode Loo and got a passer- She sees her four grandchildren children’s partnerships. His eldest addition to his work mentoring by to photograph us! The result regularly, she collects her daughter’s son’s wife’s parents are divorced project managers in developing is shown above. At the restaurant two from school one day a week with mother (originally from countries (www.pmap.pm) Peter we opted for the set menu and and helps with some maths at their Mumbai) and father now living in has joined the board of PM4NGOs continued on until late in the night. school one morning a week. As we Perth and Portugal respectively. His (www.pm4ngos.org). This is an Another excellent reunion I was know, Joan enjoys travelling and she next son has a Scottish partner so international organisation that told; well attended, though not quite has just come back from a cruise on there are possibilities of a wedding promotes and sustains the as many as our 47th, but will we a sailing clipper through the Panama there in two or three years. His professionalism of programme break the record in November? Canal. Sounds exotic! third son has married locally but his and project management in the The next yearly Triode reunion Martin Clemow wife does have an aunt in the USA international development sector. (it will be our 50th as we had two The company that Martin works and fnally his daughter’s husband is Rut Patel meetings in year one, two in 2003, for supplies recorders for Air Traffc from a large Sicilian family (although Rut has been very busy this year and two in 2013!) will be on Friday Control and has moved to the he was born in Australia). So lots of with his granddad duties which now 4th January 2019 at The George, depths of South Wales. He should holiday options lined up! encompass four- and two-year- Fleet Street, from about 7 pm. The have joined the ‘retired camp’ by With all those potential holiday old grandsons and one-year-old following year’s reunion (51st) will be now but is working from home while destinations, as well as keeping in granddaughter. Taking the grandsons on Friday 3rd January 2020. So mark his replacement is sought. Is this yet touch with family in the UK, it looks to school has been added to his list up your diaries now! another example of the shortage like Tony will have to keep working of duties and the four-year-old also Those who came on the 5th of qualifed ‘practical’ engineers to fund the travel costs! However wants to play cricket or football January (there were 13 of us!): (those who know which end of a he is planning to move to part time as soon as he gets home! The Peter Cheung soldering iron is hot?) Unfortunately working later in 2018. granddaughter is also with them one It was good to see Peter after the planned ‘retirement activities’, Phil Harris day a week. This pretty much flls up he was away last year visiting China including the restoration of his Phil and Lina continue their quiet the whole of the week; so much for and Hong Kong. He told us that he MGC and the preparation of the retirement with country dancing retirement! was spending January in retirement, ‘real’ , in which he sprints and twice a week; a workout for both However, he is allowed time off at but then rejoining Imperial College hill-climbs with his middle son, will mind and body he says. Another the weekends. This he uses to visit at 80% for at least the next fve have to stay on the back burner for workout is looking after grandson Wembley Stadium to see his beloved years. So his retirement is entirely a little longer. Theo who is now three; “Enjoyable Spurs. His elder grandson also tags fake – just a way of extracting Steve Glenn work though,” Phil added! along with him on occasions as he the maximum from his pension Steve said there was no chance of Over the last year they have is also, surprise surprise, a Spurs company! As always if you are retiring for him as he actually enjoys had a reunion in the supporter. For a change Rut has passing Electrical Engineering, please working in the MOD three to fve with Lina’s sister and family, a tour seen Spurs win a few matches at give him a call and he’ll treat you to days per week. He says it’s really of Southern Spain and Portugal, Wembley, with a highlight being lunch. interesting work but he can’t talk and a great weekend in June when watching them beat Real Madrid 3-1 Paul Cheung about it! His family/grandchildren Jonathan (Phil’s eldest) married in November. It was indeed great to see Paul keep him busy the rest of the time. Charlotte in Southampton. Rut also managed to ft in a after all these years. He looked His wife Anne hasn’t quite retired Martyn Hart couple of holiday breaks to Portugal remarkably well and much younger yet but she is a full-time Granny (and Martyn works three days a week and . He celebrated his 65th than his twin Peter of course (just Steve a full time Granddad!), which (often four or fve) in the public birthday in July in Malta. joking!). But just like Peter he offered suits them well he says. sector, mainly in the commercial Sid Seth that he would invite any of us (and Tony Godber area (large outsourcing/framework Sid is now working on a new family) to dinner if we can visit Hong Tony made it to London again this contracts). Now settled in the ‘secret’ project. He still won’t tell us Kong (provided that he is around at year from Perth. He told me that Triangle House in Ingatestone in what it is but it’s something to do the time of course). He said he will he had just got the news that he’s Essex, he’s involved with the local with cyber and IoT. He is keen to use defnitely retire next June and he will had funding approved for a capacity cycling, photography and other clubs the latest technology, particularly AI, travel a lot more! upgrade study that he has been and even the Parish Council he says! to help improve lives. Maybe he’ll Joan Clemow working on for some time, so he Dave Mansfeld be a multi-millionaire by the next Joan has volunteered for the thinks retirement is off the agenda Dave is converting his father’s reunion?

28 Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2018 ALUMNI NEWS & VIEWS Peter Wright races in 2017 as part of a deliberate but they are selling their last narrow The company just celebrated its 7th Peter is still heavily involved in plan to reduce training intensity, boat this year to focus their energies anniversary and is still growing well. running his local Scout District and his running races have been on something else – but what? Whilst citing Brexit and changes as Secretary, Appointments Chair very restricted. Yet he still reached Meanwhile Chris has attempted to to regulation as major challenges and various other roles including 14,000 km on the bike for the year! retire three times over the past ten to overcome in 2018, they are still caretaker and handyman, some In April he spent ten days in Delhi years but still continues to work – investing in a major re-write of of which involves brushing up on for a wedding and adventures but currently for a small company which their systems to take advantage wiring regulations! he came back on his deathbed. It builds specialist tankers for fuelling of developments in consumer A side beneft of all this Scout stuff was an exciting experience but not aircraft. connectivity to the internet (e.g. is that he gets to go on lots of (adult) to be repeated! In June he was in John Harding devices and social media) and also training walks in Snowdonia, etc. and the south of France on his bike for John sent his apologies for of overseas opportunities. Also if has just returned from an exciting two weeks, visiting old friends and absence. He is working with CACI, anyone is a distributed ledger guru time attacking the Lake District with knocking up nearly 2,000 km. Of mainly on service management he’d like to hear from you! He re- an ice axe and crampons. course he visits England a few times issues. He says retirement is as far iterated his offer to Triodes of great Those who couldn’t make it and each year to see family and friends, away as ever because he is really rates for anyone looking to move a that we’ve heard from: including a week in August this year enjoying his work and still sees sizeable amount overseas – please Addy Adesara as his sister and family were over colleagues from CTIL and Vodafone. contact him direct. Addy says he is extremely sad from USA. And yes, he does plan to Meanwhile it looks as if a wedding He is hoping to cut his workload that he missed the get-together come to the November reunion but or two might be in the air soon; back a little so that he and his wife due to a customer issue but sends not by bike! in fact he couldn’t join us on 5th can travel more – looking forward to everyone his best. He is still working Tim Dye January because he was at a friend’s India, Japan and Mexico! Otherwise, at Vodafone and promises to try to Tim tells me that nothing daughter’s wedding (perhaps getting their recent move to an plan a bit better next year, assuming much has changed in the last year, tips?). Anne is as busy as ever in village and country life has been a he is still working. He will also try to other than most of the television retirement and says she is looking great success – but London and all get to the 5&10 Reunion if he can. programmes he is involved with forward to seeing us all at the it offers is never far away! Geoff Banks are now streamed or for YouTube. reunion in November. Hari Singh Geoff is sorry that he couldn’t He continues cycling and walking Nick Hiscock Hari took family holidays in make it because he has problems much as before. The big event was Nick had the winter bug but Athens, Amsterdam and Goa and with his elderly parents at present; that his second got married, but the reported that he has been re-elected golfng holidays with his golfng his Dad (89) is his Mum’s (93) grandchildren tally remains at two! Hon. Secretary of Warsash Sailing buddies in France; not a bad year for registered carer but he is himself He will try to make the November Club for another year and is slowly holidays! However his golf over the recovering from breaking his hip! reunion too. progressing his weapons collection year wasn’t very good, although he Things are getting back to normal George Gabrielczyk as time allows. His wife Sue has did manage second place in Senior (whatever that means when his Mum George says he accelerated recently retired as a vet but with a Player of the Year. His handicap has has dementia) and we sympathise past his 65th birthday fghting an zero-hours contract in place if the gone up to 11 so he needs more with his problems. He plans to make attempted hostile takeover of his practice gets stuck or she gets bored. practice (or fewer non-golfng the November 5&10 Reunion. concrete paver business (quoted Jenny (elder daughter) is growing holidays)! Graham Castellano on the Warsaw Stock Exchange). her supramolecular chemistry He now has another grandchild, Graham was in Jamaica and says The initial attack was successful research team at the University of making four grandsons in total, that having completed the second and deposed George from his and Pippa (younger daughter) which keeps him and his wife busy year of his second retirement (from chairmanship but he continued is still with Roche Manor Research, and entertained; hard work but a lot IBM and then his electrical company) fghting through the year and in employed as a consultant for HMG. of fun playing with them. He’s soon he’s fnding that he is busier than November the enemy failed to Nick is hoping that he and Sue can off to Goa for four weeks for their ever! He has had vacations (Rhode fnally persuade the shareholders in make the November reunion. frst holiday this year. Island, Yellowstone, Sicily, skiing and an EGM. The enemy were trounced Richard Lewis Alice Spain Jamaica) but both his sons have and GG is back in the saddle! Richard couldn’t make it because Alice said she was sorry she moved house and then both have In April he was elected President he was in his hideout in the French couldn’t make the reunion as she contrived to knock down walls and of the European Federation of Deer Pyrenees. He reports that nothing was in Cornwall and didn’t think she build extra bits. Graham says, “The Breeders (FEDFA). In this role he much has changed since last year; could make it there and back in time. phrase ‘Dad, can you just...’ is to be faces conficting forces currently let he is still teaching single and further She told me that her builders were feared! I am told this is my duty as a loose on farming e.g. Brexit; climate A-level maths at Haberdashers’ now back after quite a long break good father, but I think I worked less change (as perceived by Brussels); Aske’s Hatcham College, near New because their main man had been ill. when I was employed.” However, the enormous effect of the focus on Cross. He works three days a week She said the plastering they’ve done he is still sailing his Solo dinghy the environment by the city-dwelling which corresponds to fve relatively over the past month has made a big most weekends and is looking to public; a new CAP to run from 2020; stress-free actual working days once difference to the look of the house, accompany a couple of friends on the hunting lobby; the environment lesson preparation and marking “It’s beginning to look more like a their yachts to locations around (wolves); and the Polish Ministry of are included. But he adds that he is house and less like a building site! Northern Europe, Brexit allowing! Agriculture, with whom he totally having his arm twisted (yes, already!) There’s still a long way to go but He will try to make the November disagrees regarding regulatory (land to stay on for the next academic year we’re enjoying the journey.” reunion. ownership) farming policy and the given the increased rigour required Hugh Culverhouse economics of farming. to teach the new A-level and the And those who didn’t make it Hugh still lives in Munich and, He bought some more felds last diffculty in recruiting decent A-level and that we haven’t heard from: although he is supposed to be year before the law changed to limit teachers. He’s thinking about it. (Can anyone help?) retired, he’s still teaching Business landholdings. He’s up to 1,100 acres Patrick Mason John Baird, Jacquie Buzzard, English. Unfortunately he fractured or a little more including the lake. Patrick was sadly unable to join Al Farbridge, Chris Gaukroger, his left kneecap in September 2016 Finally, the architectural work on us due to a nasty bug in the feverish Ian Heap, John Macfarlane, on the way home from the Munich the Manor proceeds slowly; the 74 and contagious stage! He is still very Keith Marshall, Alistair Rogers Beer Festival (what a surprise!); this metre cowshed is nearly done and much involved with his company injury left him very uncomfortable it’s come out very nicely. GlobalWebPay (www.globalwebpay. Have a great 2018. for a few months thanks to pins Chris and Daphne Giles com), which allows consumers to Martyn protruding from the fracture Chris said he and Daphne are fne send money abroad fast and cheaply. Arch Triode into his fesh but once they were removed he started getting going If you have arranged a reunion of your classmates or contemporaries, please send again physically. That meant gradually us a photograph and a report. We would love to hear from you and there may more cycling (one-legged) and more be other alumni who would like to join you when you have your next reunion. running (on sticks). He did no cycle

Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2018 29 ALUMNI NEWS & VIEWS Let’s remember, 2050 needs acceleration and young people Our Canadian correspondent Nigel Fitzpatrick (Metallurgy 1962-65, 65-68), with help from Paul Fennell and Stephen Cheung, on a successful alumni talk in Vancouver.

Stephen Cheung (Computing 1978), inspired by alumni activity in Hong Kong and Vancouver in past years, shared pictures of local meetings, dropped into Imperial while on holiday and offered to re-convene an alumni group in BC. Half of British Columbia’s 4.7 million live in Greater Vancouver with the same land area as Hong Kong. Alumni here could meet with equal ease. Meetings in the suburbs of Richmond, West Point Grey and North Vancouver followed and a core team evolved. Then in March 2017, Erin Hallet (Alumni Relations for the Business School) hosted an event while in BC for a family visit. Erin chose a less suburban spot, the restaurant/bar in the historic Fairmont Hotel Vancouver and Photo: Calvin Lam Photo: doubled our previous best turnout. Back (L to R): Joan Fitzpatrick, Linda Liu, Paul Fennel, Bob Evans, Stephen Cheung, Daniel Chan In mid July, Stephen received word Front (L to R): Talal Khan, Nigel Fitzpatrick that Professor of Clean Energy, Paul Fennell, could give a talk to alumni in October or November while visiting the world come from a few thousand would need higher carbon prices presentation is embedded where the University of BC. The BC team sites that could readily change than here, though less than double. A we, industry and government can chose the “Boardroom” conference direction given suffcient incentive similar process, the Calcium looping access it on the PEIA web site. 9 room in the hotel where Erin had and information sharing. Cement cycle, could also act as a stepping Primary steel and aluminum found success. With Paul in the loop contributes 27% of industrial CO2 stone: an economical process results production processes have half the date was set for 12th October1. emissions and 5% of total emissions. if lime goes round a loop to capture century replacement periods. There

The talk would be in the context of Of this, 60% comes primarily from and release CO2, with a residue are only 1.5 quarter century cycles the IPCC recommendation for an the conversion of calcium to calcium fed to the cement industry. The between now and 2050. The time oxide, lime. Other uses of lime make impact of contaminants is a focus of and cost to pilot and propagate 80% cut in CO2 emissions by 2050 and would cover carbon capture and up another 5% of the global total. 6 research. a cement technology may be storage. Paul works in the feld of Carbon Then Paul described steps two longer than for the products that Linda Liu (Chemistry 2014) Capture and Storage (CCS), but of his students have made with two are coming from Clementine and provided a link to register and stresses that it is very much one companies, working in solar energy, Florence and others of a similar age! book free tickets endowed with the part of the mitigation solution and and biofuels from waste, where the In closing – Clementine and college coat of arms. The format was other solutions are needed. For results are already being funded Florence’s Scholarship was helped similar to one used when Paul spoke example, the International Energy for pilot scale trials. Clementine by alumni contributions. Let’s in Menlo Park, California2 and the Agency believes that by 2050 end- Chambon, co-founder and CTO at remember we need to help the alumni and guests were to enjoy a use fuel and electricity effciency Oorja is responsible for mini-grid young keep this planet habitable! cheerful evening. Also helping with improvements may be double the design, installation and construction the planning was John Webster at Greenhouse Gas reduction of CCS for electricity generation. With a Nigel Fitzpatrick SFU. applied to industry and power mission to provide clean energy At the talk on October 12th, generation combined. However, CCS to 450 million people they are we were delighted to be joined by is important for a large number of installing products in Uttar Pradesh, Pamela, Malcolm and Charlotte “hard to decarbonise” industries. To the most populous State in India. 1 The Hotel Vancouver, then owned Fennell on their way with Paul be stored, CO2 must be separated Florence Gschwend, COO & Co- around the world. Imperial alumni from other exhaust products. For Founder of Chrysalix Sustainable by the Canadian Pacifc Railway, was opened by Britain’s last Imperial couple registered themselves and guests.3 example in the production of lime, Technologies, obtained her PhD George VI and Queen Elizabeth on a if the limestone were indirectly this summer funded by a Grantham We were more eclectic yet and tour to discourage isolationism in 1939. opened the door directly to the heated (i.e. with an external heat Institute scholarship. The company 2 http://bit.ly/IE28-Fennell-Calif alumni of similar institutions. source but without direct contact is converting wood waste, and 3 Talal Khan (Electrical and Electronics

Robert Evans, UBC clean energy with air) to 900°C the CO2 released agricultural byproducts to biogas, Engineering 2009-2012) and Daniel centre founder and Emeritus could be captured. liquids and materials, via novel Chan (MBA 2011) supported Linda and Professor, saluted both Imperial Imperial College is a partner in technologies. Joan Fitzpatrick registering. and Paul. Bob had travelled from the European Union supported 4 http://bit.ly/IE28-Bob-Evans Cambridge to Imperial for a course project LEILAC7 which plans an When Linda’s site went up the 5 http://bit.ly/IE28-Brian-Spalding 6 Cements and lime come from calcium on Computational Fluid Dynamics indirectly heated pilot proven in four news was out and BC government and magnesium containing rocks, years when production equipment and industry were keen to hear (CFD) given by the late Brian limestone, calcite and dolomite. Spalding in Chemical Engineering could be designed and tested and more and there was a result. On 7 Low Emission Intensity Lime and 8 th whose work also had brought fame scaled up in one cycle. CFD is used September 29 , a group of energy Cement to Imperial. 4 5 to model the mass and heat transfer professionals, the Pacifc Energy 8 http://bit.ly/IE28-Leilac Paul updated us on Imperial and processes of heated particles and Innovation Association, invited 9 Slides presented at both talks are took us deep into Climate Change. fowing gases to accelerate scale up Paul to give a “Breakfast talk” entitled “CCS, Cement and the Future” Most industrial emissions around of the process selected. This method on November 1st. Paul’s encore http://bit.ly/IE28-PEIA-Fennell

30 Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2018 ALUMNI NEWS & VIEWS DIARY

Sun, 22 April, 16:30 – 19:00 Thu, 3 May, 13:00 – 14:00 Fri, 1 June, 17:30 – 21:30 Thu, 16 Aug, 11:30 – 13:30 Alumni Weekend Imperial College Business School RSMA Perth, Australia CGCA Global Celebrations – Kolkata Academic entrepreneurship: a personal Monthly Sundowner Quarterly Johannesburg Lunch Alumna’s home - Kolkata - India journey with Professor Peter Cawley The Celtic Club, 48 Ord St, West Perth, Baron & Quail, Woodmead, Johannesburg, bit.ly/IE28-Kolkata Ground foor lecture theatre, Imperial Western Australia, 6005 South Africa College Business School Alan Dickson – [email protected] Contact Richard [email protected] Tue, 24 April, 18:30 – 20:00 bit.ly/IE28-Cawley John Sykes – [email protected] Alumni Weekend Fri, 24 Aug, 12:00 Global Celebrations – Boston Thu, 3 May, 18:30 – 20:30 Mon, 4 June, 17:30 – 18:30 RSMA Toronto, Canada. Massachusetts Institute of Technology Alumni Weekend Annual Peter Lindsay Memorial Informal RSM meeting at noon on the (MIT, Room 5-234) Global Celebrations – Zurich Lecture Last Friday of every month. bit.ly/IE28-Boston Kennedy’s Irish Pub, Freischützgasse 14, Quantum Universe – Neil Turok Jason George Pub, 100 Front Street East, 8004 Zürich, Switzerland Lecture Theatre 200, City and Guilds Toronto Wed, 25 April, 17:30 – 18:30 bit.ly/IE28-Zurich Building Year of Engineering bit.ly/IE28-Turok Fri, 7 Sept, 17:30 – 21:30 Volcano descent – Professor Christopher Thu, 3 May, 19:00 – 21:00 RSMA Perth, Australia Jackson Alumni Weekend Thu, 7 June, 14:00 – 15:00 Monthly Sundowner Lecture theatre 200, City and Guilds Building Global Celebrations – Dublin IMSE Highlight Seminar: The Celtic Club, 48 Ord St, West Perth, bit.ly/IE28-Volcano 37 Dawson Street, Dublin 2, Ireland Completing the picture: correlative Western Australia, 6005 bit.ly/IE28-Dublin multimodal information across length and Alan Dickson – [email protected] Thu, 26 April, 19:00 – 21:00 John Sykes – [email protected] Alumni Weekend Thu, 3 May, 19:30 – 21:30 timescales – Professor Philip Withers Global Celebrations – Geneva Alumni Weekend (Univ of ) Fri, 28 Sept, 12:00 Grand Duke Pub, Rue de Monthoux 8, Global Celebrations – Singapore RODH 252, South Kensington Campus, RSMA Toronto, Canada. 1201 Geneva, Switzerland Praelum Wine Bistro, 4 Duxton Hill, Imperial College, London SW7 2AZ Informal RSM meeting at noon on the Singapore bit.ly/IE28-Geneva bit.ly/IE28-Withers Last Friday of every month. bit.ly/IE28-Singapore Mon, 11 June, 17:30 – 20:00 Jason George Pub, 100 Front Street East, Thu, 26 April, 19:00 – 21:00 Toronto Alumni Weekend Thu, 3 May, 17:30 – 18:30 CGCA AGM and President’s Evening Global Celebrations – Prague Fri, 5 Oct, 17:30 – 21:30 Vinograf Wine Bar, Senovážné Square 23, DSI Privacy Debate – Do we still need Queen’s Tower Rooms, Imperial College, RSMA Perth, Australia London SW7 2AZ Praha 1, Praha, Czech Republic privacy in the age of AI? Monthly Sundowner bit.ly/IE28-Prague LT200, City & Guilds Building, Imperial Refreshments available from 17:00 AGM at 17:30 followed by a talk entitled The Celtic Club, 48 Ord St, West Perth, College, London SW7 2AZ Western Australia, 6005 Thu, 26 April, 21:30 – 23:30 bit.ly/IE28-DSI Synthetic Biology / Engineering Biology – A Alumni Weekend rapidly growing area of the bioeconomy by Alan Dickson – [email protected] Global Celebrations – Madrid Fri, 4 May, 17:30 – 21:30 CGCA President Prof Richard Kitney John Sykes – [email protected] Restaurante Makkila, C / Núñez de RSMA Perth, Australia OBE, FREng, FRSE, PhD, DIC, DSc(Eng), Fri, 26 Oct, 12:00 Balboa 75, 28001, Madrid Monthly Sundowner FCGI RSMA Toronto, Canada. bit.ly/IE28-Madrid The Celtic Club, 48 Ord St, West Perth, Followed by President’s Evening including Informal RSM meeting at noon on the Western Australia, 6005 Fri, 27 April, 12:00 hot buffet supper with wine. Last Friday of every month. Alan Dickson – [email protected] RSMA Toronto, Canada. See address carrier for details. Jason George Pub, 100 Front Street East, John Sykes – [email protected] Informal RSM meeting at noon on the Mon, 18 June, 17:30 – 18:30 Toronto Last Friday of every month. Tue, 8 May, 18:30 – 20:30 The Bioengineering Lecture 2018 Alumni Weekend Fri, 2 Nov, 17:30 – 21:30 Jason George Pub, 100 Front Street East, Computational Cardiology – Professor RSMA Perth, Australia Toronto Global Celebrations – Vancouver Natalia Trayanova Monthly Sundowner Fairmont Hotel, 900 W Georgia St, SAF LT G16, Sir Alexander Fleming The Celtic Club, 48 Ord St, West Perth, Fri, 27 April, 19:00 – 21:00 Vancuover, BC V6C 2W6, Canada Building, Imperial College, South Western Australia, 6005 Alumni Weekend bit.ly/IE28-Vancouver Kensington, London, SW7 2AZ Global Celebrations – Tokyo Alan Dickson – [email protected] bit.ly/IE28-Trayanova Victorian Pub The Rose & Crown Wed, 9 May, 20:00 – 22:00 John Sykes – [email protected] bit.ly/IE28-Tokyo Alumni Weekend Wed, 20 June, 18:30 – 19:30 Global Celebrations – Beirut Friends of Imperial College Sun, 4 Nov, 7:00 – 16:30 Sat, 28 12:00 – Sun, 29 April 16:00 Babylonia Café Bar, Alam Street, Badaro, CGCU Imperial Festival / Summer Party Boanerges in the London to Beirut 170 Queens Gate, Imperial College, London Alumni Weekend bit.ly/IE28-Beirut Brighton Veteran Car Rally South Kensington Campus, Imperial bit.ly/IE28-FoIC-Summer Starts Hyde Park, London, UK College, London SW7 2AZ, UK Thu, 17 May, 11:30 – 13:30 Fri, 22 June, 12:00 Thu, 15 Nov, 10:30 – 12:30 http://www.imperial.ac.uk/festival/ CGCA RSMA Toronto, Canada. Quarterly Johannesburg Lunch CGCA Sat, 28 April, 16:00 – 18:00 Baron & Quail, Woodmead, Johannesburg, Informal RSM meeting at noon on the Quarterly Johannesburg Lunch Alumni Weekend South Africa Last Friday of every month. Baron & Quail, Woodmead, Johannesburg, Global Celebrations – Seattle Contact Richard [email protected] Jason George Pub, 100 Front Street East, South Africa Elysian Brewing, 1221 East Pike Street, Toronto Contact Richard [email protected] Seattle, Washington 98122 Mon, 21 May, 14:00 – 15:00 bit.ly/IE28-Seattle IMSE Highlight Seminar: Fri, 29 Jun 19:00 – Sun, 1 Jul 14:00 Fri, 23 Nov, 12:00 RSMA Toronto, Canada. Innovation by evolution: bringing new Imperial College Club of Sun, 29 April, 10:30 – 12:30 Germany e.V. Informal RSM meeting at noon on the chemistry to life – Professor Frances Alumni Weekend AIRBUS, Blockchain and more in Hamburg Last Friday of every month. Arnold (Caltech) Global Celebrations – Taipei Hamburg, Germany, venue TBC Jason George Pub, 100 Front Street East, Imperial College Business School, LTUG Bitan Scenic Area, Xindian Road, Xindian bit.ly/IE28-Hamburg Toronto District, New Taipei City, Taiwan, R.O.C 231 bit.ly/IE28-Arnold bit.ly/IE28-Taipei Fri, 6 July, 17:30 – 21:30 Wed, 23 May, 18:00 – 20:00 RSMA Perth, Australia Meet Prof. Tom Welton in Sun, 29 April, 12:00 – 19:00 Monthly Sundowner Alumni Weekend Venue to be confrmed The Celtic Club, 48 Ord St, West Perth, An up-to-date calendar of events of Global Celebrations – Shanghai Western Australia, 6005 interest to CGCA and RSMA members Polar research and climate change bit.ly/IE28-Welton Alan Dickson – [email protected] is always available on the CGCA and Prof Martin Siegert, Co-Director of The Wed, 23 May, 18:00 – 20:30 John Sykes – [email protected] RSMA websites. Imperial College Grantham Institute for Climate Change Friends of Imperial College Fri, 27 July, 12:00 maintains a calendar of college events at This year the Imperial College Alumni Behind-the-Scenes @ Data Science Institute RSMA Toronto, Canada. bit.ly/IE-ImperialEvents and the Friends Association of East China (ICAAEC) have Data Science Institute, Imperial College Informal RSM meeting at noon on the of Imperial regularly organise events organised an exclusive visit to the new Xue London bit.ly/IE28-FoIC-DSI Last Friday of every month. of interest to alumni (see bit.ly/IE-FOI) Long icebreaker vessel, currently berthed Jason George Pub, 100 Front Street East, by the Polar Research Institute in Pudong. Fri, 25 May, 12:00 Toronto bit.ly/IE28-Shanghai RSMA Toronto, Canada. Informal RSM meeting at noon on the Fri, 3 Aug, 17:30 – 21:30 Sun, 29 April, 20:30 – 22:30 RSMA Perth, Australia Please note that while many of these Alumni Weekend Last Friday of every month. Jason George Pub, 100 Front Street East, Monthly Sundowner events are open to all and often free, they Global Celebrations – Riyadh The Celtic Club, 48 Ord St, West Perth, Serafna Restaurant, 831 Makkah Al Toronto usually require registration in advance. Western Australia, 6005 Please follow the links in the entry to get Mukarramah Branch Road, Umm Al Hamam Alan Dickson – [email protected] more information including if and how to Al Sharqi, Riyadh 12721, Saudi Arabia John Sykes – [email protected] bit.ly/IE28-Riyadh register and whether there is any cost.

For more information follow links, or see page 2 for contact details

Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2018 31 ALUMNI NEWS & VIEWS Book Reviews Readers will remember Roma Agrawal (Civils 2004-05) from the feature article she wrote in IE19 (The Engineering Brand) and In the last issue of Imperial ENGINEER various news items since. Here we review her frst book, BUILT, published by Bloomsbury, available from all good bookshops. we asked for readers to let us know if they had self-published a book. The From the moment you pick up materials that have been used and frst to reply was Stephen Revess Roma Agrawal’s book BUILT you are still used, as well as exciting (Civils 48) with a copy of his book, know that it will be an interesting new materials and technologies that ‘never ending buzz....’ experience. The hardback cover of are or soon will make innovation the book is silver with a design on it possible. A glimpse at the contents This is a very personal book in that conjures up a CAD drawing with list will give you a hint of the journey that it is essentially a professional the letters of the title embedded. on which this book takes the reader autobiography, but it is enlivened Overlaid is a jacket, unusually not full – all single word chapter titles (like by personal anecdotes along the height but just covering the design the book itself): Storey, Force, Fire, way. Selfessly, Stephen also includes and providing a colour version of it. Clay, Metal, Rock, Sky, Earth, Hollow, anecdotes and praise for associates The design is repeated across the Pure, Clean, Idol, Bridge, Dream. partners and friends. In the endpapers of the book. So, it is clear This is a book that is written for acknowledgements, he describes it from the outset that this book has everyone to enjoy, to be enthused as “practice notes on the activities of been very carefully, even lovingly, about engineering, to feel a degree a structural engineering consultant’s designed. Which is, of course, ftting of awe at the way humankind frm” while the dedication is “to for a book that documents a love has developed technologies and my family and friends, illustrating a affair with buildings from ancient to techniques to enable us to cope civil engineer’s philosophy: running modern. with and control our world. a small structural design practice Roma Agrawal is one of the best- 2018 is the government’s Year of with a large international building known young structural engineers not only learn about fascinating Engineering, and this book should output”. It fulfls both of those these days. Her technical ability engineering projects from ancient, be recommended reading in schools descriptions, providing a plethora has already seen her quickly build classical, mediaeval, Victorian and to encourage young people to see of examples of projects, large and a career with an impressive track modern times, but we also get an how exciting, fun, and impressive an small, that made an impact on record; her enthusiasm, ability to insight into Roma herself – her engineering career can be. Roma Stephen or in which he made a communicate and personable nature childhood spent partially in America is well placed as a role model for signifcant impact (sometimes not has led to her being an effective, then back in India, her love of making under-represented groups to see just on the individual project but on widely recognised and award- structures as a child and her ‘geeky’ that engineering could be a fantastic the wider engineering community). winning voice for engineering as interests at school, studying physics career that can actually change the Over the years he has worked a whole and promoter of STEM at university and then realising world. with many architects and other to women and minorities. So it that it’s the engineers who make a Reading this as an engineer, consultants, and for a wide variety of is neither surprising that she has difference to the world, leading to albeit not a structural engineer, I clients (governmental, institutional, written this book, nor that it her getting a Structural Engineering was struck by how good a case corporate, and individual) and while refects her personality, principles degree from Imperial. But for all Roma effortlessly makes for us never disrespectful he is generally and passions. that, it reads like a long conversation as the designers and facilitators candid in his observations about The book addresses the wonders you would have with an enthusiastic of humanity’s progress. I learnt a them. He explains that the title of the engineering that has made the fellow engineer about all the exciting lot too, although the book never ‘never ending buzz’ relates to the world we see today. As she says in things she has seen or investigated. feels didactic. There are plenty of job satisfaction that compensates her fnal chapter (don’t worry, no While there is plenty of discussion awesome things that I now want for the often small fnancial reward! spoilers): “Imagine, for a moment, a of early engineering (the Romans to go to see for myself (such as the The ‘story’ starts with Stephen world without engineers.… What feature a lot, of course) it never Falkirk Wheel); there are people of working at British Rail where he do you see? More or less nothing.” feels like a history lesson or a whom I had not previously been is advised to apply for a Bursary and she goes on to say “Engineering text book. She explains complex aware; there are some incredible Award for postgraduate study at is a big part of what makes us concepts with hand drawn diagrams, projects that had passed me by, Imperial to investigate and test to human.” Despite being ostensibly and suggests practical experiments such as stabilising the Metropolitan destruction pre-stressed concrete about buildings, this is a very using such readily available material Cathedral in Mexico City; there composite. As a result he enjoyed human-centred book, the book’s as carrots and Maltesers! She is as are forward-looking plans that the “innermost happy experience” subtitle is, after all, ‘The hidden stories enthusiastic writing about the great will help secure the future for in his life at Imperial “foating behind our structures’. Roma has a Cistern that the Romans built under people around the world, such as amongst like-minded companions”, very easy writing style, which also Constantinople as she is about Singapore’s Four National Taps; enjoying his time in the department means that BUILT is an easy read. Bazalgette’s Victorian sewers for equally, there are ancient structures with the likes of A.W. Skempton Her excitement at walking onto, London. She admits that she has that I now want to investigate, such (then a Reader) and Professors and jumping up and down on, the no head for heights, which leads to as the Horologion in Athens and the Sparkes, Makowski and Ford. He Ishibune stress-ribbon bridge leaps a very engaging description of her Cistern under Istanbul. rowed for City & Guilds, and was out at you, as it does when she frst visit to the spire at the top I heartily recommend this book. invited to contest the ‘Soot Race’ describes fnally getting to stand of the Shard, which she designed, To engineers (even structural on the Serpentine against RSM on the Northumbria University towards the end of construction – engineers): it will no doubt tell you – Guilds won! In the summer of Footbridge (her frst professional “My stomach churned. I suppressed some things that you didn’t know, as 1949, he took part in a Student project). She also sings the praises a rising feeling of fear. Fresh, chilly air well as enthusing you (if you need Exchange, working at a waterworks of lesser known engineers such entered my lungs as I took calming it) about our profession and maybe in Graz in Austria, providing not only as Emily Warren Roebling without breaths with my eyes closed. When make you consider being more memorable experiences but also whom the Brooklyn Bridge would I felt less dizzy, I opened my eye proactive in promoting engineering practical expertise that would prove never have been completed, and (that’s right, just the one).” to young people. To everyone else: valuable many years later. even a non-human bridge builder, The book is structured in a it is a fascinating and highly readable Following graduation, he worked the Darwin’s bark spider. As you way that seems natural. It’s not a overview of the built world around for consulting engineers, but by can tell, she likes bridges. But she chronology of feats of engineering, us and how it got there. To parents 1957 was ready to establish his addresses all sorts of structures, or a tutorial on how to build a and educators: it is a great book to own practice. Between then and his from high profle glamorous projects skyscraper. It looks at various give your youngsters to encourage eventual retirement, he worked on such as the Shard, to the hidden and aspects of our world, from resisting them to consider a career that can some 1200 projects large and small, decidedly unglamorous aspects of the wind to protecting against fre; actually improve our world. a few of which are described in buildings like drainage and sewers. from getting clean water to drink, the book (sometimes with a depth This is a very personal book. We to disposing of poo. It looks at Peter Buck (Comp 1976-9) of detail that can perhaps best be

32 Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2018 OBITUARIES A worldwide career in petroleum ROY BARLEGGS (Metallurgy, 48-52) Caltex and its associates, including In late January, Roy Barleggs in Kuwait, Oman, Singapore, the passed away after a short illness, Philippines, Korea, Australia, South aged 90. Africa and Japan. Roy was born in Letchworth, In 1974, he was posted to Caltex Hertfordshire, on September 21, headquarters, then in New York, 1927, the only son of Ernest and returning to Bahrain in 1977, before May Barleggs. On completing his heading back to headquarters, secondary schooling, he took up recently relocated to Dallas, in 1983. a traineeship with mobile crane After retiring in the late 90’s, Roy appreciated by other civil engineers). builders, K and L Steel Founders in was subsequently commissioned Having worked with Hugh Casson at Letchworth. to undertake viability assessments one point, he was asked to be a tutor In 1948, Roy started the of some of the company’s ageing at the Royal College of Arts Post Metallurgy course at the Royal refneries. He and Miriam remained Graduate Department of Design School of Mines and in 1952 he in the Dallas area, where many for one day a week. He relished the was awarded the Bessemer medal Caltex colleagues lived in retirement. opportunity to work with the post for jointly topping (with his good Roy was always very physically ft. graduates and writes proudly about friend, Alan Patrick) the First In RSM days, his main interest was the subsequent achievements of Class Honours list of Metallurgy in athletics, particularly in sprinting. some of his students. Graduates. Initially after graduation, In Bahrain, in the ’60s and ’70s he As well as discussing the fner he returned to Letchworth, to work played football and took up golf. points of some of the specifc but more importantly, to marry. The local golf course was played in projects, Stephen also addresses In 1956, he accepted a position the desert with oiled-sand greens, some of the issues that arise in with the Caltex petroleum group where the only grass was a square building design and construction where he was to remain for the rest of synthetic turf which you placed and how they can be dealt with. It of his working life. His role was to be under your ball before each shot! is fascinating to imagine the effort part of the petroleum refnery arm He was also a keen shooter that went into the drawings and of Caltex and he was initially posted and, while in Bahrain, joined the necessary calculations, often in with his wife, Miriam, to Bahrain in Awali Rife Club, competing against compressed timescales, in the days the Persian Gulf where Caltex had other clubs around the Gulf. In the before the availability of affordable one of its largest refneries. ’80s, back in Bahrain, he joined the Sadly, Miriam died in 2011, but computers let alone CAD. There is In 1958, Roy spent a year at running club, and right up until his Roy was still a regular visitor, and a particularly impassioned section Birmingham University completing passing was a regular at his local gym often arranged with an old college concerning his dismay at the a Masters in Corrosion technology, in Texas. friend to spend a week walking removal of trees, as supposed causes in the Chemical Engineering faculty, Happily retired to Dallas, Roy and around London and sampling the of subsidence, frequently based on before returning to Bahrain. Miriam travelled each year to visit hostelries on the way. no evidence whatsoever. He adds, Roy travelled worldwide, visiting their younger son in London, as well With thanks to Roy’s sons: “Now, much later, we appreciate refneries, owned and operated by as family and friends in England. David and Philip the value of trees in combating global warming, and may debate the environmental costs of removing a large tree, which existed long before a structure was built with insuffcient Always cheerful and willing to footings”. Finally, he addresses the fnancial aspects of running a small help: irreplaceable business, especially in the days when taxation was punitive and banks ALBERT WILLIAM ‘KITCH’ and even component parts of the and the taxman didn’t understand KITCHENSIDE (Aero 1948-51) aircraft themselves. how construction or a consulting Kitch was born on June 2, 1928, in But Kitch was always cheerful business works. Mayfeld, East Sussex. and willing to help as he worked to Overall, this is an interesting and He gained a scholarship from produce indexes of the mountain of often entertaining book. I came away Skinners School in Tunbridge Wells material surrounding him. feeling I had an appreciation for and started as an apprentice with The museum’s curators were the operation of a small structural Vickers-Armstrong in 1945, at the constantly trying to fnd information engineering business, as well as age of 16. for researchers, or for displays, some insight into the personality of As all apprentices did, Kitch learnt and Kitch took up each case with the author. all the basic skills of the various dedication until he found the answer, Put together and self-published by factory shops and departments, Aeronautical Society Structures which he invariably did. the author in a limited edition (which from the Fitters and the Tool Room Committee, assisiting in the The enormous quantity of new I guess was for the entertainment to the Machine and Stress Shops. preparation of Thermal Stressing material – constantly pouring in and enlightenment largely of friends Having decided that his career data sheets. from the attics and studies of and family) it is unfortunately would be in aircraft design, Kitch After the closure of Weybridge, ex-aviation industry employees – slightly let down by the typesetters went on to study Aeronautics at Kitch became a consultant to BAe rapidly flled every corner of the old who apparently did not employ Imperial. at Filton, until 1992. archive store, but Kitch dealt with a proofreader. Nevertheless, it is Graduating with frst class Kitch took his vast amount each in its turn, proving to be both fascinating and warrants a wider honours, Kitch returned to the of experience and knowledge to invaluable and irreplaceable to the audience; Stephen tells me there are Stress Offce in Weybridge and Brooklands Museum in 1998. museum. no printed copies left, but that an continued his career in the essential Attending every Tuesday for 17 Kitch died on August 14, 2017, at e-book version would be available. design elements of a whole range years, as a volunteer, Kitch worked the age of 89. of Vickers and BAC aircraft and in a less than inviting environment He will be sadly missed by his Peter Buck (Comp 1976-9) components, from Valient to VC10, with a small desk surrounded by wife, Monica, his family and by the TSR2, Concorde, parts of the Boeing a labyrinth of shelving crammed many contacts he made over the 747 and even the Space Shuttle. with aircraft manuals, catalogues, years. In 1961, Kitch joined the Royal fles, folders, boxes, photographs

Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2018 33 OBITUARIES A quintessential minesman JOHN D. FAIRFIELD (Mining 1958- John quickly established himself as traits which John had demonstrated Ginger O’Reilly recalls that 62) a leader and became President of at the RSM were well recognised when, as students, he and Mike von the RSMU in 1961 as well as the by CRA and, as a result, he was Kimmelmann went to Broken Hill Chaps Club in 1960. This particular often called upon to establish good in New South Wales, in 1966, they background provided him with the working relationships with local were met off the plane by John fund of songs and stories he carried peoples, whether they be land who promised the HR guy that he with him throughout his career. owners, mineral rights owners, would safely deliver them to their His personal qualities also led Aboriginals and so on, before any respective digs. Several hours later, to prowess in the feld of sports new ventures could begin. The two anxious landladies received where he undertook boxing and application of these skills, combined their respective charges with John became captain of the RSM rugby with his technical background, remaining safely out of sight! team. In 1962 he was awarded the took John from Melbourne to For the last seven years of his AC Maccartney Memorial Cup for Bolivia, Western Australia and the life, John endured a tough fght with the outstanding RSM sportsperson Philippines for extensive periods. cancer. It is a tribute to his physical of the year. John played a full part in strength, fortitude and character At the point of leaving college, maintaining the traditions of the that he withstood the debilitating Born in Sutton in 1938, John was John married Brenda who, for the RSM mining fraternity: he and Brenda effects of treatments over such a educated at Epsom College. He was next 55 years, became his team mate were ever welcoming to those of period. fortunate at that time to encounter and companion during his several us from the RSM who happened John died in October, 2017, and a local resident, Professor David stints of living abroad or away from to pass through, or perhaps stay, in is survived by Brenda, two children, Williams (subsequently Dean of his home base in Melbourne. Melbourne. Sally and Peter (who is maintaining the RSM) who was infuential in For the 38 years of his career Inevitably, such occasions always the mining connection in Australia), persuading John of the merits of John was employed by the Rio recalled earlier encounters in four grand and three great the mining industry. As a result, Tinto company, initially with different parts of the world. I well grandchildren. John became one of the ‘Bevin Boys’ RTZ Consultants in London and remember singing Mines’ songs with He will be sadly missed by all who before joining the RSM, in 1958. subsequently with CRA technical him late into the night while camping knew him. Big in stature as well as personality, services in Melbourne. The personal in the Barmah forest in Victoria! Arthur Smith

“Happy and fun to be with”

MICHAEL FULWELL (Metallurgy, smelter, showed deposition up to 49-52) 15 miles (24 km) with a distribution Mike Fulwell, who died on August trend towards the north-east; the 26, 2017, was born in Northwood, study estimated that about 2,500 on March 25, 1929, a tons of lead and 830 tons of zinc second son to William and Dorothy had been introduced into the soil Fulwell. William was the chief surrounding the plant. accountant at Southern Rail (which Retirement gave Mike the probably explains Mike’s life-long chance to spend time on a variety love of steam locomotives. of interests, particularly sailing. He After completing his secondary was an enthusiastic member of the schooling at Merchant Taylors Humber Yawl Club and sailed around School in Northwood, Mike was the UK and across to the continent. called up for National Service and Although Mike very wisely never joined the Royal Air Force where owned his own boat, he was always he was employed on the testing and in demand to crew for others. calibration of aircraft instruments. He was also a keen motorist On being demobbed in 1949, Mike and helped set up the Advanced went to the Royal School of Mines Motorists Group in Hull and the to take the BSc(Eng) Metallurgy East Riding. In recognition of this, course, graduating in 1952. he was made an honorary friend. He started his professional career Sadly, after successfully battling at the Imperial Smelting Corporation spent the last 34 years of his He retired in 1989. bowel cancer, twelve years ago, in Avonmouth, joining the team working life at their operations at Following his retirement, Rio Tinto Mike’s fnal years were blighted working on the development of Melton, near Hull. engaged him and three colleagues as by Macular Degeneration which the revolutionary zinc blast furnace Capper Pass, which was acquired consultants in court cases which progressed to the extent that he process. by Rio Tinto in the 1960s, was a sought damages for cancer and was registered blind in 1999. Two years later, in 1954, he non-ferrous smelting and refning chronic obstructive pulmonary Mike had a lifelong love of music moved across the Bristol Channel company, specialising particularly diseases (chronic bronchitis and and played the piano, something he to a position as Assistant Works in tin refning, and the treatment emphysema) attributed to pollution continued to do, despite his failing Manager at Western Metallurgical of low grade and diffcult-to- from the works. vision. Industries, in Swansea, a company treat multi-metal residues. Mike’s This culminated in a study, In spite of his devastating largely involved in the treatment long involvement meant that he published in 2005, led by Sir Richard handicap, Mike remained happy and of low grade smelter residues. was involved in all aspects of Doll, showing an elevated risk of lung fun to be with. Unfortunately, the company closed administration and management cancer amongst workers at the plant, He is survived by Vera, a son, three its operations less than a year later, eventually becoming a group which was found to be statistically daughters and fve granddaughters. and Mike, newly married to Vera, had manager of the company. associated with exposure to arsenic to look for a new job. In the later years, Mike was and other heavy metals. Prepared by Ron Butler, with In 1955, he accepted a position primarily involved with health and A study in 2005, of lead and tin considerable assistance from with Capper Pass & Son Ltd and safety and pollution issues. levels in soil around the former the Fulwell family.

34 Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2018 OBITUARIES Devoted Family Man President of South African branch of CGCA

ERIC ARNOT (Civ Eng 1941-43, for 37 years until he retired in 2006 46/47) at the age of 81. Eric entered City and Guilds in Eric maintained his links with wartime, in 1941, and graduated in Imperial and was a strong supporter 1947, after a period of interruption of the South African branch of the when he served in the Fleet Air Arm. Old Centralians. He became its hon. In his fnal year, he was president sec. in 1983, chairman in 1987 and of the C&G Students Union. president in 1996, which position he In 1948, Eric married Helene still held at his death on December White, and in the same year they 31, 2017. emigrated to South Africa. Eric is survived by his two In 1969, he started his own children and four grandchildren. engineering company which he ran Michael with his sister-in-law, Lady Diane Knill, and daughter, Dr Kate Knill

Col (V) MICHAEL WILLIAM KNILL initially worked with clean water, (Civ Eng 1949-52, 52-53) FICE, but when he moved to Broadstairs FCIWEM, FCGI, DIC, TD as Southern Water’s Divisional IN BRIEF His daughters, Dr Kate Knill, manager for East Kent, he became ACGI, DIC, and Elizabeth Bonnar responsible for both water supply write: and sewage disposal. Dr. TOM WYATT (Emeritus Reader Dr. CHRIS HALLS (Mining Geology) Our father, Michael William He was passionate about in Structural Design) FREng Chris passed away early on Knill, passed away peacefully on improving sea water and beach Tom contributed to the teaching March 30, 2018, after a long and December 25, 2017 after a long, full quality. Restructuring of the water of structural steel design and to the courageous fght against cancer. and productive life. industry in the 1980s led to Michael supervision of design projects at He taught mineral deposit Born in Wolverhampton on May taking up a new role as a Regional Imperial. studies to several generations of 3, 1930, the son of a water engineer, Training Offcer for the Institution He had considerable experience undergraduate mining geology and Mr William C Knill (frst President of of Civil Engineers where he inspired in the design and assessment of MSc Mineral Exploration students CIWEM) and his wife Mary, Michael and encouraged many young structures, particularly tall buildings from the 70s through to the mid- was destined to spend his life engineers until his retirement in the and bridges. 90s and undertook leading research involved in water engineering. 1990s. He specialised in dynamic effects in the feld of ore genesis. Growing up in Croydon during In parallel with his civilian on structures including wind, Chris was always in demand WW2, Michael attended Whitgift career, Michael continued to serve wave, earthquake, pedestrian and as an independent consultant by School where he was a Victoria the Royal Engineers through vehicular loadings. mineral exploration companies Scholar and was captain of the involvement in the Army Reserve, Tom’s projects included who in particular placed a high shooting team, also a member of the rising steadily through the ranks to the second Severn Crossing, value on his feld skills. Junior Training Corps. Full Colonel and Commander of Stonecutters Bridge, Replacement After his retirement from He read Civil Engineering, the Engineer Specialist Pool (V), and Forth Bridges, Messina straights, Imperial College, Chris remained followed by a Diploma in Public Deputy Commander of the Military Beijing and London Olympic stadia. active, professionally and Health, at City and Guilds College, Works Force. Tom passed away at the beginning academically, through his association and despite commuting from On retirement from the Reserve, of 2018. with the Natural History Museum. Croydon he was fully involved in Michael remained involved as college life, including fencing, and Honorary Colonel of the Kent Army inter-college competitions such as Cadet Force Regiment and as a PETER SPIRO (Mech Eng 1936) Dr. JAMES ANTHONY ‘JIM’ building a copy of the Festival of member of the National Council of Peter was one of the enduring CHARLES (Metallurgy 1944-47) Britain Skylon. He maintained close the RE Association. characters of CGCA. BSc, MA, ScD, FREng links with the College throughout Outside of the Army, his life of When he passed away, on Working as an academic at his life, regularly attending careers service embraced membership of February 9, 2018, Peter was 99, Cambridge from 1960, Jim was advice receptions and reunions for Round Table and Rotary, and acting as having been born on May 16, 1918. a Fellow of St John’s College, his class. churchwarden at St Peter-in-Thanet, Peter described himself as a Cambridge and Emeritus Reader Michael’s younger brother, Broadstairs. He also served on the Technical Translator & Interpreter, in Process Metallurgy at the Professor Sir John Knill, was Dean Deanery and Diocesan Synods, and but he was also well known as a University of Cambridge. of the Royal School of Mines in as a Cathedral guide in Canterbury, talented artist, as were many other Jim died on November 13, 2017, 1980-83, and both his sister-in-law – where he enthusiastically shared his members of his family. at the age of 91. Lady Diane Knill – and his daughter immense knowledge and enthusiasm Peter leaves a daughter, Elizabeth. He will be greatly missed by Katherine were awarded PhDs at for its history with visitors. family and friends. Imperial. Michael’s close friend, Dr Michael will be remembered as a Tom Wyatt, Emeritus Reader in quiet achiever, who was kind, gentle, MICHAEL KENNETH RHODES Structural Design, sadly passed away meticulous and a prolifc keeper of (Mining and Mineral Technology shortly after Michael. records. He led a life of dedication 1967-70) BSc ARSM National Service in 1953 saw to everything he did, and of service Mike died on January 24, 2018, at Michael being selected as an offcer to and improving the quality of life the age of 72. in the Royal Engineers. After of others. demobilisation, various water Michael was a devoted family man, engineering posts around the and was married to Pauline for 58 country saw him designing dams years. and pipe works for a number of He is survived by his children signifcant schemes, including that Andrew, Elizabeth, Richard and for the River Dee, and leading Katherine, together with six the River Medway scheme. He grandchildren.

Imperial ENGINEER Spring 2018 35