British testing pioneer wins 2021 MacRobert Award - Royal ...
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
Royal Academy Summer 2021
of Engineering Newsletter
British testing pioneer wins 2021
MacRobert Award
On 6 July, DnaNudge’s pioneering consumer
genetics technology was announced as the winner
of the 2021 MacRobert Award, the most prestigious
prize for UK engineering innovation. The award
is supported by the Worshipful Company of
Engineers. The technology was pivoted and
adapted to deliver a rapid, lab-free RT-PCR
COVID-19 test to NHS hospitals. The winning team
received a £50,000 prize and a gold medal.
In August 2020, the UK government placed a major DnaNudge’s NudgeBox portable analyser maps the user’s genetic
order with DnaNudge to supply the Department of profile to key nutrition-related health traits in just over an hour.
Health and Social Care with CovidNudge test kits
for use in NHS hospitals across the UK. Now also related health traits such as obesity, diabetes,
in use in care homes and supporting the return of hypertension, and cholesterol.
the arts sector, the test can accurately detect the
SARS-CoV-2 virus from saliva samples on-site in just On the same day, the winners of the RAEng
over an hour – eliminating the need for a laboratory. Engineers Trust Young Engineer of the Year were
presented with their awards by HRH The Princess
Based in central London at the Imperial College Royal, Royal Fellow of the Academy, during a specially
London Translation and Innovation Hub in White arranged visit to the Thames Tideway Project in
City, DnaNudge was created by biomedical London. The winners were: Dr Marzia Bolpagni, Head
engineer and CEO Professor Chris Toumazou of Building Information Modelling International at
FREng FRS and geneticist and CSO Dr Maria Mace; Dr Ben Fletcher, Physical Design Engineer at
Karvela. The winning team also includes Dr Caroline Graphcore Ltd; Dr Thomas Fudge, Co-Founder and
Golden, Clinical Research Manager; Josef Cicinski, CEO of WASE; Dr Gita Khalili Moghaddam, CEO of
UK Retail Store Manager; and David West, COO. TumourVue Ltd; and Dr Emilio Martínez-Pañeda,
Research Fellow at Imperial College London.
DnaNudge was chosen as the winner from a
shortlist of three finalists that included Creo On 13 July, the Academy welcomed its award
Medical’s advanced miniaturised surgical tools and winners to Prince Philip House for its Awards
PragmatIC Semiconductor’s electronic engineering Celebration, the first in-person event since the
innovation that takes the silicon out of silicon chips. start of the pandemic. The MacRobert Award
winner and finalists were in attendance, as well as
The CovidNudge rapid test technology was the winners of the Major Project Award, the MAST
adapted in record time from DnaNudge’s existing Upgrade Project, a unique, compact spherical
consumer DNA testing service, developed to tokamak fusion experiment. Dr Larissa Suzuki
address nutrition and lifestyle-influenced health won the Rooke Award for the public promotion of
conditions affecting people across the world, such engineering. The event also celebrated this year’s
as obesity and Type 2 diabetes. Following a simple three Silver Medallists: Dr Tom Carter, Ultraleap;
cheek swab, DnaNudge’s NudgeBox analyser Dr Andrew Lynn, Fluidic Analytics; and Dr
maps the user’s genetic profile to key nutrition- Sithamparanathan Sabesan, PervasID Ltd.
Contents Thought leadership 5 News of Fellows 11
Education and skills 7 Obituaries 12
President’s column 2 Public engagement 9
Quonsi
Research
sil tatus
andsuliae
innovation
dis, tessultodiu
3 es
Academy
conti, nenam
roundup
quem 10 www.raeng.org.uk/newsletters
1
President’s column many of you will know that he supports the government’s
presented the MacRobert Award plans to Build Back Better. The
almost every year since it began additional funding will allow
in 1969. My congratulations go to us to grow our policy, diversity
winner DnaNudge. I particularly and inclusion, and enterprise
enjoyed meeting the finalists, activities, as well as make extra
alongside other award winners, at investments in education and
our Awards Celebration on 13 July; fellowships for early career
our first in-person event since the researchers. This funding, and
start of the pandemic. the continuing generosity of our
philanthropic supporters, has also
We have other reasons for let us maintain a strong portfolio
cautious optimism. In March, of international activities, despite
Three months ago, engineering the Academy welcomed the the reduction in ODA funding.
lost one of its greatest advocates, Chancellor’s Budget statement Against a challenging backdrop,
and the Academy lost a very and the publication of Build Back this is a step in the right direction.
dear patron. Our Senior Fellow, Better: our plan for growth, which
HRH The Duke of Edinburgh, recognised the potential of the When our Senior Fellow helped
memorably declared during UK’s high-growth technology establish the Fellowship of
an interview on Radio 4 that companies alongside the Engineering in 1976, it set out to
“everything that wasn’t invented importance of government demonstrate its interdisciplinary
by God was invented by an investment in the green industrial expertise to government and
engineer”. Since the Academy’s revolution. We also welcomed ‘to illustrate the best in British
inception in 1976, Prince Philip both the prominent role for engineering’. In 2021, while
worked tirelessly to support our technology in the recently the UK faces huge challenges
work. His genuine passion for published Integrated Review of in achieving a recovery that
engineering was evident in his Security, Defence, Development marries economic renewal with
many visits to the Academy and and Foreign Policy, and the uplift sustainability and distribution of
his challenging discussions with for research and innovation in the opportunity more evenly across
the engineers he met. 2020 Spending Review, together the nation, the Academy is in its
with the government’s success strongest position yet to share its
In early June, when HRH The in ensuring UK association to expertise and demonstrate the
Duke of Edinburgh would have Horizon Europe. essential value of engineering to
turned 100, the Academy made a our economy and society at large.
special award of the Prince Philip On funding we have had mixed
Medal – awarded to an engineer news. Many of you will have heard Best wishes,
who has made an exceptional about the reduction in funding Jim
contribution to engineering. It for research and innovation for
was special because the biennial international development. As
medal would not normally have a result, our programmes that
been awarded in 2021, but a support engineers from low-
decision was taken to do so in and middle-income countries to
honour of our Senior Fellow; and address development challenges Meetings and visitors
also because it was awarded lost 73% of their ODA funding.
to a woman for the first time, In his capacity as President,
Dr Gladys West. As a pioneer Thankfully, the picture is more Sir Jim has met with:
in the use of mathematics and positive for the core funding ■ Sir Patrick Vallance FRS with
programming to process early the Academy receives from the presidents of the National
satellite data to generate accurate, government to support our Academies
repeatable models of the Earth’s other activities, which has ■ Amanda Solloway MP, Minister
geoid, Dr West paved the way been increased. This signals for Science, Research and
for GPS. HRH The Princess Royal, how well recognised the value Innovation
Royal Fellow of the Academy, of the Academy’s work is to ■ Sir John Parker GBE FREng
presented the medal via a virtual government and acknowledges He attended the following events
audience with Dr West at her the impact and relevance of our and meetings:
home in the US. contributions; our goal to harness ■ Association of British Chinese
the power of engineering to Professors Annual Conference;
Prince Philip was a staunch build a sustainable society and Net zero world in 30 years
supporter of UK industry and an inclusive economy clearly ■ UKRI Bilateral meeting
2
Research and innovation
Biowaste innovation wins Africa Prize
On 8 July, chemical engineer Noël N’guessan won
the 2021 Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation
with a biowaste equipment innovation.
N’guessan and his team designed and patented
Kubeko to assist smallholder farmers and their
cooperatives to generate more income from
the by-products of their harvests, without any
additional labour. Kubeko is a set of low-cost
biowaste processing equipment; its composter Africa Prize winner Noël N’guessan
and biodigester are both specifically designed
to ferment agricultural post-harvest by-products communities. They were chosen after receiving
into solid and liquid compost, and cooking gas. eight months of training, mentorship and support
through the Africa Prize, with expert volunteers.
Since being shortlisted, the Kubeko team has
made progress in reducing its production costs The other finalists were:
from US$800 to US$700. The team has installed ■ Indira Tsengiwe from South Africa, who
two biodigesters running on cassava farms, with created BlueAvo, a digital platform that
50 composters installed to date on cocoa, palm connects creative brands and people in the
oil and mango farms. Kubeko has also been media industry with local content creators.
commissioned by the Ministry of the Environment ■ Faith Adesemowo from Nigeria, who
and Sustainable Development in Côte d’Ivoire to developed Social Lender digital financial
train stakeholders as part of the department’s services to give finance access to Africans
national composting and biowaste strategy. who lack access to formal financial services.
■ Mechanical and electronics engineer Juka
The four finalists were selected from a shortlist Fatou Darboe from The Gambia, who
of 16 African innovators for their ability to use launched Make3D Medical, using 3D printing
engineering to solve problems for African for customised orthopaedic equipment.
Frontiers programme awards ideas via an online chat. Live sessions followed
new seed funding where discussions were facilitated between smaller
groups of participants so that ideas could be
The Academy’s Frontiers programme has explored. The platform also allowed for networking
awarded seed funding to four groups of and private meetings to develop the ideas further.
researchers, innovators and practitioners who
met at a Frontiers symposium about smart The seed funding will allow the groups to discuss
communities in February. ideas that were inspired by the event and
start new collaborations that will tackle global
The event, co-chaired by Dr Lara Allen from the development challenges. The research projects
Centre for Global Equality and Dr Ashok Das from include a range of context-appropriate smart
SunMoksha, explored the concept of a smart technology applications including how to remove
community and what it means for communities pollutants from water supplies in Malaysia, tackling
in the Global South, through three themes: violence against women in Sierra Leone, water
enabling infrastructure, enhancing livelihoods, and purification at the household level in Kabul, and
monitoring and diagnostics. It brought together battery systems for rural Kenyan schools.
65 researchers, innovators and practitioners from
around the world via a bespoke online platform Hear more from Dr Lara Allen and Dr Ashok Das
and a series of live Zoom sessions. Over 10 days, on the Smart Communities podcast recorded at
participants explored the sub-themes at their own the event, which is accessible on all major podcast
convenience via videos and resources, and shared platforms.
3
In the spotlight: and models for the world’s activity across the city of London
Professor Mark Girolami first 3D-printed steel bridge provided Transport for London
Computational Statistician to ensure structural integrity with the intelligence to enact
and Data Centric Engineer and inform new international over 700 policy interventions,
design standards. Professor such as pavement widening and
Professor Mark Girolami from Girolami has also partnered moving bus stops, to ensure safe
the University of Cambridge with Network Rail on the first social distancing to bring us out
was appointed Lloyd’s remotely monitored structural of lockdowns.
Register Foundation (LRF)/ asset on the UK rail network.
Royal Academy of Engineering The institute is working with The Academy’s Research
Research Chair in Data-Centric Rolls-Royce to streamline jet Chairs and Senior Fellowships
Engineering (DCE) in 2018. engine blade design, which scheme strengthens the links
He leads the DCE programme Rolls-Royce Fellow Shahrokh between industry and academia
at the Alan Turing Institute, Shahpar says is set to change by supporting exceptional
which was established by the the way Rolls-Royce designs academics in UK universities to
LRF to address new challenges and manages its manufacturing undertake use-inspired research
in DCE with a £10 million processes. for five years, co-sponsored by
investment. Professor Girolami an industrial partner.
has grown this to a value over DCE helped Transport for
£70 million and leads a team of London respond to the COVID-19 The next round of applications
over 150 researchers. pandemic by monitoring the closes on 2 September 2021.
busyness of the city. A massive For more information, please
Recent DCE projects include effort capturing mobility, visit www.raeng.org.uk/
developing sensor systems transportation and traffic researchchair
Success for Enterprise marketplace at a competitive funding round for Cambridge
Hub members price. GaN Devices to accelerate the
deployment of energy-efficient
The Enterprise Hub has Dr Sam Chapman’s Kenoteq is devices reshaping the future
supported over 250 engineering ramping up production of its of electronics. The company is
entrepreneurs to start and eco-friendly bricks to more than currently leading a $10 million
scale-up businesses. Here we two million per year, having European-funded project with 13
highlight the impact we’ve secured £1 million of funding industrial and academic partners
recently had on our goal of from Zero Waste Scotland. Made across Europe, developing GaN-
creating a sustainable society from 90% recycled construction based modules for low- and
by celebrating the successes of waste, the K-Briq produces high-power applications.
Enterprise Fellows. just 10% of the CO2 emissions
of traditional fired bricks and Dr Richard Taylor’s Vector
Dr Florence Gschwend’s requires less than 10% of the Photonics has received £1.6
company Lixea received €2 energy to manufacture. million of equity investment to
million of investment from the commercialise its semiconductor
European Innovation Council Launchpad alumni Nate laser technology. A spin-out from
Fund. Lixea aims to revolutionise Macabuag, Co-Founder of Mitt the University of Glasgow based
waste biomass utilisation and Wearables, was listed in the on world-leading semiconductor
lead the way to more sustainable Forbes 30 under 30 list. He has research, Dr Taylor was awarded
practices. founded a new startup, Koalaa, a place on the Hub’s Enterprise
and intends to tackle the cost Fellowship programme in 2019.
2021 Enterprise Fellow Reka and accessibility barriers that
Tron’s Multus Media was ranked have left 35 million people The Enterprise Hub is supported
among the top climate-tech around the world without by a network of funding bodies,
investments across SOSV’s access to prosthetics. Koalaa’s partner organisations and
global portfolio. Supplying soft, modular prosthetics can be individual donors, without
environmentally sustainable fitted anywhere in the world via which our work would not be
and ethically sourced growth a virtual clinic. possible. To find out more about
media to the cultivated meat how you can support please
industry, Reka aims to get Dr Giorgia Longobardi raised visit enterprisehub.raeng.org.
cultivated meat into the $9.5 million in a Series A uk/about/support-us/
4
Design principles for infrastructure projects in the UK.
national infrastructure The group inspires, promotes and
champions design excellence in
On 21 April, the latest Academy all nationally significant projects.
CAFÉ (Connecting awardees, The webinar series aims to ensure
fostering engagement) event that awardees and alumni have
took place on the topic of a platform for engagement and
‘Design principles for national can continue to benefit from the
infrastructure’. expertise and experience within
its network. It also enables them
The panel discussion was 2020, the NIC Design Group to share ideas and challenges
hosted by Professor Karen published its Design Principles faced and best practice in the
Holford CBE FREng FLSW, Chair for National Infrastructure. current period and beyond.
of the Research Committee, These four principles – climate,
with members of the National people, places, and value – A full streamed video of the
Infrastructure Commission’s aim to guide the planning April event can be found on the
(NIC) Design Group. In February and delivery of future major Academy’s YouTube channel.
Thought leadership
Late-stage R&D for government. The report draws on interviews
with those responsible for R&D decisions in
The National Engineering Policy Centre has engineering companies of all sizes and across the
published Late-stage R&D: business perspectives, UK. The interviews identified five key common
a follow-up to the 2018 report Increasing resources essential for conducting late-stage
investment in R&D: business perspectives. R&D, which have shaped the structure of the
report: people, infrastructure, investment,
Late-stage R&D has long been viewed as a partnerships, and market environment. Each
gap in public support by engineering business. of these resources is illustrated with case
However, it is a crucial stage in R&D to deliver studies and explored in more detail, with
innovative solutions to the market and wider recommendations to target, strengthen, scale
socio-economic benefits to the UK. The report and signal support for late-stage R&D in the UK.
introduces what late-stage R&D is, how late-stage
R&D is conducted and outlines recommendations Find it at www.raeng.org.uk/late-stage-r-d
New Policy Fellows group workshops to help them Manager North West
make rapid progress on their England, Innovate UK (UK
On 30 March, the Academy chosen policy challenges. Research & Innovation)
announced the six successful ■ Gerry McCafferty,
applicants joining its prestigious This cohort includes: Director Policy, Foreign,
Policy Fellowships programme. Commonwealth and
■ Nicola Coppen, Development Office
From mid-April, the Policy Infrastructure Co-ordinator ■ Robert Skey, Head of Low
Fellows have been undertaking for the Highways and Cardon Economy Unit, The
the whole programme virtually, Infrastructure Department, Scottish Government
completing in June. The Westminster City Council ■ Chris Thomson, Head
programme includes a series of ■ Hannah Gibson, Innovation of Clyde Mission Team,
development activities including Lead, Innovate UK (UK Directorate for Economic
one-to-one meetings with Research and Innovation) Development, The Scottish
experts, coaching sessions and ■ Rick Holland, Regional Government.
5
What does inclusive leadership
look like?
On 24 June, the Academy celebrated
International Women in Engineering Day
(INWED) by highlighting #EngineeringHeroes.
To both celebrate the achievements of women
engineers around the world and respond to the
challenge, the Academy event featured Aleida show that the best solutions come from diverse
Rios, Senior Vice President Engineering at bp, and teams working in inclusive cultures.
Dr Loubna Bouarfa, Founder and CEO of OKRA
Technologies, discussing the role of inclusive and This INWED we have also partnered with
progressive leadership to drive positive change. BecomingX and Amazon to launch a new series
of This is Engineering films, featuring inspiring
Women are still significantly underrepresented in women engineers Ursula Burns FREng, Dame
the profession. Our data shows that women are Steve Shirley CH DBE FREng and Professor Sue
less likely to feel included in the workplace and Black OBE to inspire and support young people
many face barriers to progression to senior roles. to become the next generation of engineers.
Women who are also Black, disabled, LGBTQ+
and from low socio-economic backgrounds often For more information, visit
face additional barriers. Research and experience www.raeng.org.uk/INWED
Evidence to Parliament It was introduced to the House stage for clarity or explanation
of Commons in March 2021 to on existing points in the Bill.
On 14 April, Professor Sir Jim establish a new independent The proposal for the new UK
McDonald, Dr David Cleevely research body to fund high- research agency was previously
CBE FREng and Professor Philip risk high-reward research. The outlined in Radical innovation: a
Bond FREng gave evidence to UK National Academies also blueprint for a new UK research
the Public Bill Committee in jointly submitted amendments and innovation funding agency,
Parliament on the Advanced to highlight questions raised which can be read at
Research and Invention Agency by the proposals and trigger a www.raeng.org.uk/radical-
(ARIA) Bill. discussion during Committee innovation
Engineering in the climate emergency of the Young Academy of Scotland’s work on
decarbonisation.
On 13 May over 300 people attended a joint event
with the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE) to You can watch a recording of the one-hour event
discuss reaching net-zero carbon emissions. on the RSE YouTube channel. Find out more
about the Academy’s work to support climate
Reaching net zero will mean a managed action at www.raeng.org.uk/net-zero
transformation of society. Depending on how they
are used, zero-emission technologies, economics Engineering Zero
and behaviours could worsen or improve poverty,
accessibility, health, and community life. The The Academy has also launched Engineering Zero,
discussion focused on why an urgent net-zero a COP26-focused campaign that will advance
transition also has be a just transition. and promote the role of engineering in achieving
net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, in line with
The event was chaired by Professor Sir Jim our strategic objective to harness the power of
McDonald, with an introduction from Professor engineering to build a sustainable society.
Becky Lunn MBE FREng FRSE. A panel discussion
and Q&A followed, with Ragne Low, an Academy Engineering Zero can be found on the Academy’s
Policy Fellow and Head of Heat Planning in the digital channels, and will run throughout the
Scottish Government, and Dr Leslie Mabon, months up to and beyond COP26. We are also
Lecturer in Social Science at the Scottish awaiting the outcome of bids to attend COP26,
Association for Marine Science (SAMS) and Chair submitted to UK government earlier this year.
6
Strengthening UK The recommendations from the
resilience report are:
■ Government should embed
On 20 May, the Academy a systems approach in
published Critical capabilities: emergency planning and
strengthening UK resilience, preparedness, looking
a report that makes three across the public and
practical recommendations private sector stakeholders.
for government to work with ■ Government should
engineers and others to build undertake an audit to map
a whole-society approach to existing public, private and
resilience. third sector capabilities and
convening bodies against
Like others, over the past year the critical capability
we have been thinking about groups.
how the UK can be more ■ The Civil Contingencies
prepared for and resilient Secretariat, in partnership
to the emergencies of the with GO-Science, should
future. Emergency responses work with the Royal
draw upon a range of ‘critical response to Fukushima, the Academy of Engineering
capabilities’ – the people, Icelandic volcano ash cloud, and others to develop
infrastructure and assets that WannaCry ransomware the critical capabilities
need to be available and rapidly incident, and flooding and approach into a practical
mobilised for an effective loss of electricity in Lancaster), tool for emergency
response. we explore how an engineer’s planning, preparedness
systems view can help identify and resilience that builds
This report argues that we need critical capabilities across the on existing capabilities
to see beyond the connections public, private and third sectors programmes.
and capabilities that typically ahead of time, to enhance
feature in disaster planning. the current approach to UK Read the full report at www.
Drawing on lessons from four planning, preparedness and raeng.org.uk/publications/
past emergencies (the UK’s emergency response. reports/critical-capabilities
Education and skills
New bursary in partnership passion for computing and engineering, and an
with Amazon understanding of how innovation and creativity
in these fields can help solve some of the world’s
In May, the Academy launched its Amazon Future greatest challenges.
Engineer bursary scheme. The bursary supports
women students from low-income households Twelve awards, worth £5,000 a year for up to
who will be studying an eligible computer science four years, will be available to female students
or related engineering course at a UK university, progressing from either A levels/Scottish Highers
starting in 2021. in science, technology, engineering, or maths
or full-time BTEC/OCR (or Scottish equivalent)
The new bursaries, aimed at helping address technical courses such as computer science, to
underrepresentation and accelerating the rate of university starting in 2021.
progress, can be used to cover expenses related
to attending university, including tuition fees or More information can be found at
accommodation and living costs. These will help www.raeng.org.uk/afebursary
support students who demonstrate a drive and
7
Lord Bhattacharyya Higher The Lord Bhattacharyya industrial secondment
Education bursaries – second round scheme will be launching shortly, giving
engineering lecturers and their team members
The Academy has launched the second round of in further education colleges the opportunity
Lord Bhattacharyya Higher Education bursaries. to spend up to 10 days upskilling themselves in
industry or at industrial events. This will enable
Twelve bursaries of £15,000 each are available them to gain hands-on experience of new
to support students from underrepresented processes, and a greater knowledge of routes to
backgrounds and low-income households with employment for their students.
their studies.
STEM digital outreach Queen’s University Belfast,
showcase who discussed her experiences
of digital outreach during the
In April, the Academy held pandemic and setting up her
its annual event for Queen YouTube channel, Maths QUBe.
Elizabeth Prize Ambassadors
and research support Everyone who registered for
programme awardees to the event was sent packs
encourage early-career that included the Academy’s
engineers and researchers latest STEM resources This is
to become advocates and Engineering: Entertainment
ambassadors for STEM and Engineering in a pandemic.
disciplines. During the session, attendees
Event attendees received the Academy’s explored hands-on practical
Most of the 40 participants latest STEM resources activities, putting the engineers
were from the UK, but the and researchers into the shoes
event also had attendees from and connect them with people of young learners and offering
Brazil, India and Canada. This and projects that match their inspiration for their own
year, the event shifted its focus interests and schedule. outreach.
to delivering virtual STEM
outreach, in contrast to the Speakers included: STEM Find these resources, along with
usual focus on delivering face- Learning, who helped attendees our full STEM resource selection,
to-face outreach at schools to become STEM Ambassadors; at stemresources.raeng.org.uk
around the country. The Prashant Raizada from Lumi,
showcase was designed as a who spoke about becoming We are always seeking support
taster session to give attendees a mentor for Lumi’s online and partners for our education
an overview of the current state platform where young learners programmes. For more
of digital outreach, share ideas work in teams to solve critical information, please contact
and opportunities that they global challenges; and Myra development.team@raeng.
may wish to explore further, Lydon, a Research Fellow at org.uk
Future engineering leaders chosen various stakeholders and between Academy
staff, and a strong commitment to reaching and
Thirty-eight students from UK higher education encouraging students from diverse backgrounds
institutions have been chosen for the next cohort to apply.
of the Engineering Leaders Scholarships (ELS)
programme. In a considerable increase from the Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, 73
2020 round, 17 (45%) are female, 12 (32%) are from shortlisted candidates with the potential to
an ethnic minority background and 6 (16%) have a become the engineering leaders of tomorrow
disability. For the first time, the gender balance of were interviewed online by 22 panel members
the interviewers was equal. comprised of Academy Fellows, ELS Steering
Group members, Sainsbury Management
These numbers are testimony to the Academy’s Fellowship alumni, Visiting Professors and ELS
outreach activities, ongoing collaboration with alumni.
8
Public engagement
Nominations open for Create the Future: everything from glacier retreat
2022 QEPrize environment tracking to rainforest health.
technology
The Queen Elizabeth Prize Since its launch in 2019, the
for Engineering (QEPrize) To celebrate Earth Day 2021, Create the Future podcast
has started its search for the the QEPrize’s Create the has gone from strength to
next recipients of the world’s Future podcast sat down with strength – amassing listeners in
most prestigious engineering Shah Selbe, conservationist, over 115 countries and securing
accolade, opening its public engineer and National interviews with some of the
nominations window. Geographic Explorer, to discuss most pioneering figures in
his cutting-edge, open-source STEAM including the QEPrize-
This year’s nominations technological solutions that winning engineers behind the
window will remain open until help conserve threatened internet, GPS and LED lighting
11.59pm BST on 31 July 2021. All species, populations and and Gitanjali Rao (2019 Global
nominations will be assessed by environments. Grand Challenges speaker and
an independent international 2020 TIME Magazine ‘Kid of the
judging panel comprised of He discussed using GPS Year’).
world-leading experts in their trackers, drones, sensors, and
fields. The winner(s) will be camera traps to monitor species Listen to Create the future
announced on 1 February 2022. ranging from Sri Lankan blue podcast at
whales to the Congo’s lowland www.qeprize.org/podcasts
To find out more, or make a gorillas. The technology has
nomination, visit: been deployed in some of the To suggest future guests or
www.qeprize.org/nominate harshest environments to track topics, email info@qeprize.org
Funding for public engagement Processes, an artist-photographer and engineers
projects from the University of Birmingham will show
participants how to create photographic prints,
In April, the Academy announced 26 new using materials engineering skills to build
Ingenious public engagement awards for cameras and to create their own developers and
projects that will engage the public with an emulsions.
exciting variety of engineering themes. The
projects are currently underway across the The scheme will reopen for applications on 30
UK, from Edinburgh to Bristol, Bangor to June, offering funding from £3,000 to £30,000
Birmingham, working with a large variety of for public engagement projects that will
audiences in a rich mix of engineering areas, excite and inform the public of the wonders of
including material design and sustainability. engineering, while providing engineers with
skills and experience in public engagement.
One of the projects is New Scots Connect, which
will link engineers with new Scots, including
refugees and asylum seekers and those with
diverse migration backgrounds in Scotland.
Engineers will support the development
of transferable skills and technical English
language through creative engineering-themed
activities.
Many projects focus on environmental issues
such as reducing plastic waste and the role
of engineering in tackling climate change.
In Engineering Sustainable Photographic
9Celebrating Earth Day from medicine to sport.
with This is Engineering This is Engineering would like
to thank its partners for their
On 22 April, This is Engineering support and the University of
celebrated Earth Day with a Q&A Oxford for providing the speaker
discussing how engineering can for this session. All the talks and
build a sustainable future. videos from the campaign are
free to use and share online.
This is Engineering
ambassador Olivia Sweeney, During lockdown, This is
a chemical engineer whose Engineering delivered the latest
work encompasses sustainable season of campaign activity using
beauty, sustainable waste online channels such as Spotify,
systems and circular YouTube and Venatus gaming.
economies, answered students’ Inspirational films of engineers
questions. Rosa Arthur, a working in fashion, music, and
second-year undergraduate sustainability were shared directly
studying engineering at the to teenagers and parents. Since
University of Oxford, shared This is Engineering highlights launching in 2018, the campaign’s
insights into what inspired her how a career in engineering films have now been viewed 54
to study engineering and her can help people meaningfully million times and received over
passion for sustainability. engage to solve climate change 1.7 million engagements. When
and build a greener market, surveyed before the launch of
The theme for Earth Day 2021 contributing to environmental the campaign, 39% of teens
was ‘Restore our Earth’ and literacy. said that they would consider a
the ambassadors discussed career in engineering – now, 57%
engineering’s important role in The session followed on from said that they would.
creating a sustainable future, the Q&A series for This is
from carbon neutral technologies Engineering Day in November To find out more about
to tackling the plastics problem. 2020. The Q&As are available partnership opportunities or how
This year, Earth Day is raising as resources for students you can support this campaign,
the importance of education, and teachers, showing how contact Rachel Earnshaw at
especially environmental literacy. engineering is in everything rachel.earnshaw@raeng.org.uk
Academy roundup
Fellowship – Call for Nominations LGBT+ and disabled engineers.
Deadline: 1 September 2021 ■ Candidates that have come into engineering
via vocational and non-traditional routes.
The Academy’s effectiveness depends critically ■ Candidates who are achieving excellence at an
on the talent, energy and commitment of its earlier career stage than is typical.
Fellows and the role of the Fellowship is central to ■ Candidates who work in emerging
the whole membership process. technologies and new industries, including
areas that are important to address major
Last year the Academy launched a campaign societal challenges.
aimed at delivering a Fellowship Fit for the Future
by the time it celebrates its 50th anniversary Nominations can be made via the Academy’s
in 2026. When considering candidates for online system, which is found in the Fellows’
nomination, please take into consideration the secure area of the Academy’s website: www.
following in line with the campaign: raeng.org.uk/fellows-area
■ Candidates from underrepresented groups, Please contact the Membership team at
including female, Black and minority ethnic, membership@raeng.org.uk with any queries.
10Emeritus Fellows’ and his friendliness and
Tribute to HRH The enthusiasm at Academy events.
Prince Philip, Duke of The profound impact His Royal
Edinburgh Highness had, both in the
engineering profession and to
On 10 June, Professor Sir Jim the Academy, could truly be felt.
McDonald FREng FRSE hosted
his first Emeritus Fellows’ event The event also celebrated the
as Academy President, which 30th anniversary of the Prince
was held virtually. Philip Medal and reflected on
the extraordinary achievements
Together with Dr Hayaatun of previous recipients and this
Sillem CBE, a group of our year’s winner. This year, Dr
Emeritus Fellows and long- Gladys West became the first
standing Fellows gathered woman to receive the medal, the long-term sustainability of
together to pay tribute and being recognised for her work our home at Prince Philip House
honour the legacy of our late in the development of GPS. for the generations to come.
Senior Fellow, HRH The Prince
Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, on Sir Jim said that the Academy Fellows who have already
what would have been his 100th would continue to honour shared memories and photos of
birthday. Prince Philip’s legacy through meeting and working with HRH
our work, the award of the have been greatly appreciated.
Fellows shared very fond and Prince Philip Medal and the If you would like to submit
personal memories, including development of the Prince story or to find out more about
anecdotes that captured Prince Philip Fund - a fund that will the Prince Philip Fund, please
Philip’s passion for engineering, exist in perpetuity to meet our contact development.team@
his terrific sense of humour critical capital needs and ensure raeng.org.uk
News of Fellows Bob Dudley has been Executive Director Award
appointed a director of Freeport
Sir Peter Bonfield CBE has McMoRan Inc Professor Robert Langer has
been appointed to the Board of been appointed a director of
Darktrace plc Anne Glover CBE FRSE has been Xenter Inc
appointed to the Government’s
Tudor Brown MBE has been Investment Council Professor Kai H. Luo has been
appointed a Non-Executive awarded the 2021 AIAA Energy
Director at Ceres Power Anne Glover and Professor Systems Award
Graham Wren OBE FRSE and
Lord Browne of Madingley FRS have been elected Fellows of Professor Geoff Maitland CBE
has been appointed co-chair the Royal Society of Edinburgh has been awarded the IChemE
of the Prime Minister’s Council Ambassador Prize
for Science and Technology Professor Jim Hall has been
and a Senior Advisor at General appointed Vice President of Dervilla Mitchell CBE FREng
Atlantic the ICE, succeeding to the has been appointed Joint
Presidency in 2024 Deputy Chair of Arup
Ursula Burns has joined the
Advisory Board of Icetris and Professor Nick Jennings Dr Ian Ritchey has been
is a Board Advisor at Ocean CB has been appointed Vice appointed a Non-Executive
Outdoor Chancellor of Loughborough Director of Tekmar Group plc
University
Lord Darzi is to receive an Professor David Williams been
honorary degree from the Professor Karen Holford CBE elected a Fellow of the Learned
University of Hong Kong FLSW has been appointed Vice- Society of Wales
Chancellor of Cranfield University
Professor Yulong Ding has Andrew Wolstenholme OBE has
been awarded the IChemE Steve Holliday has been been appointed Group Technical
Clean Energy Medal awarded The Times Non- Director at Laing O’Rourke
11Published by the Royal Academy of Engineering @RAEngNews
Prince Philip House
3 Carlton House Terrace Royal Academy of Engineering
London, SW1Y 5DG
Registered charity number 293074 Royal Academy of Engineering
Media roundup included an opinion piece in Forthcoming events
The Engineer by working group
The Academy issued a Chair Paul Taylor FREng. This is a selection of
comment on the death of forthcoming Academy events.
our Senior Fellow, the Duke Dr Gladys West was announced For a complete list, visit
of Edinburgh, on 9 April. The as the winner of the Prince www.raeng.org.uk/events
comment celebrated the Duke’s Philip medal on 10 June, which
contribution to engineering and would have been the Senior 22 September 2021
the founding of the Academy Fellow’s 100th birthday. Royal AGM
and was covered quite widely Fellow HRH The Princess Royal Online
in the national news media presented the award virtually
along with interviews with our to Gladys, filmed by ITV News 29 September 2021
current and two past presidents and shown on their lunchtime, Hinton Lecture 40th
and other Fellows. Coverage 6.30pm and 10pm bulletins. anniversary
included BBC Radio 4 Today Other coverage of the award Prince Philip House
programme, BBC One, Daily included Hello magazine, Royal
Telegraph, Daily Mail, Sunday Central and Mail Online. 23 November 2021
Express and Sunday Times. Research Forum 2021
The Academy and the Online
In May the Academy published MacRobert Award were widely
its Critical Capabilities report, referenced in multiple obituaries Edited by Portia Sale, Editorial
which recommends steps the of Michael Parsons FREng, the Manager. Contact:
government should take to last surviving first winner of portia.sale@raeng.org.uk
make the UK more resilient the award in 1969 as part of the
to new pandemics or other Freeman, Fox and Partners team To submit News of Fellows or
emergencies. Media coverage who designed the Severn Bridge. obituaries, please contact
patrick.woodcock@raeng.org.uk
Obituaries died on 16 February 2021, aged died on 2 May 2021, aged 69. He
92. He was formerly CEO, was formerly Chief Engineer and
Dr Ronald Punt FREng died on THORN-EMI Technology Group. Head of Systems Engineering,
23 March 2020, aged 95. He was Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft
formerly Managing Director, Sir Derek Roberts CBE FREng carrier programme.
Harland and Wolff Ltd. FRS died on 17 February 2021,
aged 88. He was formerly provost Mr Michael Parsons FREng
Mr John Holt FREng died on 1 of University College London. died on 16 May 2021 aged 92.
December 2020, aged 82. He designed the Severn Bridge,
Mr Stephen Bechtel Jr FREng which was awarded the first
Dr Robert Frosch FREng died died on 15 March 2021, aged MacRobert Award in 1969.
on 31 December 2020, aged 92. 95. He was Chairman Emeritus,
He was formerly Vice President, Bechtel Group Inc. Dr Henry McDonald FREng
General Motors Corp. died on 25 May 2021, aged 84.
Professor Richard Parry-Jones He was formerly Distinguished
Professor William Gambling CBE FREng died on 17 April 2021, Professor, Chair of Excellence
FREng FRS died on 9 January aged 69. He was formerly Vice in Engineering, University of
2021, aged 94. He was Past President and Chief Technical Tennessee.
President of the Institution of Officer Product Development,
Engineering and Technology. Ford Motor Company. Mr Charles Barker FREng died
on 5 July 2021, aged 85. He was
Mr Thomas Mayer CBE FREng Dr Michael Purshouse FREng formerly a consultant at Arup.
12You can also read
