Hat-trick of engineering celebrations as Prince Philip House reopens
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Hat-trick of engineering celebrations as
Prince Philip House reopens
T
he reopening of the full facilities of Prince Philip House for the creation of digital imaging sensors were awarded the
and the Enterprise Hub’s new Taylor Centre has seen the £1 million prize, which celebrates global engineering innovations.
Academy’s home on Carlton House Terrace play host to a The announcement was made by Lord Browne of Madingley
series of celebratory events in the first few months of 2017. The FREng FRS, in the presence of HRH The Princess Royal.
official opening of the Taylor Centre, the announcement of the
winners of the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering (QEPrize) and The winners, Professor Eric Fossum and Dr George Smith
Fellows’ Day saw the building filled with Fellows, entrepreneurs, from the USA, Professor Nobukazu Teranishi from Japan, and
guests and media as the new year got off to a flying start. Dr Michael Tompsett from the UK, were awarded the prize for their
contribution to revolutionising the way that visual information is
The Taylor Centre is the new physical home of the Enterprise Hub, captured and analysed. Together, their innovations have made
and was officially opened by Professor Dame Ann Dowling OM DBE an astounding social impact on the world: digital imaging sensors
FREng FRS on 9 February. The centre will help transform the UK’s have enabled high-speed, low-cost colour imaging at a resolution
best and brightest engineering and technology entrepreneurs into and sensitivity that can exceed that of the human eye. (Find out
the business leaders of tomorrow by providing a new, inspiring set more about the winners on page 3).
of spaces for networking, generating ideas and developing skills.
Reflecting on the winning technologies, Professor Sir Christopher
At the launch event, over 200 guests heard Shirin Dehghan, Snowden FREng FRS, Chair of Judges for the QEPrize, said:
founder of telecoms company Arieso, give a keynote speech on “A picture is a universal form of communication. It can be shared
the importance of building the capabilities of the next generation instantly with anyone around the world, no matter what language
of technology entrepreneurs. Guests also had the opportunity to they speak.”
meet some of the Hub entrepreneurs and take a closer look at the
groundbreaking technologies they are developing. All of the events that have taken place in the newly reopened
Prince Philip House have been supported by the Academy’s
On Fellows’ Day, some 160 Fellows and their partners visited catering partner, Harbour & Jones. The redevelopment work
the Academy to view the new Taylor Centre, learn about recent has also included complete refurbishment of the Academy’s
Academy activities, and meet Trustees and Academy staff. catering facilities, as well as an additional lift and a new corridor
at mezzanine level. The Taylor Centre was made possible by a
The event was also an opportunity for Fellows to talk to staff and generous donation from distinguished inventor and entrepreneur
other Fellows about how to get involved in leading and shaping Dr John C Taylor OBE FREng, as well as the support of the late
Academy work, including policy, international activities and Geoffrey Argent FREng and the Wolfson Foundation, and the
research. The ground floor of Prince Philip House and the Taylor kind donation of equipment for the new space from Toshiba UK.
Centre were filled with displays, with Academy departments The Royal Academy of Engineering is grateful to them all for their
showcasing their latest activities. Hub members also exhibited contribution and support.
their innovations: Comp-A-Tent showcased a compostable tent,
and Mo-Sys Engineering allowed guests to enjoy a virtual-reality
experience.
The Enterprise Hub’s new physical home, the Taylor Centre, was
On 1 February, the Academy hosted the announcement of the officially opened on 9 February. The Taylor Centre offers Hub members
2017 QEPrize winners. The four engineers who were responsible a state‑of‑the‑art space to work and network
Newsletter
President’s column 2 New Year’s Honours 11
People and talent 3 News of Fellows 11
Spring 2017
Innovation and entrepreneurship 6 Obituaries 12
Technology and society 8
Academy roundup 10
1
President's We have had a busy start to 2017 at optimistic about our contribution making
column
the Academy, with the full facilities of a difference is the willingness of the
Prince Philip House reopening following Department for Business, Energy and
the development of our terrific new Industrial Strategy (BEIS) to work with us.
Taylor Centre. To that end, over the last couple of months
I have met a number of government
These state-of-the-art facilities have been
ministers and officials to communicate our
created to provide a new physical home
eagerness to contribute, including Greg
for the Enterprise Hub, its members and
Clark MP, Secretary of State for Business,
mentors. It recognises how important it
Energy and Industrial Strategy, Lord Prior,
is for entrepreneurs to get together to
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
collaborate, share ideas and advice, and
at BEIS, and Alex Chisholm, Permanent
meet Academy Fellows and is designed
Secretary in the same department.
to help facilitate this. I was honoured to
cut the ribbon at the official launch event I also spoke on the topic of Industrial
on 9 February and to welcome the many strategy: the role for science and
Fellows, entrepreneurs, investors and innovation at the annual reception of
supporters who attended it. the Parliamentary Office of Science
and Technology (POST) on 26 January.
I was also delighted to welcome Fellows to
The event, which attracted an audience
the newly refurbished Academy on Fellows’
of parliamentarians and leaders from
day on 30 January. It was wonderful to see
research and industry, prompted plenty of
so many of you, hearing more about the
discussion about the industrial strategy
latest work of the Academy, meeting some
Green Paper published just three days
of the excellent people who we support,
beforehand. A wide variety of views was
Meetings and visitors and celebrating your own contributions. I
heard on topics including how best to
am always impressed and humbled by the
In her capacity as President, Dame Ann commercialise ideas from research and how
has met with: amount of time and expertise that Fellows
to get young people interested in STEM.
give to our Academy: the organisation’s
Sinead Lynch, Chair of Shell UK Working with government to provide advice
reputation is founded on this.
Professor Tim Broyd FREng, President of the on issues that affect or should be informed
Institution of Civil Engineers Partnership working with Fellows was also by engineering is one of the ways in which
Professor Jeremy Watson CBE FREng, at the heart of a very productive day spent the Academy can truly lead the profession,
President of the Institution of Engineering by the Academy’s Trustees and senior a critical partnership that we will continue
and Technology leadership team on 16 February, discussing to foster.
Vincent de Rivaz CBE FREng, CEO of the Academy’s strategy, priorities and
EDF Energy Arguably one of the greatest testaments
future areas for development. Between
Lord Prior of Brampton, Parliamentary to the power of combined effort and
us, we debated and deliberated what
Under Secretary of State for Business, collaboration so far this year is the award
needs to be done to achieve the Academy’s
Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) of the QEPrize to four engineers who
ambitious strategic goals – and we are now
The Rt Hon Greg Clark MP, Secretary of transformed digital imaging. Like the first
State for BEIS
shaping those ideas that we hope to begin
winners of the prize, whose combined
sharing soon.
Alex Chisholm, Permanent Secretary for BEIS contributions built the architecture of
She attended the following events and We are collaborating again across the the internet and the World Wide Web, the
meetings: profession to respond to the government’s discoveries and innovations of this year’s
High-level stakeholder working group Green Paper on industrial strategy. winners have, in combination, transformed
meetings on EU Exit: Universities, This follows the publication of our the way we live in the 21st century. Their
Research and Innovation chaired by post‑referendum report Engineering a innovations: the charge-coupled device
Jo Johnson MP, Minister of State for future outside the EU, which was the (CCD); the pinned photodiode (PPD)
Universities, Science, Research and product of unprecedented collaboration and the complementary metal oxide
Innovation
across the professional engineering semiconductor (CMOS) image sensor,
Science, Innovation and the UK Industrial institutions (PEIs). This continues to span three decades and three continents,
Strategy POST panel discussion
be very well received at all levels of with many and diverse applications, from
Fellows’ Day
government and our discussions with Skyping and selfies, to frontline war
Professional engineering institutions’ ministers and senior officials are ongoing reporting and medical diagnostics.
reception
to ensure that the engineering imperatives
QEPrize winners announcement Engineering has teamwork at its heart
are understood by those developing our
QEPrize judges’ dinner and engineering innovations are rarely the
negotiating positions. In January, I hosted
New Fellows’ lunch product of a single individual or effort. The
a reception for the Presidents and Chief
Taylor Centre launch same is true of the work of the Academy;
Executives of the PEIs where there was
collaboration underpins everything
Trustee Board strategy awayday a clear appetite for more joint working,
we do. With 2017 off to a flying start, I
Excellence Fund for Frontier Research panel particularly on areas of policy where our
look forward to the many partnerships
Delivered the Sir Bernard Crossland Annual combined voices will have a greater impact
and collaborations the rest of the year
Lecture at Queen’s University Belfast than a single organisation’s.
will bring.
QEPrize Trustee Board meeting
Industrial strategy is clearly one of those
Lord Mayor’s Trade and Industry Dinner
areas, and presents us with a huge
She was interviewed by: opportunity to shape the future of our
Good Housekeeping magazine profession. What makes me particularly
2 President's column
People and talent
Meet the QEPrize winners The revolution began in the 1970s with the development of the
charge coupled device (CCD) by Dr Smith and its later application
The 2017 QEPrize was awarded to the four creators of digital in imaging by Dr Tompsett. The CCD is the image sensor inside
imaging sensors: Professor Eric Fossum, Dr George Smith, early digital cameras, converting light into electrical signals
Professor Nobukazu Teranishi and Dr Michael Tompsett. and enabling images to be stored as digital data. The following
Together, their image sensor technology has transformed decade, Professor Teranishi invented the pinned photodiode,
medical treatments, science, personal communication and reducing the size of light‑capturing ‘pixels’ and significantly
entertainment, and is used in everything from smartphone improving image quality. The development of the complementary
cameras to image sensors in cars. metal oxide semiconductor sensor by Professor Fossum in 1992
then allowed cameras to be made smaller, more cheaply and with
Digital imaging sensors have enabled high-speed, low-cost colour a better battery life.
imaging at a resolution and sensitivity that can exceed that of
(L) Dr Michael Tompsett, Professor Eric Fossum and Professor Nobukazu
the human eye. They offer instant access to images ranging from Teranishi at the announcement in London on 1 February; and fourth winner
minute cell structures to galaxies billions of light years away. Dr George Smith (R)
Fellows’ Day
(L) Guests at Fellows’ Day on 30 January, where displays and demonstrations throughout the building gave Fellows an
opportunity to learn about recent Academy activities; (R) Dr Andrew Charles FREng and Kathleen Charles try a virtual reality
experience, created by Enterprise Hub member Mo-Sys Engineering.
SME Leaders programme workshops, mentoring from Academy CyberOwl (Warwickshire), Dulas (Wales),
Fellows and access to the Taylor Centre, Lein Applied Diagnostics (Berkshire),
On 18 January, the Enterprise Hub held a home of the Enterprise Hub. Onlicar (London), Oxford Space Systems
speed mentoring day for the awardees (Oxfordshire), Senergy Innovation
The event was led by Norman Apsley CBE
of a new programme to build leadership (Northern Ireland), REACT Engineering
FREng, Chair of the programme’s steering
capacity in innovative engineering SMEs. (Cumbria), and Spiro Control Systems
group. Mentors on the day included Fellows
(Cheshire).
who are senior business leaders, serial
The SME Leaders programme provides
entrepreneurs and investors.
each awardee with a grant of up to To find out more about the programme,
£15,000 towards education and leadership The SME leaders on the programme are please visit www.raeng.org.uk/SME-
development, plus a six-month support from 10 companies: Bodle Technologies Leaders or email catherine.lawrence@
package comprising practical monthly (Oxfordshire), BOXXARR (Berkshire), raeng.org.uk
People and talent 3
Hidden Figures STEM event
(L-R) Elspeth Finch, Chair of the Enterprise Hub’s Innovators’ Network, Anita Bernie, Platform Launch Director at Surrey Satellite
Technology Ltd, Hazel Macnamara, partner at PwC, Panel Chair Ginny Buckley, Professor Karen Holford FREng and TV presenter
Rachel Riley were all Q&A panel members at the Manchester United Foundation’s screening of Hidden Figures on 26 January,
which aimed to inspire young women interested in STEM. The Oscar-nominated film tells the story of three African American
women – two mathematicians and an engineer – who played instrumental roles at NASA during the space race of the 1960s.
Video series launched to
inspire LGBT engineers
On 2 February, the Academy joined
forces with InterEngineering and Mott
MacDonald to launch a new series of
online videos profiling lesbian, gay,
bisexual and transgender (LGBT)
engineers as part of LGBT History Month.
The What’s it like? video series tells real
stories to inspire prospective engineers
who are LGBT, as well as existing
engineers who may wish to come out
or transition at work. It features 20
successful LGBT role models working in a
wide variety of engineering settings, from LGBT History Month is celebrated in
design studios to the British Army. February in the UK and aims to increase
the visibility of LGBT people and their
An audience of over 150 people, from a experiences, and to raise awareness of
wide range of employers, institutions matters affecting the LGBT community.
and other organisations, attended the
launch event at Prince Philip House. They The video profiles can be viewed at www.
were able to watch the videos and listen interengineeringlgbt.com/lgbt-in-
to personal reflections from Dr Mark engineering-video-profiles
McBride-Wright, Chair and co-founder
of InterEngineering; Lord Browne of
Madingley FREng FRS; Mike Haigh,
Managing Director of Mott MacDonald; Top: Attendees at the LGBT video launch event
and Dr Hayaatun Sillem, Deputy CEO and on 2 February. Right: Lord Browne of Madingley
Director of Strategy at the Academy. speaks at the event
4 People and talent
Enterprise Fellowships
The Academy has awarded the latest
round of Enterprise Fellowships to
12 engineering entrepreneurs.
The new awardees will join the
61 existing Enterprise Hub members,
who have between them so far raised
a combined £30 million in additional
funding for their start-ups.
The awardees cover a broad range of
innovations: a hard‑wearing antibacterial
coating that can be applied to surfaces
to reduce the spread of germs in public
areas; a heart valve delivery system that
reduces the need for open-heart surgery;
window panes that turn opaque at the
flick of a switch; and improved audio
systems for sports stadiums to make impact from university research, and and mentors can be found on the Hub
audiences feel part of the action. act as role models for others, growing website. If any Fellow would like to
the entrepreneurial network in their support any of the awardees, please
The award provides recipients with up universities. contact the Hub team at
to £60,000 funding, as well as business enterprise@raeng.org.uk
training, PR support, access to the With lifetime membership to the
home of the Hub, the Taylor Centre, and Enterprise Hub, the 2017 cohort will be Enterprise Hub member Dr Alexander Enoch
of Robotical demonstrates Marty the robot at the
mentoring from a Fellow. The ultimate among the first to make use of the new
launch of the Taylor Centre on 9 February. Awarded
aim is to improve the skills of the Taylor Centre (see page 1). an Enterprise Fellowship in 2016, Robotical
recipients, so that they can repeat their develops 3D-printable robots that are used to help
success in new ventures, generate more Details and case studies of Hub members children learn how to code
Diversity and Inclusion
Progression Framework
launch
On 15 December, the Diversity and
Inclusion Progression Framework was
launched at a joint event held by the
Academy and the Science Council at the
Institution of Civil Engineers in London.
The event brought together some 80
senior representatives from engineering
bodies and institutions.
Belinda Phipps, Chief Executive of the
Science Council and Philip Greenish
CBE, Chief Executive of the Academy, Fatimilehin, the Academy’s Head of It builds on the Academy’s Engineering
spoke about their organisations’ Diversity, Hannah Kowsun, Director of Diversity Concordat and the Science
experience of leading diversity and Marketing and Communications at the Council’s Declaration on Diversity, Equality
inclusion in science and engineering. Science Council, Scott Keir, Head of and Inclusion, and asks professional
There were discussions about the Education and Statistical Literacy at the bodies about progress in eight key areas
development of the progression Royal Statistical Society, and Sarah Bond, by setting out four levels of good practice.
framework, feedback from the pilot of Director of for business sake, followed by
the framework, and the next steps for a networking lunch. To view the framework in full, please
a collective benchmarking exercise, visit www.raeng.org.uk/publications/
which is due to take place in 2017 and The progression framework was other/diversity-progression-
includes a self‑assessment against developed through collaboration framework
the framework. between the Academy and the Science
Council in order to progress diversity and (L-R) Sarah Bond, Philip Greenish, Scott Keir,
The session closed with a Q&A involving inclusion across engineering and science Belinda Phipps, Bola Fatimilehin and Hannah
Philip Greenish, Belinda Phipps, Bola professional bodies. Kowszun take part in the Q&A panel at the event
People and talent 5
Royal Academy of
Engineering and Royal
Society of Edinburgh
joint lecture
This year’s annual joint lecture, hosted
by the Royal Society of Edinburgh on 6
March, was given by Archie Bethel CBE
FREng FRSE, Chief Executive of Babcock
International Group Plc.
aircraft carriers, HMS Queen Elizabeth, Fellows, Scotland-based engineers and
Mr Bethel gave a talk entitled Delivering the largest warship ever commissioned members of the public.
the Nation’s Flagships, which offered for the Royal Navy, and HMS Prince of
his insight into the engineering and Wales. Following the lecture, Mr Bethel
The HMS Queen Elizabeth, the largest warship
technological innovation involved in the answered questions from an audience in the Royal Navy, and subject of the RAEng/RSE
development and building of two new of more than 130 guests, which included annual joint lecture
Innovation and Samuel took his inspiration from the
entrepreneurship highest Welsh peak, Snowdon. He is
currently studying for his GCSEs at
Ysgol Glan Clwyd in St Asaph, including
a GCSE in engineering. He has a keen
Introducing the 2017 eye for drawing and design, and has
QEPrize trophy previously illustrated a games manual
for the local playing fields association,
as well as designing the logo for
his band.
Samuel Bentley’s winning trophy design, inspired
When asked about his design, Samuel by Welsh mountain Snowdon
said: “I enjoy the design aspect of
engineering and seeing the finished Samuel was announced as the winner
product after all of the hard work has at an event held at the Royal Academy
been put in. My trophy was inspired by of Engineering on 1 February, in the
the great Welsh mountain, Snowdon; it presence of HRH The Princess Royal.
is an achievement to start at the bottom His design will be 3D printed into the
of Snowdon and climb to the top, just as final trophy by BAE Systems, and will be
Samuel Bentley is presented with a certificate for it is an achievement to win the Queen awarded to the winners of the QEPrize at
his winning trophy design Elizabeth Prize for Engineering.” a reception at Buckingham Palace later in
the year.
Samuel Bentley, 15, from Wales was This year, the competition was open to
selected as the winner of this year’s an international audience, and entries View the gallery at
QEPrize Create the Trophy competition. were received from 32 countries. qeprize.org/trophy-2017
Frontiers of Engineering across different academic disciplines. At
for Development the end of the event, groups of two or
more participants were invited to apply
In February, the second Global for one of nine seed funding awards of
Challenges Research Fund (GCRF) £20,000 each in order to kick-start a new
Frontiers of Engineering for collaborative project.
Development symposium took place
at the Royal Society of Surgeons of Having received excellent feedback so far,
Edinburgh. The event brought together the symposia continue to be a highlight in
Participants at the symposium in Edinburgh
an international group of 60 future share ideas the Academy’s portfolio of activities under
leaders in engineering and international the GCRF.
development to network and discuss The two-and-a-half-day symposium
how cutting-edge research can help to offered participants the opportunity To find out more about future events,
address global challenges on the themes to think about these challenges in a please visit www.raeng.org.uk/
of economic sustainability, clean water collaborative and cross‑disciplinary way, frontiers-of-engineering-for-
and clean energy. sharing techniques and approaches development
6 Innovation and entrepreneurship
Africa Prize training
A shortlist of 16 entrepreneurs from Cameroon, Ghana, Kenya,
Mozambique, Nigeria, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda
have been selected for the next stage of the Africa Prize for
Engineering Innovation. In February 2017, representatives
from all 16 teams went to Kigali, Rwanda, for a week of
entrepreneurial training, where they practised their pitches
and met inspiring local Rwandan innovators.
Their innovations include renewable energy solutions,
technology that helps disabled people access employment, and
medical equipment to help diagnose pneumonia in children.
The Africa Prize for Engineering Innovation is in its third year. Zang, who won the award last year with his invention of the
It provides mentoring and training for sub-Saharan African Cardio‑Pad.
entrepreneurs, and supports them to develop scalable
solutions to local challenges. To find out more, please visit www.raeng.org.uk/africaprize
Following a pitch competition in Nairobi on 23 May, the next Brian Turyabagye with his innovation, Mama‑Ope, a jacket that
winner will be chosen, following in the footsteps of Arthur diagnoses pneumonia
New Research Chairs supporting exceptional academics in UK Professor Robert Bowman, Seagate
and Senior Research universities to undertake use-inspired Technology / Royal Academy of
research that meets the needs of the Engineering Research Chair in
Fellowships industrial partners. Advanced Materials for Data Storage
at Queen’s University Belfast.
The Academy has announced the award Full list of awardees:
of four new Research Chairs and Senior Dr Xibo Yuan, Safran Electrical & Power Professor Serafim Bakalis, Procter
Research Fellowships. UK / Royal Academy of Engineering & Gamble / Royal Academy of
Senior Research Fellowship in Advanced Engineering Research Chair in
The four awardees cover a broad spectrum Aircraft Power Generation Systems at the Engineering Consumer Products for a
of engineering research and will hold University of Bristol. Sustainable Future at the University
these positions for five years from March of Birmingham.
2017. Each awardee will be mentored by Professor Christoph Bruecker, BAE
an Academy Fellow during this time. Systems / Sir Richard Olver and The next round of applications is due
Royal Academy of Engineering Chair to close in September 2017. For more
The programme aims to strengthen the in Aeronautical Engineering at City information, please visit
links between industry and academia by University London. www.raeng.org.uk/researchchairs
Industrial Fellowships Annual Forum
On 2 February, the Industrial Fellowships Annual Forum took
place at Prince Philip House. It was attended by delegates from
industry and academia, as well as Academy Fellows.
The event brought together past and current awardees
and their industrial partners to showcase the impact
that this programme, previously known as the Industrial
Secondments Scheme, has had over its 15 years of facilitating
collaborative research.
Professor Elaine Martin OBE FREng, the scheme’s Chair, shared
her vision for the future after attendees were welcomed by and industrial relevance of teaching. The next round of
Dr Andrew Clark, Director of Programmes at the Academy. The applications is due to open later this year.
event concluded with drinks and networking.
For further information, please contact the research team at
The Industrial Fellowships scheme enables mid-career research@raeng.org.uk
academics to undertake a collaborative research project in an
industrial environment. It aims to strengthen the relationship Professor Elaine Martin OBE FREng, Chair of the Industrial Fellowships scheme,
between universities and industry, and improve the quality talks to attendees at the forum
Innovation and entrepreneurship 7
Research Fellows’ induction day
On 2 February, the Academy held an induction day for its
new Research Fellows to give them the opportunity to
learn more about the Academy’s work and network with
other attendees.
The Research Fellows were welcomed by Professor Neil
Alford MBE FREng, who chairs the steering group for this
scheme. Attendees included both current and past Research
Fellows, as well as Academy Fellows. The annual event is part
of the Academy’s wider engagement with its awardees, both
during and after their Research Fellowship.
Research Fellowships provide funding for five years and are
designed to promote excellence in engineering. They provide
support for early-career researchers and encourage them to
develop successful academic research careers. Research Fellows learn about the Academy at their induction
Global Grand Challenges Oculus VR; Professor Dame Sally teams of undergraduate students from
summit Davies, Chief Medical Officer to the UK; across the UK, China and the USA the
Jeffrey Dean, Google Senior Fellow, opportunity to pitch their engineering
The third Global Grand Challenges Google; Christof Koch, President innovations to solve a global challenge
Summit will be held on 19 and 20 July and Chief Scientific Officer, Allen to a panel of experts.
2017 in Washington DC, organised by Institute for Brain Science; Professor
the UK, US and Chinese academies of Molly Stevens FREng, Professor of The UK’s five teams will be chosen via
engineering. Engineering researchers, Biomedical Materials and Regenerative the Engineering a Better World student
educators, policymakers and students Medicine and Head of The Stevens competition, which is a seven-month
are invited to meet and seek solutions Group, Imperial College London; and programme of innovation, design and
to humanity’s great challenges, inspiring musician and technology enthusiast business development. The successful
the next generation to forge a better will.i.am. More speakers are to be teams will be picked to go to Washington
future for the world through engineering announced shortly. DC at a competition showcase hosted by
and interdisciplinary collaboration. the Academy in April 2017.
Before the summit on 18 July, the Global
Confirmed speakers for the summit Grand Challenge Student Innovation Registration for the summit is now open
include: Michael Abrash, Chief Scientist, Competition will be held. This will give at www.ggcs2017.org
Technology and
society
Zones of engineering discovery at
New Scientist Live 2017
In September 2017, the Academy will partner with the
second New Scientist Live event at Excel London. A veritable
extravaganza of science, technology, engineering and maths,
the four-day show will run from 28 September to 1 October.
This year’s festival of ideas and discovery will feature
immersive exhibition zones covering humans, technology,
Earth and the cosmos, plus a new engineering zone in
which the Academy is a key partner. Each zone also has a
stage hosting its own programme of talks by innovators and showcased some of the latest engineering techniques for
thought-leaders. human enhancement.
The inaugural 2016 show attracted over 20,000 visitors. Visitors to the Academy’s stand at the 2016 New Scientist Live event
The Academy’s Superheroes vs Superhumans stand learn about the engineering behind Marvel’s Iron Man
8 Technology and society
Creating value from data The event was chaired by Professor Jim The discussion covered a number of
Norton FREng, Chair of the Academy’s topics, ranging from the importance
On 5 December 2016, the Academy Digital Systems Community of Practice, of metadata standards and robust
hosted a joint event with the Royal and panellists included: Professor Mandy data governance to valuation of data
Statistical Society to explore how Chessell CBE FREng from IBM; Dr Mike and the challenges for companies
engineers and statisticians, along Short CBE FREng from Telefonica; in unlocking its value. A conclusion
with representatives of a number of Professor David Hand OBE from Imperial was the need for more education at
other disciplines, can work together to College London, the UK Statistics all levels and better multidisciplinary
address the future challenges around Authority and Winton Capital; and working if the UK is to move towards a
big data and exploit the opportunities Professor Adele Marshall from Queen’s data-enabled economy.
that may arise. University Belfast.
Procurement guidelines diversity and inclusion throughout the of the Association for Consultancy and
for diversity and supply chain. The action group will now Engineering and a member of the Transport
lead on the production of guidance on for London Board. The action group brings
inclusion common clauses and policy statements together representatives from many of
A small action group has been established that can be used in procurement, the key client organisations in highways
to lead activity on procurement guidelines initially focusing on the highways and and transportation, such as High Speed 2,
for diversity and inclusion. transportation sectors. Highways England, Network Rail and the
Department for Transport. It is drawing on
Over the past year, the Academy’s As part of the work carried out by the examples from previous work carried out
diversity programme has debated whether Diversity and Inclusion Leadership Group, by organisations such as the London 2012
procurement contracts could or should be the action group is being led by Dr Nelson Olympic Delivery Authority and Crossrail.
used to encourage and support greater Ogunshakin OBE, who is Chief Executive Initial output is expected in the summer.
Responding to the industrial strategy Green Paper
On behalf of 38 professional engineering institutions, the of this, and the very positive response to the report from
Academy is leading a response to the government’s Green across government, media and the engineering community,
Paper on industrial strategy – Building our Industrial Strategy. the profession has agreed to adopt a similar model to shape a
collective response to the Green Paper.
The profession’s 2016 report on the impacts of Brexit,
Engineering a future outside the EU, highlighted the crucial This is an important opportunity for the engineering profession
role of an industrial strategy in ensuring that the UK can thrive to ensure that the voice of the sectors and disciplines it
in a changing and highly competitive global landscape. In view represents is heard.
New digital policy studies identifying best practice examples The second will take the form of a
and highlighting opportunities and challenge paper or discussion paper, on
The Academy is starting two new policy barriers. The case studies will include the regulation of autonomous systems,
studies under its ‘digital systems’ theme. engineering examples, especially those led by Professor Tony Gillespie FREng.
that have involved the supply chain,
The first, led by Professor Jim Norton and examples from other sectors. It will The study aims to explore the
FREng, aims to better understand how focus on the engineering solutions used engineering sectors that will be most
to co-create value by sharing or trading for the platform, data management affected by regulatory changes, and
data. Case studies will build on the or analytics as well as the business to better understand the key concerns
growing body of work on data sharing outcomes. The Academy aims to publish for engineers and regulators in order to
and trading by the Academy and others, the study in early 2018. support UK innovation in this field.
The Higher Education reports; information about schemes for reach by collaborating with other
Focus website industry, undergraduates, postgraduates organisations, including the Engineering
and academic staff; information about the Professors’ Council and the Engineering
The Academy has developed a new Engineering Education Research Network; Education Research Network.
interactive website for engineering details of upcoming events; and weekly
higher education. The site collates news updates. There is also an interactive The Higher Education Focus website and
information and provides a hub for forum for the engineering community to details about signing up can be found at
those teaching, studying, working, or discuss relevant teaching practices and hefocus.raeng.org.uk
interested in the subject. share useful links and information.
For further information or to add
The website includes links to relevant The Academy is currently working to content to the website, please contact
books, journals, online resources and increase the website’s content and highereducation@raeng.org.uk
Technology and society 9
Robots at the Science with the Science Museum, and will Visitors can interact with some of the
Museum explore the cutting‑edge engineering 12 working robots on display and glimpse
behind contemporary robotics. recent developments from robotics
The Academy is supporting the Science research, exploring how roboticists
Museum’s latest exhibition Robots with The exhibition features more than are building robots that resemble us
a series of live events. 100 robots, and explores humanity’s and interact in human-like ways. The
500‑year quest to recreate ourselves in exhibition ends by asking visitors to
The pop-up workspaces and live mechanised form. From a 16th‑century imagine what a shared future with
dialogue events are funded by the mechanical monk to robots from robots might be like.
Academy’s public engagement scheme science fiction and modern‑day
Ingenious and will coincide with the research labs, the exhibition enables The Robots exhibition is open until
new exhibition. The events, taking visitors to discover the cultural, 3 September 2017. For more information,
place between March and June, will be historical and technological context of please visit beta.sciencemuseum.org.
developed by engineers in partnership humanoid robots. uk/robots/
Academy in the near future. A trial version is now
roundup
being tested and further information will
be available in coming weeks.
Fellows can find details of upcoming
regional events at www.raeng.org.
Sharing expertise uk/events and I look forward to the
opportunity to meet you at some of these.
Professor Richard Williams OBE FREng,
Vice President of Fellowship Engagement, Ian Ritchie CBE FREng FRSE, Professor Richard I continue to welcome your ideas,
provides an update on the Academy’s Williams OBE FREng FRSE and Enterprise Hub observations and advice, and can be
Fellowship activities. member Dr Sam Chapman of KENOTEQ contacted at vicepresident@raeng.org.uk
On 30 January 2017, Prince Philip very positive comments and emails from Publications received
House was filled to capacity for what attendees about the event. A few days
has become our annual Fellows’ Day. later, I also attended the formal opening Higher – 100 years of Boeing by Russ
The occasion celebrated the work of the Taylor Centre, which provides a Banham has been donated to the
that Fellows are leading through the physical home for the Enterprise Hub, as Academy by Sir Michael Arthur and added
Academy to advance engineering policy it continues to engage a good number to the library in the Fellows’ room.
and drive change through innovation of Fellows in mentoring and support
The 5G Myth and why consistent
and research. Fellows were able to see though our contact networks. It was
connectivity is a better future by Professor
the state‑of‑the‑art new facilities in the interesting to talk to a number of Hub
William Webb FREng has been donated to
Taylor Centre and its new drop-in ‘Hub members about their experiences of
the Academy by the author and is also in
Central’ zone. It was an opportunity to this mentoring, and to also have the
the library in the Fellows’ room.
hear about how the Academy’s Enterprise opportunity to see and interact with
Hub is enabling young entrepreneurial many of their innovations. Total Design over time by Arup has been
engineers to develop their ideas, and donated to the Academy by Dervilla
we heard from a number of them during Looking ahead, the new interactive Mitchell CBE FREng and can be found in
the evening. I was pleased to receive e-forum for Fellows is due to be launched the Fellows’ room.
Media roundup Following the Chancellor’s Autumn the 2017 finalists. An interview with 2006
Statement in November, the Academy’s winner Douglas Anderson OBE FREng
The Academy’s past President, Sir comments on industrial strategy were FRSE appeared in the Daily Express in
John Parker GBE FREng, featured in widely featured in trade press and received February, about his invention of Optos, a
several national newspapers, including coverage in The Times. The Academy’s non‑intrusive whole-retina scanner that
the Daily Telegraph in November response was further shared in January uses laser technology to monitor any
and the Financial Times in February, when the government published its changes to the eye.
emphasising the work that large industrial strategy Green Paper. The announcement of the 2017 winners of
companies need to do to increase the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering
boardroom diversity. His comments The engineers on the Africa Prize for received global coverage across countries
complement the Academy’s wider Engineering Innovation shortlist continue including the USA, Japan and the UK,
work on diversity and inclusion, which to receive attention, with a number of where it featured on BBC One’s News at Six
included an appearance by Head of profile pieces appearing on the Guardian and in segments on Sky News, BBC World
Diversity Bola Fatimilehin on BBC website during December. Past winners of News and BBC radio. News of the QEPrize
Radio 4’s Today programme in January, the MacRobert Award have also received announcement reached a potential global
discussing the film Hidden Figures. coverage ahead of the announcement of audience of 1.3 billion people.
10 Academy roundupGL, and President, European Wind Officer, Nottingham Scientific Ltd, for
New Year’s Honours Energy Association, for services to services to science
renewable energy
Congratulations to the 13 Academy Michael Douglas Carr FREng,
Fellows who were recognised by HM Professor Peter John Goodhew Board member, Innovate UK, and
The Queen in this year’s New Year FREng, Emeritus Professor of Non‑Executive Director, Ordnance
Honours list. Engineering, University of Liverpool, for Survey, for services to innovation
services to engineering and education
Knighthoods Professor Anne Neville FREng FRSE,
Professor Hywel Rhys Thomas Royal Academy of Engineering Chair in
Professor John Vincent McCanny
FREng FRS, Pro Vice-Chancellor Emerging Technologies, University of
CBE FREng FRS, Professor of
(International and Engagement), and Leeds, for services to engineering
Microelectronics Engineering and
Director, Geoenvironmental Research
Director, Institute of Electronics, Dr Christoph Stefan Wiesner FREng,
Centre, Cardiff University, for services to
Communications and Information Chief Executive, The Welding Institute,
academic research and higher education
Technology, Queen’s University Belfast, for services to engineering and
for services to higher education and Dr David Watson FREng, Director, IBM innovation
economic development Research UK, for services to science and
engineering research Members of the Order of the British
Order of the British Empire Empire
Commanders of the Order of the Professor Guang-Zhong Yang FREng,
British Empire Director, Hamlyn Centre for Robotic Dr Antony David Trapp DL FREng,
Surgery, for services to biomedical Executive Chairman, Osbit Ltd, for
Professor Polina Bayvel FREng FRS, engineering services to the engineering and energy
Professor of Optical Communications and industries
Networks, University College London, for Officers of the Order of the British
services to engineering Anthony Peter Wilson FREng, Director,
Empire
AECOM, for services to building and
Dr Andrew Douglas Garrad FREng, Professor Vidal Ashkenazi FREng, engineering
Member of Supervisory Board, DNV Founding Director and Chief Executive
Legacy support
Copies of Build a better world, the Academy’s legacy Fellows who would like to have a confidential, informal
information brochure, are available from the Development discussion about legacy giving are invited to contact Clare
department or can be downloaded from the Academy’s website Flynn Scarcelli, Head of Major Giving, on 0207 766 0652 or
at www.raeng.org.uk/ways-to-give clare.flynn@raeng.org.uk
News of Fellows Williams OBE have all been elected Professor Sir John McCanny CBE FRS
Fellows of the Royal Society of Edinburgh has been appointed Regius Professor of
Professor John Bell GBE has been Electronics and Computer Engineering at
appointed industrial strategy champion Dame Judith Hackitt DBE has been
appointed Chair of the Semta Group Queen’s University Belfast
for life sciences
Professor Christopher Hall FRSE has Colin Smith CBE FRS has been
Baroness Brown DBE, has been
appointed as the next Chair of the been elected Curator of the Royal Society elected to the US National Academy of
Committee on Climate Change’s of Edinburgh Engineering
Adaptation Sub-Committee Professor Dame Wendy Hall DBE FRS Professor Stephen Myers OBE has
William Tudor Brown MBE has been has been appointed Regius Professor in been appointed a non-executive director
appointed to the board of Marvell Computer Science at the University of of Advanced Oncotherapy PLC
Technology Group Southampton and has been chosen to
lead the government’s review into the Professor Richard Parry-Jones CBE
Professor David Butler has been has been appointed industrial strategy
development of artificial intelligence
appointed Chair of South Devon UTC champion for ultra-low emission vehicles
Professor Peter Hansford has
Professor Dame Ann Dowling OM DBE
been named Chair of Network Rail’s Dr John C Taylor OBE has been awarded
has been awarded an honorary doctorate
competition and contestability review an honorary doctorate from the
of science from Northumbria University
University of Durham
Sir David Higgins has been appointed
Professor Amr S Elnashai has
Chair of Gatwick Airport Sir Colin Terry KBE CB DL has been
been appointed Vice-Chancellor
and Vice‑President of Research and Graeme Hobbs has been appointed appointed Chair of BOXARR
Technology Transfer at the University Chair of Bristol Is Open Peter Warry has been appointed Acting
of Houston
Dr Raghunath Anant Mashelkar FRS Chair of River & Mercantile Group
Jim Fairbairn OBE, Professor Win has been appointed a director of ACCESS
Rampen and Professor Richard Health International
Academy roundup 11Call for nominations 2016 Annual Fund update New funding
The Academy’s effectiveness is Launched in September 2016, the The Academy’s Connecting STEM
dependent on the talent, energy and Academy’s 2016 Annual Fund appeal has Teachers programme has received a
commitment of its Fellows, and the role raised £21,500 as of 1 February 2017. further year of support from Royal Dutch
of the Fellowship is central to the whole Shell. A grant of £300,000 will help
membership process. Since it was first launched in 2012, the programme continue to work with
the Annual Fund has helped the teachers to improve the STEM learning
The deadline for making nominations Academy launch new initiatives in experience, and improve uptake of and
this year is 1 May 2017. This can be done enterprise, education and other attainment in STEM subjects. Last year,
via the Academy’s online system for areas of work. It has also brought the programme reached 570 schools,
nominations, which is found in the Fellows’ much-needed additional capacity to 740 teachers and over 66,000 students
secure area of the Academy’s website established work programmes. An across the UK.
www.raeng.org.uk/fellows-area update on how funds have been used
will appear in a future newsletter. BP has been confirmed as Headline
Fellows will require a username and Sponsor of the Academy’s 2017 Awards
password to access it. To retrieve a The Academy would like to extend Dinner, which will be held on 29 June
forgotten password, email its thanks to all those who have at the Landmark Hotel, London. The
webmaster@raeng.org.uk contributed so far. Silver Sponsors of this year’s event
are BAE Systems, GKN, Jaguar Land
All other queries regarding nominations Copies of the Annual Fund brochure can Rover, Lockheed Martin, Rolls‑Royce,
should be directed to membership@ be viewed and/or downloaded from and Electrical Power Research
raeng.org.uk www.raeng.org.uk/get-involved Institute (EPRI).
Forthcoming events 4 September 2017 18 October 2017
Research Forum New Fellows’ dinner
This is a selection of Academy events. Venue: Prince Philip House Venue: Drapers’ Hall
For a complete list, visit Time: 10.00am to 4.30pm Time: 6.30pm to 10.45pm
www.raeng.org.uk/events 5 September 2017
AGM Follow the Academy on Twitter:
23 May 2017 Venue: Prince Philip House @RAEngNews
Enterprise Hub Showcase
6 September 2017 Follow the Academy on Facebook:
Venue: Prince Phillip House www.facebook.com/RAEngineering
Diversity and Inclusion Programme
Time: 4.00pm to 7.30pm
plenary event
Edited by Portia Sale
Venue: Prince Philip House
22 May to 23 May 2017 Email: portia.sale@raeng.org.uk
Africa Innovates 2017 26 September 2017 Published by the Royal Academy of Engineering,
Location: Nairobi, Kenya Ingenia live! Prince Philip House, 3 Carlton House Terrace,
Venue: Prince Philip House London SW1Y 5DG
29 June 2017 Time: 6.30pm to 9.00pm Tel: 020 7766 0600 www.raeng.org.uk
Awards Dinner 2017 18 October 2017 The Royal Academy of Engineering
Venue: The Landmark London New Fellows’ briefing promotes excellence in the science,
Time: 6.30 to 10.30pm Venue: Prince Philip House art and practice of engineering.
Time: 12.30pm to 5.00pm Registered charity number 293074
Obituaries Partnership and UK Low Carbon Professor Roger Lacroix FREng died
Innovation Group Executive. aged 88. He was formerly Honorary
Professor at ENPC Paris.
Professor Paul Adrian Auchmuty Mr Ernest Martin Eltis FREng died on
Mr Frank Alexander Sims OBE FREng
Back CBE FREng died aged 86. He was 3 January 2017, aged 95. He formerly
died on 22 December 2016, aged 84.
formerly Director of Sir Alexander Gibb worked for Rolls-Royce Plc.
He was formerly Chief Executive of Pell
and Partners Ltd.
Frischmann Consultants Ltd.
Dr William Henry Penley FREng died
Dr David Andrew Clarke FREng on 27 January 2017, aged 99. He was Professor Graham Charles Wood FREng
died on 4 February 2017, aged 55. formerly Engineering Director of Marconi FRS died on 4 November 2016, aged 82.
He was Chief Executive Officer of Underwater Systems, and Controller of He was formerly Emeritus Professor of
the Energy Technologies Institute, a R&D Establishments and Research at the Corrosion Science and Engineering at the
member of the UK Energy Research Ministry of Defence. University of Manchester.
12 ObituariesYou can also read
