Paul Stewart

Professor of Control Engineering, and Pro Vice Chancellor Research at the University of Lincoln UK

County’s jet engine heritage helps new career take off

Paul Stewart
Carl Hockley with the Mayor of Lincoln, members of Aviation Heritage, and PVC Research Paul Stewart

Seventy years after the first UK jet powered flight took off from Lincolnshire’s RAF Cranwell using Sir Frank Whittle’s turbojet engine, one young engineer from the county is thanking his pioneering forebear for inspiring another first.

Carl Hockley, a student on the BEng Mechanical Engineering course at the University of Lincoln’s School of Engineering, has received the first ever Sir Frank Whittle Bursary – an award set up by Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire, in memory of Sir Frank Whittle. The award recognises nineteen-year-old Carl’s academic achievements and his enthusiasm for promoting both the new School of Engineering, and engineering itself, over the last year.

The City of Lincoln Council has sponsored the first Bursary – worth £3,000 – which was presented to Carl by the Right Worshipful, the Mayor of Lincoln, Councillor Kath Brothwell.

Carl said: “When I found out that I had been awarded the bursary, I was taken aback by it and actually speechless. It took a while to sink in and gave a feeling of immense gratitude for being chosen for it.

“The strong tie in with industry that the course has through its link with Siemens and various other companies, as well as the fact that it is the first school of engineering in such a long time, made coming to the University a very exciting prospect. Further to this, the offer of sponsorship through my degree from Siemens brought a more career orientated aspect which I didn’t feel anywhere else had to offer.”

Dr Jill Stewart, Acting Head of the University of Lincoln’s School of Engineering, said: “Carl has been very popular with the schools that have attended various engineering and University events over the year, and he has always been prepared to take a leading role in running these activities – most recently, the ‘Maths at Work’ event held at the University.

“We’re incredibly proud of Carl – he is a talented and creative engineer and it seemed appropriate that he should receive the first award made in the memory of the exceptional engineer, Sir Frank Whittle.”

The award, which was set up this year by Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire, will now be made annually in memory of Sir Frank Whittle. It commemorates 70 years since the first jet powered flight in the UK made by the Gloucester E.28/39 using Sir Frank’s turbojet engine at RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire.

Phil Bonner, Aviation Development Officer for Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire, said: “Although Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire looks to raise the profile of the county’s rich aviation heritage we are very much involved with young people through our outreach and learning programme. The Sir Frank Whittle Bursary not only celebrates the past but looks to invest in the future.”

Councillor Neil Murray, Portfolio Holder for Planning Policy and Economic Regeneration at the City of Lincoln Council, added: “We are incredibly proud to sponsor the first Sir Frank Whittle Bursary. We see engineering as one of Lincoln’s most important industries, so we’re keen to support the School of Engineering, as well as local businesses.”

The new purpose built School of Engineering will open this summer on the University’s main Brayford campus. It is part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) from the European Union. Other funding sources include emda, HEFCE, Siemens Industrial Turbomachinery Ltd, Lincolnshire County Council and the University.

The collaboration between the University and Siemens Industrial Turbomachinery Ltd has already been commended by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET). It was one of only five projects shortlisted for the Team award at their recent Innovation Awards which celebrated the products, technologies and processes that lead the way in engineering innovation.

Carl is already thinking about his future career in the engineering sector and plans to go on to achieve chartered engineer status. Ultimately, he hopes to be able to use his skills creatively and said: “In an ideal world it would be incredible to solve a complex problem that benefits the world in a manner that creates real change for the better.”

The Sir Frank Whittle Bursary Presented to Carl Hockley of the School of Engineering

Paul Stewart
Carl Hockley with The Right Worshipful, the Mayor of Lincoln, Councillor Kath Brothwell, Phil Bonner, Aviation Development Officer, Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire, Dave Harrigan, Outreach & Learning Officer, AHL, Tim Downing, Chairman, AHL

Carl Hockley, who has recently completed his first year as an undergraduate reading Mechanical Engineering has been awarded the Sir Frank Whittle Bursary.

Carl, who is currently conducting summer placement work at Siemens Indistrial Turbomachinery in Lincoln was chosen as a result of his excellent examination results, course work, attendance and participation in extra-curricular activities.

Attending the ceremony at Lincoln’s Guildhall were:

  • The Right Worshipful, the Mayor of Lincoln, Councillor Kath Brothwell
  • Councillor Neil Murray, Portfolio Holder, Planning & Economic Regeneration
  • Andrew Taylor, Chief Executive, City of Lincoln Council
  • Rob Smith, Business Services Team Leader, City of Lincoln Council
  • Professor Leuan Owen. Deputy Vice Chancellor
  • Professor Paul Stewart, Pro Vice Chancellor for Engineering
  • Phil Bonner, Aviation Development Officer, Aviation Heritage Lincolnshire
  • Dave Harrigan, Outreach & Learning Officer, AHL
  • Tim Downing, Chairman, AHL
  • Carl Hockley and family – Bursary award

LINCOLN ENGINEERING BUSINESS BREAKFAST: WEDNESDAY 27 JULY 2011

Paul Stewart
Attendees at the recent Lincoln Engineering Business Breakfast. Coffee, bacon rolls and brown sauce optional

The University of Lincoln School of Engineering and City of Lincoln Council Business Services Team collaborate in events to understand the main drivers for successful marketing and development of the engineering sector in the region.

We are working together to put Lincoln engineering ‘on the map’ in terms of investment and relocation opportunities.

Mike Bristow of Wyman Gordon Ltd. discusses Sharing Best Practice

Attending the event were:

Bifrangi UK Limited
Castlet Limited
Cenex
City of Lincoln Council
Coptech Technology Limited
Destec Engineering
Dynex Semiconductor Limited
e2v
Education Business Partnership
Hindles of Lincoln
Hoval
ITP Engines UK Limited
Industrial Marine Power
James Dawson & Son Limited
Lincat Group Plc
Lincoln College
Lincoln Crankshaft & Machine Limited
Lincoln Diesels
Lincolnshire County Council
Lincolnshire & Rutland Employment & Skills Board
Micrometric Limited
Napier Turbochargers Limited
NMB Minebea UK Limited
North Lindsey College
Optima Graphic Design Consultants Limited
Praxair
Rakon UK Limited
Rilmac (Holdings) Limited
Siemens Industrial Turbomachinery
Specialist Heat Exchangers
University of Lincoln
VXI Power Limited
Wyman-Gordon Limited

MAAT International Airship Project

Paul Stewart
Comparative size of airships and aircraft

International research collaboration for Lincoln

Lincoln’s PVC Research, Professor Paul Stewart and Professor of Energy Conversion, Chris Bingham, have been awarded high profile European funding for a new research project.

The MAAT (Multibody Advanced Airship for Transport) project sees Profs Stewart and Bingham working as part of a global consortium to take forward airship technology, through funding from the Seventh Framework Programme (FP7).

The project is being led by the Universita di Modena e Reggio Emilia, Italy and the Lincoln team will focus on ‘Energy and Propulsive Systems’ with Paul in the role of principal investigator and Chris as co-investigator.

Prof Stewart said: “Airships are currently being developed by various organisations. They open up possibilities for the future of air travel; they are quieter, don’t require runways and are low carbon.

“Chris and I will be looking at how we can make the most efficient use of the energy generated by the photovoltaic cells on the outer body of the airships. We will focus on elements such as the electrical power systems, energy storage and propulsion and the control systems used for flying. By introducing innovative systems we can overcome the limitations of traditional propellers at high altitudes.”

The €multi-million project will run over three years and is one of two FP7-funded projects recently secured by the University. FP7 is the EU funding programme for research and technological development and is open to all disciplines – including social sciences and humanities. With a budget of €50 billion FP7 funds a range of project types, from large scale strategic collaborative research to individual fellowships. It runs until 2013, with new calls for proposals each year.

Why participate in FP7 research?

  • • Internationalisation of research
  • • Benchmarking performance in European context
  • • Range of project types (multi-disciplinary, industrial)
  • • Networking opportunities – research and teaching
  • • Opening up new opportunities
  • • Mobility of staff and students
  • • Research capacity
  • • Pan-European university networks
  • • Links to ‘third stream’ activities

 

The UK does exceptionally well out of all the countries involved in FP7. A recent UKRO report highlighting UK success rates found that:

 

  • • proposals from UK applicants were the second highest number from any country (as of October 2010).

 

  • • the UK has an above average applicant success rate: 24.5%, as opposed to 21.9% for the EU as whole. It also has a higher ‘financial contribution’ success rate: 22.6% as opposed to 20.9%.
  • • to date, 3721 grant agreements have been signed. 19% of participants  are from the UK, the second highest number of participations.
  • • 23.3% of EU funding has gone to UK beneficiaries; again, this is the second largest budget share.
  • • the UK also has an above average SME success rate: an applicant success rate of 22.1%, against EU 19.4%; a financial contribution success rate of 21.4%, against EU 18.3%.

The University’s David Young, Senior Research Facilitator in the  Research and Enterprise Office, is keen to advise and support staff with applications to this fund. For more information about the application process or the specific programmes within the framework contact him via email or on ext 6902.