James Clayton Prize
First awarded 70 years ago, the James Clayton Prize is regarded as the most prestigious annual award made by the Institution to a member or members of the Institution in any grade (Affiliate to Fellow), recognising an exceptional contribution to mechanical engineering and related science, technology and invention.
Achievement is best demonstrated by way of a recent product or research project, or experimental work, from either an industrial or academic source in any location over a typical period of around the past five years.
Andy Cowell CEng FIMechE, managing director of Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains, clinched the 2014 award for his outstanding contributions to engine design and development in the Formula One world, especially V10, V8 and the new V6 with Hybrid Energy Recovery System. He was also recognised for his inspirational leadership at Mercedes-Benz.
Cowell’s interest in engineering started at an early age, having helped his Dad mend cars in the family’s garage. After graduating from Lancaster University, he joined Cosworth Racing on its graduate scheme, rotating through the company’s technical departments before specialising in the design and development of Formula One engines. By 1999, Cowell was leading the project group responsible for the top end of the innovative CK engine as raced by Stewart Ford.
After a year spent with BMW Motorsport, where he managed the group responsible for the concept and detail of the 2001 engine used by Williams BMW, he returned to Cosworth as principal engineer for F1 design and development, managing new engine projects in 2001 and 2003. Cowell then joined Mercedes-Ilmor in 2004 as principal engineer for the FQ V10 engine project.
He was then chief engineer on the V8 project before taking on responsibility for the technical and programme leadership of all engine projects, including the KERS hybrid. He was engineering and programme director for Mercedes-Benz High Performance Engines from 2008 until 2013, when he became managing director of Mercedes AMG High Performance Powertrains.
Summarising his engine design work, Cowell says: “I’ve specialised in the top end of Formula One engines: valvetrain, gear drives and cylinder head design. I particularly enjoyed developing the valvetrain to run at over 20,000rpm and designing the cylinder head architecture on the Cosworth 1999 CK engine.
“I enjoyed the performance development journey for the 2007 V8 and the round-trip efficiency and minimising mass aspect of KERS for 2009. The journey of the V6 and ERS from the definition of the regulations to this season’s racing has been immensely satisfying.”
Cowell has always been an active member of the Institution, and has supported the Formula Student automotive competition for many years. So he was delighted when the institution recognised his achievements, awarding him the James Clayton Prize for his contribution to engineering science. “It was not something I ever imagined I would be awarded,” he says. “I’ve worked with exceptionally talented engineers. It’s exciting to be achieving things in the future that today people believe are impossible. Engineers
have the opportunity to amaze the world.”
About the award
The James Clayton Prize is awarded to a member or members of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers in any grade (Affiliate to Fellow) for an exceptional contribution to mechanical engineering and related science, technology and invention. Consideration is given where an equal contribution has been made by more than one person, in which case a joint award may be justified. Candidates are permitted to self-nominate. All nominations must be supported by a proposer and seconder.
The prize comes with a £10,000 award plus certificate.
Closing date for nominations is 31 March 2016.
Find out more about the James Clayton Prize.
James Watt International Gold Medal
The Institution’s James Watt International Gold Medal is a prestigious award that recognises the lifetime achievements of engineers from across the globe. Having such a wide remit, it’s no surprise to find that previous winners have been hugely impressive individuals with truly distinguished careers.
That was certainly the case in 2014, when Professor Richard Parry-Jones CBE FREng FIMechE FRSS was awarded the medal for his contributions to vehicle development in the areas of driving dynamics and refinement, and for his technical vision and guidance to steer the UK automotive industry towards a prosperous world-class future.
Parry-Jones has enjoyed a stellar career, having graduated with a First in mechanical engineering at Salford University in 1969, and going on to join the research centre at Ford’s Dunton plant in Essex. That move prompted a 38-year career at Ford, in roles ranging from vehicle research, design and test to managing factories and leading business units.
Parry-Jones is credited with transforming the appeal of Ford cars, making them wonderfully connected, responsive and smooth, through meticulous attention to detail in the development of vehicle attributes. His team developed a set of industry-leading metrics, and of particular importance was the way the dynamic performance was measured using objective data. He devised the ‘50m test’ to help evaluators focus on how to sensitise themselves to understanding the subtle nuances of many dimensions of human/vehicle interaction.
In the latter stages of his career, he was chief technical officer and oversaw the team of 33,000 in Ford’s worldwide product development, design, research and vehicle technology activities.
Following his retirement from Ford in 2008, Parry-Jones leveraged his experience into a wider variety of roles which include technology consulting, industrial non-executive directorships and public service, and he has been actively involved in the development of industrial policy through the Automotive Council, which he chaired jointly with the then business secretary Vince Cable.
Such a varied career means that Parry-Jones is regarded as one of the world’s most highly-respected engineers, and so it was no surprise to many to see him awarded the 2014 James Watt International Gold Medal. But Parry-Jones says he was astonished to have received the accolade. “I was speechless when I found out!” he says. He was pleased and flattered.
Since winning the award, Parry-Jones has remained an ardent advocate of the profession, giving many high-profile speeches on topics such as skills shortages and the need to encourage more young people to embark on careers in engineering.
About the award
To commemorate the life of James Watt, every two years the Institution awards a Gold Medal to an eminent engineer who has attained worldwide recognition in mechanical engineering in any direction – science and research, invention, or production. The award is open to Institution members of all grades as well as to non-members.
Closing date for aIl nominations is 31 March 2016.
Find out more about the
James Watt International Gold Medal.
Other Prestige awards
The other Prestige awards are:
Make a nomination
The Institution is keen to recognise innovation and excellence in academia, and does so through its wide range of Prestige awards. As a professional engineer, you can reward your colleagues and peers for their achievements which can truly be said to have improved the world, or advanced the discipline of mechanical engineering, by nominating them for recognition.
To find out more or make a nomination, visit Prestige awards.