The achievements of the undergraduate scholarship winner of the IMechE Eaton Undergraduate Scholarship award, Samuel Wakerley, who has just embarked on his degree at Sheffield, and the IMechE AMEC-Clean Energy Europe award, Peter White, who also attended the ceremony, were also celebrated.
Rhiannon Heard – IMechE Land Rover Spen King Sustainability Scholarship winner
Rhiannon, from Hertfordshire, is looking forward to starting a Masters degree in mechanical engineering at Oxford University. Throughout her sixth form years at Parmiter’s School, she immersed herself in engineering-related activities, connecting with volunteer roles, personal awards and challenges as well as the scholarship application – not to mention the small matter of achieving top marks in her mathematics, further mathematics, physics and geography A-levels.
Rhiannon has worked as a Headstart Dragonfly Mentor, which involved supervising engineering-based activities, such as testing sand viscosity relating to sand sculptures. In this, she presented a positive role model to encourage participating Year 10 girls to pursue science subjects at A-level. She also derived a great deal of useful insight into science and engineering from other clubs and organisations:
She explained: “During sixth form, following selection onto the Engineering Education Scheme (EES), I started a project spanning six months mentored by the Building Research Establishment (BRE). It involved working as a team of four students, designing and making a fire control panel-training tool to European industry standard, for which I earned the Gold CREST Award.”
“As a member of my school’s Engineering Applied Science Technology (EAST) Club from Year 8, I was regularly involved in activities ranging from model parachute testing to analysing concrete composites. Memorable EAST Club trips included materials testing of Kevlar and replica and original antique armour at the Tower of London. At this stage I was beginning to consider a science-based career and gained the Bronze CREST Award in Year 9 during a 'Gifted & Talented' summer workshop, where we even applied engineering principles to teabags!”
Rhiannon is delighted to be selected as this year’s IMechE Land Rover Spen King Sustainability scholarship winner. She outlined what made her apply for this award in particular: “Receiving the Spen King Award is an honour and an incredible opportunity. I applied for the scholarship as I have a particular interest in the research and design field of engineering, particularly in the automotive industry. As a combined science and geography student at A-level, I became acutely aware of the geo-political tensions directly relating to sustainability. I perceive that engineering will be key to tackling future global challenges and I aspire to play an active role in resolving this conflict by developing future technologies in industry.”
She added: “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to gain valuable industry experience, which is allied to my particular area of interest, through a placement with Jaguar Land Rover.”
This year’s essay subject for the Spen King Award was an assessment of the challenges facing the automotive industry to reduce carbon emissions, and the engineer’s role, in particular, in meeting them.
Jo Lopes, Head of Technical Excellence at Jaguar Land Rover Ltd, was highly impressed by the insight that Rhiannon showed. He commented: “Given a broad, but high-level subject, she covered it brilliantly. She looked at the wider issues of sustainable vehicles in a mature way, covering elements such as infrastructure impacts, vehicle design, and the global and emerging markets. Her argument is direct, balanced and well structured, leading to a very insightful conclusion. Importantly, she addressed the fact that there is a balance to be struck by a variety of components and stakeholders, and is able to put forward her points from a global perspective.”
Rhiannon summarised her essay, by saying: “The average age of cars on the road is rapidly increasing, compounded by the economic climate. The problem this creates is that cars become less efficient over time due to mechanical wear of parts, subsequently lowering fuel efficiency, thereby resulting in a greater carbon footprint. Significantly more efficient engines are currently under development, such as the Delphi advancing Gasoline Direct-Injection Compression-Ignition engine, but will not retail until 2020. Hybrid or alternative energy vehicles have high cost implications when considering recharging or refuelling, and although substitutes to alternative fuels are theoretically possible, decreasing carbon dioxide levels emitted often unavoidably increases the level of another pollutant, such as carbon monoxide.”
“Therefore, engineers focus on reducing fuel consumption through improvements to the aerodynamics or by use of materials such as carbon fibre, thereby decreasing the mass of the vehicle. Hence, the engineer’s role is to develop cost- and energy-efficient automobiles, balancing the resistance of the consumer to cost of technological advancement, versus the need to improve energy efficiency, which are currently diametrically opposed.”
Jo Lopes felt that Rhiannon is already employing many of the essential attributes of a forward-thinking engineer: “Rhiannon demonstrates the engineer’s ability to problem-solve and to base her conclusions on evidence. She is very data-driven and resourceful and can clearly find her way through complex issues. She focuses on solutions, and it’s clear that she is able to identify the steps to take to achieve them. It is also commendable that Rhiannon has already engaged with some of the institutions and conferences that will be an important part of her development as an engineer. Now she has the opportunity to use a valuable work placement, with Jaguar Land Rover, to broaden her experience.”
Now in its third year, Jo explained that the Spen King Award is ideal for identifying outstanding talent amongst aspiring engineers; and that the industrial placement that Jaguar Land Rover offers contextualises undergraduate studies and provides a rounded insight into a future career.
He said: “I’m particularly glad to see another female winner, as all sectors still strive to raise the numbers of women in engineering. Hopefully this suggests that the challenge of translating the final outcome of a degree into an engineering career is becoming more achievable, and Rhiannon, who has demonstrated the formidable scope of her passion for and appreciation of engineering, will benefit from learning at first hand about the workplace alongside her studies. We at Jaguar Land Rover wish her all the best as she embarks on her first year at Oxford.”
Peter White – IMechE AMEC-Clean Energy Europe Undergraduate Scholarship Award winner
Peter, who will be studying mechanical engineering at the University of Leicester, is a keen sportsman, and so the question set by the Institution for applicants to address – ‘In your opinion what will be the legacy of the London Olympics?’ – ticked his sporting, as well has his engineering boxes.
Peter said: “In my opinion the most important part of the Olympic legacy was the spectacle and inspiration given to current and future engineers. The engineering achievements carried out for the Olympics illustrated the knowledge and innovative talent that British and international engineers currently possess. My imagination is fired up when considering what wonders engineers will be able to achieve in the next 30 years. I want to be involved in such a future and the possibility that one day it will be my turn to show the world what my generation can achieve is truly exciting.”
Barbara Smith, Graduate Programme Manager for AMEC Clean Energy Europe, explained: “The company’s Mechanical Graduate Scheme has been accredited by the Institution for over 30 years. The cornerstone of the scheme’s success is the quality of the graduates.”
“AMEC is delighted to be involved in the selection of the undergraduate candidates for the Institution’s sponsorship awards and always pleased when a candidate is suitable to be linked with AMEC. Peter White exceeded our expectations as a young engineer embarking upon an accredited degree course and during the interview convinced and impressed us of his potential and natural interest in engineering, which was clearly fostered by his grandfather.”
Samuel Wakerley – IMechE Eaton Undergraduate Scholarship Award winner
Samuel, pictured at the top of the page, has just embarked on his MEng in mechanical engineering at Sheffield University, and is thoroughly enjoying his early undergraduate life.
He feels that the privilege of the award will have a great impact on his engineering future: “The scholarship will allow me to fund a year studying in North America as part of my Masters degree. I’m hugely excited about this – along with my placement at Eaton – both of which will help me achieve my ambition of entering the automotive industry, and in particular the motorsport sector.”
Steven Riley, Applications Engineering Manager at Eaton Aerospace commented that the company is very proud to be partnering the Institution’s undergraduate sponsorship programme as part of its ongoing commitment to support young engineers.
He added: “Eaton is a global technology leader in power management solutions and as such the quality of young talent entering the profession is of great importance us.”
Samuel explained that, in his paper, he analysed the incredible engineering achievements that were showcased at London 2012, as well as the impact of technological developments in sport.
He said: “I immediately thought of the many positive outcomes, such as the development of the sustainable ‘Olympic village’ along with the use of advanced prosthetic limbs to allow disabled athletes to compete in the able-bodied Olympics for the first time. However, I was careful to present a balanced view, by also considering the ethics and responsibility of engineers, who may be turning Olympic cycling into a technical sport – shouldn’t the playing field be level between nations? Furthermore, I included the negative commercial impact of the advertising restrictions placed on local engineering contractors involved in the games, to ‘protect’ official sponsors.”
Steven said that Samuel contributed an impressive application and performed extremely well at interview: “Sam’s application initially impressed due to level of research that had gone into the submission and the well-developed prose used throughout. However what really made Sam’s application stand out with panel, was the imaginative and alternative opinions put forward, especially with his discussion of the London Olympic legacy. This was then followed up at interview where Sam demonstrated that he formulates his opinions based on sound research and data. During his school studies and extra-curricular activities, Sam has already demonstrated a remarkable commitment to his future profession and his enthusiasm for engineering and solving technical problems was evident throughout the application process.”
Steven added: “Eaton would also like extend congratulations to the other participants selected, whose applications were all of the highest quality. Their professionalism left us all on the panel inspired and encouraged that mechanical engineering has a great future in the UK.”
The Institution congratulates Rhiannon, Peter and Samuel on the promise and dedication that they have demonstrated in winning their scholarships, and wish them all the best in their undergraduate engineering studies and future endeavours.