The Royal Academy of Engineering has announced the 2021 recipients of the RAEng Armourers and Brasiers Company Prize, President’s Medal, and Sir Frank Whittle Medal. The winners will receive their awards at the Academy’s AGM to be held at Prince Philip House in London on 22 September.
RAEng Armourers and Brasiers Company Prize for excellence in materials engineering.
- Professor Mary Ryan FREng
Professor of Materials Science and Nanotechnology, Imperial College London
Materials scientist Professor Mary Ryan is awarded the Armourers and Brasiers Company Prize in recognition of her outstanding career in material science and nanotechnology. Professor Ryan is the RAEng/Shell Chair in Interfacial Science at Imperial College London and a brilliant innovator in interfacial materials science and corrosion. She is world-leading in the novel application of advanced techniques to explore electrochemical processes at the nanoscale under complex real-world conditions. Corrosion is an expensive problem that impacts all areas of engineering and Professor Ryan collaborates extensively with industry, particularly in the energy sector, to develop understanding, risk assessment and solutions to corrosion problems. Her insights have also led to the application of corrosion phenomena in developing functional nanomaterials for energy and healthcare. Her expertise was sought by RAF Museum Cosford on the treatment of the “flying pencil”—the Dornier Do17 and she sits on the RAF Museum Research Board. She works extensively with heritage organisations, including The Mary Rose Trust, and has worked with the Victoria and Albert Museum developing programmes on the history and future of nanotechnologies.
President’s Medal for an Academy Fellow who has greatly contributed to the Academy’s work and aims.
- David Thomlinson FREng
President’s Medal winner David Thomlinson is a leading industrial engineer. He started his career at Arup and spent nearly 30 years at Accenture where his responsibilities included geographical strategy and operations across 54 countries. He is the Academy’s International Secretary and was chair of the International Committee from 2015 to 2021. His committed leadership has been essential to the success of the Academy’s portfolio of international activities that support the UK’s relationships with engineering communities around the world, from the most advanced economies to developing and emerging nations. During his tenure as International Chair he presided over the rapid growth of the Academy’s capacity-building work in developing countries and made a major contribution to some of its most high profile, challenging and successful projects, including the 2019 Global Grand Challenges Summit, which saw more than 800 international attendees gathered in London to discuss how engineering can provide solutions to today’s most pressing issues.
Sir Frank Whittle Medal for outstanding and sustained achievement in any engineering discipline
- Dr Clive Hickman FREng
Chief Executive, The Manufacturing Technology Centre Ltd
Dr Clive Hickman will receive the Sir Frank Whittle Medal in recognition of his outstanding career in the automobile industry and for leading the set-up and growth of two engineering research centres, the Tata Motors European Technical Centre and the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC). As Head of Engineering at Tata Motors (India), Dr Hickman led the creation of the world’s cheapest mass-produced car, the Tata Nano. The Nano set a new standard for low-cost personal transport, creating a step change in the safety of travel for families in India who would otherwise risk their lives traveling on motorcycles. As Managing Director of Ricardo UK Ltd, he led several significant projects, including the development of the X Type Jaguar diesel—the first Jaguar diesel powered car—the BMW Mini, the dual clutch transmission for the Bugatti Veyron and the powertrain for a unique Bentley for the Queen in 2002. Since he became CEO of MTC in 2010 the company has exceeded the original business goals by a factor of ten and developed innovative manufacturing processes and technologies across all sectors in an agile, low-risk environment, in partnership with industry, academia and other institutions. Dr Hickman continues to involve himself in the design and realisation of new engineering solutions including modern methods of construction as well as all major capital and research programmes at the MTC.
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