The new study, published in today, reveals that under specific conditions, where waves meet each other from different directions, waves can reach heights four times steeper than what was once thought possible.

It has often been assumed that waves are two-dimensional and understanding of wave breaking to-date has been based on these assumptions. Yet in the ocean, waves can travel in many directions and rarely fit this simplified model.

New insights by a team of researchers, including Dr Samuel Draycott from The University of Manchester and Dr Mark McAllister from the University of Oxford, reveal that three-dimensional waves, which have more complex, multidirectional movements, can be twice as steep before breaking compared to conventional two-dimensional waves, and even more surprisingly, continue to grow even steeper even after breaking has occurred.

The findings could have implications for how offshore structures are designed, weather forecasting and climate modelling, while also affecting our fundamental understanding of several ocean processes.

Professor Ton van den Bremer, a researcher from TU Delft, says the phenomenon is unprecedented: “Once a conventional wave breaks, it forms a white cap, and there is no way back. But when a wave with a high directional spreading breaks, it can keep growing.”

Three-dimensional waves occur due to waves propagating in different directions. The extreme form of this is when wave systems are “crossing”, which occurs in situations where wave system meet or where winds suddenly change direction, such as during a hurricane. The more spread out the directions of these waves, the larger the resulting wave can become.

,  Senior Lecturer in Ocean Engineering at The University of Manchester, said: “We show that in these directional conditions, waves can far exceed the commonly assumed upper limit before they break. Unlike unidirectional (2D) waves, multidirectional waves can become twice as large before they break.”

Professor Frederic Dias of University College Dublin and ENS Paris-Saclay, added: “Whether we want it or not, water waves are more often three-dimensional than two-dimensional in the real world. In 3D, there are more ways in which waves can break.”

Current design and safety features of marine structures are based on a standard 2D wave model and the findings could suggest a review of these structures to account for the more complex and extreme behaviour of 3D waves.

Dr Mark McAllister from the University of Oxford and Wood Thilsted Partners said: “The three-dimensionality of waves is often overlooked in the design of offshore wind turbines and other marine structures in general, our findings suggest that this could lead to underestimation of extreme wave heights and potentially designs that are less reliable.”

The findings could also impact our fundamental understanding of several ocean processes.

Dr Draycott said: “Wave breaking plays a pivotal role in air-sea exchange including the absorption of C0₂, whilst also affecting the transport of particulate matter in the oceans including phytoplankton and microplastics.”

The project follows on previous research, , to fully for the first time ever at the the at the University of Edinburgh. Now, the team have developed a new 3D wave measurement technique to study breaking waves more closely.

The FloWave wave basin is a circular multidirectional wave and current simulation tank, which is uniquely suited to the generation of waves from multiple directions.  

Dr Thomas Davey, Principal Experimental Officer of FloWave, at the University of Edinburgh, said: “Creating the complexities of real-world sea states at laboratory scale is central to the mission of FloWave. This work takes this to a new level by using the multi-directional capabilities of the wave basin to isolate these important wave breaking behaviours.”

Dr Ross Calvert from the University of Edinburgh added: “This is the first time we've been able to measure wave heights at such high spatial resolution over such a big area, giving us a much more detailed understanding of complex wave breaking behaviour."

The study was conducted by a research consortium including experts from The University of Manchester, University of Oxford, University of Edinburgh, University College Dublin, ENS Paris-Saclay and TU Delft.

Backed by a £4.2 million funding award from UK Research and Innovation’s building a secure and resilient world strategic theme, the University team will drive a Research and Coordination Hub in confronting pressing risks and threats both online and in the world around us.  

Led by Dr Richard Kirkham, Deputy Director of the  at The University of Manchester, the project known as (Secure And ResiLIENT), will bring 91ֱ�� academics together with partners from the universities of Bath, Exeter and Sussex, to catalyse, convene and conduct research and innovation in support of the UK's national security and resilience. 

will drive interdisciplinary research to tackle some of the UK's most challenging security problems. Their focus will be on robust and secure supply chains, global order in a time of change, technologies used for security and defence, behavioural and cultural resilience, and strengthening resilience in our natural and built environments.  

This ambitious five-year investment, following a highly competitive selection process, will enable the SALIENT team to build strong connections across a broad group of stakeholders in central and local government, the devolved administrations and crucially, the public.

Dr Kirkham continued: “Our approach will promote a culture of genuine interdisciplinarity, co-production and citizen engagement, ensuring that the research we do is relevant, timely and represents value for money.” 

Duncan Shaw, Professor of Operational Research and Critical Systems at The University of Manchester, added: “Enhancing the resilience of systems and society is an epic ambition, one that has challenged the UK for years. SALIENT amasses an impressive multidisciplinary team that we will expand with policy and practice subject matter experts. Together we will pursue an exciting endeavour to make a real difference to resilience at home and create transferable lessons of global significance.” 

The collaboration will support the development of future engineering talent, as well as drive the development of innovative and sustainable power solutions.

As part of the collaboration, The University of Manchester and Cummins will conduct cutting-edge research with the aim of accelerating product development of the latest generation of air handling technologies, such as e-turbos for fuel cells, together with fuel injection systems for hydrogen-based power solutions.

Academics and their students will explore the future use of hydrogen in power solutions as part of the collaboration, using world class engineering equipment, test cells and laboratories.

Students will also be given the opportunity to apply their learnings to a practical environment and gain valuable industry experience with Cummins. These placements will be open to all students, irrespective of academic discipline, aligning with the variety of roles available at Cummins.

Dr John Clark, Executive Director for Research & Development at Cummins, said: “It’s fantastic to announce our collaboration with The University of Manchester, with the partnership holding tremendous potential for both of us. It will provide students and researchers with the opportunity to work with an established, international manufacturer and actively contribute to the advancement of power solution technology. It will also help to drive the development of sustainable products, supporting our commitment to powering a more prosperous world.”

Dr Louise Bates, Head of Strategic Partnerships at The University of Manchester, added: “This partnership is a great opportunity for our research community to engage with an international company, developing widely-used technologies and groundbreaking solutions to real-world challenges. The University of Manchester is committed to achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, and this partnership presents a very exciting platform for our two organisations to collaborate and address some of the most pressing challenges facing our planet. We look forward to growing our relationship with Cummins and witnessing what we can achieve together.”

The Cummins Engine Components (CEC) site in Huddersfield designs, develops, produces and refurbishes air handling solutions, which are used globally in vehicles and machinery across various markets.  CEC is part of the international engine, power generation and filtration product manufacturer, Cummins, which employs 73,600 worldwide and generated $28.1 billion in revenue last year. This collaboration between Cummins and The University of Manchester, and the development of future air handling solutions for sustainable technologies, will support the manufacturer’s Destination Zero commitment.

With support from the , the UK’s national centre for research and innovation for advanced materials, the lab gives researchers and industry access to the complete fabrication pipeline from cell culturing to product evaluation.

Funded by a £200,000 grant from the UK Space Agency and assisted by the European Space Agency, a University of Manchester team are currently investigating how to optimise the bioprinting process for conditions experienced in space, such as lack of gravity.

Using the unique capabilities of the BTP, researchers are also collaborating with clinicians and cell biologists to develop 3D models of human cartilage and bone.

Mr Green, who before entering Parliament spent almost two decades working as an engineer in the mass spectrometry industry, began his trip at the - the most advanced nuclear research capability in UK academia - where he was briefed on current projects by Professor Adrian Bull MBE, Chair in Nuclear Energy and Society. 

The Bolton West MP’s final destination on the visit, organised by the University’s policy engagement unit , was the Justice Hub to join a health-themed roundtable discussion with senior academics including Dr Philip Drake, Dr Jennifer Voorhees and Dr Jonathan Hammond.   

Professor Richard Jones, Vice President for Civic Engagement and Innovation at The University of Manchester, said: “It was a pleasure to welcome Chris and give him an insight into some of the pioneering work we do in partnership with businesses right across Greater 91ֱ��.

“The University of Manchester's cutting-edge research in making a real difference in tackling pressing policy challenges.  That's why it is important for influencers of policy, including MPs across Greater 91ֱ��, to see at first-hand the work being done and to take that evidence back with them to Westminster. 

“This was a particularly timely visit as the Chancellor announced a new investment zone for Greater 91ֱ�� in the recent Autumn Statement which will give further impetus to the work we do on innovation, advanced materials and manufacturing with our partners in the city-region."

Chris Green MP said: “It was a fascinating morning. The University of Manchester has a thoroughly merited global reputation for research excellence across a vast swathe of subject areas, not least in technology, innovation and health.

“I was deeply impressed by all I saw and heard, particularly in the Bioprinting Technology Platform where the remarkable work going on places Greater 91ֱ�� firmly at the forefront of the medical engineering revolution.

“I look forward to following the many exciting research projects happening across the University, with lots more in development.”          

By James Mason, Visiting Academic in Decarbonisation;  Alice Larkin, Professor of Climate Science and Energy Policy;  and Simon Bullock, Research Associate, Shipping and Climate Change.

In the vast expanse of the world’s oceans, a transformation is underway.

The international shipping sector, made up of thousands of massive cargo ships laden with many of the goods we buy, emits carbon dioxide (CO₂) roughly equivalent to the entire country of .

Our emphasises the need for immediate action. Reducing shipping emissions by 34% by 2030 is necessary to stay on course with the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C goal. But with low-carbon fuel pipelines unlikely to be at the necessary scale until at least the 2030s, how can the industry meet its short-term target?

Enter a new solution with ancient origins: sails. Not the billowing canvases of centuries past but high-tech systems capable of harnessing renewable wind energy to supplement the propulsion from a ship’s engine.

A number of advanced sail designs are gaining the attention of shipping firms. Two contenders include Flettner rotors, cylinders that spin to generate propulsion, and “wingsails”, which resemble aeroplane wings and are derived from designs used in yacht racing.

Wingsails, analogous to aeroplane wings, provide lift on either side. Smart Green Shipping,

Wind propulsion allows ships to use less fuel and so emit less greenhouse gas. However, in our , we found that the real opportunity to slash emissions from shipping this decade lies in combining sails with optimal routes plotted by satellite navigation systems.

An old idea with new technology

Optimised routing is a familiar concept to most of us. You’ll have used it by typing a destination into Google Maps and allowing its algorithms to calculate the quickest way for you to arrive at your destination.

The process is similar for ships. But instead of finding the quickest journey, the software models the ship’s performance in water to calculate routes and speeds that minimise fuel use.

With optimised routing and sails, ships can deviate from their standard course to seek out favourable winds. The ship may travel a longer distance but the extra power gained by the sails limits the ship’s fuel consumption and reduces the total emissions over the full journey. The software only suggests routes that guarantee the same arrival time, keeping the ship to its original schedule.

We used a computer model simulation of a cargo vessel with four sails, each taller than Brazil’s Christ the Redeemer statue at 35 meters high. By calculating the fuel consumption of this large bulk carrier ship on over 100,000 journeys spanning four years and covering 14 shipping routes worldwide, we found that sails can cut annual carbon emissions by around 10%.

The true promise of sails unfolds when optimal routing is used, increasing annual emission cuts to 17%.

Routes with ideal wind conditions have even greater potential. The most promising are typically those far from the equator, such as transatlantic and transpacific crossings, where strong winds can fill large sails. By taking advantage of wind patterns moving across the ocean on these routes, sails and optimised routing can cut annual emissions by over 30%.

Take the journey between the UK and the US as an example. A ship setting out on this voyage will typically experience strong headwinds which generate drag and push the ship backwards, meaning more fuel must be burned to maintain the same forward momentum. But by using sails and optimised routing software on this crossing, ships can avoid these headwinds and steer into more favourable winds.

Flettner rotors are smooth cylinders with discs that spin as wind passes at right angles across it. Norsepower,

On the return journey, the ship would typically experience strong winds from behind and the side, which would fill the sails and push the ship on. With optimised routing software the ship can find even stronger winds and fine-tune its direction for the sails to maximise propulsion.

Keeping the 1.5°C target afloat

The International Maritime Organization (the UN agency responsible for environmental regulation in shipping) has a of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 20%-30% by 2030. The Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C target .

Our research shows that cuts to CO₂ of this magnitude are possible this decade using wind propulsion and optimised routing on promising routes. Achieving this will oblige the shipping industry to deploy existing technologies and practices and shift its focus from fuel alone, as will take longer to develop.

As we sail further into the 21st century, our research delivers a clear message to the shipping industry: substantial carbon reductions are feasible this decade. Here is an old idea, one that integrates technology with tradition, that can steer international shipping towards its climate goals.

This article is republished from under a Creative Commons license. Read the .

The drone, made from a cardboard-like material called foamboard, measures 6.4m (21 ft) corner to corner and weighs 24.5kg – 0.5kg less than the weight limit set by the Civil Aviation Authority.

The innovative design of the drone, dubbed the Giant Foamboard Quadcopter (GFQ), means it is unlike any other in existence. The four arms are formed of a series of hollow box structures and can be easily removed for transportation. There is no record of a purpose-built uncrewed quadcopter (four rotors) of any weight class which is larger than the 91ֱ�� vehicle as of the time of writing.

The project started as a curiosity-driven venture to inspire students’ creativity in design by utilising a suitable alternative low-cost material for lightweight aerospace structures that is more environmentally friendly than the usual carbon fibre.

Unlike carbon fibre, low-density sheet materials can be highly recyclable, or even compostable. The researchers hope this demonstration will inspire the next generation of designers to think about sustainability from a completely new perspective.

Dan Koning, a research engineer at The University of Manchester, who led the design and build of the vehicle, said: “Foamboard is an interesting material to work with, used in the right way we can create complex aerospace structures where every component is designed to be only as strong as it needs to be - there is no room for over-engineering here.

“Thanks to this design discipline and after extensive background research, we can say with confidence that we have built the largest quadcopter drone in the world.”

Whilst this drone was developed purely as a proof-of-concept exercise, future iterations of this vehicle type could be designed to carry large payloads over short distances or used as a drone ‘mothership’ in air-to-air docking experiments.

The quadcopter was built from sheets of 5mm thick foamboard, which has a foam core and paper skin. The sheets were laser cut to size and assembled into the 3D structure by hand using only hot melt glue.

Josh Bixler, world renowned YouTuber and innovator in remote-controlled aviation is the President of , the company that makes the foamboard used in the GFQ.

Commenting on the work, Josh said: “So many times aircraft with advanced features are made of costly materials and we truly believe they don’t have to be. Seeing engineers push the limits in such an approachable, yet extravagant way was inspirational and showed that they were truly thinking outside of the box.”

GFQ is powered by four electric motors running off a 50-volt battery pack. It also has an on-board flight control system and can fly autonomously.

The first flight took place on 5 July 2023 inside the main hangar at the Snowdonia Aerospace Centre during the CASCADE Collaboration Workshop Week where teams from various universities around the UK come together to demonstrate their latest research tech and brainstorm innovation.

Kieran Wood, a Lecturer of Aerospace Systems at The University of Manchester, who piloted the vehicle, said: “The first moments of flight are the make-or-break point for these types of multi-copter drones. There are many hundreds of things that you must get right. If everything has been designed and built well, we expect success, but any problems will become very apparent in a rapid unscheduled disassembly on the first take-off.”

The project builds on the previous success of an equally  Following this, a student society was created at the University specifically to focus on developing lightweight, large scale foamboard Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs).

Over the last year, a team of undergraduates helped build and test various critical sub-components of the structure.

Bill Crowther, a Professor of Aerospace Engineering at The University of Manchester, said: “Working with foamboard provides a unique learning opportunity for students to experiment with innovative structural designs. Although the material is strong for its weight, it requires significant engineering skill to exploit its structural potential. Ultimately, with this design you are holding up 25kg of aircraft with just a few strategically placed pieces of paper - that’s the art of the possible.”

The team are now looking to optimise the design of the Giant Foamboard Quadcopter further.

Dan Koning added: “The lessons we’ve learned from this pathfinder vehicle should help us add a few more metres to the next one. But to go 50% bigger, you’ve got to get 100% smarter.”

This project is one of 20 that will be supported as part of IDRIC’s Wave 2 £6 million funding to accelerate decarbonisation of industry. Designed to aid industrial decarbonisation in Scotland, North West England, Teesside, Solent, Black Country, Humber, and South Wales, this second wave will fund 20 projects across 14 institutions covering a wide range of technological, environmental, economic, skills and social aspects of decarbonisation. 

, a Research Fellow based in The University of �Ѳ��Գ������ٱ��’s Department of Chemical Engineering, has also been awarded funding by IDRIC’s second wave. Working in collaboration with BGS, Heriot-Watt University and Centrica, she will explore hydrogen storage near industrial clusters using porous rock storage with research in the Humber, North West, South Wales and Teesside. 

�Ѳ��Գ������ٱ��’s energy experts are committed to delivering an equitable and prosperous net zero energy future. By matching science and engineering, with social science, economics, politics and arts, the University’s community of 600+ experts address the entire lifecycle of each energy challenge, creating innovative and enduring solutions to make a difference to the lives of people around the globe. 

This enables the University’s research community to develop pathways to ensure a low carbon energy transition that will also drive jobs, prosperity, resilience and equality.

• designing control systems with a focus on bio-inspired solutions to mechatronics, eg the use of biomimetic sensors, actuators and robot platforms; 
• developing new software engineering and AI methodologies for verification in autonomous systems, with the aim to design trustworthy autonomous systems; 
• researching human-robot interaction, with a pioneering focus on the use of brain-inspired approaches to robot control, learning and interaction; and 
• research in ethics and human-centred robotics issues, for the understanding of the impact of the use of robots and autonomous systems with individuals and society. 

Angelo Cangelosi, Professor of Machine Learning and Robotics at 91ֱ��, said the University offers a world-leading position in the field of autonomous systems – a technology that is set to revolutionise our lives and workplaces. 

"91ֱ��'s robotics community has achieved a critical mass of expertise – however, our approach in the designing of robots and autonomous systems for real world applications is distinctive through our novel use of AI-based knowledge," added Professor Cangelosi. 

"Our robot pioneers therefore find themselves on the interface between robotics, autonomy and AI – and their knowledge is drawn from across the University's disciplines, including humanities and biological and medical sciences. 

"Our University now has the potential to build on these solid foundations and further establish itself as a world leader in this important and rapidly growing field with the establishment of the new interdisciplinary 91ֱ�� Centre for Robotics and AI." 

The new centre has hosted an inaugural workshop – attracting more than 90 delegates – to bring a strategic focus to the robot and AI community at 91ֱ��, and looks to share expertise and innovation. 

The St Richard's Hospice cares for people with a serious progressive illness who have complex needs that cannot be met by other care services. In line with modern engineering priorities the building was designed to include the latest thinking in energy reduction technologies, such as natural ventilation. 

Following their investigation 91ֱ�� researchers were able to pinpoint potential viral 'hotspots' to avoid, as well as identifying areas where there was also the least chance of infection in 'The Green', the internal courtyard that provides space for patients, staff and visitors at the heart of the hospice. 

The researchers found that, as expected, some architectural features like pillars or columns, as well as the arrangement of internal furniture, provided some disruption to the airflow at heights of 1-1.5m above the floor. This type of disruption can potentially influence virus transmission indoors. 

Professor Richard Lewis, a consultant physician and the vice-chairman of St Richard's Hospice, was the medical lead on this study. He said: "We have been extremely grateful to Dr Keshmiri and his team for their enthusiasm, skills and dedication. 

"When it came to wanting to answer the question whether it was safe for our vulnerable patients to meet in the new communal space, the CPD team at 91ֱ�� was the obvious group to ask. 

"In particular we were aware, because this is an area where both staff, patients and their families eat and drink – and therefore remove their masks to do so – that it was important to be able to study the dynamics of airflow in order to identify the 'safest' area for our patients, and find ways of mitigating any risks. 

"As a result of the studies at 91ֱ�� we felt able to open the space to our extremely vulnerable patients. This is one step nearer to 'normality' for folk who have been effectively locked down for the past two years, and a step which we now make with confidence." 

A current PhD project based at the University will carry on to develop a series of new metrics that link clinical data of virus transmission by COVID-19 patients, to better assess infection risks. This will provide a probability of infection map throughout the building's whole flow domain. 

"Furthermore, by quantifying viral loads in the air, sensors will also be used to mitigate infection risk through controlling the required openings of the supply [ventilation] grilles to do so," added Dr Keshmiri. 

The innovative device enables rooms to heat up quicker and minimises energy bills, reducing fuel poverty and the carbon footprint of UK homes.

Thermocill^TM is a discreet window board that directs air from a room’s radiator up and against the window panes creating a warm curtain in front of the glazing.

Researchers from the (MACE) at the University have supported development of a prototype and applied computer modelling to optimise, calculate and verify effectiveness of the unique green-tech.

Dr Amir Keshmiri, a Reader in Fluid Dynamics who led this project at MACE said: “Thermocill is an innovative concept based on the fundamentals of fluid mechanics and heat transfer and our results have demonstrated the effectiveness of this device in changing the flow in the room and the thermal comfort”.

Researchers from the Sustainable Materials Innovation Hub (SMI Hub) have also worked closely with the University to help investigate the suitability and sustainability of different materials for .

The Hub conducted an assessment of the suitability of different materials for manufacturing Thermocill, which included investigations of the mechanical and physical properties as well as recyclability and sustainability.

Other innovative materials will also be considered for future development of the product including hemp, the use of which is becoming more widely recognised for its potential to help fight climate change.

Professor Michael Shaver, SMI Hub Director and Professor of Polymer Chemistry at The University of Manchester said: “Households are huge sources of carbon emissions so it’s important that innovative solutions are developed to help reduce their impact. We are proud to advise the company on the sustainability of their plastic choices for both current and future products."

Award-winning entrepreneur and inventor of Thermocill, Keith Rimmer, said: “Both The University of Manchester and the SMI Hub have played a key role in helping to support the development of Thermocill, from the initial idea and concept through to real-world application. Finding a sustainable material to make the product from has always been a critically important element, to maximise the positive environmental impact of Thermocill.

“With the first major production run taking place soon we’re at an exciting stage in this journey and it’s very exciting that together, we’ve developed a product that will have a positive impact on energy efficiency and fuel poverty very soon.”

Performance of the product has also been verified by the t, with headline benefits including a 14 per cent reduction in the energy needed to heat up a room and a 150kg reduction in CO2 emissions per year for each household where Thermocill is installed.

A council in the North West has agreed to initially install Thermocill in 2,000 homes across their 22,000 properties, which will lead to 300 tonnes of CO2 emission savings and 16 tonnes of materials saved from going to landfills.

Keynote speakers:

• Ignition and propagation mechanisms of spray flames - P. M. de Oliveira, University of Cambridge
• Direct numerical simulation and stability analysis of transonic flow around airfoils at moderate Reynolds numbers - Markus Zauner, University of Southampton

Competitor’s presentations:

• Flow of a shear thinning and shear thickening fluid in a porous medium - Takshak Shende, The University of Manchester
• Modelling of Inertial Particle Pair Dynamics using the PDF Kinetic Approach - Christopher P. Stafford, Newcastle/Brighton University
• Intermittencies in transitional and turbulent channel flow - Rishav Agrawal, University of Liverpool
• Droplet impact and contact angle dynamics solid surfaces and textiles - Miguel A. Quetzeri-Santiago, Queen Mary University of London
• Three-dimensional computational Fluid dynamics simulations of complex multiphase flows with surfactants - C. Ricardo Constante-Amores, Imperial College London
• Coherent Structures in High-Reynolds Number Wall-Bounded Turbulence: Invariant Solutions and Scale Interaction - Patrick Doohan, Imperial College London

The organising committee would like to congratulate our three UK nominations for finalists to the prestigious 2021 ERCOFTAC da Vinci competition. The top three nominations are:

1. Dr Miguel Quetzeri-Santiago: first place
Obtained his PhD degree from Queen Mary University of London in November 2020. The title of his presentations was “Droplet impact and contact angle dynamics solid surfaces and textiles”. He currently working as a researcher at the University of Twente, Netherlands.

2. Dr Ricardo Constante Amores: second place
Completed his PhD at Imperial College London in Dec 2020. The title of his presentation was ”Three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics simulations of complex multiphase flows with surfactants”. He is currently working as a Postdoctoral Research Assistant in the Mathematical Institute at University of Oxford.

3. Dr Christopher P. Stafford: third place
Obtained his PhD at Newcastle University in September 2020. His talk was only about one aspect of his PhD research - his thesis title is "Improved Modelling of Disperse Multi- phase Transport based on Numerical Simulation and PDF Analysis". He is currently working as a research fellow at the Advanced Engineering Centre, University of Brighton.

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The organising committee is proud to report that UK nominations for the second-year running have made it to the final of the da Vinci award.

ERCOFTAC Osborne Reynolds 2020

• P. M. de Oliveira (Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge)
• Garazi Gomez-de-Segura (Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge)
• Markus Zauner (Aerodynamics and Flight Mechanics Group, University of Southampton)

ERCOFTAC Osborne Reynolds 2021

• C. Ricardo Constante-Amores (Imperial College, United Kingdom):
•  Miguel Angel Quetzeri-Santiago (Queen Mary University of London, United Kingdom)

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The 20th prestigious ERCOFTAC Osborne Reynolds Day is due to be held in early July 2022.

The 2020 was replaced by the Osborne Reynolds Competition, without any oral presentations, due to COVID-19 - and three finalists were recognised for their abstracts.

They were chosen from the 17 submitted abstracts by the Osborne Reynolds select committee, chaired by Professor Michael Leschziner. The entries were not ranked, but were submitted as UK finalists to the ERCOFTAC da Vinci Competition 2020.

In no particular order, the three finalists were PM de Oliveira of the Department of Engineering at the University of Cambridge with 'Ignition and propagation mechanisms of spray flames'; Garazi Gomez-de-Segura, also of the University of Cambridge's Department of Engineering, with 'Turbulent drag reduction by anisotropic permeable substrates'; and Markus Zauner of the Aerodynamics and Flight Mechanics Group at the University of Southampton, with 'Direct numerical simulation and stability analysis of transonic flow around airfoils at moderate Reynolds numbers'.

The Osborne Reynolds Day 2020 organising committee said: "Sincere congratulations on behalf of the organising committee and we wish everyone a prosperous future and career. They are welcome to join us next year in person to present their research. We also acknowledge the efforts of all those contributing abstracts and our best wishes go to them all.

"We acknowledge with deep thanks and appreciation the huge effort and commitment of Professor Michael Leschziner (outgoing chair of the panel for selecting the finalists) in developing the format and operational arrangements of Osborne Reynolds Day over the years.

"The committee is very much aware of the gap his departure will leave: he will be a difficult act to follow! We also welcome the new Chair of the Selection Panel, Professor Matthew Juniper, and we look forward to working with him."

A total of eight new projects have been launched to develop and test cutting-edge new wave energy technologies - and two involve academics from the Faculty of Science and Engineering's School of Engineering.

Supported by a £7.5 million investment by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the projects will build on the UK's leading role in marine wave energy, helping to overcome challenges to devices that capture the energy generated by waves and convert it into renewable sources of electricity.

Led by of the , the project entitled 'Mooring analysis and design for offshore WEC survivability and fatigue (MoorWEC)' will model the impact of waves on various mooring options to generate key information and efficient modelling methods to aid the design of resilient future wave energy converters (WECs).

This is important because the mooring is the most vulnerable part of WECs, which can be damaged by extreme waves or the attrition caused by waves over time.

of the is involved in the project entitled 'System-level co-design and control of large capacity wave energy converters with multiple PTOs'. Led by Dr Guang Li of Queen Mary University of London and also involving Professor Mike Belmont of the University of Exeter, this project aims to take a 'whole device' approach, rather than concentrating on individual components, to address issues such as energy output and reliability.

This is because WECs consist of multiple energy conversion stages and components to capture wave energy and convert it to electricity, with each stage operating under its own constraints.

Energy is one of The University of Manchester’s research beacons - examples of pioneering discoveries, interdisciplinary collaboration and cross-sector partnerships that are tackling some of the biggest challenges facing the planet. #ResearchBeacons

The online events will take place throughout the week commencing Monday, 14 December as part of wider celebrations across The University of Manchester. They will provide an opportunity for both staff and students to mark winter graduation after physical ceremonies were postponed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

FSE graduation celebrations will be spread over the week, with events held for mathematics; mechanical, aerospace and civil engineering (MACE) - technical; MACE - management of projects; physics and astronomy; electrical and electronic engineering; international fashion retailing; materials science and engineering; chemical engineering and analytical science; earth and environmental sciences; computer science; and chemistry.

The move online means students will be able to celebrate regardless of where they are currently situated. It shows that while they may not be in the city at the moment, 91ֱ�� is behind its graduates as they take their next steps out into the world.

Each subject area will celebrate in its own unique way - either via YouTube or Zoom. Dates and times - and links to those on YouTube - are provided below:

School of Engineering

• - Wednesday, 16 December, 11.30am
• - Wednesday, 16 December, 9am
• - Thursday, 17 December, 11.30am
• - Friday, 18 December, 12pm
• - Friday, 18 December, 10am

School of Natural Sciences

• Chemistry - Thursday, 17 December, 11am (link available soon)
• Earth and environmental sciences - Monday, 14 December, 10am (link available soon)
• Materials: International fashion retailing - Wednesday, 16 December, 2pm (link available soon)
• Materials science and engineering - Tuesday, 15 December, 2pm (link available soon)
• Mathematics - Wednesday, 16 December, 10am (link available after the event) 
• Physics and astronomy - Tuesday, 15 December, 11am (link available after the event)

A huge congratulations to all of our FSE graduates, and the best of luck for the future!

Newly developed biosensor devices linked to smartphones could help medical practitioners dramatically cut down the real-time detection rates in the battle against COVID-19 and other future viral outbreaks.

Scientists and engineers from The University of Manchester have created a novel Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) platform to aid biosensor devices to detect biological species and help control the spread of virus outbreaks. The approach could help track and trace people with infection while a vaccine breakthrough could still be many months away.

Various global strategies are in place across the world to help curb the spread of COVID-19, with a coordinated effort involving; population modelling, face mask usage and developing ventilator capacity. Modelling and simulation experts at The University of Manchester have now developed an additional tool.

Findings published in the prestigious , demonstrate a novel numerical platform as a new design for biosensor devices. This new system simulates the performance of electronic devices in different design and operating conditions to improve contact tracing within the population.

This breakthrough would allow for the integration of biosensors to existing smartphones with the potential ability to improve the speed and reliability of the existing contact tracing system. It would also help to contain any other virus-related disasters and pandemics in the future through the same method.

Biosensors are one of the most effective ways for detection of a biological species and controlling its spread The biosensors works via targeted molecules causing chemical reactions with biological recognition element on the surface of the biosensor. Transducer transforms the biomolecule-analyte interaction into a measurable optical or electrical signal. These systems decrease the sample of reagent consumptions, shorten the time of experiments, and reduce the overall costs of applications.

D Amir Keshmiri, from The University of Manchester said: “This new competitive numerical platform simulates the performance of these specific devices in different design and operating conditions, which in turn will broaden our insight into the biological species manipulation in order to improve the efficiency of the existing designs.

“While developing an effective vaccine can take months up to years, detection of infected individuals is at the forefront of controlling the situation and a crucial tool in the ‘Contact Tracing’ strategy, currently in use in the UK and most other countries. ‘Time’ is a key parameter in containing highly pathogenic diseases and defeating a pandemic.

“These lab-on-a-chip devices are suitable for daily tests and are user-friendly, meaning no laboratory facilities are needed. These features make them a favourable real time detection system, however, designing a reliable one is still very challenging and time-consuming.”

The researcher behind these findings is Miss , whose PhD was funded by the ‘Exceptional Women in Engineering (EWE)’ Scheme in the (MACE). She said: “Using my passion and expertise in computational fluid dynamics to contribute to a global challenge was my dream coming true. This was only made possible thanks to EWE, giving me with a life-time opportunity to work on the exciting projects and with the help and support from my supervisors, Dr Jabbari and Dr Keshmiri.”

At The University of Manchester, our people are working together and with partners from across society to understand coronavirus (COVID-19) and its wide-ranging impacts on our lives.

Researchers, teachers, students and professional service staff are combining their knowledge to contribute to the local, national and international response to the disease.

The online events took place throughout the week commencing Monday, 27 July as part of wider celebrations across The University of Manchester. They provided an opportunity for both staff and students to mark summer graduation after physical ceremonies were postponed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

A total of 12 FSE graduations were spread over the week, with events held for mathematics; mechanical, aerospace and civil engineering; physics and astronomy; electrical and electronic engineering; fashion business and technology; materials science and engineering; chemical engineering and analytical science; earth and environmental sciences; computer science; and chemistry.

The move online meant students were able to celebrate despite being situated all across the globe. It showed that while they may not be in the city at the moment, 91ֱ�� is behind its graduates as they take their next steps out into the world.

Each subject area celebrated in its own unique way - as shown in the recorded videos below:

School of Engineering

School of Natural Sciences

A huge congratulations to all of our FSE graduates, and the best of luck for the future!

This is why we're doing our very best to keep you updated in the lead-up to the new academic year. As such, we'll be answering your questions in a series of video updates.

In this first video, Education Officer in the Students' Union Chloe Salin speaks to the Heads of Education for our Faculty's two Schools – Professor Peter Green in the School of Engineering and Professor Andrew Horn in the School of Natural Sciences – about their plans for a new-look teaching and learning experience.

You'll hear all about the benefits of blended learning; safety on campus; being part of the 91ֱ�� community (and student societies); lab, field and group work; exams and assessment; accessing software; and remote learning.

It's a lot to cover, but we hope the video will help to reassure you that this year's university experience will be what you expect from a university ranked 27^th in the world for two years running.

Please bear in mind that this is what we know right now. We'll provide more information, as and when we have it, in the videos to come.

If you have any questions you would like to ask, please send them through to your Department Admissions or Student Experience Team. They will then be either answered directly, or in one of the upcoming videos.

91ֱ�� is the most targeted university for graduate employers, and last week's announcement of new post-study work visas will be welcomed by many international students hoping to further their studies at the University.

It was confirmed that post-work study visas will be extended for up to three years post-graduation for international PhD graduates, and that international undergraduate and postgraduate-taught students will be able to live and work in the UK for up to two years post-graduation.

The new Graduate Route is to launch in the summer of 2021, meaning any eligible student who graduates next summer or after will be able to apply, including students who have already started their courses.

As well as being the most targeted university for graduate employers, The University of Manchester has a team specifically dedicated to helping postgraduate students further their careers.

Find out more about the new Graduate Route and post-study work visa extensions on the .

A team of innovative engineers from The University of Manchester responded to a call from frontline NHS medics – by making it safer and easier for them to use life-saving non-invasive ventilator machines to support critically ill patients suffering from COVID-19 disease.

Dr Andrew Weightman from 91ֱ��’s is part of a taskforce that has supported clinicians working in the intensive care unit at Wythenshawe Hospital, a major acute teaching hospital and part of the 91ֱ�� University NHS Foundation Trust.

Within just two weeks of a call for help Dr Weightman and a team of medical and technical colleagues had designed, validated and delivered a brand new component using 3D printing technology that was helping patients and staff. The breakthrough innovation could now be made available to other hospitals.

The challenge they faced was focused on non-Invasive ventilation (NIV) machines used by the hospital during the COVID-19 crisis. These devices deliver pressurised oxygen at high flows via a face mask and support patients who might otherwise need to be sedated and placed onto invasive ventilators - often referred to as ‘life support’ machines.

The non-invasive ventilators use high oxygen pressures and flows and are designed to have a controlled leak out via the ‘vented’ face masks. 

“This creates two problems,” explained Dr Weightman. “Firstly, it consumes a large volume of oxygen - about 60 to 80 litres per minute – which is a concern as hospital oxygen supplies are a limited resource in the current crisis.

“Secondly, the high flow rates mean the treatment rooms are quickly filled with controlled leaked air potentially carrying the airborne virus - so these areas need to be sealed off; and this requires the use of many small rooms which in turn creates a very labour intensive environment for medical and nursing staff and may increase the risks of staff exposure to the virus.”

, a Reader in Medical Mechatronics at the University of Manchester who coordinated the project, said: “Working in partnership with and at Wythenshawe hospital, we realised that the solution to this problem was to convert the existing vented face mask into a sealed system. This modification allows the devices to operate at much lower oxygen flows and almost eliminates the potential for aerosolising the virus during routine use.”

The challenge to rapidly design and implement the solution was taken up by a team of technical colleagues at The University of Manchester; Eddie Whitehouse, Andy Wallwork, Rachel Saunders and Polly Greensmith. They came up with a bespoke adaptor to fit at the bottom of the face mask, 3D printing critical parts to convert into a potentially life-saving system for use by the sickest patients during the pandemic.

Dr Weightman, added: “We have an excellent technical services team at the University and if it wasn’t for their expertise and experience we wouldn’t have been able to develop a solution so quickly.

“The strong links we have with 91ֱ�� University NHS Foundation Trust enabled us to assess the solution from an infection control perspective and gain rapid approval. As a team we all wanted to do something to support the people working in the NHS and the patients they are treating.

“And it also worth recognising that there were many other University colleagues who enabled us to do our work. For example, our security and health and safety teams who have enabled us to safely be on campus to print the new parts.”

Dr Weightman is part of an organisation called (MIMIT) which provide the network to engage with front line hospital staff in 91ֱ��.

“A large part of my research has been driven by unmet healthcare needs and MIMIT is a fantastic organisation that has really demonstrated its importance during this crisis,” added Dr Weightman.

"As you may already be aware, MECD – our new home for engineering and materials science at The University of Manchester – was due to open to students from September 2021.

"Unfortunately, owing to consequences from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the opening has been delayed by 12 months to September 2022. We've made this decision with you in mind to ensure we maintain a high quality teaching and learning experience, with minimal disruption to the completion of your studies.

"While construction work has continued during the COVID-19 lockdown, there has been an understandable impact on productivity, which has led to a forecasted 12-week delay to the main construction work, due to social distancing measures implemented on the MECD site.

"This delay unfortunately has a significant impact on the timing of later stages of work, including the fit out of teaching spaces and laboratories. Simply pushing back this work by 12 weeks would result in staff and students having to undertake a huge amount of move-related activity at busy points in the academic cycle, such as through exam, marking and writing up periods. In addition, the continuing uncertainty regarding the full extent of COVID-19 could potentially further impact the ongoing construction programme through this year. Therefore, moving the full opening of MECD to September 2022 will avoid unnecessary disruption to the delivery of the academic year and will ensure the best possible experience for all of our students.

"We are now actively re-planning the move of our teaching, learning, research and associated support activities to MECD by September 2022. As part of this, we will look for opportunities to see which areas of MECD could potentially be opened up to students sooner. This could mean some areas of the development, such as study spaces, could be made available to small numbers of students at a time prior to the full launch, where this would be beneficial and safe to do so.

"Alongside the phased reopening of campus for the 2020/21 academic year, we will also be looking at what enhancements can be made to North Campus to ensure that we maintain excellent teaching support facilities and an enhanced learning experience for you during the extended use of our buildings.

"Please rest assured our vision for MECD remains the same. We aim to provide an environment that creates a sense of pride in the heritage and achievements of the University, while inspiring you, future generations of engineers and scientists, to continue to innovate and pioneer discovery. Find out more about MECD on the .

"Finally, I hope you and your loved ones are safe and well and that you enjoy the summer break. I look forward to seeing you virtually, or on the campus, in the new academic year."

As a postgraduate (research) offer-holder, you may have concerns about how the ongoing coronavirus outbreak will affect you and your transition to begin your postgraduate research at the University. In the video, Sarah provides some guidance during this time of uncertainty:

It will still be feasible for most offer-holders to start their PhD in September, but if it makes sense to delay by a month or two, or even until next January, we will be flexible in accommodating your needs and the particular circumstances of your research project. As soon as possible now we would like you to get in touch with your supervisor to consult about your start date.

Please be reassured that whenever you decide to commence your research, we will be as flexible as we possibly can where applicants aren't able to meet the conditions of their offers in the way that they expected, or at the time that they expected, due to the major challenges outside of their control.

Further information for applicants and offer-holders

Full transcript:

Hi, my name is Sarah Heath, I'm Associate Dean for Postgraduate and Early Career Researcher Development in the Faculty of Science and Engineering at The University of Manchester. I wanted to send a message to you as offer-holders in this time of uncertainty.

I want to start by saying how delighted I am that you have chosen The University of Manchester as the institution where you will undertake your PhD research. In the past three months our staff, students and alumni have done some amazing work to support the global fight against COVID-19 and I am immensely proud to say I work here.

We understand that you will have concerns about how the ongoing coronavirus pandemic will affect you and your transition to begin your postgraduate research at the University. Obviously, this is not just an issue that affects The University of Manchester, it is affecting Universities all around the world. We want to reassure you that we are monitoring the situation very closely and have significant contingency planning underway, and most importantly, that your health and your safety remains front and centre in our thinking at all times.

Given the considerable disruption to our research projects and laboratories we're reviewing a range of options and thinking creatively, with the goal of giving you the best possible start to your research career in the current circumstances. We believe that most of our postgraduate researchers will be able to commence their research programme with us in the autumn. This is likely to mean that you will begin your research programme remotely, as the restrictions imposed by social distancing measures may make unrestricted access to campus for all difficult for some time to come.

A remote start to your PhD is not a less productive one, it is actually very similar to how most PhDs start in research-intensive universities like ours; in collaboration with your supervisor you will spend the time carefully framing your PhD, formulating your short, medium and long-term aims, and doing much of the preliminary background work which will lead to a productive time once you are back on campus. You will also of course be able to fully participate in other activity, such as research group meetings just as if you were on campus.

As soon as possible we would like you and your supervisor to consult about your start date, to determine if a start this autumn is feasible for the particular circumstances of your research project. Please be reassured that if after consultation you decide that delaying the start to your research until January 2021 would be beneficial, you will be able to do so.

Whenever you decide to commence your research, rest assured that we will be as flexible as we possibly can where applicants aren't able to meet the conditions of their offers in the way that they expected, or at the time that they expected, due to the major challenges outside of their control.

We will of course continue to be guided by government and scientific advice and evidence as the country begins to ease the lockdown, and as in due course we further solidify our plans you'll be notified as soon as possible, and the information will be made available on the University website.

In the meantime, please take the opportunity to visit the applicant and offer-holder information on the University website. Please do keep in regular contact with your supervisor and your departmental support team with any questions or concerns you may have. And above all, please stay safe and look after yourselves and your loved ones.

The University of Manchester's annual Volunteer of the Year Awards recognise the amazing work of volunteers throughout the University, highlighting local, national and international projects and the impact they have.

Wide-ranging projects relate to health, children and vulnerable adults, community cohesion, and more.

Moved online this year due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the awards were hosted for the first time on the . A record number of nominations were received - and many FSE entrants were selected for special recognition.

They included:

Alumni Volunteer of the Year

• Highly commended: Alexandra Bushel (Department of Chemistry) for her ongoing work with Girlguiding UK - as a guide leader, training other guide learners and volunteering in Nepal.

Student Group Volunteer of the Year

• Highly commended: The Closet, a pop-up charity shop led by Rose de Saint Michel to promote sustainability in the fashion industry, selling vintage, second-hand and sample clothing. 

Student Volunteer of the Year

• Highly commended: Mathieu Augustin (Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering) for his volunteering work to reduce food waste with the food-sharing app OLIO.

• Commended: Isaac Campbell (Department of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Science) for his volunteering as an IT teacher for disadvantaged children in a deprived area of Salford.

• Third place: Thomas Lewis (Department of Mathematics) for his role as President of Run Wild 91ֱ��, a free student running society that raises money for homelessness and awareness of issues such as mental health.

Social Justice Photography Competition

The results of the University's were also announced as part of the ceremony - and FSE was again well represented. 

Those who placed highly from the Faculty included:

Runner up: Zakwan Bin Haji Mohtadza (School of Engineering) for 'Coronaracism' (image cropped for article)

Second place: Adil Ahmed (School of Natural Sciences) for 'A Plastic Refuge' (image cropped for article)

Third place: Kashif Sohail (School of Engineering) for 'Splendour at a Cost' (image cropped for article)

A huge congratulations to everyone across the Faculty for their efforts!

A University of Manchester academic has helped 91ֱ�� City Council (MCC) coordinate and test thousands of pieces Personal protection Equipment (PPE) so that they could be delivered to key workers in the city.

MCC has received approximately 150,000 pieces of PPE via companies and donations from across city. But before the equipment could be distributed, the Council needed to check that it was suitable for use by key workers who needed PPE to continue to work despite the Covid19 virus.

This meant testing samples of pieces equipment in an extremely short space of time so that the PPE could be delivered to those on the frontline as quickly as possible. That is when Council contacted the University and, more specifically, Dr Obuks Ejohwomu who is Director Commercial Project Management in the Faculty of Science and Engineering.

From the Council’s speculative e-mail on the evening of Easter Saturday, Dr Ejohwomu, who is a Lecturer in Project Management, was able to organise video conferences, e-mails, physical testing and a wrap-up video conference all in under eight calendar days.

Dr Ejohwomu led a team of experts from across 91ֱ��, Coventry and Brighton Universities to achieve the rapid turnaround. The teams worked over the Easter Bank Holiday to deliver comparative tests using existing equipment and modified test rigs to help understand the 150,000 uncertified PPEs the Council had received.

Dr Ejohwomu said: “The success of this project has in no small part been due to the deployment of invaluable project management knowledge that is most suitable for managing unknown unknowns at a time of disruption. This has contributed to MCC’s ability to correctly and suitably equip workers across a spectrum of roles with the masks they require.”

Barney Harle, Head of Major Projects at 91ֱ�� City Council, said: “I have never been prouder to work with a group of academic contacts than on this occasion. The way in which Obuks brought together a quality team of enlightened and enthusiastic fellow researchers and practitioners was outstanding.”

Professor Martin Schröder, Vice-President and Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering, added: “I’m delighted our Faculty was able to help the City Council and our health workers. Many congratulations and thanks to Obuks. I am so proud of the staff in the Faculty and Obuks in particular. He is a star!”

The University of Manchester has a growing list of scientists and academics who are either working on aspects of the COVID-19 outbreak or can make a valuable contribution to the national discourse. Please check out our . 

Our people are also  and with partners from across society to understand coronavirus (COVID-19) and its wide-ranging impacts on our lives.  to support the University’s response to coronavirus or visit the University’s  to lend a helping hand.

Celebrating the outstanding achievements of staff, students, alumni and external partners, the awards highlight the various ways people throughout the University are 'making a difference'.

They recognise the impact made on the social wellbeing of the University's communities and wider society, provide an opportunity to share best practice around social responsibility initiatives, and encourage others to get involved.

This year's awards - the sixth held - took place on the evening of Thursday, 7 May. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the ceremony could not be held at the University's Whitworth Hall and was instead moved online. The University's Director of Social Responsibility Dr Julian Skyrme and Chancellor Lemn Sissay co-hosted the livestream.

FSE fared particularly well, with various individuals and teams either winning or being highly commended in their chosen category. They included:

Winners

• Outstanding benefit to society through research: emerging impact

: Angela Mae Minas and Sarah Mander (Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering)

• Outstanding contribution to social innovation

: Elliot McKernon (Department of Mathematics)

• Outstanding national/international engagement

: Tarisiro Fundira and Nyasha Goredema (Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering)

• Outstanding contribution to environmental sustainability: established project

: Teresa Anderson and Tim O'Brien (Jodrell Bank and Department of Physics and Astronomy)

• Outstanding contribution to widening participation: exceptional contribution

Julia Riley (Jodrell Bank)

• Outstanding contribution to widening participation

: Amy McDowell, Louise Bousfield and Lynne Bianchi (School of Engineering)

Highly commended

• Outstanding public and community engagement initiative (local)

MIB programme of public engagement with research and researchers: Nicholas Weise (91ֱ�� Institute of Biotechnology)

• Outstanding professional services for social responsibility

Greater 91ֱ�� Engineering Challenge: Lynne Bianchi (School of Engineering)

• Outstanding contribution to environmental sustainability

Food Waste: Matheiu Augustin (Department of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering)

• Outstanding contribution to widening participation

Tactile Collider: Robert Appleby and team (Department of Physics and Astronomy)

As a postgraduate (taught) offer-holder, you may have concerns about how the ongoing coronavirus outbreak will affect you and your transition to beginning your masters-level study at the University. In the video, Danielle provides some guidance during this time of uncertainty:

We recognise the disruption across universities in the UK and around the world, and we are monitoring the situation closely. We will be as flexible as we can where applicants are not able to meet the conditions of their offers in the way they expected, or at the time they expected, due to major challenges outside of their control.

Further information for applicants and offer-holders

Full transcript:

Hello, my name is Professor Danielle George, I'm the Vice President for Teaching, Learning and Student Experience for the Faculty of Science and Engineering at The University of Manchester. I wanted to take the time to record a personal message for you in this time of uncertainty.

We understand that as offer-holders you have concerns about how the ongoing coronavirus outbreak will affect you and your transition to begin your masters-level study at the University. We recognise the disruption across universities in the UK and around the world and we are monitoring the situation closely.

We will be as flexible as we can where applicants aren't able to meet the conditions of their offers in the way they expected, or at the time they expected, due to major challenges outside of their control.

Given the significant disruption to academic systems, we're reviewing a number of options, including moving provision online for the start of term, as well as delaying the start of term to later in the year. If we do anticipate the need to make changes of a significant nature, you'll be notified as soon as possible and information will be made available on the University website.

We'll also be telling you more about how our staff, students and alumni are supporting the global fight against the coronavirus. I'm sure many of you will have heard about hospitals being built in record time to take care of those needing intensive treatment, or the production of ventilators by companies more used to making vacuum cleaners, car parts or electronics. Our statisticians – including a team from 91ֱ�� – are using their modelling expertise to advise the government on how to best protect the UK population and make decisions based on facts and evidence.

I am incredibly proud of all the engineers and scientists working around the clock to support the incredible front-line medical staff to deliver healthcare for the most seriously ill across the world. 

In the meantime, please take the opportunity to visit the applicant and offer holder information from the main University webpage manchester.ac.uk. Please contact our admissions teams with any questions or concerns you may have about your application. Above all, please stay safe and look after yourselves and your loved ones.

As an undergraduate offer-holder, you may have concerns about how the ongoing coronavirus outbreak will affect you and your transition to university. In this video, Danielle provides some guidance for you, your parents and caregivers:

We understand this is a very unsettling time for you and your family, but please be assured that we will do everything we can to ensure these changes won't affect your opportunity to attend our University in the coming academic year.

Further information for applicants and offer-holders

Full transcript:

Hello, my name is Professor Danielle George, I'm the Vice President for Teaching, Learning and Student Experience for the Faculty of Science and Engineering at The University of Manchester. I wanted to take the time to record a personal message for you, your parents and caregivers in this time of uncertainty. 

We understand that as offer-holders you have concerns about how the ongoing coronavirus outbreak will affect you and your transition to university. Some of our UK applicants may have already received notifications about cancelled interviews or offer-holder visit days. Where possible, these will be replaced by webinars and virtual activity with the opportunity for you to ask questions of our admissions teams and some of our current students.

For undergraduate students, following announcements by the UK Department for Education regarding A-levels and the International Baccalaureate, the admissions timetable will run similarly to previous years, and all students will be awarded a grade for any exam they were entered for. We will, of course, consider your needs when addressing any issues with your application and be as flexible as we can. 

Please be assured that we will do everything we can to ensure these changes won't affect your opportunity to attend our University in the coming academic year.

Over the next few months, we'll be increasing the communications we send to you. We'll also be telling you more about how our staff, students and alumni are supporting the global fight against the coronavirus. I'm sure many of you will have heard about hospitals being built in record time to take care of those needing intensive treatment, or the production of ventilators by companies more used to making vacuum cleaners, car parts or electronics. Our statisticians – including a team from 91ֱ�� – are using their modelling expertise to advise the government on how to best protect the UK population and make decisions based on facts and evidence.

I am incredibly proud of all the engineers and scientists working around the clock to support the incredible front-line medical staff to deliver healthcare for the most seriously ill across the world. 

In the meantime, please take the opportunity to visit the applicant and offer holder information from the main University webpage manchester.ac.uk. Please contact our admissions teams with any questions or concerns you may have about your application. Above all, please stay safe and look after yourselves and your loved ones.

Now in its seventh year, Tomorrow’s Engineers Week provides a unique opportunity for engineers, employers, universities and schools to showcase how engineers working in all sectors are on a mission to make the world a better place.

Highlights of the week include the first This is Engineering Day (Wednesday, 6 November) to challenge engineer stereotypes; films celebrating engineers on a mission to help the nation’s health and wellbeing; and the second Tomorrow’s Engineers Week Big Assembly.

To help the public better understand engineers and engineering, the Royal Academy of Engineering will create a public online photo library of more representative images of engineers, and launch a challenge to change the mix of images that appear when you search for ‘engineer’ online. 

The Academy is calling on the engineering community to get involved and contribute to the library. To make a contribution, or for more information, email the Academy.

Find out more and get involved through the .

He collected the Arthur L. Schawlow Award from the during its annual meeting at the 38th International Congress on Applications of Lasers and Electro-Optics in Orlando, US, on 9 October 2019; and the 2018 Donald Julius Groen Prize from the in London a week later.

The award from the LIA came in recognition of Professor Li's 'pioneering research and development of laser-based manufacturing processes, and his entrepreneurial drive and vision to commercialise technologies'. It was presented to Professor Li by the LIA's past-President, Professor Milan Brandt.

Arthur Schawlow was a Nobel Laureate in Physics for his contribution to the development of laser spectroscopy. The LIA established the Arthur L. Schawlow Award in 1982 to recognise individuals who have made outstanding, career-long contributions to basic and applied research in laser science and engineering, leading to fundamental understanding of laser materials interaction and/or transfer of laser technology for increased application in industry, medicine and daily life.

The IMechE award was given to Professor Li for his 'outstanding contributions to research and education in engineering innovations in mechatronics and manufacturing, and in particular for his leadership in laser-based additive manufacturing'. 

It was presented by President of IMechE Professor Joe McGeough, and was nominated by the Division of Mechatronics, Informatics and Control Group Board of IMechE. Established in 1847, IMechE now has 120,000 members in 140 countries.

, which is part of the - a collaboration of the eight most research-intensive universities in the north of England, as well as experts from government and industry - has been awarded £1.25 million by the .

The network is being led by researchers at the University of Leeds and will focus on emissions from cars, buses, vans, trains and heavy goods vehicles. Together these form 26% of the UK's greenhouse emissions.

DecarboN8 will also examine emissions from vehicle construction and maintenance, as well as infrastructure. It will look at the different approaches required for different types of places, such as built-up urban areas and much quieter rural environments.

With its wide range of locales and travel patterns, the north of England is seen as the ideal area for conducting this type of research.

Luke Collinson, 20, is in the first year of a five year engineering degree at The University of Manchester and has been honoured as ‘Construction and Engineering Undergraduate of the Year’ at this year’s .

At 15 Luke had been unable to go to school for years because of family problems and shortly afterwards he was taken into care. He went on to achieve A-levels in maths, physics and chemistry, while living alone. Now Luke has been honoured at the prestigious awards ceremony presented by Rachel Riley in Canary Wharf, along with thirteen other winners.

“It feels surreal.” Luke said. “I’m not usually someone who wins awards. I’m not the most intelligent, best at grades or historically the best student but I think I have a unique skillset that my upbringing in the care system has given me that gave me a competitive edge.”

The national competition received 4,542 entries from 138 different universities across the UK. Reaching the final is a huge achievement for the student finalists and particularly for Luke as only , compared with 50% for the general population.

“Personally, it has really helped with my self-confidence, I feel so proud of myself to have won an award so early on in my academic career. For people like me from the background I’ve come from we don’t usually get to university, let alone win awards, so it’s so amazing to have people believe in me and has given me the motivation to apply for other awards and make the very most of my time at university.

“I think there are two big issues facing current university students, finances and mental health. I think finances are a big problem especially for someone who has come from living on £50 a week benefits. Having £5k dropped into your bank account at the start of the year along with the intense party ethos can be really quite damaging to people who don’t understand how to handle those sorts of finances, and I think that’s one of the biggest learning curves this year I am extremely proud to have overcome.

“Secondly, mental health is something I only really considered was a big part of my life when it got to a point around Christmas and I was on my own in my halls of residence. I have taken this first year as a massive learning curve and am a much better person for it. I think the mental health team at the university are absolutely amazing and are honestly lifesaving.”

As well as the award Luke managed to secure a full summer internship at construction firm following the completion of his first year of University.

“I managed to win an iPad, a glass trophy which currently sits in my room and a full summer internship at Laing O’Rourke which is practically unheard of for a first year. Unlike most care leavers I’ve had two amazing sisters who both had to overcome extreme family hardship who have helped carve the way for me to get here. They both went to 91ֱ�� and are now exceptionally successful; one being a barrister and the other a fully qualified doctor. I’m so immensely proud of them and they inspire me to keep going no matter what.”

“At the moment I’m just trying to make myself as employable as possible by taking lots of electives, courses and work experience so when I do graduate I’ll have the top pick of jobs available.”

The £5m Centre is funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and will be based primarily at The University of Cardiff, with activity being supported through the at The University of Manchester.

Professor Carly McLachlan, Director of Tyndall 91ֱ��, said: "As part of the SCATTER project funded by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), we have calculated a carbon budget for Greater 91ֱ�� and this has led to the Mayor's adoption of the 2038 carbon neutrality goal. This work really makes clear the challenge that we face in terms of decarbonisation and the different areas where action is needed at a local authority and national level.

"We will be continuing to work with Greater 91ֱ�� through the new CAST centre, which takes the city-region level as one of the various levels at which action can and needs to happen. We will work with GMCA on development and delivery of specific areas of policy - the exact focus is yet to be decided but it will relate to our four key challenge areas: consumption of goods and physical products; food and diet; travel; and heating/cooling in buildings.

"This is part of the experimental focus on the centre - where we are studying active attempts to reshape behaviour, practices and emissions. We will also be working with Cardiff and other cities as the centre progresses."

Establishing a programme of social science research that places the role of people at the heart of the transformations needed to bring about a low-carbon, sustainable society, the Centre will focus on four challenging areas of everyday life that contribute substantially to climate change, but which have proven stubbornly resistant to change.

Working closely with members of the public to develop and model inspiring yet workable visions of a low-carbon future, the Centre also aims to develop responses to climate change that emphasise parallel benefits in other areas of life: for example, through promoting wellbeing and cleaner air by moving away from a reliance on cars.

The Centre will also examine the success of movements and transformations triggered within communities, such as food sharing schemes and off-grid energy provision, exploring how these have been diffused or upscaled.

As recent protests in France have shown, policies for tackling fossil fuels can run into vocal opposition if they are seen as unfair or not in line with people's needs. As such, it is essential to understand how to change society in new and compelling ways. Researchers will do this by working closely with members of the public, establishing a citizen's assembly and a young people's panel to ensure key public concerns are a central part of the Centre.

The number of female professional engineers in the UK is around 11% and the number of women in technical level roles, where job growth is greatest, is much lower*. Therefore there is still much work to be done to change this, and it is crucial that we continue to raise the profile of female engineers, encourage girls to study STEM subjects and inspire women to realise their potential in engineering.

This event is just one of the small ways that we are proactively celebrating and supporting gender diversity and inclusion in engineering here in the School. The ‘Celebrating Women in Engineering’ evening showcased some of the many talented female engineers we have here and aimed to tackle some of the misconceptions in engineering, and explore how female engineers can overcome potential barriers and further the diversity agenda in engineering.

We warmly welcomed a panel of female engineers from MACE- including academics, researchers, technical staff and two recent alumnae- to share their thoughts and experiences of their journey into their role in engineering, which sparked some great questions from the audience. Following the keynote speeches from the panel, there was an opportunity for attendees to network over some refreshments and get to know each other a little better.

The event was a great success, but don’t just take our word for it- watch our short video of highlights from the event to hear more!

*data from Women’s Engineering Society

Scientists have created flags that can generate electrical energy using wind and solar power.

The novel wind and solar energy-harvesting flags have been developed using flexible piezoelectric strips and flexible photovoltaic cells.

Piezoelectric strips allow the flag to generate power through movement, whilst the photovoltaics is the best known method of harnessing electric power by using solar cells.

The study, conducted by researchers at The University of Manchester, is the most advanced of its kind to date and the first to simultaneously harvest wind and solar energies using inverted flags. The research has been published in the journal .

The newly developed energy harvesting flags are capable of powering remote sensors and small-scale portable electronics which can be used for environmental sensing such as to monitor pollution, sound levels and heat for example. 

The aim of the study is to allow cheap and sustainable energy harvesting solutions which can be deployed and left to generate energy with little or no need for maintenance. The strategy is known as “deploy-and-forget” and this is the anticipated for model that so called smart cities will adopt when using remote sensors.

Jorge Silva-Leon, from 91ֱ��’s School of Mechanical, Aerospace & Civil Engineering and lead-author of the study, says: “Under the action of the wind, the flags we built bend from side to side in a repetitive fashion, also known as Limit-Cycle Oscillations. This makes them perfectly suited for uniform power generation from the deformation of piezoelectric materials. Simultaneously, the solar panels bring a double benefit: they act as a destabilizing mass which triggers the onset of flapping motions at lower wind speeds, and of course are able to generate electricity from the ambient light.

Dr Andrea Cioncolini, co-author of the study, added: “Wind and solar energies typically have intermittencies that tend to compensate each other. The sun does not usually shine during stormy conditions, whereas calm days with little wind are usually associated with shiny sun. This makes wind and solar energies particularly well suited for simultaneous harvesting, with a view at compensating their intermittency.”

The team used and developed unique research techniques such as fast video-imaging and object tracking with advanced data-analysis to prove their flags worked.

The developed harvesters were tested in wind speeds varying from 0 m/s (calm) to about 26 m/s (storm/whole gale) and 1.8 kLux constant light exposure, simulating a wide range of environmental conditions. Under these operation conditions, total power outputs of up to 3-4 milli-Watts were generated.

Dr Mostafa Nabawy, co-author of the study, says: “Our piezo/solar inverted flags were capable of generating sufficient power for a range of low power sensors and electronics that operate in the micro-Watt to milli-Watt power range within a number of potential practical applications in avionics, land and sea remote locations, and smart cities. We hope to develop the concept further in order to support more power-demanding applications such as an eco-energy generating charging-station for mobile devices.”

Dr Alistair Revell, co-author of work, highlights current and future research directions saying: “We are currently making use of a novel computational framework for modelling and simulation developed at The University of Manchester, building on a long tradition of Computational Fluid Dynamics in the group. The use of computers to model fluid-structure interactions is increasingly referred to as virtual engineering, and plays a key part in device development by reducing the number of models which need to be physically manufactured and tested.”

  is one of The University of Manchester’s - examples of pioneering discoveries, interdisciplinary collaboration and cross-sector partnerships that are tackling some of the biggest questions facing the planet. #ResearchBeacons

Reference: The paper, 'Simultaneous wind and solar energy harvesting with inverted flags' is being published in the journal by Jorge Silva-Leon, Andrea Cioncolini, Mostafa R. A. Nabawy, Alistair Revell & Andrew Kennaugh DOI:

Scientists have been analysing the way birds jump when they take-off to help us understand why they simply don’t just fall over when attempting to fly.

The researchers, based in the at The University of Manchester, have been investigating the biomechanics of how birds jump, and will use the findings to design jumping robots in the future. 

Jumping robots that are highly agile and able to manoeuvre quickly through debris are extremely useful for exploring disaster zones such as earthquakes and floods.

To perform the standing start take-off that we often see birds do in nature, they have to lean so far forwards that their centre of gravity is well ahead of their feet. If they were to pause during this manoeuvre, they would simply tip forwards, fall over, and never take-off. But they don’t. That’s because the birds ‘pitch’ their bodies upwards during the take-off.

The researchers have found that by pitching the body upwards as the bird pushes off the ground or a perch it maintains stability in one fluid manoeuvre. This combination of pitching while accelerating has long been known in the field of walking biomechanics, but this is the first time it has been found and applied in relation to jumping.

The researchers also found that, as well as pitching, birds have a ‘compliance’ in their joints which allows them to flex in a unique way during a jump. Without this compliance the birds would experience ‘stutter’ or ‘chatter’ which is a high frequency vibration between the feet at the ground.

For the study the researchers used computer simulations to understand the stability of birds taking-off from a perch and from the ground.

Dr Ben Parslew, Lecturer in Aerospace Engineering and lead author, explains: “Traditionally jumping take-offs are viewed as conceptually complex to understand or try to recreate.

“But our research, for the first time, shows that you can ignore the movement of the individual leg segments, and the wing, and just treat a jumping bird as a single body.

“This is enough to understand how birds remain stable when they take-off and, more importantly, these findings teach us the fundamentals about how a jumping robot would have to move to avoid tipping over when it jumps.”

The study also found that a bird’s wings weren’t as fundamental in its take off as previously thought.

Dr Parslew added: “Jumping take-off in birds is an explosive behaviour with the goal of providing a rapid transition from ground to airborne locomotion. This study found that for jumping diamond doves, the wing contributes very little to the physics of take-off and ‘it's all about the legs’ with the wings only coming into play once the bird is airborne.”

REFERENCE: "" Royal Society Open Science, Ben Parslew*, Girupakaran Sivalingam, William Crowther - Royal Society Open Science 

The 91ֱ�� Engineering Campus Development (MECD) – one of the largest capital projects ever undertaken by a UK higher education institution – has celebrated a key milestone in its construction.

A special event today marked the ‘topping out’ of the landmark development, a world-class facility that will benefit staff, students and visitors. MECD will house the University’s engineering disciplines, innovative teaching spaces and research institutes such as and the BP International Centre for Advanced Materials ().

The topping out ceremony was led by Professor Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester, and Leo Quinn, the Group CEO of Balfour Beatty. As guests watched, the University’s Director of Estates and Facilities Diana Hampson, the Vice-President/Dean of Professor Martin Schröder and Balfour Beatty’s Chief Executive Dean Banks joined Nancy and Leo to sign a steel girder which marks the highest point of the new facility.

The £400 million project forms an essential part of The University of Manchester’s ten-year . It will support the University’s strategic goals by providing an outstanding learning environment and student experience, supporting world class research and further enabling the university’s social responsibility agenda.

Located near Oxford Road, MECD will consolidate the majority of the University’s estate onto one main campus, creating a more compact and coherent infrastructure that reduces the institution’s carbon footprint and costs. The move will also free up considerable land holdings in the north of the campus, enabling the University to play a significant role in the future economic success of the city by developing the site into a world-class innovation district over the next 20 years.

Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester, said: “For well over a century The University of Manchester has celebrated many achievements in science and engineering, and across our other disciplines too. The University’s impact on and contribution to society is constantly evolving and this can be vividly seen through our buildings.

“MECD will create a world-leading teaching, learning and research facility to develop the engineers, scientists and innovators of tomorrow.”

Diana Hampson, Director of Estates and Facilities at The University of Manchester, added: “The 91ֱ�� Engineering Campus Development will create state-of-the-art facilities that will put the University at the forefront of engineering globally, helping attract even more world-class talent to the institution. We are proud to provide such an exceptional space for our exceptional people.”

Key partners in the development include , concept architects , detail architects , project managers , project engineers and cost managers .

Leo Quinn, Balfour Beatty Group Chief Executive, said: “We are proud to be working with the University of Manchester to deliver this innovative and world-class facility. I’m certain it will add to the UK’s reputation for engineering excellence - and encourage and inspire the next generations of expert engineers who will study here and help to shape our future.”

Upon completion, the development will host a wide range of flexible hi-specification laboratories and lecture spaces to welcome up to 7,000 students and 1,300 staff. MECD will also incorporate blended learning facilities, workshops and a ‘maker space’ where students will see their engineering creations come to life. Students will have the opportunity to work on a diverse range of projects ranging from artificial intelligence and robotics to sustainable energy solutions and space craft. Upon completion, the facility will benefit from ‘green’ construction techniques resulting in smart energy consumption and advanced water recycling and waste systems.

At peak construction, the project will employ a workforce of 1,000, including multiple apprenticeships and graduate placements. The project will also create new job opportunities for local people through the University’s , which provides local residents with exposure to career opportunities in the construction sector. The project team will maximise the use of off-site manufacturing and the latest technology to optimise construction efficiency and deliver a smart facility of the highest standard.

For more information, visit .

The University of Manchester’s is taking a revolutionary new approach to nuclear-related research by encouraging a lasting engagement between ‘traditional’ nuclear sciences and social science researchers.

Here, explains why this new interdisciplinary approach, in the form of , is long overdue in a sector that has been dominated by rigid regulation and research boundaries.

Nuclear Energy projects are, by their nature, ‘social’ endeavours. Why? Because any industry is a reflection of the society in which it resides.

The extent to which the industry can realise its aims and ambitions is undoubtedly linked to prevalent attitudes and cultures within its workforce or surrounding environment.

For many policymakers and energy experts, nuclear energy represents an environmentally responsible solution to the current energy and climate crisis. Plus, in the UK alone, financial commitments to new build and decommissioning are already forecast to exceed £100 billion with this number increasing all the time.

But, increasingly, fundamental policy decisions cannot be enacted without the support of all stakeholders both within and outside the sector. For example, in the UK, the successful implementation of a new nuclear build, or  (GDF) for nuclear waste, are both dependent on securing and maintaining public trust. This can sometimes be difficult as the general public and other influential stakeholders still have some deep misgivings or general antipathy towards the sector, meaning important debates remain unresolved.

For example, current trends towards the possible future deployment of smaller reactors alongside the relaunched search for a volunteer site for GDFs will inevitably lead to new communities being exposed to the nuclear debate.

Similarly, the long term programmes to clean up the UK’s nuclear estate are reliant both on generating the public trust necessary to sanction activities which may increase short term risk for long term gain, and sustaining an organisational culture that supports individuals in making these difficult decisions.

All this means that, as a sector, we must find new ways of opening up and sustaining these conversations. The aim of  is to change the quality and depth of public debate on nuclear matters in the UK, moving beyond an entrenched politics of acceptance or rejection.

The Beam has a number of research projects already in progress where contemporary social science thinking is being applied within a nuclear setting. This includes a consideration of alternative approaches to public consultation as well as an assessment of the social barriers and enablers to innovation.

Where possible we look to adopt an where academics are embedded into nuclear communities, bringing a unique perspective and insight into issues as they emerge and develop.

The University of Manchester’s position among the preeminent institutions leading nuclear research, alongside its breadth of world class capability in social sciences, business, law and humanities make it ideally placed to become a UK focal point for the coordination and dissemination of this research work. Furthermore, the University’s established links into the global industry will help facilitate the translation of theoretical impact into implemented solutions.

Prof Richard Taylor, Dalton Nuclear Institute and School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, is the BNFL chair in Nuclear Energy Systems at the University, he previously worked for the National Nuclear Laboratory and has 30 years’ experience in the Nuclear Sector.

The University is launching its Beam network in London on 18^th July where industry influencers will be invited to contribute their ideas on research priorities. 

The development of new Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology is often subject to bias, and the resulting systems can be discriminatory, meaning more should be done by policymakers to ensure its development is democratic and socially responsible.

This is according to Dr Barbara Ribeiro of at The University of Manchester, in , a new policy report on the role of AI and Robotics in society, being published today.

Dr Ribeiro adds because investment into AI will essentially be paid for by tax-payers in the long-term, policymakers need to make sure that the benefits of such technologies are fairly distributed throughout society.

She says: “Ensuring social justice in AI development is essential. AI technologies rely on big data and the use of algorithms, which influence decision-making in public life and on matters such as social welfare, public safety and urban planning.”

“In these ‘data-driven’ decision-making processes some social groups may be excluded, either because they lack access to devices necessary to participate or because the selected datasets do not consider the needs, preferences and interests of marginalised and disadvantaged people.”

is a comprehensive report written, developed and published by with leading experts and academics from across the University.

The publication is designed to help employers, regulators and policymakers understand the potential effects of AI in areas such as industry, healthcare, research and international policy.

However, the report doesn’t just focus on AI. It also looks at robotics, explaining the differences and similarities between the two separate areas of research and development (R&D) and the challenges policymakers face with each.

Professor Anna Scaife, Co-Director of the University’s  team, explains: “Although the challenges that companies and policymakers are facing with respect to AI and robotic systems are similar in many ways, these are two entirely separate technologies – something which is often misunderstood, not just by the general public, but policymakers and employers too. This is something that has to be addressed.”

One particular area the report highlights where robotics can have a positive impact is in the world of hazardous working environments, such a nuclear decommissioning and clean-up.

Professor Barry Lennox, Professor of Applied Control and Head of the UOM Robotics Group, adds: “The transfer of robotics technology into industry, and in particular the nuclear industry, requires cultural and societal changes as well as technological advances.

“It is really important that regulators are aware of what robotic technology is and is not capable of doing today, as well as understanding what the technology might be capable of doing over the next -5 years.”

The report also highlights the importance of big data and AI in healthcare, for example in the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

Lord Jim O'Neill, Honorary Professor of Economics at The University of Manchester and Chair of the Review on Antimicrobial Resistance explains: “An important example of this is the international effort to limit the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The AMR Review gave 27 specific recommendations covering 10 broad areas, which became known as the ‘10 Commandments’.

“All 10 are necessary, and none are sufficient on their own, but if there is one that I find myself increasingly believing is a permanent game-changer, it is state of the art diagnostics. We need a 'Google for doctors' to reduce the rate of over prescription.”

The versatile nature of AI and robotics is leading many experts to predict that the technologies will have a significant impact on a wide variety of fields in the coming years. Policy@91ֱ�� hopes that the On AI and Robotics report will contribute to helping policymakers, industry stakeholders and regulators better understand the range of issues they will face as the technologies play ever greater roles in our everyday lives.

The shipping industry needs to move to renewable and alternative fuels to reduce the sector’s impact on the environment.

But there is no widely available fuel to manage climate change and local pollutants according to a recent study by researchers at The University of Manchester.

How the shipping industry’s need to radically reduce its CO2 emissions will a prominent discussion when the International Maritime Organisation’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) meets in London from 9-13 April.

The research team says there is a need for alternative fuels in shipping for two main reasons; to reduce local pollutants and comply with regulation and; to mitigate against climate change and cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Alternative fuels are defined as any other fuel than conventional fossil fuels that can be used for powering ships. The alternative fuels assessed in the study were liquefied natural gas (LNG), methanol, liquid hydrogen (LH₂) (with and without carbon capture and storage), biodiesel, straight vegetable oil (SVO) and bio-LNG.

However, the analysis demonstrates that no widely available fuel exists currently to both reduce the environmental impact and comply with current environmental regulation. Some of the alternative fuel options analysed have the potential, but only if key barriers can be overcome.

, Senior Lecturer in Climate Change Mitigation, said: “There is, at present, no readily available fuel option to deliver significant savings on local pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions in tandem. In particular, LNG is a promising option for meeting existing regulation, but it is not a low greenhouse gas emissions fuel.”

Researchers from the University’s carried out a life cycle assessment of current and future fuels used by the shipping companies to quantify their environmental impacts.

They measured the impacts by using six emissions types. These were local pollutants (sulphur oxides, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter) and greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide).

However, to become a viable alternative for the industry to adopt, the fuel must meet a range of criteria. One of the fundamental requirements is that it can deliver emissions reductions over its full life-cycle.

Dr Gilbert, from , added: “To understand the full extent of the environmental implications it is important to consider the emissions released over the full life-cycle and not just during fuel combustion. Otherwise, there is a risk of misleading the industry and policy on the true emission penalties of any alternative fuels.”

The study says effort needs to be directed at overcoming barriers to exploiting the identified low carbon potential of fuels, or finding alternatives.

Dr Gilbert said: “As the urgent need to curtail greenhouse gas emissions is the more severe challenge, it is therefore important to ensure that any short-term measure doesn’t diminish the potential roll-out of low carbon fuels, in particular when taking into account the long life times of ships and fuel supply infrastructure. To meet the objective of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, whole life-cycle emissions need to be accounted for.”

Reference: The paper was published in the Volume 172, 20 January 2018, Pages 855-866 Paul Gilbert, Conor Walsh, Michael Traut, Uchenna Kesieme Kayvan Pazoukic, Alan Murphy https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2017.10.165

 is one of The University of Manchester’s - examples of pioneering discoveries, interdisciplinary collaboration and cross-sector partnerships that are tackling some of the biggest questions facing the planet. #ResearchBeacons

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Students at The University of Manchester have designed and built a 3D printed, low-cost robotic prosthetic hand that could provide a much cheaper alternative for amputees.

The hand’s joints are all fully posable with each individual finger and the thumb being able to move as well as make a fist. The functionality of the hand allows its user to do simple everyday tasks such as picking up items, eating using a knife and fork, typing and clicking a mouse or opening doors. It can even play rock-paper-scissors.

But what also makes the prototype limb standout is its cost. The students built the hand for just £307 and reckon they can make it evening cheaper. In comparison an advanced robotic prosthetic limb can start at approximately £25,000, going up to £60,000 if bought privately. More affordable robotic hands with just basic multi-grip functionality still start at £3,000.

So impressive is the design, it won ‘best new development’ in the Digital Innovation Challenge at the recent which was held at 91ֱ�� Central, in 91ֱ��. Industry 4.0 is the term given to what some regard as the fourth industrial revolution

The hand is the brainchild (and a final year ) of Alex Agboola-Dobson and his team – lead electrical engineer Sebastian Preston-Jensen, lead software engineer Panagiotis Papathanasiou and mechanical and software engineers Maximillian Rimmer and Shao Hian Liew

According to the NHS around 6,000 major limb amputations are carried out each year in the UK alone. None-robotic Prosthetic Limbs available on the NHS are either purely cosmetic, whilst other more functional ones are simple plastic-moulded limbs with hooks. This was also another inspiration for the team’s futuristic, but life like design

Alex adds: ‘Not only do we want to make it affordable, we want people to actually like the look of it and not be ashamed or embarrassed of using or wearing it. Some traditional prosthetics can both look and feel cumbersome or, those that don’t, are extremely expensive. We think our design really can make a difference and we will be looking to commercialise the project in the future.’

Connectivity is another key advantage of their design as it comes with blue tooth connection and an Android app for a smartphone. The hand is controlled by muscle sensors placed on the wearer’s arm that can be paired to the app, which was also designed by the group.

Alex added: ‘The functionality is customised through the phone app, but the muscle sensors provide the control by moving the hand whenever necessary. It is really simple to use.’

The actual manufacturing of the hand is by a type of 3D printing called Stereolithography, or simply SLA printing, which uses a high quality resin plastic for production. Eventually the team are aiming to move to Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) 3D printing which will make the hand even cheaper to produce, but will not lose any of its quality.

Dr Carl Diver, from the , said: 'We are really delighted for them, it was a great experience for them to pitch their idea in front of a panel of experts and the prize money will help them develop the idea further. This will be a great addition to their CV. We are very excited to see what the future holds for this group and their innovative creation.'

Contract represents one of the largest capital developments ever undertaken by a UK higher education institution.

The University of Manchester has today announced that the £287 million contract to construct the 91ֱ�� Engineering Campus Development (MECD) has been formally awarded to Balfour Beatty, the international infrastructure group.

The four-year project forms an essential part of The University of Manchester’s ten-year to create a world-class estate benefitting staff, students and visitors.

This will support the University’s strategic goals of creating world-class research, providing an outstanding learning environment and student experience and social responsibility. will provide a state-of-the-art facility, housing the University’s schools, innovative teaching spaces and research institutes such as and the BP- International Centre for Advanced Materials ().

It will consolidate the majority of the University’s estate onto one main campus, creating a more compact and coherent infrastructure that reduces the institution’s carbon footprint and costs. MECD will also free up considerable land holdings in the north of the campus, contributing to the future economic success of the city with redevelopment opportunities in a prime city centre location.

Upon completion, the facility will benefit from ‘green’ construction techniques resulting in smart energy consumption and advanced water recycling and waste systems. The development will host a wide range of flexible hi-specification laboratories and lecture spaces to welcome up to 7,000 students and 1,300 staff. MECD will also incorporate blended learning facilities, workshops and a ‘maker space’ where students will see their engineering creations come to life.

At peak construction, the project will employ a workforce of 1,000, including multiple apprenticeships and graduate placements. The project will also create new job opportunities for unemployed local people through the University’s Construction Academy, which provides local residents with exposure to career opportunities in the construction sector. The project team will maximise the use of off-site manufacture and the latest in BIM technology to optimise construction efficiency and deliver a smart facility of the highest standard.

Dean Banks, Managing Director, UK Construction Services, said: “We are delighted to have been appointed to construct the MECD, one of the largest single developments ever undertaken by a higher education institution in the UK.

“We have extensive expertise in the higher education sector having delivered schemes such as the Holyrood postgraduate village at the University of Edinburgh, The Diamond building for the Engineering Faculty for the University of Sheffield, and the Foundry Courtyard Student Accommodation Complex in Glasgow. Our longstanding expertise enables us to provide The University of Manchester, its staff and students with an iconic campus, in addition to delivering multiple benefits to local communities including job generation and apprenticeship opportunities.”

Diana Hampson, Director of at The University of Manchester, said: “The 91ֱ�� Engineering Campus Development will be a world-leading centre for learning and research. This development is central to the University’s ten-year Campus Masterplan which is creating an exceptional environment for our exceptional people. We are providing state-of-the-art facilities that will rival those of our international competitors and help attract world-class academic talent to the institution."

Balfour Beatty was appointed to the University’s Construction Partnering Framework in May 2015 and has been working under a Pre-Construction Services Agreement (PCSA) since November 2015, enabling design development and early engagement with key supply chain partners.