WMG News - Latest news from WMG
Top European award for Dr Mortenson鈥檚 operational research paper
Dr Michael Mortenson鈥檚 research paper 鈥極perational research from Taylorism to Terabytes: A research agenda for the analytics age鈥, has been awarded the Euro Award for the Best (EJOR) paper 2018, in the Review category.
EJOR publishes high quality, original papers that contribute to the methodology of operational research (OR) and to the practice of decision-making. It is widely considered to be the top European journal and within the top three worldwide, in this specific area.
Dr Mortenson is a Senior Teaching Fellow on our e-Business Management MSc programme, his paper identified a significant lack of research into analytics in operational research orientated publications charting the history of operational research, analytics and a range of related disciplines. His work also paves the way for future research combining key themes in analytics and operational research. The full paper can be found
Dr Mortenson was presented with his award at the (EURO) in July.
Transport Minister visits WMG to launch Call for Evidence on the Future of Mobility and announce 6 research projects on autonomous vehicles
Jesse Norman MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Department for Transport, visited WMG today (Monday 30th July 2018) to launch the Government鈥檚 鈥淐all for Evidence on the Future of Mobility鈥. He announced six Innovate UK funded autonomous vehicle research projects, saying:
鈥淲e are beginning to experience profound change in how we move people, goods and services around the UK鈥檚 cities, towns and countryside. The Future of Mobility Grand Challenge – part of the Government鈥檚 Industrial Strategy - aims to capitalise on the opportunities presented by these changes to help reduce emissions, improve safety and wellbeing and place the UK at the forefront of global transport innovation. The Call for Evidence will help inform this programme, and seeks views from a range of audiences right across the country.鈥
Two of the six research projects he announced involve WMG, at the 天美传媒, with a total of 拢4.1m in research funding from Innovate UK
WMG pleased to welcome board of Tata Sons
Professor Lord Bhattacharyya was pleased to welcome a delegation from Tata Sons to WMG recently.
The delegation led by , Chairman of Tata Sons were given a tour of the (NAIC). The Centre, which is a long-term commitment between Jaguar Land Rover, Tata Motors European Technical Centre, WMG and the 天美传媒, is a unique resource and the first of its kind in Europe, providing an environment to foster collaboration, cohesion and sharing knowledge, combining automotive expertise nationally and internationally.
The visitors were also shown our state-of-the-art 3xD Simulator for Intelligent Vehicles where experts explained more about
Midlands Future Mobility, a 拢25m project led by WMG which will see roads in Coventry and Birmingham become the UK testbed for developing the next generation connected and autonomous vehicles.
Finally, Mr Chandrasekaran and his colleagues were given a tour of our , which is going through significant expansion, and will see WMG to continue to provide a unique facility for industry and academia to develop innovative energy storage technology.
Mr Chandrasekaran and his colleagues was very interested to see for themselves some of the WMG projects and commented on the quality of research and innovative approach to R&D.
STEM Engagement Workshops: Aeroplanes and Rockets
Dr Antony Allen, from our Energy and Electrical Group, delivered STEM workshops for 9-11 year olds, at two Staffordshire Primary Schools in June.
Firstly, Dr Allen visited Class 3 at The Howard School, Elford, followed by Class 4 at St Mary鈥檚 School, Colton.
Each workshop began with the children constructing paper rockets launched by air pressure by blowing through a drinking straw. They quickly realised that losing air pressure and not having a well-designed rocket are key factors hindering the ability to fly. After being introduced to the concept of forces and Newton鈥檚 three laws of motion they were able to explain this in a more technical way.
Next, the children considered the differences between rocket and aeroplane wings, before making a paper dart and experimenting with wing profiles鈥, they also added better propulsion by catapulting the planes using rubber bands!
In the afternoon, using their new skills, they designed and constructed a 3D paper rocket launched by air from stomping on a plastic drinks bottle. Impressively, several rockets reached heights greater than the school roof! Pupils experimented by changing the launch angle to maximise either their altitude or distance. In some cases designs were modified to balance directional disturbances and make the rockets spin during flight.
The pupils reflected on their engineering experience throughout the day and were further inspired when Dr Allen talked about Helen Sharman and how her background in science and languages were key in enabling her to become the first ever British astronaut.
The pupils loved the fun hands-on workshops, and Dr Allen has already been invited back to both schools to deliver more STEM activities.
Budding young engineers pick up four awards
On 11 July, our Dr Antony Allen and students from in Staffordshire went to Rockingham Speedway to compete in the Greenpower Formula Goblin event. We first met the children from class five back in January when they won a competition ran by the to become one of eight schools presented with a Goblin kit car. Each winning school was then partnered with an APC Spoke, in this case WMG as the Energy Spoke, who provide financial support and mentoring throughout the electric vehicle build along with driver training ahead of race day.
On race day the team competed in six Slaloms, six Sprints and one Grandprix event. They picked up a fantastic four awards: IET Formula Goblin Participation Award; Rockingham Goblins 2018 Slalom: 3rd place; Rockingham Goblins 2018 Best Presented Team; and Rockingham Goblins 2018 Spirit of Greenpower Award.
The Spirit of Greenpower was awarded in recognition of the way the school have embraced the Greenpower project this year, involving the whole school in the car
bodywork design, entering individual and group portfolios of their work, their weekly video-diaries on YouTube, their twitter account, and articles in the village magazine and local district newspaper.
Maria Farrington, a parent of one of the students said 鈥I just wish to express my thanks to Dr Allen and the School, for supporting the Rockingham Raceway Project. It was a pleasure to accompany the children today and feel that they also should be congratulated on their behaviour away from school. It was a thoroughly enjoyable outing and an experience the children will remember for a long while鈥.
Check out the video on their channel.
Professor Lord Bhattacharyya receives honorary degree
Professor Lord Bhattacharyya received an honorary degree for his contribution to science and engineering, from the University of Science and Technology Beijing (USTB) on Friday (29 June 2018). The degree was conferred by the University of Science and Technology Beijing, and the conferment was approved by the Academic Degrees Committee of the State Council of China.
China has been very interested in how Professor Lord Bhattacharyya has created effective innovative approaches to science and technology, over the past 40 years, and the huge successes that WMG has had nationally and internationally.
Professor Lord Bhattacharyya, Chairman and Founder of WMG, said: 鈥淚 am delighted to be awarded an honorary degree for my contribution to science and engineering, and honoured to receive this from such a prestigious university.鈥
Dr Kogila Balakrishnan launches Technology Offsets in International Defence Procurement
Dr Kogila Balakrishnan, WMG鈥檚 Director of Client and Business Development, has written a new book entitled Technology Offsets in International Defence Procurement.
This is the first book to focus on both the theory and practice of offsets, combining developmental economic theories, technology theories, business and management theories and international business practice.
The book addresses issues of technology, industrial development, international business and economic development but also provides readers with wider learning opportunities.
Featuring a foreword from Professor Lord Bhattacharyya, Chairman of WMG, the book has been designed for those studying international procurement, international trade, international business, defence policy and industrial policy. It will also be of interest to practitioners and policy makers in both government and industry.
Dr Balakrishnan is responsible for international business development, research in defence management and offsets as well as teaching at WMG. Her specific role is to develop and enhance education and research collaboration focused in Malaysia and South East Asia.
Pre-order your copy . The book is on general release from 13th September 2018.
New report says UK electric vehicle battery industry could be worth 拢2.7 billion per year for UK chemical companies
A new report published today Monday 25th June 2018 shows that UK companies are well-placed to supply valuable materials needed for batteries to be built in UK – a potential 拢2.7 billion per year business opportunity. The report commissioned by WMG at the 天美传媒, was launched to the Chemical Industry Association at the Chemistry Growth Partnership meeting in London, chaired by Steve Foots, Chief Executive of Croda, and attended by Richard Harrington MP.
The research underpinning the report brought together experts and data from the automotive battery industry and chemicals industry, working in the context of the UK鈥檚 Industrial Strategy, points to a large UK battery manufacturing industry opportunity. The report was funded by EPSRC, commissioned and managed by WMG at the 天美传媒 acting in their role as the Advanced Propulsion Centre Electrical Energy Storage Spoke, and delivered in partnership with E4tech. WMG鈥檚 Professor David Greenwood, one of the report鈥檚 authors said:
鈥淭his report details a massive opportunity to grow a UK battery chemicals industry and related supply chain. The UK鈥檚 Industrial Strategy identified battery development and manufacture as one of the four initial Grand Challenges to coalesce industrial activity upon high growth opportunities. Battery pack manufacturing for electric vehicles (EVs) will logically take place close to the point of vehicle assembly since packs are hard to transport. This in turn implies that the battery cells which make up the packs will best be manufactured in (or close to) the UK. This could also mitigate the loss of vehicle engine production.鈥
鈥淗owever for cell production to occur in the UK, the supply chains of chemicals would need to be reconfigured, since most cell production and chemicals supply is currently in Asia. Whilst such components could be imported, to capture the most value cell production and the related chemical and process equipment supply would need to come from UK suppliers.鈥
Using e-health to support the challenges of an ageing population
Researchers at our have published a systematic review on based active ageing interventions.
As life expectancy is at an all-time high, this type of research has become an international priority offering enormous potential to support individuals, communities, clinicians and policy makers.
Our Professor of e-Health Innovation and Head of Research, Theo Arvanitis, Dr Timothy Robbins and Dr Sarah Lim Choi Keung, worked alongside experts at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire to establish the extent to which current research literature considers e-health-based and telemedicine-based active ageing interventions.
Budding young engineers visit WMG
Yesterday we, along with our colleagues from the (APC) welcomed a group of 9 to 11 year olds from in Staffordshire.
The students enjoyed a tour of the APC showcase and our engineering hall where they were introduced to the and shown our state-of-the-art 3xD Simulator. They also took part in a number of activities throughout the day, including a steering wheel CAD design session and paper rocket making and launching.
We first met the children, from class five, back in January when they won a competition run by the to become one of eight
schools presented with a Goblin kit car. Each winning school was then partnered with an APC Spoke, in this case WMG as the APC Energy Spoke, who provide financial support and mentoring throughout the electric vehicle build along with driver training ahead of the race.
Construction of their go-kart kit car is now almost complete. The next stage of the project is for the children to race against other teams at Rockingham Speedway in July. We鈥檒l keep you updated on how their race day goes.
Formula Goblin has been set up with help from the to address the skills gap that is growing in the UK automotive industry by engaging students in engineering at a young age. It is designed to engage students with maths, science and design technology in a fun way, promoting equality regardless of economic background and gender.
The initiative is supported by the , the APC and the APC Spoke Community, made up of six of the UK鈥檚 leading universities each focussing on R&D of key technology areas in the automotive industry.
Notes to editors:
The APC is a 拢1 billion, 10-year programme to position the UK as a global centre of excellence for low carbon powertrain development and production.
The APC Spokes form a national network to support industry with specialist academic, technological and commercial expertise. The Spokes are designed to provide access to the best expertise and facilities the UK has to offer in key strategic technologies for the automotive industry.
Each of the Spokes is hosted by an organisation with recognised expertise in those key technologies, but the fundamental role of the Spoke is to coordinate a community of common interest. WMG at the 天美传媒 is the Electrical Energy Storage Spoke.
The full list of school/Spoke partnerships are:
Advanced Propulsion Centre – Stoke Primary School
- DETC (Loughborough London University) – Curwen Primary School
- Loughborough University – Fairfield Primary Academy
- Newcastle University – Bournmoor Primary School
- Newcastle University – Kings Priory School
- Newcastle University – Northburn Primary School
- Nottingham University – Abbey Road Primary School
- WMG – The Richard Crosse C of E Primary School