Newcastle Engineers Win Prestigious Chemical Engineering Awards

By Vaidant March 31, 2025
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Newcastle University, England, has achieved a remarkable feat as two of its distinguished faculty members, Dr Greg Mutch and Professor Ian Metcalfe, have been honoured with prestigious chemical engineering awards in the United Kingdom. Dr Mutch received this year’s Warner Medal, while Professor Metcalfe was awarded the Sharma Medal by the Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE).

The IChemE annually recognises exceptional contributions to research and teaching in chemical engineering. These awards, named after notable figures in the field, highlight groundbreaking work in advancing chemical engineering knowledge.

Professor Kamelia Boodhoo, Director of Discipline (Chemical Engineering) at Newcastle University, praised the recipients, stating, “Congratulations to our distinguished colleagues on receiving these prestigious awards. It is great to receive external recognition for their hard work and outstanding achievements.”

Newcastle Study Enhances Windstorm Outage Predictions

In another major development, a recent study by Newcastle University, in collaboration with the UK Met Office, has significantly improved power outage predictions caused by windstorms.

The study, titled “Antecedent rainfall, wind direction and seasonal effects may amplify risk of wind-driven power outages”, examines how multiple weather factors contribute to electricity disruptions.

Dr Colin Manning, research associate at Newcastle University and visiting scientist at the Met Office, explained the importance of the findings: “Windstorms have long been recognised as a threat to the UK’s electricity distribution networks. By accounting for multiple weather conditions, we can improve outage predictions and better prepare for extreme weather events.”

Professor Lizzie Kendon, Strategic Head of Climate Processes and Projections at the Met Office, emphasised the study’s significance: “This is the first UK study demonstrating the importance of additional factors affecting wind-driven power outages. Understanding these factors is critical for projecting the future likelihood of such disruptions.”

Given that windstorms are a leading cause of power failures in the United Kingdom, this study plays a crucial role in improving national infrastructure resilience.

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