With summer 2013 setting out to be much more memorable than the wash-outs of recent years, here at the TSBE we are also having a remarkable summer: the first ever TSBE cohort of EngD Research Engineers will submit and graduate this year. We recently gathered to hear about their work at the Annual TSBE Conference on 2nd July. You can catch up on the tweets and talks here, and even listen to the Research Engineers themselves. The conference was abuzz with discussion and ideas, and we thank our Keynote speaker, George Adams, President of CIBSE for launching proceedings in fine style, discussing the urgent need to make built environments more sustainable.
Thanks also to our Question Time panel (Amy Salisbury (DECC), Richard Westoby (SSE), Prof Tim Dixon (University of Reading) and George Adams, CIBSE) for fielding tricky questions on whether current policies will deliver a built environment fit for the future. From shale gas to the Green Deal, the debate was lively and the answers highlighted the twin perspectives of improving the built environment and changing the energy system that the TSBE explores.
Finally, Sam Mudie picked up the prize for best paper, and Mohamed Ismail for best poster, sponsored generously by the CIOB. Researcher Marek Kubik won our new Researcher of the Year award, for his work with AES looking at the impact of increasing wind power generation on power plant operation. Dan Williams was Highly Commended for his work with Microsoft looking at the sustainability of ICT technologies.
Professor Janet Barlow said “As Director, I look forward to another year of great research – we will be welcoming our 45th Research Engineer by the end of the year, and continuing to work with a host of great companies, making real steps towards true sustainability.”