Information on Loughborough

Loughborough Student Wins Prestigous Award

Posted on 25/10/2007
P. Klein

boat hullA Loughborough student has been presented with a very prestigious national Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) Award.

Ewan Porteous, who studied at Loughborough Universitys Department of Aeronautical and Automotive Engineering, won the award in the category Best Maritime Technology Student, sponsored by The Lloyds Register Educational Trust. It was in recognition of his final year project developing innovative ideas in acoustics and vibration that could be applied to maritime technology.

The award is one of 17 Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) Awards presented annually. Organised by the World Leadership Forum, the SET awards are Britain and Irelands most significant awards for science, engineering and technology undergraduates. They provide a showcase for educational excellence by publicly recognising the exceptional achievements of both students and universities. Ewans win was announced at a ceremony attended by more than 500 students, academics and business leaders at Londons Alexandra Palace. Record numbers of entries were received from every major university in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Judges paid tribute to the exceptional quality of this years submissions. Forty five  students were shortlisted in fifteen different categories.

Ewans project, entitled Wave-like propulsion of small marine craft, involved the designing and building of an entirely autonomous and robotically controlled model boat with wave-like aquatic propulsion. Provided by localised elastic wave propagation in the boats keel, this novel type of aquatic propulsion is similar to that used by stingrays and is characterised by very low underwater noise and improved safety for people and marine animals. The boat achieved impressive speeds in open water, demonstrating that this type of propulsion is a viable alternative to a traditional screw propeller.

Professor Victor Krylov, leader of the Departments Acoustics and Vibration Research Group and Ewans project supervisor, said: "Ewans work on his final year project was truly outstanding. He worked very enthusiastically, demonstrating remarkable skills and ingenuity. As Ewans supervisor, I can say that it was a privilege to work with him.

Before coming to Loughborough Ewan attended Cults Academy in Aberdeen. In addition to his academic achievements, he represented Scotland for swimming in 2001/2002 and obtained his Private Pilots Licence in 2002, being an active member of the Loughborough Students Flying Club for five years. After graduating from Loughborough Ewan travelled through Europe for two months, before beginning work with Goodrich Engine Control Systems in Birmingham in September.

The Lloyds Register Educational Trust SET Award for the Best Maritime Technology Student was judged by the Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology (IMarEST) and the Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA). Against Ewan was Chris Plant for Sub-Sea Electrical Connection System for Offshore Renewables from Lancaster University and Philip Siddorn for Wave Energy Absorption By Arrays of Oscillating Bodies from the University of Oxford.

IMarEST Chief Executive, Keith Read CBE said: "It is always a delight to host the judging for this important Award. We congratulate Ewan, wish him well for the future and are sure that he will be playing an active role in IMarEST in the future. He typifies the young men and women we are eager to attract to this vitally important global industry.

In another category, The Bentley Motors Award for the Best Mechanical Engineering Student which was judged by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Loughborough also had another student who had been shortlisted - Ronan Bradley for Load History Based Component Lifting.