Information on Loughborough

Industry lecture highlights advances in fuel and vehicle technol

Posted on 09/03/2009
University of Leicester

A vision of the future will be presented at the University of Leicester during a lecture on developments in vehicle and fuel technology.

The University of Leicester Department of Engineerings 11th Annual Industry Lecture " Low Carbon Cars- will be given by Professor Julia King, Vice-Chancellor of Aston University and former Director of Advanced Engineering at Rolls-Royce plc.

The lecture, on 17 March, is part of a series of Annual Industry Lectures organised by the Department of Engineering focusing on subjects of interest to staff, students and engineers.

Commissioned by the government, Professor King worked with Lord Nicholas Stern to undertake an independent review to examine the vehicle and fuel technologies which, over the next 25 years, could help to decarbonise road transport, particularly cars. The Review drew on expertise from across both industry, in the UK and internationally, and Government. Professor Kings Annual Industry Lecture will discuss the findings of this report.

Head of Engineering Professor John Fothergill said: "Our graduate engineers will have a key role to play in developing transport solutions that are environmentally friendly. Low carbon car technology must be a vital part of any plan to combat global warming. It is therefore with great pleasure that we look forward to welcoming Professor King to talk on this subject.

Professor King added: "I think the UK has the potential to play a leading role in the new, low carbon car industry. As we rebalance our economy away from financial and other services towards a much more prominent role for advanced design and manufacturing, the new low carbon vehicle industry offers exciting opportunities. Bold steps and investments now can really make a difference.

After sixteen years as an academic researcher and university lecturer at Cambridge and Nottingham universities, Julia King joined Rolls-Royce plc in 1994. At Rolls-Royce she held a number of senior executive appointments, including Director of Advanced Engineering for the Industrial Power Group, Managing Director of the Fan Systems Business, and Engineering Director for the Marine Business. In 2002 Julia became Chief Executive of the Institute of Physics, and in 2004 she returned to academia as Principal of the Engineering Faculty at Imperial College, London. In December 2006 she became Vice-Chancellor of Aston University.

Places for the lecture, to be held in Ken Edwards, Lecture Theatre 1 at 7.30pm are limited and admission is by ticket only. Tickets and further details are available from Tamar Challis on tc106@le.ac.uk