AWE win for three young scientists

Three students have excelled in the jointly-sponsored AWE and Armourers & Brasiers’ (A&B) Prize for their innovative research in materials science.

Materials science is a vital discipline for AWE scientists in assessing the performance, reliability and safety of the UK’s nuclear deterrent.

Maxima Kennedy, from Aston University, won the AWE-A&B Placement Prize.

Chris Miltiadou, from the University of Surrey, won the AWE-A&B Prize for best overall performance in a Masters-level module.

And Jesal Raval, also from Surrey, won the AWE-A&B Prize for best overall performance in an individual undergraduate materials project.

Principal academic liaison with AWE, Gareth Cairns, said: “Materials science is a vast and fascinating field and it is always exciting to see what our younger colleagues are researching and how their results inform cutting-edge science.

“Our partnership with A&B is a combination of centuries-old expertise with 21st-century science and the results achieved by Maxima, Chris and Jesal show how valuable materials science is in driving innovation and excellence.”

The students’ projects covered diverse areas.

Mr Raval’s project studied the need for improved algorithms for reconstructing teeth using advanced 3D tomography (imaging of a solid object by sections).

Miss Kennedy’s work was involved in enhanced analysis techniques in environmental discharge monitoring, while Mr Miltiadou’s work investigated the effect of environmental temperatures on composite wind turbine blades when subjected to gravitational loading.

AWE’s work with the A&B is focused on promoting materials science as a rewarding career path for future generations of scientists in the UK.

The A&B Gauntlet Trust is an independent charity, founded in 1322 to oversee the production of armour.

But the company now exists to promote the growth of materials science research and development in the UK.