14 July 2010

Eminent engineer receives prestigious Fellowship

A leading chemical engineer from the University of Sheffield has been elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, following his outstanding contributions to engineering business and research.

Professor Mike Hounslow, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Engineering at the University, is a distinguished chemical engineer, noted in particular for his exceptional contributions to particle technology and his pioneering approach to solving the population balance equations describing the evolution of particle characteristics during industrial processing.

His prominence in the engineering world had led him to become one of only 53 of the UK's leading industrialists, pioneering inventors and top academics to be newly elected as Fellows of the Academy, which brings together the country’s most eminent engineers from all disciplines to promote excellence in the science, art and practice of engineering.

Projects that Professor Hounslow's theoretical work at the University has found application in include work with divers at a mine in the Mojave Desert in California, where he was able to explain why their refined product was lumpy, as well as work in Teesside to reduce the costs of building new plants to make plastics by millions of pounds.

Professor Hounslow has also applied his engineering skills to working with detergent manufacturers to make powders that dissolve quickly but do not break up in the box. His work on detergents led to work with all of the world's large pharmaceutical companies on the manufacture of new drug products.

Professor Mike Hounslow, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Engineering at the University of Sheffield, said: “I am honoured to be joining such an august body as the Royal Academy of Engineering. Among their Fellowship are to be found some of the most able engineers in the world.

“I am also delighted that the Academy's citation mentions both the equations I work on and their application to industry. Our vision for Engineering at the University of Sheffield spans the full range from fundamental science and maths to applications in industry. One of the greatest joys in my working life has been working with students and colleagues across that whole range.”

Professor Keith Burnett, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sheffield, added: “Professor Hounslow joins leading industrialists, pioneering inventors and top academics as Fellows of the UK's national Academy of Engineering - a prestigious honour recognising his contribution and one that is richly deserved. I'm sure that all staff at the University will share my sense of pride in Professor Hounslow's achievement.”

Academy President Lord Browne of Madingley said: “The expertise of our Fellows is a unique national resource. We want to see that expertise brought to bear to bear at a much earlier stage of policy development - to ensure that policy is workable, sustainable and affordable.

"While business itself remains the prime vehicle for wealth creation, government can and must do a lot more to foster the right climate for success. Thanks to our network of Fellows with their unrivalled experience in engineering business and research, we are uniquely well placed to help government understand the needs of business.”