The FIBE-CDT Industry Day 2017 was a huge success with record attendances from many of FIBE’s partner companies and EPSRC. Included were many Cambridge University alumni who now have successful careers with these industry leaders which gave an insight into where FIBE students could be when they completed their PhD.
The day kicked off with presentations from
- Course Leader, Dr Niamh Gibbons on the MRes + PhD programme.
- Centre Director Professor Abir Al-Tabbaa on industry-funded studentships and contributions to research projects.
- Centre Director Dr Janet Lees on the I+ programme. Students on the I+ programme work the first year with an industry partner, gaining hands-on engineering experience before starting the MRes + PhD components of the programme.
- Cohort 3 student presentations on their MRes projects.
The day included a break-out session where the attendees were divided into 5 groups to brainstorm on central engineering themes with multi-disciplinary aspects. These could then be separately researched as part of the MRes components of Desktop Study, Mini-Project, ETECH business project and MRes dissertation.
Each group comprised a mix of industry partners, academics, FIBE management staff and students. Their differing experiences and views combined to create a powerful mix of creative ideas and potential research collaborations. Topics like Smart Cities, Urban Regeneration, Tidal Energy, Future Transport to name a few buzzed in the air as the experiences of the industry partners provided a platform for animated discussions while the students furiously scribbled the ideas. The synergy effect was obvious during the coffee breaks as industry leaders and students alike continued, heads bowed, in engaging conversations and stimulating exchanges.
The value that this approach to research brings is reflected by the way the FIBE-CDT Industry Day attracts an audience of top technical people from key companies. Collaboration in action as the presentations spark lots of great conversations and links.”
- John Roberts, Civil Engineering Director from Laing O’Rourke