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22 March 2024 | 1 minute read


22 March 2024 | 1 minute read


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Prizewinning science trio

Congratulations to three talented students who have won categories of the jointly-sponsored AWE and Armourers & Brasiers’ Prize for their innovative research in materials science.

Maxima Kennedy, from Aston University, won the AWE-Armourers & Brasiers’ Placement Prize; Chris Miltiadou, from the University of Surrey, won the AWE-Armourers & Brasiers’ Prize for best overall performance in a Masters-level module and Jesal Raval, also from Surrey, won the AWE-Armourers & Brasiers’ Prize for best overall performance in an individual undergraduate materials project.

Materials science is a vital discipline for AWE’s scientists in assessing the performance, reliability and safety of the UK’s nuclear deterrent. AWE’s work with the Armourers & Brasiers’ Company is focused on promoting materials science as a rewarding career path and inspiring future generations of scientists in the UK. 

The Armourers & Brasiers’ Gauntlet Trust is an independent charity, closely associated with the Worshipful Company of Armourers and Brasiers. Founded in 1322 as the guild overseeing the production of armour, the Company exists now primarily for charitable purposes, particularly in promoting the growth of materials science research and development in the UK.

The three projects covered diverse areas – Jesal’s project looked at the need for improved algorithms for reconstructing teeth using advanced 3D-tomography (imaging of a solid object by sections). Maxima’s work was involved in enhanced analysis techniques in environmental discharge monitoring and Chris investigated the effect of environmental temperatures on composite wind turbine blades when subjected to gravitational loading.

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 Armourers and Brasiers’ is a combination of centuries’ old expertise with 21-st century science and the results achieved by Maxima, Chris and Jesal show how valuable materials science is in driving innovation and excellence.”   

Find out more here https://www.armourershall.co.uk/funding-grants/materials-science

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