The UK Naval Engineering, Science & Technology (UK NEST) forum has awarded 12 scholarships worth £3,000 a year to science and engineering undergraduates. Six of the scholarships are funded through a grant to UK NEST by Lloyd’s Register Foundation.
In addition to their scholarships, the students will receive individual mentoring from UK NEST members. This will include site visits, potential for work-placements during vacations and support for project work. The scholarship scheme is now in its fourth year and the number of applicants trebled this year. Over 10% of the applications were from female students and there was an increase in the number of undergraduates reading science.
The scholarship competition required students to submit essays on the impact of autonomous systems of future navies. A panel of experts, drawn from UK NEST, Lloyd’s Register Group Limited and Lloyd’s Register Foundation, judged the essays. Final selection was made after short-listed students attended interviews during which they were required to discuss the role of autonomy. The selection panel remarked on the high-calibre of all students and their excellent appreciation of the role of engineers. This was particularly noteworthy from those students who had spent time working with companies in the naval sector. Successful students were from the universities of Bath, Cambridge, Durham, Loughborough, Newcastle, Oxford, Plymouth, Southampton, Stafford and University of the West of England.
The students attended an award ceremony at a UK NEST Programme Board meeting at BAE Systems Maritime facilities in Barrow-in-Furness where they were presented with scholarship certificates. The students participated in a lively debate about the pros and cons of the naval sector for employment and the cutting edge technology that will underpin future programmes. They also enjoyed a comprehensive tour of the shipyard facilities that are currently building Astute Class submarines.
The students awarded the scholarships are:
- Duncan Boyter, from Leigh, Lancs - Newcastle University
- James Connolly, from Market Drayton, Shropshire - Stafford University
- Lawrence Dubey, from Launceston, Cornwall - University of West of England, Bristol
- Brad Fowler, from Buxton, Derbyshire - Cambridge University
- Alex Holt, from Fareham, Hants - University of Southampton
- Amelia Jenkins - University of Southampton
- Takashi Lawson, from Maidenhead, Berkshire - University of Oxford
- Natalie Mitchell, from Bledlow, Bucks - Durham University
- James Morrant, from Plymouth - Plymouth University
- Max Nicholson - University of Southampton
- Adam Triggol, from Wells, Somerset - Loughborough University
- Greg Wintle, from Canterbury, Kent – Bath University
James Connolly, Lawrence Dubey, Alex Holt, Amelia Jenkins, Takashi Lawson and Max Nicholson were selected to be the six Lloyd’s Register Foundation UK NEST scholars.
About UK NEST
The United Kingdom Naval Engineering Science & Technology (UK NEST) Forum seeks to sustain and develop our world-class intellectual base. It is the Forum for the UK’s professional community that addresses issues of common concern, fostering specific development needs and giving a focal point for interaction with, and influencing, the wider Government and Industrial Maritime community.
The current members are:
- Atlas Elektronik UK
- Babcock Marine & Technology
- BAE Systems Maritime – Naval Ships, Submarines and Marine Services
- BMT Defence Services
- Converteam
- Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (DSTL)
- Institute of Marine Engineering Science & Technology (IMarEST)
- L3 Maritime Services
- Lloyd’s Register Group Limited
- Ministry of Defence – Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S)
- QinetiQ
- Rolls Royce
- Royal Institution of Naval Architects (RINA)
- Royal Navy (RN)
- Systems Engineering & Assessment (SEA)
- Thales UK