Glasgow Caledonian to host international conference on precision engineering and sustainability
Glasgow Caledonian University will welcome researchers and engineers from around the world to Glasgow next week for a conference exploring how precision engineering can support the transition to a more sustainable future.
The euspen Special Interest Conference on Precision Engineering for Sustainability will take place at the University’s Glasgow campus from 2–3 September, bringing together experts from academia and industry to explore topics including renewable energy, energy storage, the circular economy, net-zero manufacturing and sustainable production.
The conference will showcase research from Glasgow Caledonian alongside contributions from institutions around the world.
Opening the conference, Professor Mairi Watson, the University’s Principal and Vice-Chancellor, will welcome delegates before Emad Farrag, Professor of Electrical Power Engineering at Glasgow Caledonian, delivers the first keynote.
Professor Farrag will present and discuss the potential of small-scale renewable energy systems, including solar photovoltaics, small wind turbines and community energy storage, to support sustainable and resilient communities.
His keynote will consider how locally generated renewable energy can reduce carbon emissions, improve energy access and deliver economic benefits, while highlighting the importance of community participation, innovative financing and supportive leadership in the transition to cleaner energy systems.
A number of Glasgow Caledonian researchers will also present their work during the two-day conference.
Dr Richard Danyi will discuss battery energy storage for a low-speed vertical axis wind turbine in a rural community, while Godwin Enemalii will present research into using edge artificial intelligence to detect defects in wind turbine blades.
Professor Babakalli Alkali will explore predictive maintenance for wind turbines, while Dr Ahmed Solyman will present research on secure Internet of Things architecture for wind turbine condition monitoring and a low-cost unmanned aerial vehicle framework for inspecting wind turbine structures.
Dr Juan Manuel Parrilla Gutierrez will also present research into 3D-printed structural and aerodynamic components for unmanned aerial vehicles.
The programme also includes laboratory tours at Glasgow Caledonian, giving delegates the opportunity to see the University’s facilities and research activity first-hand.
The international keynote programme includes Professor Alexander Slocum of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), who will speak about creating a new standard for rapid-swap battery interfaces.
Professor Slocum is Professor of Mechanical Engineering at MIT and a prominent figure in precision engineering and mechanical design. He has published more than 150 papers and holds more than 116 patents, with his work including products recognised with 11 R&D 100 Awards.
Other keynote speakers include Professor Ali Gökhan Demir of Politecnico di Milano, who will discuss laser manufacturing for electric vehicles, and Professor Tim C. McAloone of the Technical University of Denmark, who will explore the potential of remanufacturing in the sustainability transition.
The conference is organised by the European Society for Precision Engineering and Nanotechnology (euspen), which highlights the role of precision engineering in developing the technologies and manufacturing systems needed to support a global low-carbon economy.
Dr Mahmood Anwar, who is chairing sessions and is part of the conference organising committee, said: “The event provides an opportunity to highlight the breadth of sustainability-focused research taking place at Glasgow Caledonian alongside work from our international partners.”