image: This is Professor Sir Jim McDonald. view more
Credit: University of Strathclyde
The University of Strathclyde's Principal, Professor Sir Jim McDonald, is to receive a prestigious award in recognition of his achievements in the field of energy.
Sir Jim has been chosen to receive the Melchett Award, one of the Energy Institute's (EI) most prestigious awards, in recognition of his contribution to the energy sector.
As winner of the award, Sir Jim is also to give the associated Melchett Lecture on an energy-related subject. He will receive the award and present the lecture at an event in London in July.
Sir Jim said: "I am truly delighted to accept this award from the Energy Institute and feel honoured to be following in the steps of distinguished previous recipients. The EI plays a central role in supporting, enhancing and representing the energy sector and helping it to meet the needs of the communities it serves.
"The need to safeguard energy supplies while addressing immediate environmental demands is one of today's biggest global challenges. It is a challenge which requires innovative, effective solutions, and is among our main strategic research themes at the University of Strathclyde.
"We have a strong relationship with the Energy Institute and look forward to continuing to work with them on innovating tomorrow's energy technologies."
Sir Jim studied for his first degree in electronic and electrical engineering at the University of Strathclyde and started his engineering career as a graduate apprentice on the Scottish Electrical Training Scheme. He took his Masters and PhD degrees at Strathclyde in the field of power and energy systems. He worked in the electrical utility sector for seven years and returned to the University of Strathclyde in 1984 as a University Grants Commission 'New Blood Lecturer' in Electrical Engineering. He was appointed to the Rolls-Royce Chair in Electrical Power Systems in 1993. He served as Head of Department of EEE and Deputy Principal for Research and KE prior to becoming Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Strathclyde in March 2009.
In the Queen's Jubilee Birthday Honours List on 16 June 2012, Professor McDonald was awarded a Knighthood for services to education, engineering and the economy.
He is a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, the Royal Society of Edinburgh, the Institution of Engineering and Technology, the Institute of Physics and the Energy Institute. He chairs two of the pan-Scotland research pools in Energy and Engineering and is Chair of the Royal Academy of Engineering Research Committee. In February 2019, he was nominated to become the next President of the Royal Academy of Engineering.
The EI's Melchett Award dates back to 1930, when it was instituted by The Rt Hon Sir Alfred Mond, later Lord Melchett and Chairman of ICI.
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