Background
Ben’s background in natural sciences, chemistry and physics had ignited
his interest in materials science, especially for renewable energy
applications. He was drawn to IDCORE as a way to transition his skills
into offshore renewables and gain new skills in engineering. Delivering
practical research for an industry partner was also an exciting
opportunity.
Ben’s Project
More recently, Ben has been working with Xodus to develop a final
project idea that will bring real value to the industry. This will
involve looking at the impact of weather conditions during the
construction phase of a floating windfarm. At present, changes in
weather pose a large risk to the construction, with delays caused by
heavy winds and other adverse conditions meaning that currently work
only takes place between April and August.
IDCORE
This
multi-disciplinary Centre brings together diverse areas of expertise to
train engineers and scientists with the skills, knowledge and
confidence to tackle current and future offshore renewable energy
challenges. The strategic direction of the programme is guided by an
Industrial Steering Board comprising representatives from professional
bodies, employers and regulators. EngD students on the programme (called
Research Engineers) undertake advanced training in technical skills and
competencies as well as transferable skills such as project management,
innovation management, and team working. Alongside this they undertake a
challenging and original research project at PhD level.