Postgraduate ProsPectus - Aston University

School of Engineering & Applied Science
Engineering Education Research Group
School of Engineering & Applied Science
European Bioenergy Research Institute
Group overview
Ensuring the highest quality and most relevant
engineering education for students is a goal of every
university engineering department. The Engineering
Education Research Group is focused on developing
the understanding that will enable colleagues across
the sector to introduce innovative and relevant learning
and teaching practice that addresses the needs of
industry whilst engaging students in their learning.
Research interests
The group, which is made up of both engineering and
social science academics, is not only concerned with
HE, but the whole ‘engineering education pipeline’ from
primary school to the employment of engineers and
their continued learning.
Application and contact
Research Group Convenor
Dr. Robin Clark
T: +44 (0)121 204 3567
F: +44 (0)121 204 3676
E: r.p.clark@aston.ac.uk
W: www.aston.ac.uk/eas/research/groups/eerg
Current projects
Evaluation of active learning
The importance of relationships, variety and
coherency in engineering education
Bringing business and engineering together
Attributes of the graduate engineers of the future
Introducing engineering at primary school level
Peer mentoring and strategies to aid transition into
university.
Specialist equipment
State-of-the-art facilities such as confocal
microscopes, microlaser tracking systems, atomic
force microscope, scanning micro laser vibrometer,
EMG monitoring equipment, robotic manipulators and
rapid prototyping facilities.
Funding sources
National HE STEM Programme, Royal Academy of
Engineering, HEFCE/Paul Hamlyn Foundation, EU,
Higher Education Academy.
Collaboration
The group collaborates extensively with universities
and organisations in the UK, Europe and beyond,
particularly through the national and international
Engineering Education Research networks associated
with the HEA, SEFI, A2E2, ASEE and REEN.
Group overview
Launched in 2007, the European Bioenergy
Research Institute (EBRI) at Aston University has
created a unique platform for the development
and implementation of bioenergy systems in local,
national, European and international contexts.
Research interests
EBRI performs research and knowledge transfer in
all aspects of bioenergy, by acting as a demonstrator
of these technologies and by providing industrial
research collaborators the opportunity to run process
trials, evaluate feed materials and study combinations
of processes prior to investment. Research at
EBRI focuses on topics such as thermo-chemical
conversion techniques (lsuch as pyrolysis, gasification,
combustion) of biomass, optimisation of reaction
parameters by the study of formal kinetic parameters
and hot gas filtration. EBRI also investigates special
kinds of feedstock like algae by cultivating them in
photo bio-reactors. The application of biochar on
agricultural land is also being investigated.
Specialist equipment
Research equipment includes giant photo bioreactors
harnessing algae, thermal reactors, bench and
laboratory scale pyrolysers, gasifiers, combustors,
catalytic refiners for biorefinery and synthesis of fuels,
and fluidised bed reformers.
Funding sources
Funding sources are from the European Union as well
as UK research funding councils. EBRI also hasmany
projects with industry and academia from all over
Europe. These partnerships are on a project basis,
consulting basis or based on studentships.
Collaboration
EBRI is collaborating with partners both from industry
and the academic community. Industrial partners
include Severn Trent Water, Utilicom, E.ON, Schnell
Motors, Moser Engines, Varicon Aqua Solutions,
Oxford Catalysts, Johnson Matthey, Tenmat, WGD
and WSE.
EBRI is also working with local governing bodies
including Birmingham City Council.
EBRI was recently awarded £8.2 million from the
European Regional Development Fund to build a new
world-class facility on the Aston University campus
to support businesses explore the high growth field
of bioenergy. The new EBRI building opened in 2013.
Facilities include six bioenergy topic laboratories
exploring new biomass, micro-reactors, catalysis,
syngas, pyrolysis and analytics.
Application and contact
Director of the European Bioenergy Research Institute
Professor Andreas Hornung
T: +44 (0)121 204 3391
E: a.hornung@aston.ac.uk
W: www.aston.ac.uk/ebri
56 To find out more: Telephone: +44 (0)121 204 3400 | Email: engineering@aston.ac.uk | www.aston.ac.uk/eas
www.aston.ac.uk
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