Each year, from 2020 onwards, a talented group of students from the University’s Department of Mechanical Engineering are selected and awarded grants of up to £2,000, which enables them to complete a range of activities and projects in their chosen field.

This year’s awardees have now been announced with funding going towards a range of projects – from electric plane model development to volunteering in Madagascar.

These opportunities are possible thanks to a generous gift of £250,000 made in 2019, and a further £290,000 in 2023/24, by a legacy of the late Arthur Clements CBE (1926⁠–2016), who wished to promote and encourage “the art of mechanical engineering”, and in particular, to support younger engineers as they enter the profession or undertake research.

Tim Ibell, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Design, says: "Wow. What a fabulous set of diverse and inspirational awards to see being made to extraordinary mechanical engineering students through the wonderful generosity of the Arthur Clements Fund.

These awards will allow these students to reach for their dreams, and they might even change their lives. I wish every one of them the greatest success in their endeavours as a result of the vision of Arthur Clements.”

In a joint statement, Nicholas Clements and Caroline Egleston, the son and daughter of the late Arthur Clements CBE, said: “We are so pleased to learn of the latest set of awardees from the Arthur Clements Trust. It is wonderful to see how the Bath students are engaged in such varied and fascinating work, and we enthusiastically applaud their endeavours.

"It is a privilege to be trustees of our late father’s trust, and we know he would have been entirely heartened and encouraged to observe all that the next generation of mechanical engineers is achieving.”

Read on to learn more about this year’s winners.

Volunteering in Madagascar

Emily Page (MEng Mechanical Engineering 2026) will have the incredible experience of travelling to Madagascar to volunteer for HoverAid. The charity builds and operates hovercrafts to distribute supplies, doctors and other humanitarian aid to remote communities that are impossible to reach via traditional vehicles.

“The funding from the Arthur Clements award has been pivotal in making my volunteering trip to Madagascar with HoverAid possible, helping to cover certain expenses,” says Emily.

“The trip will take place later this summer, and I am excited to see firsthand how the hovercraft, that I have been helping to build, can impact isolated communities in Madagascar.”

Real-world training

Cassandra Choi (MEng Integrated Design Engineering 2025) has been awarded funding to undertake the Offsite Industrial Design Online Programme this summer. Offsite is a ten-week programme designed to equip individuals with the fundamental skills necessary for a career in industrial design.

"I am thoroughly enjoying learning from instructors currently active in the industrial design field,” says Cassandra, who is in the last few weeks of the course, “especially in conversations about the role of a designer in the modern day, as well as effective design communication methods.

“The course has made me a more well-rounded design engineer, understanding product viability, feasibility and desirability, and I am excited to show the skills I've learnt so far in my upcoming major individual design project."

Bicycle power meter project

Will Lewis (MEng Mechanical Engineering 2028) has been awarded funding to help take him to the design, build and test stages of his bicycle power meter project. More specifically, the money is for microcontrollers and strain gauges – necessary components of his build.

“Building my own bike power meter has been an idea that I've had for a while,” says Will, “but the cost of the necessary equipment made me push it into the long grass.

“The Arthur Clements Award has given me the funding to turn that idea into a project that will not only enrich me as an engineer but allow me to pursue my specific engineering interests."

Robotics work experience abroad

Elliot Routier (MEng Mechanical Engineering 2027) received support from the Arthur Clements Fund to attend a summer internship with Sherpa Mobile Robotics in Alsace, France, focusing on industrial robotics.

Under the guidance of the Chief of Architectural Software within the company, Elliot is conducting extensive research on AI technologies and their practical applications for industrial robotics.

“My time in France has been exceptional,” says Elliot. “The company culture is vibrant and my colleagues have been incredibly welcoming. My work involves exploring new ways to integrate AI within the company whether that's into our robotic systems, or helping employees use generative AI tools like ChatGPT more effectively.

“The Arthur Clements Fund has been key in making this opportunity financially possible, and I’m extremely grateful for this support.”

International workshop

Ying Hu (PhD Mechanical Engineering 2028) is researching the dynamics of blood flow in blood-contacting medical devices.

Thanks to the Arthur Clements Fund, she is soon to attend the International Workshop on Flow-Induced Blood Damage in Rotating Systems 2024 held by University of Rostock in Rostock, Germany.

“I really appreciate and feel very grateful to be honoured with this award," says Ying. "The workshop is an annual event that attracts a unique group of researchers working on the study of blood damage.

“Attending this workshop will be an important starting point for my research at Bath, where I study as an international student, as it will help me get more involved in this discipline and discover new opportunities.”

Minu Bahrami (PhD in Mechanical Engineering 2028) has also received financial support from the Arthur Clements Fund to attend the workshop.

Electric plane model

Revan Ali (MEng Mechanical Engineering 2027) has been designing his electric plane model for the last two years. The award will enable him to take the development and testing progress to the next level. Specifically, the funding will help cover the cost of materials used in the plane, including raw materials, structural elements and electronic components.

“The development of my testing plane and electric plane project has greatly been supported by the Arthur Clements award,” says Revan. “With this funding, I aim to refine the plane’s aerodynamics, enhance its structural integrity and achieve a successful flight with this lightweight, 3D-printed aircraft.”