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Support your local young engineers – University of Reading

Jane Griffiths MP has met two Reading graduates who presented their work on systems engineering in medicine at the House of Commons on Tuesday 14 December as part of the SET for Britain event. SET for Britain, which encourages, supports and promotes Britain's younger scientists, engineers and technologists, hosted the event at the House of Commons, and 90 young engineers, scientists and technologists presented their work to colleagues and Parliamentarians. Two graduates of the School of Systems Engineering, who live in Ms Griffiths' Reading East constituency, were amongst those chosen to present evidence of their work at the event. Rui Loureiro presented on his device for tremor suppression in the upper limb. For example, when used with a chef who had Parkinson's, who had to give up work as chopping became dangerous when he had the shakes, it reduced the shakes enough for him to chop vegetables. Also presenting was Adam Spiers, who invented a Haptic torch whilst still an undergraduate. Also known as 'A Torch for the blind', the device resembles a common household torch and is used in much the same way to locate unseen objects. However, instead of emitting a beam of light the torch utilises sonar technology (like a bat) to continuously measure distance to objects and the information is communicated via a subtle, high resolution Haptic (touch) button underneath the user's thumb. Jane Griffiths MP said: "I am thrilled to have the opportunity to join these two young engineers from within our community to celebrate British engineering. Both these inventions can have a major impact upon the lives of thousands if not millions of people and have been developed here in Reading. We often hear jeremiahs bemoaning the death of British engineering but the success of these two young engineers from Reading shows it is alive and kicking with a vigour." Vice Chancellor at the University, Professor Gordon Marshall, said: "Both students have done some excellent research work and it is encouraging to see it acknowledged by the Parliamentary and Scientific Committee." Dr Eric Wharton, from SET for Britain, said: "Progress in engineering research and research and development plays a vital role for "UK plc" and our younger engineers are a very important asset. Britain's younger researchers remain keen to come to Parliament and display their work, with one aim being to engender greater dialogue between them and their MPs and Parliamentarians. It is a good sign and we must encourage our future leaders in science, engineering and technology." End For media enquiries only, please contact: Jane Griffiths MP Tel: 020 7219 4122 or 0118 957 3756 Adam Spiers Tel: 0118 931 6610 Email: a.j.spiers@reading.ac.uk Rui Loureiro Tel: 0118 378 5390 Email: r.c.v.loureiro@reading.ac.uk