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Engineering grant to strengthen research links between Reading and China – University of Reading

A University of Reading academic has been awarded a grant from the Royal Academic of Engineering to fund a series of research exchange visits to Chongqing University in China. This will enhance the link between Reading and Chongqing University, and help research in the field of built environment, which tackles global climate change issues.

The scheme enables engineering researchers at UK Higher Education Institutions to travel to a Chinese or Indian Institution, and China/India-based researchers to spend time at a UK Institution. The grant of £14,400 will facilitate a joint exchange between Dr Runming Yao from the University of Reading and Professor Jie Zheng of Chongqing University from the 1st July 09 until 30 April 2010. The proposed project under this award is The impact of human behaviour according to indoor thermal environment on building energy consumptions and development of intelligent control system.

In total out of 140 applications only a handful were successful, with 22 awards being made. The main objectives of the scheme are to promote collaboration between high quality engineering researchers in the UK and China; to strengthen relations between leading partners in these countries and support the expansion of international Networks of Excellence in engineering research; and to allow researchers to gain international experience and access world-class expertise.

Dr Runming Yao, from Reading's School of Construction Management and Engineering, said "I am very excited to receive this prestigious award. It will provide the opportunity for us to exchange experiences and share knowledge in the specific field of the built environment. We hope that by working together we will be able to come up with lots of new ideas, including ways of achieving both countries' carbon emission reduction targets."

ENDS

Notes to editors

For more information please contact Dr Lucy Chappell, Research Communications Manager, University of Reading on 0118 378 7391 or l.chappell@reading.ac.uk

University of Reading:

The University of Reading is ranked as one of the UK's top research-intensive universities. The quality and diversity of the University's research and teaching is recognised internationally as one of the top 200 universities in the world. It is home to more than 50 research centres, many of which are recognised as international centres of excellence such as agriculture, biological and physical sciences, European histories and cultures, and meteorology. The University takes a real-world perspective to its research and is consistently one of the most popular higher education choices in the UK. www.reading.ac.uk

Royal Academy of Engineering:

Founded in 1976, The Royal Academy of Engineering promotes the engineering and technological welfare of the country. Our fellowship – including the UK's most eminent engineers – provides the leadership and expertise for our activities, which focus on the relationships between engineering, technology, and the quality of life. As a national academy, we provide independent and impartial advice to Government; work to secure the next generation of engineers; and provide a voice for Britain's engineering community.

For more information about the Royal Academy of Engineering please contact: Jane Sutton at The Royal Academy of Engineering tel. 020 7766 0636; email: jane.sutton@raeng.org.uk

For more details about the award, please see the Royal Academy of Engineering website

www.raeng.org.uk/research/researcher/reci/default.htm