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Report of the General Board on the re-establishment of the Professorship of Aerothermal Technology

The GENERAL BOARD beg leave to report to the University as follows:

1. The Whittle Laboratory for Turbomachinery Aerodynamics is one of the main research centres within the Department of Engineering, specializing in aspects of experimental and computational aerodynamics which relate particularly to flows within jet engines. The Laboratory has made major advances over a period of more than twenty years and has become recognized by all the leading jet engine manufacturers in the world as the centre of excellence in this field within the United Kingdom. In 1989 a Professorship of Aerothermal Technology was established for one tenure with the full costs being met from funds provided by Rolls-Royce plc and assigned to the Department of Engineering (Reporter, 1988-89, p. 717). The Professorship lapsed on 1 January 2000 on the resignation of Professor N.A. Cumpsty.

2. The Professorship of Aerothermal Technology has played an important role in the development of teaching and research in this important field and the Faculty Board of Engineering have advised the General Board that the re-establishment of this Professorship is fundamental to the future development of research and teaching in Aerothermal Technology in the Department. The research strength of the Laboratory lies in work on the aerodynamic design of turbines and compressors which are used to generate nearly all of the world's electricity production and also to power most aircraft. The holder of the Professorship would be expected to make a leading contribution to further developments in research in this field. Members of the Laboratory are also involved in the teaching of fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and turbomachinery in all four parts of the Engineering Tripos, and the Professor would be expected to be involved in this teaching as well as being expected to supervise and teach graduate students.

3. In recognition of the continuing importance of the role of the Professorship in providing leadership in teaching and research in aerodynamics in the University, Rolls-Royce have agreed to provide funds, on a five-year rolling grant, to support the re-establishment of the Professorship for one further tenure. Should Rolls-Royce cease their support the cost of the office would be met by the Department of Engineering through compensating savings in recurrent expenditure for the remainder of the tenure of the incumbent.

4. The Faculty Board of Engineering have warmly welcomed the encouragement and support demonstrated by the willingness of Rolls-Royce to continue their funding of the Professorship. The Department have assured the General Board that suitable accommodation for the Professor is available. The General Board have now agreed to propose the re-establishment of the Professorship. The Board are assured that an appointment at this level will attract a strong field of well-qualified candidates. They have agreed to concur in the view of the Faculty Board that the election to the Professorship should be made by an ad hoc Board of Electors, and that candidature should be open without limitation or preference to all persons whose work falls within the general field of the title of the office.

5. The General Board recommend:

That the Professorship of Aerothermal Technology be re-established from 1 January 2000 for one further tenure, placed in Schedule B of the Statutes, and assigned to the Department of Engineering.

9 February 2000

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Cambridge University Reporter, 1 March 2000
Copyright © 2000 The Chancellor, Masters and Scholars of the University of Cambridge.