Bristol Composites Institute and National Composites Centre Annual Conference: Driving innovation in composites

About this event

Join the two organisations for their annual conference in Bristol to see the latest work in composites, focusing on the use of digital and AI technologies, material advances, and skills and workforce development.

Agenda

08:45 Registration

09:15 Welcome

09:30 Session 1 – Machine Learning / AI with Q&A:
Artificial Intelligence is enabling our researchers to conduct more powerful research in less time and with less cost. But what, specifically, are the opportunities that are opening up in the field of composites? This session will reveal how we are already using AI in research and the future trends that will impact industry.
Speakers:
– Amit Visrolia (Chief of Digital Engineering, NCC)
– Simon McIntosh-Smith (High Performance Computing, University of Bristol)
– Iryna Tretiak (Lecturer in Composites Manufacture, BCI)
– Tim Newman (Data Science Specialist, NCC)
– Bassam Elsaied (Senior Lecturer, BCI)

10:30 Break

11:00 Session 2 – Materials with Q&A:
As industry looks for more sustainable materials, or ones that can operate in extreme environments, we’re seeing an increasing interest in materials design and development. This session will explore these topics and focus on opportunities for future innovations.
Speakers:
– Steven Eichhorn (Materials, Science and Engineering, BCI)
– Tim Young (Head of Sustainability, NCC)
– Onajite Abafe Diejomaoh (Research Associate, BCI)
– Jenny Banks ( Postgraduate student in the Industrial Doctorate Centre in Composites Manufacture, NCC)
– Callum Branfoot (Research Engineer, Materials Science, NCC)

12:00 Lunch and networking

13:30 Session 3 – Skills with Q&A:
For the UK to continue playing a leading role in high-value engineering, a pipeline of skilled engineers is essential. This requires us to develop future leaders who understand composite materials and their applications, whether through apprenticeships, undergraduate and postgraduate degrees and in-work training.
Speakers:
– Micaela Owen (Head of Skills and Workforce Transformation, NCC)
– Janice Barton (Director of CDT in Innovation for Sustainable Composites Engineering, BCI)
– Laura Pickard (Senior Research Associate, BCI)
– Callum Heath (Manufacturing Manager, NCC)
– Ben Chappell (Postgraduate student in the Industrial Doctorate Centre in Composites Manufacture, NCC)

14:30 Break

15:00 Panel session and discussion
Panellists:
– Tim Young (Panel chair, Head of Sustainability, NCC)
– Allan Poulsen (Head of Materials and Sustainable Scaling, Vestas)
– Jacqueline Castle (Chief Technology Officer, ATI and UoB Aegis Professor of Aerospace Technologies)
– Craig Carr (Technology Director Integrated Composite Structures, GKN)
– David Bailey (CEO, CompositesUK)
– Janice Barton (Professor of Experimental Mechanics, BCI)
– Nick Warrior (Professor of Mechanical Engineering, University of Nottingham)
– Andy Smith (R&D Director, Carbon ThreeSixty)

16:00 Close of conference