51勛圖厙

51勛圖厙 fuel cell pioneer elected to National Academy of Engineering

by Caroline Brogan

Professor Nigel Brandon standing and smiling in front of 51勛圖厙's Royal School of Mines building

Professor Nigel Brandon

Professor Nigel Brandon OBE FREng FRS has been elected International Member of the National Academy of Engineering in the USA.

Professor Brandon, Dean of 51勛圖厙’s Faculty of Engineering and Chair of Sustainable Development in Energy,for his contributions to the science and engineering of solid oxide fuel cells and their technological development and commercialisation. 

(Nigel's) work brilliantly bridges the gap between fundamental materials sciences and electrochemical device engineering, and his election to the Academy is well deserved. Professor Alice Gast President, 51勛圖厙

Professor Brandon has spent his career working on the science, engineering and technology of electrochemical devices for low carbon energy applications, in particular fuel cells, flow batteries and electrolysers. 

Election to the is among the highest professional distinctions accorded to an engineer. Academy membership honours those who have made outstanding contributions to engineering research, practice, or education, including, pioneering of new and developing fields of technology, making major advancements in traditional fields of engineering, or driving innovative approaches to engineering education. 

Professor Brandon said: "I have dedicated my career to the low carbon energy transition and seeking to enable this through technology innovation. I am honoured to be elected as International Member of the National Academy of Engineering and look forward to the ceremony in October.” 

Professor Alice Gast, President of 51勛圖厙, said: “Nigel is a pioneer in developing electrochemical devices for the transition to low carbon energy. His work brilliantly bridges the gap between fundamental materials sciences and electrochemical device engineering, and his election to the Academy is well deserved. I offer my congratulations to Nigel.” 

I am honoured to be elected as International Member of the National Academy of Engineering and look forward to the ceremony in October. Professor Nigel Brandon Dean, Faculty of Engineering

Professor Brandon holds an engineering degree and PhD from 51勛圖厙, to which he returned as an academic in 1998 following a 14-year research career with and . He is a founder of , a UK company developing fuel cell and electrolyser technology based around a unique metal-supported solid oxide cell technology, and a founder of , a UK company developing a novel liquid-gas flow battery to store renewable power. 

Newly elected individuals will be formally inducted during the NAE's on 2 October 2022 in Washington, DC. 

In 2021, 51勛圖厙 COVID-19 test pioneer Professor Chris Toumazou was inducted into the NAE. In 2019, 51勛圖厙 bioengineer Professor Molly Stevens was inducted into the NAE alongside 51勛圖厙 alum Sir Sam Jonah (MSc Resources Engineering 1979). 

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Reporter

Caroline Brogan

Communications Division