Professor Quarton is a leading figure in the wind energy industry, with close links to the university from 2008 when he supported Garrad Hassan's involvement in the development of the Engineering Design for the Wind and Marine Energy unit - an optional Masters Level module, which regularly attracts over 100 students from across the university’s School of Civil, Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering.
He now leads the delivery of the module alongside Dr Paul Harper from the Department of Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Design Programme. The module is taught almost entirely by leading wind and marine industry professionals and allows students to gain experience of working on realistic design projects, using exactly the same methods that they would apply in a commercial environment.
For the last two years, David has also supervised a team of five Engineering Design students on a project to develop innovative design solutions for floating offshore wind turbines. This work has involved collaboration with DNV GL, Atkins, Plymouth University and Henrik Stiesdal, another pioneer of the wind industry, who was responsible for the world’s first offshore wind farm in 1990.
“I first became involved with the University of Bristol in the early 1990s through collaborative research in the field of wind turbine aerodynamics and have been delighted in more recent years to play a role in the teaching and supervision of undergraduate engineering students as part of the successful wind and marine energy module” said Professor Quarton. “I am greatly honoured to be appointed a Visiting Professor within the School of Engineering, and look forward to strengthening my involvement with the teaching and research of renewable energy, helping to both progress the technology and inspire the next generation of engineers needed for this critically important sector.”
Professor Ian Bond, Head of the School of Civil, Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, added that successful collaborations with industry are a key strength of the University and the appointment of leading figures like David Quarton allow it to embed these links in its teaching, providing students with unrivalled, career-focused learning opportunities.
Dr Harper commented that Professor Quarton has already made an outstanding contribution to the University and that the appointment is a great example of the university’s increasing strengths in renewable energy teaching and research.
Professor Quarton joins a growing team of leading figures at the University from the renewable energy industry, including Professor Ervin Bossanyi, a world-renowned expert in wind turbine modelling and control, as a visiting professor, and Dr Andrew Garrad, who co-founded Garrad Hassan & Partners (now DNV GL), who is a member of the Cabot Institute’s External Advisory Board.
In addition, Bristol alumnus, Dr Robert Rawlinson-Smith (BEng 1986 - Aeronautical Engineering), DNV GL's Service Area Leader for Renewables, has played a key role in forging the strong relationship that exists with DNV GL, and is the University's main point of contact with the company. David, Ervin, Andrew and Robert all worked for the Bristol-based Garrad Hassan & Partners for several decades.
The University has recently been awarded the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult - Blade Research Hub, and is the current Chair of the Partnership for Research in Marine Renewable Energy (PRIMaRE). This means that industry professionals like Professor Quarton are set to play a valuable role in supporting the university’s expanding work in renewable energy.
For additional information:
