Professor Quarton joins 72 leading engineers from the UK and around the world who have been newly elected Fellows of the Royal Academy of Engineering in recognition of their outstanding and continuing contributions to the profession.
All the new Fellows were formally admitted to Fellowship at the Academy’s online AGM on Tuesday 19 September, and they will add their expertise to a Fellowship of nearly 1,700 eminent engineers from both industry and academia.
Professor Quarton first established links with the University of Bristol in the early 1990s through collaborative research in the field of wind turbine aerodynamics. Since 2015 he has been a Visiting Professor in the Department of Aerospace Engineering and contributes to renewable energy teaching and research activities at the University.
He has led a multi-disciplinary team of consulting engineers working for customers worldwide to design some twenty multi-megawatt wind turbines. He masterminded the development and commercialisation of the aeroelastic code ‘Bladed’, used throughout the global wind industry as a design tool for onshore and offshore turbines. He chaired the International Electrotechnical Commission Working Group which developed the international design standard for offshore wind turbines.
His fascination with wind turbines began during his school days when, together with three other students, he designed and built an ‘Oscillating Aerofoil’ wind pump which went on to win the BBC ‘Young Scientists of the Year’ competition.
“I am delighted to have been elected to the Fellowship of the Academy,” said Professor Quarton. “It is a great honour to be invited to join this prestigious body of leading engineers and technologists from across industry and academia.
“My election recognises my activities in wind turbine engineering, a field which has fascinated me since my school days and has seen astonishing progress and innovation over recent decades. In accepting this honour I thank all those who have guided, advised and worked with me throughout my career to date.
“Wind energy is one of the most important sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels. It is vital to the decarbonisation of electricity production and mitigation of climate change. With experience in this field I look forward to playing an active role within the Academy to contribute to its mission to use the power of engineering to build a sustainable society.”
The new Fellows will be formally admitted to the Academy at a special ceremony in London on 28 November, when each Fellow will sign the roll book. In joining the Fellowship, they will lend their unique capabilities to achieving the Academy’s overarching strategic goal to harness the power of engineering to create a sustainable society and an inclusive economy for all.
Professor Sir Jim McDonald FREng FRSE, President of the Royal Academy of Engineering, says:
“Engineering is everywhere, but nowhere the same, and our new Fellows represent the great breadth and diversity of engineers who are striving to address some of the world’s most complex challenges – benefiting society and the economy in the process. From next generation power networks and water systems to quantum computing and artificial intelligence, our new Fellows are shaping the future.
“We live in an era of rapid change across our communities, our country, and of course our planet. Today we welcome to our Fellowship an inspiring group of people who are harnessing their creativity, courage and commitment to drive positive change in the world around us and we look forward to their contribution to our work.”
See the complete list of Fellows elected in 2023.