Boss Budninpech (2023 cohort)

What did you study prior to joining the CoSEM CDT and why?

I have a background in aeronautical engineering. I always wanted to study engineering since I was young because I love cars. I enjoyed spending time with my dad, helping him wash and maintain our car. But planes are cool too, and the programme was not entirely popular back then in my country, so I thought there would be more job opportunities for me after graduating. So, I decided to be a plane engineer instead of a car engineer.

What made you choose a PhD in Advanced Composites? 

During my undergraduate, I had a few units in materials and composites. I found composites intriguing. Isn't it amazing that the same material can have various properties by rearranging its micro or macro structures? I also had my final-year project in structural health monitoring on a composite panel. This further drove my interest in composites, so I applied for this programme.

Why is it important research students actively communicate their research to the public?

To build trust in the community and be transparent. It is not easy to make everybody understand what we are researching. Dissemination is essential to spreading our study and telling people how things will be affected and its pros and cons

How do you think we can make composites more accessible to the general public?

Composites are all around us, but their knowledge is not widely spread. The composite concept needs to be better dispersed, especially to the young people who will lead the future generation of society. Public outreach, like Future events and summer school, is an excellent way to reach young ones with various backgrounds.

What do you hope to achieve as a Public Engagement Committee rep?

I will encourage my cohort fellows to participate in more public engagement activities and to share their fantastic work.

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Ragnar Birgisson (2022 cohort)

What did you study prior to joining the CoSEM CDT and why?

I studied Aerospace Engineering here at the University of Bristol before joining CoSEM. I’ve always naturally gravitated towards STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) subjects since I was young, and Aerospace stuck out as the most cutting-edge option. (Also, I never grew out of the inevitable fascination most boys have with rockets and space.)

What made you choose a PhD in Advanced Composites?

I don’t think I could work or study something ‘narrow’, since I like to tackle fresh problems. The Advanced Composites work happening here at Bristol appealed to me because of the interdisciplinary nature of the field, giving me lots of opportunities to jump between fields and viewpoints. In theory, this turns my wide interests into a strength instead of a distraction. (AND rockets and spaceships are made of composites. Is there a theme here?)

Why is it important research students actively communicate their research to the public?

Besides the obvious moral obligation stemming from the fact that our research is largely publicly funded, there is a lot of potential good in public engagement. When consulted, the public can act as a good compass in directing our research towards greater societal impact. Furthermore, communicating with people outside of academia forces us to think about the potential negative impacts our research may have on groups we had not previously considered.

How do you think we can make composites more accessible to the general public?

As I see it, there are two primary hurdles that are dampening the general public's engagement with composites academia. First, is the public perception of academia as elitist (which is perhaps not entirely unfounded) - “I'm not an intellectual, this isn’t for me”. Second is the fact that most normal people are not aware of what a composite material is, and how it already affects their lives; People don’t know how our field already impacts them, so they’re less likely to care. Efforts should show the public that us researchers are just passionate and curious people, and we value their viewpoints. Composites have the potential to change lives, and you don’t need to be an academic to help contribute towards that goal.

What do you hope to achieve as a Public Engagement Committee rep?

I personally can’t change the public's perception of academia - or the youth's ambivalence to STEM due to a half-baked educational system – but I do have the opportunity to reach individuals on a local level and represent the ideals I have laid out here in this Bio.

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Lichang Zhu (2021 cohort)

What did you study prior to joining the CoSEM CDT and why?

I pursued Aerospace Engineering (BEng) at the University of Bristol, furthering my studies with a focus on Computational Fluid Dynamics (MSc) at Imperial College London. My decision to delve into aerospace was driven by a deep fascination with the intricate dynamics of flight and the limitless possibilities it presents.

What made you choose a PhD in Advanced Composites? 

My interest lies in the realm of crafting advanced composites to develop lightweight yet robust structures, ultimately contributing to the enhancement of aircraft efficiency. It's a field where innovation meets practical application, offering immense potential for technological advancement.

Why is it important research students actively communicate their research to the public?

As research funding often comes from the public, it's crucial to transparently communicate the impact of their investment. This fosters understanding and support for our work in composites.

How do you think we can make composites more accessible to the general public?

By engaging in public events and increasing interaction, we can demystify composites and showcase their broad applications.

What do you hope to achieve as a Public Engagement Committee rep?

I aim to expose our cohort to diverse engagement opportunities and inspire interest in STEM among individuals from various backgrounds.