Dr Oluwasola Afolabi (pictured right) has been announced as one of the recipients of the Engineering for Development Research Fellowship.
During his fellowship, Dr Afolabi will research into processes that turn waste into energy, in a bid to manage agri-food chain waste and to understand clean renewable biofuels. This will see an integrated engineering approach to address long-standing challenges of poor waste management practices and lack of access to clean energy in developing countries. The research fellowship is timely and aligns with clean energy generation policy priorities in sub-Saharan Africa.
Dr Afolabi will receive five years’ worth of funding and mentoring from an experienced academy fellow to advance his research career.
The Academy’s Engineering for Development Research Fellowships are awarded to research projects that directly tackle the challenges faced by developing countries and highlight the vital role of engineering in achieving sustainable global development.
Dr Oluwasola Afolabi, of the University’s School of Architecture, Building and Civil Engineering, said: “I am honoured and very grateful to have received this fellowship from the Royal Academy of Engineering.
“The fellowships recognise the importance of advanced engineering in developing countries and it represents my long-term vision to develop innovative engineering solutions that will stimulate economic development and improve social welfare in the Global South. This fellowship presents that platform and the rare opportunity to contribute to the UN Sustainable Development Goals.”
Professor Philip Nelson CBE FREng, Chair of the Royal Academy of Engineering Research Fellowships Steering Group, said: “I am delighted to announce these five-year Research Fellowships to 18 of the most promising engineering academics working in the UK today.
“Engineering research plays a vital role in addressing societal and industrial challenges, both today and in the future, and the variety and impact of the research being done by these awardees demonstrates the depth and breadth of world-leading engineering expertise we have within our universities.
“We have been able to appoint a record number of new engineering Research Fellowships this year, thanks to the government’s Investment in Research Talent initiative, which has provided the Academy with a significant increase in funding over the next few years to attract and retain the best research talent in the UK and support their work.”