Over half of the engineers featured in the newly launched Scottish Engineering Hall of Fame have connections to the University of Glasgow.

Lord Kelvin, James Watt, William Weir and Percy Sinclair Pilcher, the aviation pioneer whose work predated and informed the work of the Wright brothers, all feature in the first inductees to the Scottish Engineering Hall of Fame.

One of the most famous, Lord Kelvin, enrolled in the university in 1824 before embarking on his incredible career.  His most notable engineering achievement was his contribution to the first successful laying of a transatlantic telegraph cable from Ireland to Newfoundland in 1866.

The Scottish Engineering Hall of Fame was conceived and developed in 2011 by the Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders in Scotland (IESIS), at the suggestion of its President Gordon Masterton. With the support of the major engineering academies and institutions, a judging panel of eminent engineers, industrial archaeologists and other specialists was assembled to select inductees. The first seven inductees were announced at the IESIS James Watt Dinner on 30th September 2011. Each year will see a select few added to this pantheon of great Scottish Engineers.

John Marsh, Head of the School of Engineering at the University of Glasgow said: “The University of Glasgow been delivering world class engineering education and research for more than 150 years.  Many talented individuals have been part of our tradition of engineering at the university and I am delighted to see so many of them recognised for their contributions in the Hall of Fame.  Today at the University of Glasgow, we continue our legacy and are engineering the future.”

The Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders in Scotland ‘s President, Gordon Masterton said "The life stories of these great engineers are truly inspirational. We need engineers of the same calibre today to stimulate our economic recovery and improve our quality of life. And it's young engineers who will be the key to success. It's young people that create revolutions and change the world. Right now we need young engineers with the flair and ingenuity to help us create a sustainable future for the planet. If even one of those was to be inspired to be an engineer by the Scottish Engineering Hall of Fame, that'll do for me."

Detail of all the inductees is available at http://www.engineeringhalloffame.org

 

 

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For more information contact Cara MacDowall in the University of Glasgow Media Relations Office on 0141 330 3535; 07875 203387 or email cara.macdowall@glasgow.ac.uk

First published: 11 September 2012

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