Dr Euan McGookin is among the first five engineering lecturers ever to be awarded prizes for excellence in teaching by the Royal Academy of Engineering.

Dr McGookin of the Department of Electronics and Electrical Engineering, has been awarded a prize of £10,000.

Euan, 34, is a teacher of robotics, who introduced the use of LEGO into teaching the subject.

Professor Bob Matthew, Director of the Teaching and Learning Service, described Euan as ' as a man who brings an engineering perspective into his teaching" and as "a young academic delivering on all three aspects of his post; he is a competent administrator, a solid engineering researcher and an enthusiastic and innovative teacher. Indeed, his students speak highly of his supervision both in pastoral support but more importantly how he pushes them to achieve their best."

Dr Graham Ault, of the University of Strathclyde also won a teaching prize.

The teaching prizes were inaugurated by the Academy to acknowledge and reward lecturers who have chosen to remain in the higher education sector during the early years of their career.

Prizes are awarded on a competitive basis to lecturers in electronics or electrical engineering at higher education institutions in the UK and ideal candidates must have distinguished themselves from their peer group by showing a strong and continuing commitment to teaching, professional activities, promoting engineering as a rewarding and creative career, establishing industrial-academic links and other activities which ultimately ensure the output of top quality graduate engineers.

Media Relations Office (media@gla.ac.uk)

1.The Engineering Teaching Prizes have been established to reward the most able lecturers who have chosen to remain in the higher education sector during the early years of their career. Prizes are awarded on a competitive basis to lecturers in electronics or electrical engineering at higher education institutions in the UK. Ideal candidates should have distinguished themselves from their peer group by showing a strong and continuing commitment to teaching, professional activities, promoting engineering as a rewarding and creative career, establishing industrial-academic links and other activities which ultimately ensure the output of top quality graduate engineers.

2.Up to six prizes are to be awarded annually, each having a value of ?10,000 and the programme has been made possible through the generosity of the ERA Foundation

3.Euan McGookin has lectured for six years at the University of Glasgow, during which time he has been involved with a number of courses for both undergraduate and postgraduate students. His most notable achievement however, has to be the introduction of a robotics course for the senior honours undergraduate cohort. The course is the first of its kind in the university and involves all aspects of general and industrial robotics. In order to introduce students to the practical side of the course in a fun way to balance the mathematically intense theory side of the course, Euan's laboratory sessions involve teams of students using LEGO to design and build robots for competitive activities and the development of autonomous, mobile robots for Robot Olympics!

4. Among his many notable achievements, Graham Ault introduced a first year group project in general electrical engineering technology as part of the 'professional studies' class. This gives students the opportunity to work in a group, putting into practice several elements of the module e.g. project planning, team working, report writing and presenting, early on in their studies. Graham has also introduced industrial lecturers and field visits into undergraduate courses and redeveloped an MSc module in Power System Economics.

5. Founded in 1976, The Royal Academy of Engineering promotes the engineering and technological welfare of the country. Our fellowship - comprising the UK's most eminent engineers - provides the leadership and expertise for our activities, which focus on the relationships between engineering, technology, and the quality of life. As a national academy, we provide independent and impartial advice to Government; work to secure the next generation of engineers; and provide a voice for Britain's engineering community.

For more information please contact: The University Press office on 0141 330 3535 OR Dr Claire McLoughlin at The Royal Academy of Engineering Tel. Direct tel +44 (0) 20 7227 0510; mobile 07957 341929; email: claire.mcloughlin@raeng.org.uk

First published: 1 December 2005