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News Release from: University of Bath
Edited by the Engineeringtalk Editorial
Team on 05 September 2003
Promotion provides Edge leading reaserch
The University of Bath has appointed Professor Kevin Edge as its new Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research).
The University of Bath has appointed Professor Kevin Edge as its new Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) Prof Edge takes up the post after six years as Head of the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the university
His new role involves championing research at the University of Bath and further strengthening the university's research portfolio.
He will also continue to conduct research within the Department of Mechanical Engineering.
"There are challenges ahead, but there are also plenty of opportunities", he said.
"The University of Bath already has an excellent reputation for its research activity, but we can do even better.
My vision is to build on what has already been achieved with a particular focus on the development of a greater number of interdisciplinary research programmes".
In his new capacity, Prof Edge chairs the University's Research Committee and also the Graduate Studies Committee.
He plans to work with departments to enhance the research environment with a view to stimulating and boosting world-class research.
Prof Edge will work with grant-awarding bodies and private sector businesses in the UK and overseas to see how we can bring more research funding to the University.
He will also work closely with Knowledge Transfer Services in the university, which is responsible for the commercial exploitation of research at the university, to ensure we reap the full benefits of research carried out here.
"Trying to get external funding is tough in the current climate", he said.
"One of the particular characteristics of this university is the close links we have with industry.
That is clearly something we will build on".
Prof Glynis Breakwell, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bath, said: "I am delighted that Professor Edge has taken up this post.
I know he will make a major contribution to taking research at the University of Bath forward and further reinforcing the university's world-class reputation".
Few people on the campus can have as much experience of life at the University of Bath as Prof Edge.
He started his undergraduate degree course when the University was still based in Bristol and completed the course in the early years of the Claverton Down campus.
His degree was undertaken in parallel with an engineering apprenticeship at Rolls-Royce, Filton.
He then completed a postgraduate degree at the University of Bath, before returning to Rolls-Royce as a Senior Control Systems Engineer.
He missed the particular challenges of research and came back to the University as a Research Officer in 1976.
He has been here ever since, holding positions as Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, Professor, Head of Department, Acting Dean and now Pro-Vice-Chancellor.
Last month Prof Edge was appointed a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering.
He is also a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) and a member of the IMechE Council.
He has published more than 120 papers on various aspects of fluid power systems and control and has been awarded a number of prizes by the IMechE.
Prof Edge is also a member of the Executive Committee of the Higher Education Regional Development Association - South West, a forum linking higher education establishments in the region.
Prof Edge is succeeded as Head of Mechanical Engineering by Prof Tony Mileham.
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