Cornish Institute of Engineers
The Cornish Institute of Engineers was founded in 1913 as the Cornish Institution of Mining, Mechanical and Metallurgical Engineering, with the aim to advance all branches of engineering and promote the exchange of information and ideas.
The Institute maintains a continuous programme of high quality lectures and events for members as well as the general public and to encourage young people to consider this career path.
Annual subscription
The annual subscription for membership is £10.00 payable on 1 January. Academic qualifications are not a prerequisite for membership, but an interest in engineering is essential.
Visits and lecture programme
Lectures will take place either at Cornwall College, Pool or at Tremough Campus, Penryn. In order to reinforce our long-term relationship with the Camborne School of Mines, lectures taking place at Tremough will generally be those with a specific mining emphasis. Directions to both venues are at the end of this Programme.
Lectures are on Thursdays 7pm to 9pm unless otherwise stated - October 2011 to April 2012
Non-members are most welcome at any of our events and are encouraged, but not obliged, to join.
Visits
Saturday 29 October 2011 11am
St Austell Brewery
Contact Secretary if interested.
St Austell Brewery has been brewing beer in Cornwall since 1851 and runs 174 popular pubs in the South West. Of the 20+ breweries in Cornwall, St Austell is the largest and the only remaining regional family brewery. The impressive Victorian tower brewery contains state-of-the-art equipment to produce a wide range of traditional cask-conditioned beers (real ales) led by its nationally-available flagship beer – Tribute. The brewery’s success stems from a dynamic team of management and brewers, combining high-technology biochemical engineering with the traditional art of brewing. For more details, go to: http://www.staustellbrewery.co.uk/. Our visit will comprise a tour of the process plant, rounded off by a pasty and beer samples in the Visitor Centre. The cost is £10 per head.
Thursday 29 March 2012 6pm
Fugro Seacore
Contact Secretary if interested.
Fugro Seacore is a specialist overwater drilling and marine construction contractor based in Falmouth, established for over 33 years, designing, developing and operating its own equipment. Marine services are offered for offshore geotechnical investigations, mineral exploration, large diameter shaft drilling, foundation installation, renewable energy installations and underwater blasting operations. This is an opportunity to see another thriving Cornish business providing leading-edge products and services to a global market.
Lectures
13th October 2011 - Tremough
PRESTIGE ADDRESS
The Future of Coal in the UK and UK Coal’s Future within it
Gareth Williams & Stuart Hoult UK Coal plc
Coal is the energy source that powered Britain’s past and remains a major component of present-day electricity generation. This presentation will outline the future of coal usage and coal mining in the UK, exploring markets, issues, emerging strategies and likely developments in both deep and surface mining.
3rd November 2011 Opie
The United Downs Geothermal Energy Project Peter Ledingham, Geoscience
Although European geothermal research moved away from Cornwall in the 1990s, the county remains the best resource in the UK and is now once again at the forefront. This talk will review the previous research, summarise the worldwide expansion of geothermal utilisation since then and describe the plans and progress on the United Downs project.
17th November 2011 6pm Tremough
The 10th Annual Victor Phillips Memorial Lecture
The speaker for this prestige event will be announced near the time.
8th December 2011 Opie
Mineral Extraction and the Railway Corridor Mark Walker, Network Rail
This presentation exposes the risks to the railway from ongoing and abandoned mineral extraction, highlighting the effects on different types of infrastructure and how these are managed, from the ongoing subsidence of 1.5m under traffic to the risk of abandoned working swallowing the track.
12th January 2012 Opie
ANNUAL DON DIXON LECTURE
Intelligent Electricity Demand Management at Underground Mines
Nick Williams, Camborne School of Mines
Nick Williams is undertaking a project funded by the Camborne School of Mines Trust to understand patterns of use of the various electrical loads at a mine such as hoisting, conveying, pumping, ventilation and coal shearing. This will lead on to the development of a demand side management system for more efficient underground mining that will function well with future smart grid requirements.
2nd February 2012 Tremough
Mines, Maps and Models Dr Keith Russ
A remarkable display of 3D computer-generated models of Cornish mines and mine planning around old workings. Dr Russ commenced modelling underground workings in the Camborne-Redruth area some years ago and has continued to develop this sophisticated mine survey tool. This will especially fascinate anyone interested in mine surveying or in local mining history.
1st March 2012 Opie
Star and Planet Formation Prof Matthew Bate, University of Exeter
Prof Bate is a numerical astrophysicist who uses supercomputers to study the processes of star and planet formation. This entails self-gravitating fluid dynamical simulations, some of which also include radiation transport and magnetic fields, and often requires months and years of computer time. The output of his work includes some extraordinary and beautiful dynamic images.
15th March 2012 Tremough
Developing Mining Projects in West Africa Peter Taylor, Afferro Mining
Peter Taylor is a graduate mining engineer from the Camborne School of Mines. He has held senior management roles in mining, heavy civil engineering and aviation and has worked in Africa, Asia and Europe. He is currently the Chief Operating Officer of Afferro Mining, an iron ore development company seeking to develop the ‘next generation’ of iron mines in West Africa.
19th April 2012 Opie
6pm AGM followed by
Engineering Solar Power in Cornwall Steve Dennis, Carnon Contracting
In an age when energy security and carbon footprint are high on the agenda, Cornwall has become a significant centre for renewable energy. This talk looks at harnessing the ultimate energy source - the sun. Steve Dennis will describe the engineering challenges behind the installation of some of Cornwall's largest solar farms.
Cornwall College: Opie Building, Tolvaddon Road (near the by-pass access road, not the college main entrance)
Tremough Campus: Chapel Lecture Theatre – in the centre of the campus, not far from the entrance and near the lower end of the long building. The Chapel is recognisable from its unusual curved roof. (Note that parking is chargeable and that current major building work is causing changes to parking arrangements)
